So I had this disastrously losing team where at least the 3 outfielders hit (Chris Singleton, Juan Rivera, Gary Sheffield, all at .280 - .290 after 139 games). But the first baseman was not showing signs of life. I went on the WW after 20 games and found Babe Ruth 1929. I stuck him at 1B. I would swear the SIM shouted warnings at me. 

Ruth: 118 games at First base - .335, 35 HR   - 4 Errors. 

I would call that worth the risk.

While some members of this site may disagree, but you can definitely turn a team around by using the ww.  But it must be done prudently!!!

True. 1245 putouts, 110 assists, 68 double plays, 4 errors, 20 bad plays, no good plays. Certainly nothing gained defensively, but not catastrophic. In any case I wouldn't advocate it, nor do I advocate use of the WW except when things are not otherwise fixable. I was just relating an unusual experiment that didn't result in disaster and did add an incredibly productive offensive player. 

I still haven't fully figured out how much defense matters in this game. I built one team completely around good pitching and defense,  and put it in Dodger Stadium. After a while in first, by around 60 games it had slipped from first place and started losing too many low-scoring games and so I used the WW to switch a few positions to better hitters, sacrificing defense (pitching and stadium remaining static of course) and it is back in first place. I don't know for how long, but the impression I have is that offense is more important than defense which is expensive to boot. Up the middle maybe, but at LF, RF and maybe 1B you can take chances I think. But one is a very low sample size. 

Defense (at least 'range') doesn't matter as much as people think it does in this game. I'll take a .340 hitter with D- range at any position (except in CF) and could care less how many minus plays he makes. Besides, most of my teams always lead the league in minus plays. lol

Generally speaking, it isn't worth it to PAY for defense.   If money isn't an option, defense certainly helps you win.

Posted by pfattkatt on 4/30/2012 1:12:00 PM (view original):

Posted by Trentonjoe on 4/30/2012 11:43:00 AM (view original):
Generally speaking, it isn't worth it to PAY for defense.   If money isn't an option, defense certainly helps you win.

No one has ever said it better than that. TJ encapsulated the entire discussion.

I'd say it likely isn't worth it to pay for good defense, but it is worth it to avoid bad defense.

I believe this has been addressed in another thread, but how do you all feel about playing someone out of position at 1B without being rated there?

Posted by mixtroy on 4/30/2012 11:38:00 AM (view original):
Defense (at least 'range') doesn't matter as much as people think it does in this game. I'll take a .340 hitter with D- range at any position (except in CF) and could care less how many minus plays he makes. Besides, most of my teams always lead the league in minus plays. lol

I try to avoid D- range for the most part, but I use HoJo at short and Bip at second.  Great offense for an OL, and their D- range is offset by their A+ and A fielding. 

My only absolutes when it comes to defense is that I never go below B for a CF and I always get a C with an A+ arm. 

Posted by mixtroy on 4/27/2012 9:02:00 PM (view original):
While some members of this site may disagree, but you can definitely turn a team around by using the ww.  But it must be done prudently!!!

#1 reason to use the WW:  a player is underperforming an I can't stand looking at his stats anymore.