Setting Your Bench

[SouthernYankee]

For those of you playing with no DH what philosiphy do you use for filling out your bench?

You have six slots so do you break it up with one catcher, three outfielders and two infielders, or some other combination?

What stats do you look at for deciding on your bench?

You folks that use the DH could respond I guess, but just remember you play with the old farts rule :).

I typically have one catcher, a strong batter who might be a DH if he were in the other league :), two outfielders and two infielders.

[SFSteveG]

I typically have one catcher, a strong batter who might be a DH if he were in the other league :), two outfielders and two infielders.
That's the typical way of playing. If you have poor health in one area (i.e. all your OF's are under 70 health) carry the extra OF of just make sure that your good hitter is an OF.

[insite]

I make sure I have a catcher, one middle infielder, 2 outfielders. Then I take any other infielder, 1B or 3B, or another middle infielder. And then my last spot I use for a player who is either a utility type player, another outfielder, or just a solid veteran.

[dps]

It depends on the talent I have available, of course, but I like to build my teams around defense, so I try to make sure that I have two defensively adequate backups at both short and CF (who would also be able to field at any other positions). I also like to carry a 3rd catcher. Then the last spot is available for a pure pinch hitter--the best hitter available in my system, who may be someone who doesn't field well enough to be a regular for me. Sometimes I'll carry 2 pinch hitter types instead of the 3rd catcher, especially if my starters a bit weaker offensively overall than I'd prefer.

[Edge]

I usually go with 1 catcher, a middle infielder, a rookie, a third baseman, an outfield and one pure hitter.

It also depends, guys who were HOF'ers for me usually get moved to the bench as they near the end.

Sometimes i'll pick up an old veteran who hasnt won a championship (usually he's had a HOF or at least standout career elsewhere) or even go out and reacquire former players who are nearing the end of their careers.

I usually try to work a rookie in there too.

[insite]

I dont put rookies on my bench, just because they wont get better by only pinch hitting. Only time i have a rookie on the bench is its by need due to injuries or if its a fringe player who prolly wont be anything above an average player.

[Edge]

I dont put rookies on my bench, just because they wont get better by only pinch hitting. Only time i have a rookie on the bench is its by need due to injuries or if its a fringe player who prolly wont be anything above an average player.

Seeing playing as an AL team i find i can usually get him into a good 100 games. I've also discovered that they seem to develop a little better coming off the bench than playing in a league they've already mastered.

If the kid is an outfielder, i get him starts in all 3 outfields, DH and i stick him at first sometimes to get the at bats.

A third base kid i usually play at third and first and occassionally LF.

[JimmyMac]

Have an outfielder to use as a pinch runner (honestly don't know if it helps)

I also find a couple of high defense mid-level talent utility players.

I try to find somebody who plays 1st and catcher.

And always a good backup 3rd baseman and centerfielder.

[polevaultking]

I try not to put top prospects on my bench unless they have been in AAA forever and they are holding up someone of the same position in AA.

I like to have a backup catcher, but i have found that if i dont, it doesnt seem to make much of a difference if i have a non catcher filling in for a few games. This should likely be fixed by Clay, because it should be more of an impact when a non catcher is playing catcher.

I try to add a older, low priced, but still high talent level free agent to my bench. At least one catcher, one middle infielder, and a guy with a big bat.

[obmij5]

I dont put rookies on my bench, just because they wont get better by only pinch hitting. Only time i have a rookie on the bench is its by need due to injuries or if its a fringe player who prolly wont be anything above an average player.
I dont put rooks on my bench unless they are at their peak and are marginal talents anyway (60-80). This is not because of any belief i have about how they develop, more because i dont want to burn their arbitration (or "cheap") years away on a bench.

I like bang for my buck.