Converting starters to relievers

[SmooveMove]

Re: Converting starters to relievers

That is true for real life, but that does not translate into the game as the game does not take into account a player "giving his best effort." As I said above, you cannot have a RP turned starter with 25 stamina and say well it is unrealistic to change his stamina because he is giving his best effort as he would in real life.

You all make good points, but I personally agree with you. Would you suggest I move Appels stamina down, up his velocity a few notches, and leave it at that?

[Friar Fanatic]

Re: Converting starters to relievers

You all make good points, but I personally agree with you. Would you suggest I move Appels stamina down, up his velocity a few notches, and leave it at that?

Ya, there is no need to move anything else. I would move his stamina down to 20-25 (whatever you prefer) and the velocity on all his fastballs (sinker, cutter, 2 seam etc) by about 2 mph each.

[@legendm0de]

Re: Converting starters to relievers

We watched Neftali Feliz experiment as a starter in Texas a couple seasons ago and personally it didn't get to well to me because he threw too many fastballs. The biggest difference I see with SPs and RPs moving into different roles, is their familiarity with being put in those positions. Starters who struggle in the bullpen usually don't have the understanding of how the handle coming into games in those situations. Those little tiny mistakes they make costs them big in the MLB. Now this is why converting certain pitchers gets done in the minors if possible and not right in the middle of the same season. Those roles takes some time to combine, a pitcher's skill set and repertoire into what they will need to do and be successful.

If Tim Linecum went to the bullpen permanently I don't think his velocity would go up drastically. His fastball is getting hit these days (compared to his cy young years), and being a RP is no guarantee that it will go back to un-hittable but who really knows.

However, certainly if you threw most good starters into the bullpen they would make great relief men probably easily but that is the reason why they were starters in the first place. If they are poor starters, no guarantee that relief pen duties will turn their career around.

[MrOldboy]

Re: Converting starters to relievers

I'm pretty sure that I've read analysis that concluded that not only do pitchers gain around 0.5-0.7 MPH on their average fastball (on average), but they also tend to gain some on their max velocity as well. Basically showing that as a starter they not only lost velocity on their fastball as the game went on, but also just plain threw harder as a reliever. I think it looked at both starter to reliever and reliever to starter conversions. I have no idea where I read this, I found a similar article, but its no quite what I remember.

A recent example I can think of is Justin Grimm, he has gained almost 2 MPH on his avg fastball and 0.5 on his max.

[ShaBoomer]

Re: Converting starters to relievers

Changes in velocity when switching from SP to RP is a general rule of thumb. It is not a hard rule.

Yes, for a lot of pitchers, when you move to the 'pen you pick up a little extra heat. This is because you no longer have to pace yourself and save something for later in the game.

As a starter, you're expected to pitch 6+ innings, and hopefully 7. As a reliever (not long man) you're only expected to pitch max 25-35 pitches (depending on the pitcher).

So, it all depends on the specific pitcher. Max effort guys who have the stamina to pitch at max effort into the 6th inning will likely not gain any extra velocity.

However, pitchers who need to keep a little extra in the tank for later in the game can pick up as much as 5mph, because they can now throw as hard as they can for those 35 pitches.

Using the Jays as an example, Brett Cecil picked up 4mph on his fastball after moving to the 'pen. McGowan's velocity will likely not change (for injury protection concerns) after being taken out of the rotation. Marcus Stroman, an SP who started in the 'pen when called up, never increased his velocity.

[Chetballard]

Re: Converting starters to relievers

Just simply move him to the bullpen, and at most adjust him from a SP to an RP. I understand we like details and to be realistic for the show. It seems in this case it seems everyone is over thinking this situation. For me since i have the reliever slider stamina set to 3, it seems to produce realistic counts for my RP. This is just what i would do is all, no need to adjust Appel;s ratings