This is not that big a deal, since it only involves a utility IF, but I was wondering what the general opinion might be. Would you rather go with a guy with good splits but not so good Contact

[URL=http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=3103849]Barry Harvey[/URL]

or better Contact but Splits are worse

[URL=http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2686366]Alex Franco[/URL]

Neither has a very good BE. Harvey has more power, Franco better speed.

I'd say Harvey is the far superior hitter.

Neither are really anything more than COF-quality gloves, imho.

Also, 40-something contact isn't a killer, in my experience.  Once you get into the 30s or 20s, that's when you can start to question the usefulness of the player as a whole.

Since it's an AL team, PH doesn't happen as frequently as in the NL. Would this factor in for you? Franco would be a better PR.

My first factor would be to look at the durability of the players they would tend to back up, and try to get someone who can fill their role similarly for short stretches.

Also, I'm not a huge running guy, so there's that.  PR isn't something I tend to reserve a spot on my bench for... at least not for the regular season.  My PRs tend to also be my backup CF/SS-types.

Harvey is definitely better; he has superior splits, power, and eye, and his contact isn't low enough to be a problem.

In general, in the contact vs. splits debate, I offer this: If you gave me a guy with 0 contact and 100/100 splits, I would seriously consider playing him if he had decent power. If you gave me a guy with 100 contact and 0/0 splits, you couldn't pay me to put him into my lineup.

Continuing on prez's theme:

100 contact and 50/50 splits might be decent with good speed, baserunning, MIF glove, etc.
50 contact and 100/100 splits is potentially an all-star, depending on power, eye, etc.

On the specific question-- Harvey is a much better player than Franco.  Franco is a very marginal UT, Harvey will be a very decent starting 3B by the end of this season.

On the general question-- the aggregate splits are more important than contact, but they're TWO ratings, and control is ONE.  If you level that playing field:
20/75/75/75/75 is a league-average hitter, but can't start at a corner; if he's got 50/50/50/50 defensive ratings he's just a sub.
75/75/75/20/75 is a very good lefty-masher, if he's got 50/50/50/50 defensive ratings he gets 200-250 very solid PA in an OF corner.
75/75/20/75/75 is a starting player at any position, gets 400-450 PA, just needs a platoon partner of the sort that can be found cheaply in FA. if he's got 50/50/50/50 defensive ratings he helps you win a championship.

The bottom player is MUCH better than the top 2, and I think the second player is slightly more likely to help you win a championship than the first.

Maybe it's just me, dedelman, but I've had terrible luck with anyone close to the second set of ratings you describe.... and platoons in general.

http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=694416: 7 time all-star 40/40/95/95/60

Posted by iain on 9/30/2010 2:10:00 PM (view original):
Maybe it's just me, dedelman, but I've had terrible luck with anyone close to the second set of ratings you describe.... and platoons in general.

Same here.

http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2046860

Had a fluky type season last year, but this guy is at the very least useful.  I wouldn't pay him much but...

Plus he has terrible Defense, or a terrible arm at least

Well, taking the advice of the plethora of WIS genius exhibited here, I promoted Harvey to the ML and sent Franco to AAA. Harvey's first game, 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI. Nice start. Thanks for the input.