Haven: In looking at the boxscores from the last session, I noticed that Matt DeWitt was skipped in the rotation and did not pitch at all. As you know, he is performing the best for me among my starting pitchers & I feel that by his not pitching that has taken away 2 possible wins from my team. Could you please look into this? Thanks
Haven, I switched my pitching rotation on the lineup page but it seems to not have been changed in the sim. The change was up before the last sim for sure, and I believe before the last two sims. Have I done something wrong? If so please let me know or correct the lineup. Thanks HayesStreet
I don't always correct pitching rotations if that would mean pitching someone on less than 3 days of rest. Usually screws a player up for that start... but for yours specifically, you took Pedro out of your rotation. I will not allow this. If you have someone who's still performing as well as Pedro, you can't simply yank him because you want to tank. I've prohibited other people from doing the same. In real life, it's much the same way. A couple of years ago, there was a controvery because a manager didn't pitch his best pitcher on 3 days rest when the division title was on the line for the Astros. If you want to trade him or let him go... fine. But I don't allow benching of stars for tanking purposes. Or, I suppose I could... and simply refuse to let FA's sign with you. Who'd sign with a team that benched players to tank?
What does this mean to 'tank?' I'm 15 games out and don't have the firepower to overcome that and get in the playoffs, so nothing is on the line. Seems to make sense to start players I will have next year (as you remember Pedro refused to sign with me). Why would I start him for the rest of the year when those starts won't get me anything, but starting others will give me a better idea of what the others can do? No one was interested in his 18 million contract that I know of, but I can release him and let another team pick him up for nothing??? Even though if no one were to be able to sign him he would revert to me for a year ala Sardinha? Is that fair?
Well that does suck Hayes, but in real baseball, you play your best players, if you bench someone just because he won't sign with you, then that would put a black eye on your organization if this were a real life baseball league. Other FA's would see how you treated Pedro, and would be less likely to sign, even if you knew you wouldn't be able to re-sign him. It sucks, but I tend to agree with Haven's point...
Well, I can see the point that maybe from a fan perspective etc that you'd want to put the best players on the field. And its not a big deal so I withdraw the request. Although I still don't know why a FA wouldn't sign with a team because of it. What difference would it make? I 'benched' him (actually I put him in the bullpen, not on the bench) because I wanted to start a player I WILL have next year, not cause he pissed me off. It certainly DOES happen that teams play young players instead of veterans when they are out of the playoff chase. Same reason they call up minor league players in September. I just don't really like the connotation attributed to what Haven is calling 'tanking.' I'm not doing it to improve my draft position in an unethical manner, rather to play pitchers to see if they can start next year. I did the same thing with Requena, but of course he's batting .208 so I guess that makes a difference? If he had resigned then I would let him bat out the season and hope the reps would let him improve. He won't be here next year so I'm promoting other guys to get a look at them. BTW BGM, I love your new sig.
I think the difference, HayesStreet, is that one guy is Pedro and the other is some schmo named Requena. There's definitely a list of players who are un-benchable in this sim, because they are simply awesome. Until his talent nose dives, Pedro Martinez is still one of those players.
If how good they are makes a difference then you're probably correct. I wonder if there are precedents to benching really good soon to be free agents? I can't think of any. It seems like they usually get traded or there is a big push just to sign them after free agency starts. Maybe there's a lesson for me in there somewhere...although I think it starts with not taking anymore of Nomar's $18 million a year contracts ... One other thing: Haven, in the future is there somewhere you post these Commissioners decisions? I assumed it was a mistake when you actually did it on purpose. The effect of that is that you picked which of my projected starters to put in the bullpen in lieu of Pedro, instead of my getting to pick my own lineup...I've seen you deny a trade but that happens in the trade discussion thread...
Sorry Hayes, I probably should have posted it elsewhere. And I don't see anything negative about tanking . If you're not gonna win... hell, why not lose with a passion!
Oh, one other thing. You're welcome to release Pedro if you wish. Depends on how important that roster spot is to you, I suppose...
