[jmknpk2]

I have a relatively simple system to handle spring training, which has deviated significantly from what I would consider standard traditional real-life spring training management.

Batting:
I usually have only my projected starting lineup and bench players in spring training, unless I have a player almost ready to bring up to the majors that I would like to use an option on and have get some major league experience. Players called up only because they are on the 40 man roster, I just don't use.

I make my daily spring training lineups based on the number of plate appearances players have already had during spring training. Batters with the least number of plate appearances start and play the entire game. Lineup order is based on plate appearances in ascending order (those with the least batting earliest).

I set defensive positions with a priority on those I'd like to learn a new position.

This assures that even my bench batters have had as much spring training experience as projected starters. This also results in a natural pattern of days off. If an individual player is in the starting lineup for so many consecutive days, he will build up enough plate appearances so that he will be automatically removed from the lineup for a day of rest.

I was considering using the DH during spring training in my non-DH league. I rethought this because pitchers seem like they need some batting experience during spring training. I'm not sure if I was just randomly lucky or pitchers benefited from batting during spring training. But my pitchers hit much better than expected, early in the regular season.

Pitching:
I usually bring up a couple or few minor league pitchers whom I have little hope will have more than a cup of coffee in the majors. I only use those backup pitchers in games where all other pitchers are tired. Those players usually don't get many spring training innings. They aren't taking away spring training experience from my projected opening day pitching staff. I do this so that I never need to use a pitcher who is less than 100% ready. And pitchers get as much spring training experience as possible without being overused.

My five man starting pitching staff rotation is followed, unless I have a 6th starter I am considering to use in the regular season. But I usually lean in favor of using that 6th starter as a reliever instead of starter.

Other than starters, I try to balance relief use of pitchers based on the number of batters faced. Whichever reliever has faced the least amount of batters, and is also 100% ready, I will use next in a game. This balances spring training pitching experience across all pitchers, including relievers. Near the end of spring training, I also take into consideration innings pitched, which can vary widely. I try to balance both innings pitched and batters faced equally among all pitchers, including starters, by the end of spring training. If a reliever needs more batters faced or innings pitched than a starter, I will start that reliever instead near the end.

At the beginning of spring training, when no relievers have pitched, I use the relievers with the most stamina first. With the idea my bullpen will get more experience earlier this way. Relievers with less stamina will be used last, and the relievers with more stamina will be 100% ready for use again, by the time all the relievers with less stamina have been used once. Though I typically need to use some of the backup relievers (which I doubt will have much major league impact) during the first time through starting rotation with a 45 pitch count.

Starters get a pitch count or inning count, which gradually increases throughout spring training:
1st start: 45 pitches or 3 innings.
2nd start: 60 pitches or 4 innings.
3rd start: 75 pitches or 5 innings.
4th and later starts: Up to 90 or 100 pitches, depending on circumstances such as stamina and how much the starter has already pitched.
In the last week of spring training, I don't use a starter unless they will have at least 6 days rest before opening day. I will use starters as relievers in this scheme in the last week if that fits best.

I usually have relievers pitch until they are "tired". Then they sit until they are back to 100%. I would try pulling them from a game a little bit earlier than they are "tired", but this is not so easy to project and estimate.
Of course, relievers will get more experience earlier in the season than later.

One other thing. I try to avoid long extra inning games which could tire my pitchers out. So I substitute the worst batters and worst pitchers when tied in the 9th inning, to hopefully lose the game quickly.

I am pretty satisfied with this strategy so far.