How would you align these 3 players between the SS, 2B, and CF positions?

Richardson: D-Ratings 78/82/81/81, Dur 79

Riley: D-Ratings 76/83/85/89, Dur 80

Malloy: D-Ratings 80/72/79/80, Dur 69

My initial thought is SS Richardson, 2B Riley, CF Malloy.

Your thoughts?

I'd go...

Riley - SS
richardson - cf
malloy - 2b

I agree

I'm curious why Malloy at 2B and not CF? I was thinking it best to protect his lower Glove and Dur in CF, which see fewer chances than 2B.

I'd try to trade Malloy for a SS who actually meets the minimums. Failing that, it's Riley at SS, Richardson at 2b and Malloy in CF.

Throwing arm?

All 3 guys have major plus throwing arms for 2B/CF.

Quote: Originally posted by gjello10 on 3/22/2010I'm curious why Malloy at 2B and not CF?  I was thinking it best to protect his lower Glove and Dur in CF, which see fewer chances than 2B.

I can't say where I'd play the 3 guys you listed, because I don't think I'd play them at any of the spots you have open...

BUT, the fewer chances at CF thing does not play a role in his fatigue. WhatIf does use something akin to the defensive spectrum, though if I recall correctly it varies slightly from the real thing, where those at more difficult positions fatigue more quickly than those at easier positions (not based on number of chances) but that's generally a very slight impact, especially where the position options are very close to one another (you're not comparing a 1B to a C here).

Quote: Originally posted by soxfan121 on 3/22/2010I'd try to trade Malloy for a SS who actually meets the minimums. Failing that, it's Riley at SS, Richardson at 2b and Malloy in CF.

They aren't "minimums", they are ratings of an "average" SS.

If Malloy has a better-than-average bat, his defensive ratings are certainly not going to hurt your team.

Quote: Originally Posted By smoelheim on 3/22/2010

Quote: Originally posted by soxfan121 on 3/22/2010
I'd try to trade Malloy for a SS who actually meets the minimums. Failing that, it's Riley at SS, Richardson at 2b and Malloy in CF.

They aren't "minimums", they are ratings of an "average" SS.

If Malloy has a better-than-average bat, his defensive ratings are certainly not going to hurt your team.

Many owners treat them as minimums, regardless of the heading of the popup window. WhatIf is notoriously loose with language, so I wouldn't put too much stock in the fact they chose the word "average." After all, the "average" PC for every position but C is 0, yet you won't find a single team (let alone an entire World), where the actual average PC for non-C is really 0.

Malloy's defensive ratings at SS will hurt your team, from a defensive standpoint. Whether his bat is sufficiently far above average to make his net contribution to the team a positive one is up for debate.

All that said, there are very few instances where I'd consider playing him at SS. And by very few I pretty much mean none. There may be a few instances where I'd play him at CF, but even those are few and far between.

Quote: Originally Posted By hypnotoad on 3/22/2010Throwing arm

He means are any of them -handed throwers. Because we (almost) all know that ies can't play second base.

Malloy's glove will kill you in CF but will play all right at 2b. The averages/minimum for range and glove are higher for CF than 2b.

I would go Riley at SS, Richardson at 2B and Malloy at CF.

Riley is a poor defensive SS, but Richardson would be an above-average to good 2B. So, when you put the two of them together, at least you middle infield is decent and you won't be getting killed on groundballs.

If you get a quality defensive CF who can do a little bit against ies, you can sub him for Malloy in any late game that you have a lead, which will save on his DUR a bit. You can also rest him against ies occasionally. He's a poor CF, but CF plays fewer balls and if you have a good defensive sub, he won't have enough opportunities to kill you.

If you put Malloy at 2B, you have below-average defenders at all 3 spots. I would rather have at least one spot with a plus defender, and try to make it the spot (2B as opposed to CF) that will see more action.

None of this would be my optimal call, but sometimes you have to sacrifice in one area for added value in another. I won 95 games with:

Phillip Paige as half of my shortstop platoon. Sometimes being a little creative can yield you more value rather than being too rigid with your thinking.

Quote: Originally posted by jtrinsey on 3/23/2010None of this would be my optimal call, but sometimes you have to sacrifice in one area for added value in another. I won 95 games with:

Phillip Paige as half of my shortstop platoon. Sometimes being a little creative can yield you more value rather than being too rigid with your thinking.

That guy gave you an OPS of .753 and 24 errors and 9 (-) plays in his 53 starts. Where, exactly, did he "add value"? You won 95 games *despite* playing him at SS (which is pretty impressive) not due to any benefit from your creative thinking.