I have an AAA pitcher in a prog league (he's 1889 John Healy with 57 IP).

As we're nearing the transaction deadline, I'm trying to squeeze out all his innings before sending him down for good. He started a game for me a couple of days ago, and afterwards was still at 100%. I thought this was odd, and when I moused over his name it said he was 5% over. Anyway, I him in to start the next game (i.e. on one day's rest).

When it came time for his start, he was suddenly down to 94 (96). Oh well, too late to change starters, and 94 wasn't that bad anyway. After that start, he was down to 81 (81), and I sent him down.

Now I see one game later, while sitting in the minors, he's dropped to 71 (72).

I've seen screwy fatigue levels for pitchers before, but it's always been for pitchers I acquired via trade or the WW. I've never seen this from a pitcher who was on my team the entire season.

Anyone else have similar experiences? I've sent in a ticket to ask for an explanation.

Yes, all the time. From the same situation as you describe. Usually before the season ends, I'll just let my mopups throw 255 pitches. I've noticed if they get down to say 18(18) and I bench them in favor of a different mopup, the next day they will be 6(6) or something.

That's true about mops. I've seen mops throw 255 pitches (in a no-injuries league) and actually IMPROVE their fatigue. But this AAA pitcher of mine hasn't been used (abused!) in any sort of a weird way.

Looks like the same thing to me. Can't imagine why pitch count would make it different. Be sure to post their response.

early in the season as the damping wears off I would expect this. but not around the deadline.

I just had a AAA Sabathia (low IP/162 - high IP/G, A stamina starter) pitch 7 innings to open a season......afterward was 0(0), pretty much what I expected. But, 3 games later he was at 8(100)???

I have never seen a recovery like that. Usually, it takes alot longer to see 100 and have always seen it recover gradually.....never from 8 to 100 in a single game. Any explanations??

wonker - that's DAMP in action right there. It doesn't help much if you blow out a 40 IP guy in the first game, but by about halfway through the DAMP period, once the guy has sat out a few games, the miracle recovery ensues. Mouse over him to see how far over he actually is.

thanks, yog....that makes sense. we're now 6 games in and his 100 is still 35% over for the season.

Got a reply on my ticket:

Quote: We have seen this a handful of times over the years. There is apparently a very small window of data points where a player can see his fatigue fluctuate strangely when he goes from starter to reliever or vice versa. When the player was demoted, his starter/reliever status changed, so our educated guess is this situation falls into that rare case.

He is at 100% now, so all is well and good but you definitely witnessed and we verified a strange anomaly.

Thanks for pointing it out and it gives us another piece of evidence to try and close the hole.