I didn't refer to Pena's pre-MikeT23 stats.    Only this season at SS.   And I believe it's closer to 70 plays.

		inn	po	A	e	Plus	neg	Total	PPPS
Ed Branyan	SS	940.1	183	348	9	13	0	0.374	545.9
Ed Branyan	SS	234.2	38	87	5	5	0	0.371	541.6
Pete Andrews	SS	506.2	93	181	4	7	0	0.363	530.0
Frankie Priest	SS	514	99	181	11	0	1	0.329	479.4
Enrique Pena	SS	309	65	103	4	3	2	0.324	471.8
Luis Fernandez	SS	911.2	187	310	13	0	6	0.319	465.6

Then I believe you have to look at the difference at 3B.   Another 70 plays.

		inn	po	A	e	Plus	neg	Total	PPPS
Enrique Pena	3B	1261	134	355	7	20	0	0.292	425.5
Eric Fick	3B	1100	102	298	23	0	8	0.243	353.9
Eric Fick	3B	359	33	90	4	0	0	0.240	349.3
Cristian Easley	3B	240	23	60	3	0	0	0.238	346.3

Of course, this is based on a player being out there for the full 1458 innings. 

So, to me, you(or really me) have to compare the 3B to Branyan's offense, not Pena/Branyan as Pena will be batting regardless of position, and determine if he will make up the difference.

To take it a step further, here's the RC for both with me:

Fick:    936 PA, 136.68 RC
Branyan:   594 PA, 57.33 RC

Pro-rated on 650 PA:
Fick: 94.92 RC
Branyan:  62.73 RC

Now the question becomes "How many more runs does Fick-3B/Pena-SS cost you over Pena-3B/Branyan-SS?"     If it's more than 32 over the course of a full season, Branyan should be at SS.

Got it; you're using PO and A, not just +. -, and E.  

I'm sure I don't fully agree with that methodology, as you're at a minimum double-counting all the +, -, and errors (ie, a + play is also an assist or putout).  But you may be right about the general concept of using range factor (essentially) in these calculations. I know deathinahole feels strongly that not all above-average plays are recorded as + plays; is there strong evidence for that?  

I don't use PO for infielders.     Assists/positive plays - errors/negative plays divided by innings and mulitplied by 1458 to get a total. 

A play not made by an infielder should be valued at about 0.5 - 0.6 runs.  So the magic number of plays difference between the Branyan lineup and the Fick lineup is about 60.  By my methodology that number is about 30-40; by yours it's over 100.  So the answer depends on the right way to calculate plays not made.

You could platoon them; Branyan is noticeably less of a disaster at the plate against RHP.

Priest and Fernandez were S31 SS.

Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Frankie Priest
Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Luis Fernandez

Pena has produced similar totals to them so far this season using my formula. 

Once Fick comes off the DL, I do intend to play Branyan vs. RHP and Fick vs. LHP in order to get a larger sample size for all three. 

Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Pete Andrews was the other SS listed.  Also a D-first type that got over 530 using my formula.

FWIW, the plan to move Redondo to 3B next season will counter most of the fielding problems Fick presents over there.   So, for the most part, the defensive difference in runs allowed would come from SS. 

The plan for next season is quite strong; once Trent's glove stops Leaking everything falls into place.  But then it won't be as interesting as it is now.

IMO, Branyan and it's not close

Posted by mongoose_22 on 4/19/2015 4:27:00 PM (view original):
IMO, Branyan and it's not close

Why is it "not close"?

You're talking about a career difference in OPS of .190.  That's significant.  particularly when the guy with the better bat is still above league average for defensive ratings for SS.

I'm surprised nobody noticed the irony of MikeT debating the merits of using a substandard fielding SS that can hit.really well.