I think the problem is more with the programming than the manager. Unless the reliever had at least one start, a reliever is supposed to be "severely downgraded" by the computer if he actually starts a game. At least that is what the manual says. If that actually happened, then it would solve the problem of starting a reliever who never started during the season. During the regular season, I've had that happen to me. I've faced relievers who never started and licked my chops, thinking that I would be scoring tons of runs. To my chagrin, the reliever more often than not did a Walter Johnson impersonation on me. So much for being "severely downgraded"!!