My Monterrey team could really use a CF. I had been hoping this guy would get his glove into the low 70s to go with his 90 range, and I suppose I might still get another point or two out of him (progression was 55 --> 60 --> 65--> 68 over past seasons), but he's gonna get hit in the head with a lot of routine fly balls. My organizational option is a speed-and-defense guy with a career slash line of .245/.316/.372 in a hitters' park. Free agent options are unsatisfactory for a number of reasons, and the only other role I have for my young guy would be platooning at 2B; I have a genuinely good bat in LF.

Anybody ever tried to play a guy with 68 glove in CF? How big a disaster was it?

Not criticism, but the guy you're hoping for, Burnett, seems like you're hoping to find a decent hitter who can play CF.

My minor leagues are loaded with guys like Porter, defense first, AAA bat. Not ideal, but CF is a position where if I have to I'll sacrifice the batting slot. And Range/Glove players like that are everywhere. My current CF is a SS with an inaccurate arm.

Just an observation here, but it seems like in the Player Generation system for this game, a True all-around CF (good hitter) is one of the rarest things it generates. Most of the CFs in drafts are guys like Porter.

So most often I find myself either using a defense-first CF, or playing a better player out of position.

To answer your original question, I'd probably go no lower than 70 or 75 Glove - and that's if the guy was a really good hitter. I'm not sure how poor a fielder he'd be, but I DO know from experience that the far bigger mistake to make in CF is using someone with Range below 80/85.

I often use guys like sort of like Burnett in CF, decent hitter, high range, mid 70s glove. This guy is my current Fresno CF, and this guy is my current Durham CF (glove too low for SS for my taste). But I can't remember going below 73 or so with this strategy.

75

Posted by damag on 5/27/2022 9:35:00 AM (view original):
Not criticism, but the guy you're hoping for, Burnett, seems like you're hoping to find a decent hitter who can play CF.

My minor leagues are loaded with guys like Porter, defense first, AAA bat. Not ideal, but CF is a position where if I have to I'll sacrifice the batting slot. And Range/Glove players like that are everywhere. My current CF is a SS with an inaccurate arm.

Just an observation here, but it seems like in the Player Generation system for this game, a True all-around CF (good hitter) is one of the rarest things it generates. Most of the CFs in drafts are guys like Porter.

So most often I find myself either using a defense-first CF, or playing a better player out of position.

To answer your original question, I'd probably go no lower than 70 or 75 Glove - and that's if the guy was a really good hitter. I'm not sure how poor a fielder he'd be, but I DO know from experience that the far bigger mistake to make in CF is using someone with Range below 80/85.

Pretty much bang on.

Jimmie Merced: https://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerRatings.aspx?pid=10082124

is the lowest I would go for glove in CF and that’s only because he has a bonkers range.

good bat - 75
avg bat - 80

Totally agree with the forum, I will go glove as low as 75 if he has very high Range 88+ and a bat to justify it.

I'd never go below 80, even if it was a "good" bat. There are far too many opportunities to create "-" plays and errors. I'll take a 85 range 83 glove with a .230 (or below)/.300/.350 any day of the week.

I never go below an 80 glove

Some have said that range is important for a CF. I have Player Profile: C.C. Lutz - Hardball Dynasty Baseball | WhatIfSports who is a little low on range based on what some have said but he has a plus glove. What am I sacrificing by playing him in CF with lower range? Basically, what does range affect?

He won't be able to get to some balls that other CFs would. So he'll be missing out on some + plays by not running down some difficult fly balls, and likewise get some - plays by not getting to balls that normal CFs would be able to get to.

Mostly agree with all of the above. One more tidbit to add is that arm strength helps more than most folks think. In box scores, I see lots of those singles that are plus plays on CF that have a + rec arm in CF. Since Burnett has below rec arm strength and will likely top out at 70 glove, I'd likely shop him around and maybe add a another player to sweeten the deal and see if you can find an upgrade.

He’s hitting great for you with just 4 errors and 1 minus play. Keep him in CF until you have a better option.

My favorite was a guy in one of my leagues using two DHs to platoon C and CF.
Player A: 9 range, 19 glove, 61 arm strength, and 53 accuracy (85 games)
Player B: 10 range, 18 glove, 53 arm strength, 57 accuracy, 67 pitch calling (71 games)

While in CF for Season 47, they combined for 156 games, 61 errors, 15 minus plays. The previous single season record for errors in the league was 29, set way back in Season 9; so they slightly more than doubled the previous record.
While behind the plate they combined for 162 games, 9 errors, 1 minus plays.

But they hit
Player A: .292 avg, 52 hr, 130 rbi
Player B: .292 avg, 29 hr, 91 rbi