Would you play this person at SS or 3B?

22 years Old

Current 76 73 77 81
Projected 79 86 88 82

Chance to upgrade SS defensively and move this guy to 3B.
Wondering if it worth it.

That guy will kill you at SS with his current ratings. How many pro years does he have?

Definitely third base.

Posted by strikeout26 on 1/29/2019 1:39:00 AM (view original):
That guy will kill you at SS with his current ratings. How many pro years does he have?

3 years.
It would only be acceptable at his max projected ratings i assume?

For me, even if he reaches his projections he's still a third baseman, but people value defense differently.

Yes. At his projected ratings, his range would still be too low. Saying that, I have played guys like that (his projected ratings) at SS and had good seasons.

Also, he will never get anywhere near his projected in glove or arm strength.

Put a guy like that at 3B then take a SS that is over 85-90 in all defensive ratings regardless of his hitting ability. It'll be worth it.

I Always always always go defensive at SS and CF.



Fixed this for strikeout.

With all due respect Hockey, be very weary of posts that say always do something. There are a bunch of ways to win in this game. This game is all about net production. I am in the NLCS right now with a SS that is 81-83 across the board defensively who OPS's .850+.

Saying that, there are very few instances where it makes sense to not go with a defensive SS and as a newer owner it's probably best to err on the side of caution here and go defensive.

Everyone loves to get on my case when I say 'always' so I'll make my case and new owners can make their own decision why when it comes to defense up the middle I say 'always'

Defense tends to cost less because people tend to be less interested in it.

Looking at season 48 in Riley that just ended.

Looking at my league, the top 9 defensive SS were all under 4 million dollars with 7 of those being on entry level deals (also a bonus, you can draft them late and they won't take your picks where as the top 3 OPS SS in my league were all over $8 Million (I can post the links if you want, its just a lot of work to prove my point)

https://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerRatings.aspx?pid=8429973
Ismio Bellimard is a prime example. Someone paid almost 10 million for an OPS of .882 with 17 errors on the season and 2 minus plays.

Compare that to Quilivio Vasquez:

https://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerRatings.aspx?pid=7282636 (hyperlink isn't working for some reason)

You're getting 10 plus plays and only 7 errors with an OPS of .548.

I'll be curious to see what Charlie Towers asks for after arb. But it won't be 5+ million.

The thing is, you can do whatever you want. Hell you can put a DH at SS that has an OPS of 1.000+ I really could care less and yes, you'll still win some games, but I have no idea why people insist on forcing hitters into SS and CF when you have a minimum of 6 other positions on the field that can hit, 7 if you are in the AL.

Tl:Dr : Not 'Always always always' for everyone. But 'Always Always Always' for me.

I wasn't getting on your case. I find you to be knowledgeable and I agree with you on defensive SS. I'm just saying that with everything on this game, it comes down to net production and value. Also, as I said, it is a safer route for newer owners to go primarily defensive at SS.

P.S. My offensive SS hit a 3-run HR in the PM cycle and we won by 3. He also made an error that cost a run. Haha.

Probably a dumb question, but can you compensate for poor ss range by playing above average range at 3rd and 2nd?

Posted by strikeout26 on 1/29/2019 11:20:00 AM (view original):
I wasn't getting on your case. I find you to be knowledgeable and I agree with you on defensive SS. I'm just saying that with everything on this game, it comes down to net production and value. Also, as I said, it is a safer route for newer owners to go primarily defensive at SS.

P.S. My offensive SS hit a 3-run HR in the PM cycle and we won by 3. He also made an error that cost a run. Haha.

No worries. I think we are both kind on the same side for this. Just when I started I got chewed out a lot for playing poor defensive players at CF. So for newer players I like to preach defence first and then once they have played enough they can figure out what works.

Posted by McGirkTheJer on 1/29/2019 11:36:00 AM (view original):
Probably a dumb question, but can you compensate for poor ss range by playing above average range at 3rd and 2nd?

From my understanding, no. The players all work independently of each other.

that makes total sense!

To take Vasquez's defense and put it into and offensive context for easy comparison:
On defense, Vasquez turns about 22 singles/140 games into outs, compared to Belliard.

Add those singles to a typical Vasquez offensive season--take his defense and make it into offense-- and he becomes about a .305/.360/.350 hitter.
Belliard's career slash line: .270/.340/.510.

Belliard is worth about 2 WAR a year, give or take, compared to Vasquez. Are $6M a year worth it for 2 WAR? It very much depends on your team structure. If these guys were free agents that I could re-sign, asking for their current salaries, I honestly think the 2 contracts are of roughly equal value.


@dschang--I wouldn't play that guy at SS, basically ever. You've played him there half a season and he has made 24 errors and 11 (-) plays... he'd have to be Barry Bonds on offense to carry that glove, and he isn't going to get all that much better with the glove, just a handful of points in glove and AA and less than that in range and AS. Move him off SS.