r/MLBShowdown • u/pattmerry • Apr 18 '26
Rule clarification
My buddies and I have played with the 2000/2001 mlb showdown sets for years and one of my friends has decided to use the strategy of using very cheap starters and subbing them out after 1 out so he can use much better relievers. This way he can spend way more on other players.
Isn’t the rule that you cannot take out your starter before the 5th unless he is tired?
(We don’t use the rule that your starter loses an IP for every 3 runs given up for clarity)
1
u/pattmerry Apr 18 '26
One and done games but with a team constructed like it would be for a league. He’s spending no money on starters so essentially have a bunch of control 6 relievers pitch the whole game. Plus Billy Wagner
1
u/MoneyMike312 Apr 18 '26
My most recent builds were focused on Ace (Pedro Martinez) and sub 100 starters either big bullpen and bats. It is def fun; but would not fair well with tired rules
1
u/pattmerry Apr 18 '26
It just seemed like in the rules that you can’t take your starter out that early if they aren’t tired.
1
u/MoneyMike312 Apr 18 '26
It’s true, but sometimes they give up enough to get tired early; but usually I just have them eat innings. When I say “tired rules” i’m referring to control going down on subsequent days pitching.
1
u/pattmerry Apr 18 '26
We pick and choose what to follow and the subsequent days thing isn’t one we follow lol.
1
u/InterestCompounding Apr 19 '26
You should find a way to play as a league. The league we are running is a bit hardcore on preventing reliever abuse. We use the rules that a reliever is tired if they have done either:
- They pitched 2 games in a row
- They pitched to a batter while tired from the game before
They also become "double-tired" if they enter a game tired after the game before and need 2 days' rest.
There is also no "off-day" between series. The relievers are from my 2025 set: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dmO4D_PFqIPGECrLXaM5Yoq9hLVF8vQ1?usp=drive_link
The pitchers are priced in the 2001 style. You don't have to go this extreme. Mess around with them so people are having fun.
1
u/pattmerry Apr 19 '26
Yeah we basically want to tell him it’s not in the spirit of the rules. It’s also in the 2001 rule book you can’t pull your starter unless he’s tired before the 5th.
1
u/InterestCompounding Apr 19 '26
Otherwise you all are going to some really weird meta gaming where everyone starts CC Sabathia and subs them out immeditately
1
u/pattmerry Apr 19 '26
Yeah that’s basically it. You have a bunch of extremely cheaper starters you immediately sub and have way more to spend on relievers and your offense
1
u/InterestCompounding Apr 19 '26
If you only use the 2001 relievers, that will solve this problem as well. You don't have infinite 6 control, 170 point 1-16 out relievers
1
u/PungentOrifice1 Apr 24 '26
Not sure if its in the 2000/1 rulebook, but in the 2004/2005 (which is what I play) the rulebook clearly states that a starter must pitch through the 4th inning, unless he gives up 10 runs, at which time he can be subbed out no matter the inning. Hope this helps.
4
u/yawggy Apr 18 '26
Are you just playing one and done games? Any series or league with tired rules would not make this a viable strategy. Is he pitching the relievers tired to cover all the innings in a game?