IP Limit Violation Tracker

[rcankosy]

Week 17

Pirates  67.1
Rangers  65.2
Nationals  67

Week 18

Red Sox  66.2
Indians  67
Yankees  68.1

[rcankosy]

Total violations as of Week 18.

Athletics  3
Yankees  3
Pirates  3
Red Sox  2
Blue Jays  1
Braves  1
Phillies  1
Rangers  1
Nationals  1
Indians  1

[OUDAN]

This is terrible guys, we need a buffer, I got into Sunday with like 11 innings left and one start how many RPs do u start? It just seems like there needs to be some give here. Idk maybe im asking for too much. To me 68 IP is one thing but if u r doing 80 or something like that then thats another.

[h4cheng]

I think we should consider going with a game start cap next year so this issue doesn't pop up again.

[OUDAN]

Whatever we r gonna do lets do it, Im tired of making moves based on the rules then the rules changing and hurting the moves I made. There no way Im the only one that has happened to.

[Daniel]

Perhaps giving a buffer zone to impose penalties (other than the deducted score of course)? Like only penalizing those that go over 70IP.

[rcankosy]

I am considering 3 options for next season.

1.  We do nothing since I think we have changed the IP rule the last two years.
2.  GS limit.
3.  An IP buffer.

I think the current rule was well intentioned, but it is still too early for teams with deep pitching staffs to pass the 65 IP limit unintentionally.  For example, I had 57.2 IP coming into today, and I chose to sit a SP for fear that he would go 8 IP.  I have the same dilemma tomorrow and I am already down 3 SP from the beginning of the year.  It happens a lot when I have a lot of 2 start pitchers in the same week.

[Dan Wood]

I vote #2...my argument with the buffer, is the same argument people were making with deadlines. So if we are going to be strict then we are going to be strict. 65 IP is the limit, end of story. It isn't a guideline, it isn't a loose interpretation, it is the number. Just because it is the limit doesn't mean that you have to reach it. Everyone seems to miss that point. A limit is a lot different than a requirement. 

If we buffer it to 70, then people will push it to 70, making that the new limit. Once they start crossing that, then it will have to be moved to 75. Wash, rinse, repeat. There is no way any MLB team can start 11 guys in a week, it just isn't possible, but here it is. And it dilutes the value of SPs even further because you can throw as much crap against a wall and see if that sticks. I think this league NEEDS a START limit.

And unfortunately for this league, we are the trend setters for other leagues on this site, so we get to beta-test what works and what doesn't work. The IP limit was far too high last year. IMO 65 IP is a fine ceiling. Just because one has a ceiling doesn't mean you have to touch it. That will be my argument until the end of time. But when trying to squeeze out every last point you run the risk of going over, it is called being greedy. If you want that potential 11 points that a reliever can give you on the last day, then you also run the risk that he throws 2 innings and costs you a penalty.

Once the 65 IP penalties were put in place there was a lot less teams crossing the threshold... Kind of curious don't ya think?

[nerwffej]

Dan your absolutely right  when you drop innings down like we did that quick is little unfair for teams who where set up slightly pitchIng heavy due to trying to compete within the rules. Innings limit drop was great this year but buffer would have been fair I help teams adjust to the huge drop then go to next year to full all out violation penalty so all teams had full yet to learn to adapt to the limit on how to avoid going over and  also adjust team to the rule changes.

[Daniel]

I think you did not understand by what I meant by the buffer. IP limit is 65 and only 65 would be scored. I mean a buffer regarding the penalties for going over the IP limit. I for one was against such a low inning limit because no one here can predict how many innings a pitcher is going to go. Say you head into Sunday and have 40IP and three starters set to go. You could bench all your RPs and still have all three pitchers throw a combine 25 and a third innings pitched. If we were able to predict that we would all go to a betting site and become rich. Fantasy ball needs certain flexibility. The cap is set at 65 and only 65 IP would be scored, but the buffer would offer penalty flexibility for those who just go over *does not have to be to 70, it could be 68 or whatever.

I am sure many do not intend to go over the cap and do so unknowingly. i.e. It happened to me once when a couple of RPs were switched to SP and I had a busy week so I did not realize I had more starters than the usual. Almost happened last week and I barely managed to log in time to bench my starters. The penalties for going over are very harsh in my opinion, so the buffer could help those who go over without intending to do so.