I sent in a ticket a few days ago, and I'd like to hear if you folks believe the response I got.  I have a very surprising amount of minus plays on a sub-par RF that I moved to LF (where he's above average) in just 17 games.  Am I just whining here about an underperforming player, or is there a real issue here? 

[an important part of my reasoning is that no other player that I have ever managed has produced minus plays when his attributes are above average.]

Here's my ticket:

I started putting one of my star players, Norm Hutton, in LF recently because he's not such a great fielder for RF. At least for LF, every one of his fielding stats is above average. But in very limited playing time there, he has racked up 4 minus plays. How is this possible?

http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1923615


Here's the response:

Anything is possible and there is no one explanation for why he has had so many - plays. There are too many variables in the game engine to give you a specific reason.

Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Benito Palacios

Was wondering the same thing about a guy I traded for mid-season.  Has played CF his whole career but I started playing him at 2B.  3 errors and 6 negative plays in 49 games seems like a bit much for a guy who has above average range and a great glove.  Just surprising.

He's a left handed thrower

Hutton has below average range for a RF.  That's the most likely cause of his minus plays.  Range and arm strength contribute to +/-.  Glove and arm accuracy contribute to errors.

Look at the box scores and see what happened on the plays where he got tagged with a minus play.  That will give you a better clue.

Probably see more action in LF too, but yeah small sample size.

Sorry folks, maybe I wasn't clear enough.  I'm NOT surprised about his lackluster play in RF.  I AM surprised by 4 minus plays in 137 innings once I switched him to LF.  Aside from Stevelippo's example--a LH thrower making a lot of errors in the infield (which I have seen often)--I have never seen a player with above average ratings produce minus plays.  Errors, sure.  But not minus plays.

Hutton's defensive #'s- 59/57/70/65

LF average- 55/55/50/50

Two further examples to demonstrate where I'm coming from.  Oscar Kennedy, when he plays as a 2B is above average in every category.  If you look at his fielding stats, he has never committed a minus play.

http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2198993


Brett Myers, on the other hand, makes some plus plays and some minus plays.  Overall, he's an above-average 1B, but he has a weak arm.  I understand these minus plays (man I sound redundant!).  What has confused me is what seems to be anomalous results from Hutton.

http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1923274

I seem to recall guys with ratings above the position average making minus plays, just at appropriately lower frequencies.

Posted by shobob on 3/4/2011 5:04:00 PM (view original):
He's a left handed thrower

Hehehe.  Think we'll hear from Stevelippo again on this matter?

Posted by hypnotoad on 3/4/2011 5:55:00 PM (view original):
I seem to recall guys with ratings above the position average making minus plays, just at appropriately lower frequencies.

They do.   It's a SMALL SAMPLE SIZE.

I think the mantra of SSS has been mentioned; thanks.

That wasn't for you.  It was for the OP who doesn't believe his guy should ever commit a negative play because he has above average ratings.   It's like saying Ozzie Smith never made a bad play because he was above average.

Acknowledged.

Yep, I'm a jackass.  Moving on...

I want video evidence of the wizard of oz making a bad play! And if you show it to me I will tell you it was edited!