If I have 2 catchers - one with an 80 pitch calling rating the other with 50 what will the difference in era be assuming they each catch the same pitchers over time.? I think I read once that every 10 points was worth 0.10 in era but don't know if that is really the case

That's actually pretty accurate. I always favor a catcher with pitch-calling over anything else, though...I never start a C with less than 80 pitch-calling (unless both of my good catchers get hurt, as is the case with my Vancouver team right now).

If you want statistical evidence of pitch-calling's effect, take my 2 catchers from my Toronto Franchise:

1 has 83 pitch calling. His season ERA is 4.00.

2 has 100 pitch calling. His season ERA is 3.76.

They both catch the same pitchers, and got relatively the same amount of playing time this season.

I've got a catcher with a 46 pc that has a 3.291 cERA.
The other has a pc of 83 and a cERA of 4.515.

I think that you should play the best bat you can there.

There are very differing opinions on the usefulness of pitch calling and what it actually does for a pitcher. To be fair, comparing cERA's isn't necessarily a great method because supposedly PC rating affects opponent batting average, not ERA.

My rule of thumb is just never to start anyone with a below-average PC rating. If you're 50+, it won't hurt your pitchers. Numbers higher than that are (delicious) gravy and can only serve to help your pitchers. Numbers lower than that should only be used if you have someone who is outstanding offensively and you have no one else to play at C.

Don't look just at PC. Throw power and accuracy are equally important, especially considering how often people steal. The steal stats are artifically high in this game because people tend to favor catchers that can hit over catchers that can play the position. Give me a lineup that wins over a lineup that wins batting titles and loses any day.

I've used the same platoon at catcher for 5 seasons. Catcher 1 has 88pc and a 3.38 career cERA in 4850 innings. Catcher 2 has 68 pc and a 3.96 career cERA in 2400 innings.

I think catcher defense is overrated, but that's just me.

Seems to me that it also matters how many decent pitches your pitchers tend to have. If you have an SP with only 1-2 decent pitches then you should see more benefit from playing a high pitch calling catcher with him than you would with an SP with 3-4 decent pitches.

Quote: Originally posted by jtbrodzeller on 5/02/2010Seems to me that it also matters how many decent pitches your pitchers tend to have. If you have an SP with only 1-2 decent pitches then you should see more benefit from playing a high pitch calling catcher with him than you would with an SP with 3-4 decent pitches.

Pitch calling is a modifier for OAV and has nothing to do with a pitchers actual selection of pitches

Quote: Originally posted by schuyler101 on 5/02/2010

Quote: Originally posted by jtbrodzeller on 5/02/2010Seems to me that it also matters how many decent pitches your pitchers tend to have. If you have an SP with only 1-2 decent pitches then you should see more benefit from playing a high pitch calling catcher with him than you would with an SP with 3-4 decent pitches.

Pitch calling is a modifier for OAV and has nothing to do with a pitchers actual selection of pitches

No, pitch calling modifies pitch ratings. It's not a direct modifier of OAV.

Quote: Originally Posted By antonsirius on 5/02/2010

Quote: Originally posted by schuyler101 on 5/02/2010

Quote: Originally posted by jtbrodzeller on 5/02/2010Seems to me that it also matters how many decent pitches your pitchers tend to have. If you have an SP with only 1-2 decent pitches then you should see more benefit from playing a high pitch calling catcher with him than you would with an SP with 3-4 decent pitches.

Pitch calling is a modifier for OAV and has nothing to do with a pitchers actual selection of pitches

No, pitch calling modifies pitch ratings. It's not a direct modifier of OAV

Where did you guys get this information? The help section says

Pitch Calling indicates how well the player handles pitchers behind the plate.

I don't see where either of you guys can argue that it modifies pitch ratings or it is a direct modifier of OAV. Unless you have hard facts and are willing to share the source of those facts I don't think you should be giving advice on this matter. But if you are willing to share that source go ahead and post it so everyone else can actually learn something because both of you can't be right.

Quote: Originally Posted By timf on 5/02/2010

Quote: Originally Posted By antonsirius on 5/02/2010

Quote: Originally posted by schuyler101 on 5/02/2010

Quote: Originally posted by jtbrodzeller on 5/02/2010Seems to me that it also matters how many decent pitches your pitchers tend to have. If you have an SP with only 1-2 decent pitches then you should see more benefit from playing a high pitch calling catcher with him than you would with an SP with 3-4 decent pitches.

Pitch calling is a modifier for OAV and has nothing to do with a pitchers actual selection of pitches

No, pitch calling modifies pitch ratings. It's not a direct modifier of OAV.

Where did you guys get this information? The help section says

Pitch Calling indicates how well the player handles pitchers behind the plate.

I don't see where either of you guys can argue that it modifies pitch ratings or it is a direct modifier of OAV. Unless you have hard facts and are willing to share the source of those facts I don't think you should be giving advice on this matter. But if you are willing to share that source go ahead and post it so everyone else can actually learn something because both of you can't be right

Does a catcher's pitch calling affect anything other than OAV? Does it affect how many pitches a pitcher throws per inning? (sweetsalve - Hall of Famer - 1:11 PM)

No, it only affects OAV.

1/4/2010 11:26 AM antonsirius
Question about the Pitch Calling Rating, stemming from a forum thread:

Does having a catcher with a high PC rating minimize the negative effects of a pitcher having poor secondary pitches?
1/4/2010 4:47 PM Customer Support
Anton,

Yes, the higher the pitch calling rating the better the secondary pitches are.

Quote: Originally posted by antonsirius on 5/02/20101/4/2010 11:26 AM antonsirius
Question about the Pitch Calling Rating, stemming from a forum thread:

Does having a catcher with a high PC rating minimize the negative effects of a pitcher having poor secondary pitches?
1/4/2010 4:47 PM Customer Support
Anton,

Yes, the higher the pitch calling rating the better the secondary pitches are.

Anton, i don't think that response necessarily means better pitch calling helps pitchers with poor secondary pitches any more than ones with good secondary pitches. All they say is it improves secondary pitches.

In any case I usually defer to the devo chat over customer support correspondence.

That's exactly what I said in this thread -- PC directly modifies pitch ratings. That's all it does.

Does that have some impact on OAV? Sure, just like it has an impact on K/9 and ERA and, hell, Win Shares. Those aren't system variables, they're outputs.

sweet's dev chat question was essentially meaningless.