Trying to lose...

[Tim]

Okay, I know I traded off most of my players this year. I am definitely positioning for next year at this point, much as truffle did last season. However, I am still trying to win each week, putting out the full complement of starts, putting the best hitters in the lineup, etc.

 

Is it okay when one of our managers is pulling starters OUT of his lineup so that he only gets three starts in a week to ensure he loses? Whether I end up with the first or third/fourth pick in the draft doesn't really matter that much to me. But shouldn't each team be trying to do their best with what they have each week?

[Tracer Bullet]

Who are you talking about?

[Tracer Bullet]

I didn't see your comment in the RK chat before I asked.

 

Tim S (5:47:44AM): Jeff, you picking someone up to get to seven starts or are you really trying to throw all your games?

 

 

I'll be honest, Tim, I'm offended that you would call me out, as if I'm being less than ethical. Frankly, it's utter [expletive]. If you think I'm not trying, feel free to send me a message to ask what's going on with my team. But starting a thread about it here is totally uncalled for.

[abuck1220]

tim, i gotta say, you didn't seem to mind that truffle threw last season starting like may 1st since it involved him trading you roy halladay.

[Tracer Bullet]

Now, so everyone doesn't think I'm a big cheater, I'll explain myself. Though again, I think it's total BS that I have to justify my moves to the league. Especially when as of this morning, I have more points than 10 other teams and my opponent's starting C is Steve [expletive] Clevenger.

 

 

I didn't start E. Santana in his matchup b/c he's been terrible. Tim complained about that at the time. Santana tossed a -15.5.

 

I didn't start Drew Smyly b/c he's been terrible the last few starts. Smyly scored a 6.5 (which equaled his total of his last 2 starts).

 

I picked up Phil Hughes a couple days ago because he was the best pitcher over the last 28 days or something and I needed a start. He was supposed to start today. But Britton came off the 60-day DL and then was sent to the minors. So I had too many players. Instead of playing a third day with an illegal lineup, I dropped Hughes, brought up Eovaldi and sent Britton to the minors. I could have done this yesterday if I'd had the time to figure it all out Friday morning, but I didn't. Instead, the pitchers I had in scored over 75 points.

 

I don't have enough starters to get 7 starts this week and I don't have an empty roster spot. I have Smyly at GAB and Santana at Coors tomorrow. Two guys who've been bad in hitters ballparks. You really want me to start them?

 

Cespedes and Morse both came off the DL last weekend. On Sunday, Cespedes has a knee injury, so I didn't start him. I did start Morse for Duda.

 

Cespedes played Monday and Tuesday and raked. But none of my starters were hurt, so I didn't think I could put him in. I asked on the RK chat and a couple people said it was ok. I went to put him in and he left a game with a hammy pull. He's been out since.

 

Morse has not been good. Duda has. I traded Duda for one of the 20 best prospects in the league yesterday.

 

So I didn't realize Cespedes with a bad knee would put up 20 in 2 days while Morse (apparently healthy) would put up 10. I guessed wrong on which 2 days Cespedes would be in the lineup and great. My bad.

 

THEN AGAIN, I'M BEATING 10 OF YOU.

[abuck1220]

obviously i don't think anyone should lose games on purpose.

[Tracer Bullet]

Let's be honest, tim. You're mad b/c you thought you could trade a bunch of guys, replace them with [expletive] player, and cruise to the top draft pick. Now that strategy may not work, so you're going to call me out.

 

I didn't say [expletive] when you started the week with Steve [expletive] Clevenger as your catcher. You want the league to believe you're trying your hardest to win when that's the best C you could run out there? I just checked all Cs in the league for the last week and last 2 weeks. There must be 20 FAs on the first page of each list. Clevenger is nowhere to be found.

[Guest]

I didn't see your comment in the RK chat before I asked.

 

Tim S (5:47:44AM): Jeff, you picking someone up to get to seven starts or are you really trying to throw all your games?

 

 

I'll be honest, Tim, I'm offended that you would call me out, as if I'm being less than ethical. Frankly, it's utter [expletive]. If you think I'm not trying, feel free to send me a message to ask what's going on with my team. But starting a thread about it here is totally uncalled for.

Sorry to offend you.

 

Jeff, what set me off was that you took pitchers off your roster as soon as you started catching up. Ending up with four starts in a week where you had the pitchers to get eight certainly gives the appearance of trying your best to lose. That you've done better than 10 teams this week is irrelevant to the situation. It's a close game and it seems you're trying not to score.

 

Do I want the #1 pick? Sure - if I'm going to suck anyway, I want that pick. But I'm going to manage my team to win every week anyway. If I end up with the #3 or #4 pick, that's fine. I just don't want to see teams avoid putting pitchers out there because they want to lose.

[Guest]

tim, i gotta say, you didn't seem to mind that truffle threw last season starting like may 1st since it involved him trading you roy halladay.

There's a difference. Truffle traded players to better position himself for the following year. But iirc, he tried his best to win each week with the team he had in place. He put his best players on the field instead of the reserve list, he ran out seven starters each week, etc.

 

That's what I'm talking about here.

[Tracer Bullet]

You're out of line, Tim. You're mad bc you're going to win.

 

You're playing Steve clevenger. Don't tell me I'm not trying to win. Give me a [expletive] break.

[Guest]

Let's be honest, tim. You're mad b/c you thought you could trade a bunch of guys, replace them with [expletive] player, and cruise to the top draft pick. Now that strategy may not work, so you're going to call me out.

 

I didn't say [expletive] when you started the week with Steve [expletive] Clevenger as your catcher. You want the league to believe you're trying your hardest to win when that's the best C you could run out there? I just checked all Cs in the league for the last week and last 2 weeks. There must be 20 FAs on the first page of each list. Clevenger is nowhere to be found.

On Clevenger:

 

The catchers available in FA suck. I've actually been waiting for Soto to be healthy so I can pick him up as I think he is better than any available FA. In the meantime, I figured Clevenger will at least get most of the starts over Hill, which is more than many of the available catchers can say. He's not going to score a ton of points, but he was also batting around .500 for the season when I picked him up.

 

Since he has obviously cooled off, I'll probably be looking for a better short term fix. I've actually been waiting for Castillo to come off the DL. He could conceivably be an option as a keeper for next season and might produce decent numbers this year if Soto gets traded.

[Guest]

You're out of line, Tim. You're mad bc you're going to win.

 

You're playing Steve clevenger. Don't tell me I'm not trying to win. Give me a [expletive] break.

I gave my Clevenger explanation above. To put myself at a potential disadvantage here, I've put in a waiver claim on Salty for next week to improve at C.

 

If your pitchers suck so bad that you think you're better off not pitching them, find new ones. If you can't trust Santana enough to start him once in a two start week, don't drop Hughes instead.

 

If I'm wrong about this, I apologize. But running four starters out there doesn't scream "trying your best" to me.

[bukie]

This whole conversation is stupid. Jeff hasn't been trying to lose all year, and if someone makes a move that is questionable, ask a damned question. Don't just assume the worst because it's not you.

[Guest]

Fine. I'll shut up about this now.

[TruffleShuffle]

yeah, this is best handled with a PM (if you are questioning how a manager is managing his team.)

 

that being said, if anyone would like to lose intentionally against me, i have no problem with this.

[Tracer Bullet]

This whole conversation is stupid. Jeff hasn't been trying to lose all year, and if someone makes a move that is questionable, ask a damned question. Don't just assume the worst because it's not you.

 

Thanks Bukie

[abuck1220]

if we started a thread about every negligent manager that failed to use seven starts, that's all this forum would be. in fact, there are multiple teams that won't be using seven starts this week.

 

MR has been one of the most active managers in the league this year. i'm just grateful he was willing to step in and take over the absolute shittiest team this league has ever seen. he's won more games and scored more points than tim...that's enough for me to be satisfied with the effort he's putting forth.

 

and damn am i already sick of hearing about the stupid #1 pick in a draft that is 9 months away.

[Guest]

I just took a look back at my posts the past few days and I need to apologize to everyone, but particularly MR. I've been a dick in this thread and in other places and there was no call for it.

 

All I can say is that I've been vastly overworked for months now. I haven't been sleeping and it is clearly taking a toll on my demeanor. I will do my best to get back to my normal mode.

 

btw - Raw, I owe you an apology, as well. I should have made the same points about Vitters' defense without being a sarcastic prick.

[Quakers]

Rather ironic how we are having a discussion on trying to lose, when the Cubs are playing like they are this season:(