Ideal ratings for key positions Topic

egrant
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I know there are a lot of differing opinions on this, but as far as core positions go (2b, SS, 3b, CF) what do you guys use as parameters for a solid and legit Def?
3/31/2011 11:18 AM
tecwrg
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Here are the recommendations.  Consider these to be "average" for the position.

Big League Averages
Position RA GL AS AA PC
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
3/31/2011 11:26 AM
a_ersberg
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60 seems pretty weak for a CF arm , and 50 pretty weak for a RF glove. I'd definitely look for better splits than those suggestions.
3/31/2011 11:54 AM
rangerup
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50 average PC for a catcher is problematic too....I would consider 50 near a no go.  I would have a hard time going with a catcher with a PC lower than 70 unless all of his offensive hitting ratings were 75+.

I look for.....SS/CF range of minimum 90, glove minimum 85 with 80's for the arm at SS minimum.  3B range 75 with arm's 70+.  I also like to corner my OF (LF, RF) with min defense of 70+ in all ratings. 

These can change a little depending on the offensive capabilities of each player.  But I tend to look defensive ratings first and foremost and then rank by offense.  Others do it differently.  Basically I like to max defense where ever I can and the only positions I am comfortable giving up defense is at 1B/LF.

Hence I typically have upper third Pitching/Defense and lower third Offense in my worlds.  But I haven't won anything so don't be a hero and copy this.
3/31/2011 1:14 PM
tomhighway
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PC doesn't really make THAT big of a difference from 50-70 obviously having a great bat helps with the lower pc but having a great bat doesn't always compensate for the errors, passed balls, bases stolen vs. the catcher etc..  Spend 2-3 seasons with the same pitchers and test the theory and see just how much it makes a difference.
3/31/2011 1:17 PM
crickett13
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Give me a catcher with a 75 AS, 75 AA and 50 PC over a cather who has 50 AS 60 AA and 75 PC any day.
3/31/2011 1:20 PM
ginobili04
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What about minors? What would you consider the lowest you would go for minor league players. Im new and would love to know this for trying to decide what level to put players. Thanks
4/12/2011 12:28 AM
rebelt
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Where you put players in the minors is irrelevant as long as you get good players/prospects playing time. As long as they are playing in the field/getting innings, that's all that matters for development. Don't be concerned about where to put them relative to their talent level. I personally bring minor league players along slowly, typically on a 4-year plan with the first year being Rookie/Low-A, 2nd year being Low-A/Hi-A, 3rd year Hi-A/AA, and 4th year being AA/AAA, and in the majors in the 5th. I don't always follow that exact progression, but don't put a 1st-year player at AAA just because his ratings are higher than all of your other AAA'ers.
4/12/2011 12:45 AM
mbriese
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I'm more of a stickler for SS, 3B, and LF. I like 3B to have all 4 fielding ratings above 70 - preferably above 75, and I don't use a SS without a single 90 on fielding ratings.
4/12/2011 2:22 AM
tecwrg
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Posted by ginobili04 on 4/12/2011 12:28:00 AM (view original):
What about minors? What would you consider the lowest you would go for minor league players. Im new and would love to know this for trying to decide what level to put players. Thanks
Play your minors guys at where their projected defensive ratings would put them.
4/12/2011 7:59 AM
jtrinsey
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I don't think I have any sort of "ideal ratings" as far as defensive guys go and I think it is a little foolish to say, "I have to have X rating at this position," because then you start to limit yourself. I just look for guys who can contribute in some way. In order of importance to me:

(1) Great offense equal or slightly above the defensive recs for their position
(2) Great offense slightly below the defensive recs for their position
(3) Extremely cheap contract with acceptable offense and defense around the defensive recs
(4) Extremely cheap contract with acceptable offense and defense slightly below the defensive recs
(5) Reasonable contract with terrible offense but very good defense. Although this is pretty rare because (at least in the two worlds I play in), I think defense is overvalued from a price standpoint.

So obviously, I go after bats first and defense second. I think that it is fairly simple to build a team that can be in the top-5 in your league every year in OPS. From there, it's, "Can I get the same offensive production from a better defensive player?" or, "Can I get the same production at a cheaper price so I can upgrade my pitching staff?" But obviously, there's lots of varying opinions on the matter.

4/12/2011 9:09 AM
MikeT23
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It's all about asset acquistion.   If the majority of the world built their teams like jtrinsey, I'd chase the acceptable bat/great defense players and bulld my team around pitching.   Simply because those players would be easier to acquire with everyone else competing for the great offensive players.
4/12/2011 9:12 AM
jtrinsey
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Posted by MikeT23 on 4/12/2011 9:12:00 AM (view original):
It's all about asset acquistion.   If the majority of the world built their teams like jtrinsey, I'd chase the acceptable bat/great defense players and bulld my team around pitching.   Simply because those players would be easier to acquire with everyone else competing for the great offensive players.
True. It's just my experience that (at least right now), defense is a bit overvalued. Judging from the, "I never play a SS with less than 85 across the board," posts that usually fill up these topics, I think it will stay that way for a little while longer.

But yeah, I get what you are saying. Sometimes it is also about who is available. Maybe I would prefer a 50/50/50/50 big bat in left field, but if there isn't one on the market, maybe I have to be creative and go for a 75/75/60/60 guy who can OPS .700 and make it up on defense. That's the kind of stuff that makes the game hard. After a while, it gets fairly easy to predict (over a large enough sample size) player performance, but the hard part is acquiring them and fitting them together with a long-term vision.
4/12/2011 10:15 AM
jtrinsey
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Posted by crickett13 on 3/31/2011 1:20:00 PM (view original):
Give me a catcher with a 75 AS, 75 AA and 50 PC over a cather who has 50 AS 60 AA and 75 PC any day.
Hah, well that's kind of a sandbagging argument because you are comparing 200 total points to 185.

Would you take 75/75/50 over 60/65/75? I probably would take the latter. But I think they are pretty comparable.
4/12/2011 10:20 AM
aaronwayne
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Posted by crickett13 on 3/31/2011 1:20:00 PM (view original):
Give me a catcher with a 75 AS, 75 AA and 50 PC over a cather who has 50 AS 60 AA and 75 PC any day.
I'm beginning to believe this point.  I went w/a C who was very good, not great at PC, about 75, but had a weak arm.  His arm was about 58/60, really Jason Kendell like.  Teams ran on him like the wind.  Allowed over 90 steals while throwing out only about 10%.  Any bump in PC I think was easily countered by the extra bases allowed.  Sine that season happened, I've been willing to sacrifice some off the PC for a better armed C.  

Of course, if you play in a league where base stealing doesn't happen much, it would be a non issue. 
4/12/2011 11:41 AM
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