Shortstops - defense or offense ? Topic

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MikeT23
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SS is the most important defensive position.   That said, it's always a balancing act in figuring out what's better for your team.   If you have a below average SS that rakes, maybe that's better for you than a GG candidate who hits .200 with no power.   The objective is always to outscore the other team.  Doesn't matter if you win 11-10 or 2-1.

I look for 85 across the board.  Of my 8 current SS, only one misses that mark.  He's got an 83 glove.
3/2/2015 8:31 AM
damag
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FWIW, agreed with Mike.  I actually platoon two SS, vsR/vsL, both 90+ ratings except for 88 gloves.  They only hit about .240 combined, but I accept that given their defense and its effect on my team ERA.

The vsR guy was a comp pick, #60 overall.  The vsL guy, round 3 #109.  When I look at the top hitting SS in my world they are all either top ten picks or super internationals... so yeah, difficult to acquire.

 

3/2/2015 9:19 AM
dedelman
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You're always looking for value-- best player for lowest cost in salary or draft pick or trade-- at all positions.  

Given that, I find in my worlds that, like damag, the best value often ends up in a platoon, 2 very good defenders with a single really bad split.  The only fulltime starters I've had at SS in quite some time had weak VsR splits but had high enough power, eye and defensive ratings that I just let them have huge platoon differences and played them every day (Benny Velazquez is an example).
3/2/2015 11:19 AM
MikeT23
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Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Desi Gonzalez won a GG in S34 but hit so horribly this season that I felt forced to give Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Lorenzo Maradona a lot more playing time than he got in S34(not that he crushed the ball either).
3/2/2015 11:27 AM
frymaster99
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I've been using  Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Max Guerrero and have been quite happy...he's had a career year this season offensively, but defensively was second in + plays and top 10 in fielding percentage. I hit him 9th so that his speed can be utilized while not killing me on the basepaths. 
3/2/2015 3:36 PM
a_ersberg
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Id rather lose knowing I had an adequate SS, then having a guy say 80/84/89/79 at SS and lose.  Then I cant help but wonder "well duh if I had a better SS, could I have won more games?"
3/2/2015 5:05 PM
frymaster99
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Posted by a_ersberg on 3/2/2015 5:05:00 PM (view original):
Id rather lose knowing I had an adequate SS, then having a guy say 80/84/89/79 at SS and lose.  Then I cant help but wonder "well duh if I had a better SS, could I have won more games?"
But what if that adequate SS can hit the snot out of the ball...wouldn't you wonder the opposite question if you lose with a good defensive SS?
3/2/2015 5:09 PM
jonas1102
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As you start moving players down the defensive spectrum, they all start becoming above average defenders. The top team in my league last year had 91 plus plays, 15 minus plays, and 57 errors . The worst team had 37 plus plays, 48 minus plays and 136 errors.

So the best team had 54 extra plus plays, 33 fewer minus plays, 79 fewer errors. 166 extra plays on defense (that are tracked).

166 extra hits means you need to replace and elite defensive SS who hits .200 over 600 AB with someone who hits .477.

That is the extreme, and not as cut and dry as I make it, but you need to find your balance. Finding elite defenders is usually cheaper as well.
3/4/2015 11:04 AM
bfhendricks
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^ Doesn't that imply that all 166 balls were to the SS though? 
3/6/2015 10:53 AM
MikeT23
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Yeah, I think he got off mark somewhere.     The worst of the worst SS shouldn't commit more than 35-40 errors.   If someone has a guy committing 53, he's probably trying to lose.    Same with bad plays.    20ish.     Top end SS could get around 35+ plays.
3/6/2015 10:57 AM
jonas1102
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Posted by bfhendricks on 3/6/2015 10:53:00 AM (view original):
^ Doesn't that imply that all 166 balls were to the SS though? 
You are right, I was being hyperbolic. The difference between the best and worst defenses isn't one player. But changes aren't 1 for 1 either. In theory, as you move in a new defensive upgrade at SS, you can also move in a new defensive upgrade at 3B by moving your old SS there, and then your old 3B goes out and improves RF, and your RF goes over and improves LF, and your LF comes in and improves 1B, and your 1B now gets his terrible D off the field and moves into a DH role. You upgrade 5 positions defensively.

It is all a balance though. Maybe that team with the bad defense gets 200 more hits. Maybe there's a team only 50 down who gets 150 more hits.
3/6/2015 3:55 PM
moethedog
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I think the question is about SS's like these two guys I have:   Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Kendry Marrero and  Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Mateo Trajano .

Marrero has been a GG -type guy (Range has dropped a bit for this year), in fact, he's won two.  Career bat:  .241-.296-.345.  He's had 141 +'s and 1 - in 920 career SS starts.  

Trajano is a 3B for me. but he has nearly as many career starts at SS as at 3B.  Bat:  .280-.339-.417  He's had 0 + plays and 12 - plays in 294 career SS starts.  He's a one-time Silver Slugger as SS.  

Trajano gets to 5.21 balls per 9 innings and Marrero 5.41.  Every five games he's making an extra play.

Of those two guys, who is your SS?
3/7/2015 8:18 PM
Shortstops - defense or offense ? Topic
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