Messed up -- how bad is a lefty glove at 2B? Topic

tedwmoore
Posts: 323 (0)
Hall of Famer
4 81
Prospect
So I screwed up and signed a guy to play 2B without thinking to check whether he throws left-handed.  How ugly is this going to be?  He is a career 290/340/480 hitter, will that offense be enough to offset the fielding?
10/13/2010 9:28 AM
kneeneighbor
Posts: 3984 (0)
Hall of Famer
106 4 1 22 19 42
Prospect
Not even close. It will be brutal.
10/13/2010 9:30 AM
WiredTiger
Posts: 503 (0)
Hall of Famer
10 43 18 209 11
Prospect
Agreed. That will be brutal. 
10/13/2010 9:33 AM
tedwmoore
Posts: 323 (0)
Hall of Famer
4 81
Prospect
Okay.  How ugly would it be if he played RF:  His arm strength is 48 and his throwing accuracy is 53?  On the plus, his range and glove are 79/78, respectively.  And I looked at his player card again, he is a career 290/360/500 hitter, though in recent years he is more like a 340-350 OBP and a 490 slugging.  So if he hits 290/340/490, catches almost everything hit into right field but has a noodle arm, will he be okay?
10/13/2010 9:41 AM
mhulshult
Posts: 982 (0)
Hall of Famer
5 3 63
Prospect
May see a couple more guys go from first to third or score that would have otherwise been thrown out, but it won't be as bad as the number of negative plays you will see as a lefty at 2B.
10/13/2010 10:00 AM
MikeT23
Posts: 58012 (0)
Hall of Famer
87 1 47 1 189
Prospect
His range and glove will likely make up for his crap arm. 
10/13/2010 10:20 AM
tropicana
Posts: 980 (0)
Hall of Famer
184 13 588 202 293
Prospect
The biggest problem with the lefty fielding 2B is that he can't turn two, correct everyone?  I figure some people will see this and not understand WHY it is bad, so I wanted to lay that out there too.
10/13/2010 12:47 PM
dedelman
Posts: 2238 (0)
Hall of Famer
324 219
Pro

1)  He'd make a very nice LF... does your current LF have a better arm?
2)  The number of (-) plays lefty 2Bs make is not as high as it should be, and while I think you lose some DPs it may not be huge.  I played this gentleman at CF, but another owner played him at 2B.  Check out the stats-- with a range in the high 70s, glove of 89,and arm ratings in the 60s, he was on pace to make "only" about 25 (-) plays in a full season, with 85 or so DPs.

And it's even less of a penalty at 3B; check out this "left-handed SS" type, only about 12 (-) plays per 160 games at 3B (although with those ratings he'd have a bunch of (+) if he were right handed).

Long story short, I think if you've got a guy whose bat will support giving up 20-30 or so extra runs you can get away with this.  I'd try not to, though; usually you'll get better results by changing positions around with your other players.

EDIT-- to be excrutiatingly clear, I view the lack of an adequate penalty as a bug and would love it if as part of an update the penalty for a playing LH infielder were increased.

10/13/2010 4:51 PM (edited)
MikeT23
Posts: 58012 (0)
Hall of Famer
87 1 47 1 189
Prospect
I'm not exactly sure HOW WifS punishes the lefty 2B, I just know it does.    As far as a RL lefty, I'd think balls hit to his right would be a real problem. 
10/13/2010 12:56 PM
tedwmoore
Posts: 323 (0)
Hall of Famer
4 81
Prospect
dedelman:  Yes, my current LFer has a better arm; his ratings are 74/43/66/60.  Should I use my current LFer as the RFer and this guy in LF?  How bad will a 43 glove play in RF as compared to LF,  any experience or thoughts?  Will it make much difference where I play these two guys?
10/13/2010 3:45 PM
The__Kid
Posts: 66 (0)
Hall of Famer
3 1 1 308 61 80 3
Prospect
In RL, the main problem with having a LH 2B, SS or 3B is that you need to pivot your body with your back to the plate in order to make an accurate, strong throw to 1B (or to 2B) - That can easily take 1/2 second to a second which is 1 to 1 1/2 steps for a baserunner.  My guess is that would translate into a ton of - plays
10/13/2010 4:45 PM
dedelman
Posts: 2238 (0)
Hall of Famer
324 219
Pro
@twm-- Yes, swap the LF and the RF. There are more plays in LF than RF, so moving the bad glove to where there are fewer balls to drop is a good thing.
10/13/2010 4:51 PM
genghisxcon
Posts: 5894 (0)
Hall of Famer
176 11
Prospect
What's the problem? Lefties make great second baseman.


- uncleal
10/13/2010 7:06 PM
andersaa
Posts: 334 (0)
Hall of Famer
220 16 86 10
Prospect
I agree with dedelman, have Henry play RF, and Marshall play LF. LF gets more chances at outs so the best glove should go there.

I also think the arm strength of a RF is overrated.
10/13/2010 7:54 PM
kneeneighbor
Posts: 3984 (0)
Hall of Famer
106 4 1 22 19 42
Prospect
Posted by genghisxcon on 10/13/2010 7:06:00 PM (view original):
What's the problem? Lefties make great second baseman.


- uncleal
Someone bump the thread.
10/14/2010 9:55 PM
12 Next ▸
Messed up -- how bad is a lefty glove at 2B? Topic
△Top△Bottom

Search Criteria

Terms of Use Customer Support Privacy Statement

© 1999-2026 WhatIfSports.com, Inc. All rights reserved. WhatIfSports is a trademark of WhatIfSports.com, Inc. SimLeague, SimMatchup and iSimNow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts, Inc. Used under license. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.