BWB Primer #4 - Pitching Tips

The BWB Primer is a series of commentaries to provide rule interpretations and hints - something a bit more than you get out of the rules. See the Primer Index for the entire series.

There's a page on the web site that's probably not worth reproducing in whole here that gives some basic tips on setting up your pitching. Check it out here. The page was written many years ago, but for the most part still holds up. But, here are some things of note taken from the page:

• Just like for the hitters, for individual games it's the totals, not the averages that matter. The number of IP and ER a starting pitcher has is important.
• The more IP your starter gets, the fewer innings your bullpen is needed (and the fewer number of relievers needed).
• Pitchers need 4 games of rest between starts. Be careful between weeks if you change your rotation. Most of the time you can safely move a pitcher DOWN in the rotation and not miss a start. But don't forget that one of your pitchers in every 6-game week will pitch twice, so sometimes even moving him down will make him miss a start.
• Saves count in the bullpen formula only count for the first two relievers used in the game. If your bullpen has 3 closers, it's possible that the saves are going to waste (though the pitchers other stats may be helpful).
• The more relievers you need, the more total innings you need before your bullpen score starts getting deductions. You want your lower 3 relievers to be innings eaters.