Does Anyone use 6 man rotations?

[lukestephens2293]

I'm curious as to if anyone else uses it

[luckymann]

Originally Posted by lukestephens2293

I'm curious as to if anyone else uses it

Occasionally in the minors, when the AI lets me that is. But never in the majors.

[Scottiedog43]

I’ve tried it with my expansion teams trying to find decent starters.

[Westheim]

Nah.

[Timofmars]

I'll use it after roster expansions. Makes some players who think they should be starters happy.

[Hrycaj]

I use it every spring training.

[Dark Horse]

Spring Training - i try to have at least six starters that i'll feel comfortable using in the rotation during the season.

Minor Leagues - especially in the lower levels, gives more guys a chance to get innings.

After Roster Expansion - if i'm out of the race; especially if i have a young guy up from AAA that i want to take a look at

Perfect Team - The schedule doesn't have many off days, so i add the sixth pitcher. If i'm close at the end the season i may cut down to five on Saturday. And then i'll cut down to four for the playoffs.

[ExeR]

It's a mess in terms of execution, but there is a managerial strategy that can be quite good with it:
1) Using it with Aces as an injury precaution measure is pointless. Previous posters described pretty much all situations it can be used. I would add busy schedule periods when you get hit with extra fatigue (SP got stuck and got tired) or with injury bug. Other than that it's supposed to be used with mediocre SPs.
2) Logical continuation would be to ask yourself what can you do with bunch of mediocre SP. I've done some tests before, so I decided to try the idea that if you can't get Ks and don't have quality for late innings, best thing to try is maximize cheapest pitching attribute to acquire - CONTROL.
3) With above average CONTROL, mediocre STU&MOV & enough rest, task is to build tactics around that. Key thing here is to pitch around. This way you solve main dilemma of "mediocre SP in 6man rotation":
a) can't pitch a lot w/o quality to back it up
b) doesn't pitch a lot but has maximum rest
Now you can pitch a lot w/o exposing him and put pressure on weak EYE/CON opposition.
4) Maximize everything else that plays a part:
a) Team Trainer with good fatigue recovery will make sure you always have your pitchers at 100%. Mediocre SP need any boost to quality they can get, here you have one.
b) Injury proneness of mediocre SPs. If you can get iron man guy, it will help with consistency & his fatigue recovery.
c) Defense. These SPs won't lead league in opp's AVG so good defense will be necessary to minimize damage.

It won't be some record breaking system, but it's great system for consistency in regular season. I've had success with it in:
a) Get your bullpen to playoffs in one piece. Very useful if you have one Ace that is prone to injuries or your relievers are much better than starters.
b) Winning "wheels fell off" playoff races even vs elite teams. 15 GB is nothing, even if you get hit by injury bug too. Jokes on your division rivals, injuries can't take your Ace for 8+ months because you don't have any.
Playoffs will require change of strategy. But short hook & use of starter/follower/setup is not so hard to master.

[CBeisbol]

Yes
And sometimes 7

But, not in the way you think

Frequently I'll use piggy back starters with my 5th (and sometimes 4th starters)

One starter will face 18 hitters. This usually gets them through about 4 innings, but, sometimes 5 or 6
Then I bring in another starter to face another 18 hitters

When I can one starter is right-handed and the other left-handed. This helps with giving me the platoon advantage (for the second pitcher).

[joefromchicago]

Originally Posted by lukestephens2293

I'm curious as to if anyone else uses it

Yes.

[jeffw3000]

I've never used it in the Majors, but I quite often use it in the Minors when I wind up with 6 potential, good starters at a particular level.

[scott1964]

Only during Spring Training

[mytreds]

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

I use it every spring training.

Same here.

[mytreds]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

Yes
And sometimes 7

But, not in the way you think

Frequently I'll use piggy back starters with my 5th (and sometimes 4th starters)

One starter will face 18 hitters. This usually gets them through about 4 innings, but, sometimes 5 or 6
Then I bring in another starter to face another 18 hitters

When I can one starter is right-handed and the other left-handed. This helps with giving me the platoon advantage (for the second pitcher).

Aka you brought in a reliever I get what you mean though

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by mytreds

Aka you brought in a reliever I get what you mean though

Kind of yes, and kind of no.

People don't consider openers, who pitch an one inning, more or less, starters. Even though they start the game.

Frequently which one is used first, and which one second.

Though, there is usually a benefit to starting the right-handed pitcher in that the opponents start more left-handed batters. Then, when the left-handed pritcher enters that pitcher has the platoon advantage. Then, the opponents frequently sub in some right-handed batters. Since I typically have more right-handed relievers, and the opponent has already used their left-handed hitters, I have the platoon advantage in the late innings

[Bobbyraz49]

That was a GREAT question !

[ALB123]

I use a 6-man rotation in Spring Training. I have also used it a few times for my A+ and lower teams. I wouldn't employ a six-man rotation in AA, AAA or MLB.

How many total pitchers do most of you carry on your big league club? I bounce back and forth between 11 & 12 total pitchers - 5 of them being Starters, of course.

[Timofmars]

Originally Posted by ExeR

a) Team Trainer with good fatigue recovery will make sure you always have your pitchers at 100%. Mediocre SP need any boost to quality they can get, here you have one.

Does a pitcher being at 100% rest actually help them perform better? Because I had thought it only affects how long they can pitch before becoming tired, at which point they start to perform worse.

[koohead]

Use it quite regularly in the minors. My way of controlling innings.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by koohead

Use it quite regularly in the minors. My way of controlling innings.

Same here. You can set up minor league rosters to have them by default.

I rarely use it formally in the majors but I do use a sixth SP to set up my 5 man rotation for future critical series. I've also used a 7th SP for a recent spate of doubleheaders with no off days.