I have three players with similar defensive ratings and have been debating where to put them:

Player	Range	Glove	Arm Str	Arm Acc
A	78	78	59	62
B	82	74	53	57
C (throws L)	86	70	62	59

A had 9 errors, one plus, and one minus in 900 innings at 2B last year. C had 11 errors, 2 plus, and zero minus in 1200 innings in CF last year.

I think I want to keep the status quo and slot B in LF, but thoughts?

A 2B
B LF
C CF

I do not think any of them should start at 2nd or cf unless they can hit for .850 + ops or have a .370 + obp. I would only do it If I could not a better option which there should be unless we are talking aaa.

I agree with both posts. If those are my only options, I am taking the glove at 2B over the extra range. And Brian is right in that they are only good enough defensively if they are good offensively.

Check out the recommended minimums for each position:

Position	Range	Glove	Arm strength	Arm accuracy	Pitch call
C	10	30	75	75	50
1B	40	40	40	40	0
2B	80	75	55	65	0
3B	65	70	75	70	0
SS	80	85	85	85	0
LF	55	55	50	50	0
CF	85	85	60	65	0
RF	65	50	70	65	0

I'm not convinced 2B defense is that crucial. I have a player with 76/66/62/61 and has a .983 Fielding % and only 7 minus plays in 1,616 innings. From those numbers, I would prefer higher range than glove to boost the +/- plays since it seems the errors are fairly muted to begin with. That equates to about 180 games, so not a huge sample but I have checked guys other people play at 2B and have seen pretty similar results which is why I tried this guy at 2B full time last season

Radhames Ramirez

That is 7 minus plays plus 10 errors at 2B. That would put him in the bottom third of MLB players in 2018 who qualified for this statistical ranking:

https://atmlb.com/2RjsgRB

You are getting good offensive production from him, but does he negate that with his defense?

I care about Fld % which was .985 last season and would be tied for 6th best. So, then the worry is 6 negative plays from the same season. Roster construction would probably determine if I was ok with him at 2B, and in this case I have an elite Def CF and well above avg Def SS, so I am just fine with him as long as his OPS is around .800.

I agree with mtanton regarding 2B defense. This guy started all 162 games at 2B last season. He had 5 errors and 3 minus plays:

https://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerRatings.aspx?pid=8859370

I value def and range a lot at 2nd,cf and ss. My baselines are 85+ all spots at ss. 75,80,80,80 3rd. 85,85 2nd and cf. These can vary some as if a guy is 90,78 at 2nd or cf or 80,75,78,75 at 3rd etc. The only way Id let it go below is if they can hit really well or I was unsuccessful finding a replacement. I love playing teams with a 76,66 at 2nd. To be honest the guy would have to hit 1.000 + ops for me to even consider it and then id move him to lf or 1st because I like to win. I am not critiquing as everyone like to do there own thing I just know how I play wins. Just like in real life our 250 lb slower guy isn't going to be covering the outside receivers it is going to cost us we all know it. I do not know what constitutes a - play for sure but to me just being on the field in a position below specs would be a - play.

Don't get me wrong, I value glove over bat at CF/SS every time. But I just haven't seen evidence in the numbers that would sway me from going under the specs at 2B. Yes, it would be nice to have an elite Def 2B that has an .800 OPS, but that's not always possible and this, to me, seems like a glitch in the matrix!

Not here to argue with anyone. Many different ways to skin this cat, and I personally think it also depends on your home park and pitching staff too. But then someone else will argue that park factor is overrated.

All I know is I used to worry a lot less about defense, and for one season - while I was waiting for a prospect CF to be ready for the majors - I put a guy very much like "Player A" in CF. The team was pretty bad that season, and at about the 2/3 mark my best buddy in the league pointed out that my CF was on track to set the league record for worst range CF range factor. Didn't make that many errors, didn't have that many minus plays... he just never got to any batted balls.

That's when I personally got religion about defense ratings.

I traded this guy as he was losing his spot in Lf and the current guy uses him at 2nd. People do different things. His team is winning we will see in the playoffs how well it works out

Player Profile: Myles Peters - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports

Yeah, that's interesting. This guy has a 62 glove, whereas my 2B has a 67 glove. But his throwing numbers are better than mine. His guy has made 11 errors, whereas my guy made 5 errors.