Ross Dixon and Vince Loux are my catching options.  The other 3 teams in my division went 697/227 sb/cs last season. Loux was my primary backstop, but I was toying with the idea of Dixon v divisional games and when I've got aggressive teams and keeping Loux in the mix at 1B.  Thoughts?

Also, what are your typical strategies when it comes to catchers with great pitch calling? Do you use them with your weaker pitchers to give them a bit of a kick, so to speak, or do you pair them with your aces for an even better matchup?

Thanks in advance.

Platoon them.  Loux starts against RHP, Dixon against LHP.  Dixon can also be a defensive replacement for Loux late in games.

Straight platoon.

Loux has enough bat that, for me, I would likely prefer him to Dixon on an everyday basis. He has a Dur of 69, which says 110ish games to me. Loux is 6 points better in his vsL split than vsR. Dixon is 35 points better vsL than vsR. If Dixon needs 50-60 starts to keep Loux fresh, make them all vsL, and he should put together a useable batting line. Have Dixon listed #1 at C both for rest and defensive replacements. In the playoffs, I would go to Loux everyday.

AL or NL? NL I presume since you mentioned Loux at 1B. If so, look to get Loux 6 games at DH in Interleague play. If you're comfortable playing Loux at 1B some AND your 1B is nothing special with the stick, that might be okay against big running teams.

Given Dixon's contact, power, and vsR, I would try my best not to have hime see 4-5 PAs with a righty on the mound against you.

Dixon's cERA is about 6/10 of a run better than Loux's, but that probably isn't sustainable. That's a one-year, small sample hiccup.   And the whole issue of PC impact is still up in the air (although I think it has some impact but not 6/10 of a run). I've had backup catchers who were clearly better PC'ers have higher cERA's than my starter.  Dixon threw out 1/3 of the guys attempting to steal last year, Loux gunned down 1/5.  You had a bit more than one attempted steal against you every game, last year.  If they played fulltime, Loux would throw out about 20 guys less than Dixon.  If I remember correctly, a stolen base is worth .25 runs.  So over an entire season, Loux would give up about 4-5 more runs (becauseof the SB) than Dixon.

On the other hand, Dixon is an incredibly pathetic terrible no-good bat.  He's costing you a bunch of runs.  If I did it right, Dixon creates just less than 2 runs/27 outs. OUCH!  Loux creates just more than 5.  In other words, a line-up of nothing but Dixon's would score, on the average, less than 2 runs per game.  Somebody can double check that.  I think I'm close.

If you figure each one of those guys makes 27 outs over 9 fulltime games as a catcher (it would be more for Dixon), Dixon is costing you about 1/3 of a run each game with his bat (3 runs over 9 games).

That's 50+ runs over a season.  His arm saves you less than 10% of that.  Not sure what the PC saves you. A few, maybe.

So for me, I would use Dixon ONLY for defensive purposes.  Mostly, I would quickly dump him and buy a FA with at least some bat and glove. 

I've checked your AAA squad, you have nobody there.  Go get a better guy to back-up Loux. Oh, Loux is a terrible 1B, btw.  Don't play him there.

btw, again:  The break-even point on stolen bases is that you have to successfully steal 66%-70% of your attempts.  Teams in your division are successful at a 75% clip.  They aren't WILDLY successful at "stealing" runs.

moe

Hey Max!  We came up with about the same RC for Loux, but I have Dixon at 2 runs per game and you have him at 3.  I had Dixon creating about 10.2 runs with his bat (OPBxslugxAB).  He made 162 outs.  162/27 = 6.  10.2/6 = 1.7...or just less than 2 runs per game.  Did I mess up?

Loux would be a bit better purely vL.  But he's still ugly.

moe

Great pitch calling creating a kick back?  Hah.  Don't tell that to Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Damaso Segui  

Posted by egrant on 2/1/2012 2:45:00 PM (view original):
Ross Dixon and Vince Loux are my catching options.  The other 3 teams in my division went 697/227 sb/cs last season. Loux was my primary backstop, but I was toying with the idea of Dixon v divisional games and when I've got aggressive teams and keeping Loux in the mix at 1B.  Thoughts?

Also, what are your typical strategies when it comes to catchers with great pitch calling? Do you use them with your weaker pitchers to give them a bit of a kick, so to speak, or do you pair them with your aces for an even better matchup?

Thanks in advance.

My opinion is he'll hurt you worse at 1B than at C.  I wouldn't ever play a Catcher at 1B or COF, ever.

Ross Dixon... I'm a huge proponent of high PC catchers though.  It might make a little bit of a difference if Loux's bat was more of a threat.  His .250ish production doesn't make it worth it for me.  Just one man's opinion though.

Moe, I was completely un-scientific.  I just eyeballed their ratings and guessed their stats based on other players I've seen.  I'm sure your estimate is more accurate than mine.  But at the same time, the formula -- OBP x slugging x AB  -- just doesn't look right to me.  However, the numbers jive.

I use this guy: http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1661015.  And his RC/27 is currently at 2.13 this season.

I platoon him with this guy:  http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2783477.  His RC/27 is now 6.03, but was 4.57 last season. 

Parker's useful....hits righties way better than Dixon, with a bit of pop.  I have him at 3.5 or 3.6 RC/27 last year....but, interestingly, his cERA was higher than Spiers last year.  not sure what that says about PC.

I always go with the bat. Unlike adeid, I don't put too much stock in PC. I'll take the bat any day.

I had Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Tomas Garrido  play some 1B and C even though he isnt ideal for either.  He seemed to be hitting better than his rating suggested so he got some playing time. 

Then I picked up Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Damaso Segui  thinking WOW 91 pc?  Coupled with a top 3 defense this guy could really bring out the best in my staff. 

The difference between 91 pc and 34 pc ended up being 0.70 era  but I was expecting the era's to end up even lower.  4.17 doesnt seem like a good ERA for 91 PC.  Was I expecting too much?.

Posted by a_ersberg on 2/2/2012 7:31:00 PM (view original):
I had Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Tomas Garrido  play some 1B and C even though he isnt ideal for either.  He seemed to be hitting better than his rating suggested so he got some playing time. 

Then I picked up Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Damaso Segui  thinking WOW 91 pc?  Coupled with a top 3 defense this guy could really bring out the best in my staff. 

The difference between 91 pc and 34 pc ended up being 0.70 era  but I was expecting the era's to end up even lower.  4.17 doesnt seem like a good ERA for 91 PC.  Was I expecting too much?.

0.7 Runs/Game is 113.4 Runs/Season.  That's potentially worth 8-10 wins, I would think.  Your staff on that club is underperforming.  It's not a great staff, but better than it's shown.  I think you have a case of small sample size.

You have a starter with an ERA above 8, and the guy with the most innings on your team has a 5.25 ERA.  Plus, your bullpen isn't good.  Segui isn't the problem.  .  Uh, never let Garrido catch.