I have two 2B options for the upcoming season..one is this guy who has been the team's starting SS for 6 seasons. He's productive...well, kind of.

http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=787324

Fielding ratings are 77-81-79-80/Batting 57-54-49-67-45

Durability 83/Health 72 (I have no clue how Health applies)

He wants $5.3M this year and for the next 5. Way too much, I think.

My other choice is this guy with 9 MLB games. Not much power, but a .300 avg/.390 OBP AAA guy.

http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2055106

Fielding ratings are 83-63-46-67/Batting 71-27-40-76-66

Durability 72/Health 33



So...Would you cough up the dough for the guy with MLB experience (more power/better glove/better arm or save the money for another position and go with the guy with (it seems) the better Avg/and OBP....



Thanks......Oops. See below!

FWIW, neither is really a 2B. The fielding is pretty bad, and their bats don't seem to make up for it.

Thanks pstrnutbag...



What should I be looking at for 2B fielding?



BTW...I have another guy similar to the 2nd guy, range isn't quite as good, similar batting record at AAA with a bit more power, a bit less eye.

I tend to aim for 80 in range and 75 in glove as a minimum. Now, if the player has a premium bat I can overlook a few points in either. However, I am a big believer in defense and try to keep my guys at least above the minimum recomendations. If I had to chose between the two and there were no other options, I'd go ahead and give #1 a shot as he is the closest to being in the range I look for at 2B and he's got a great AA/AS combo that'll help turn extra DP's. It's just his bat I have reservations about. Especially at that cost. At least he does have some speed/baserunning ability.

Quote: Originally posted by moethedog on 12/28/2009Thanks pstrnutbag... What should I be looking at for 2B fielding? BTW...I have another guy similar to the 2nd guy, range isn't quite as good, similar batting record at AAA with a bit more power, a bit less eye.

If you go to the GM's office and click on a particular position, it will bring up a page with guidelines for defense at each ML position.

FWIW, I look for 80/80 as a minimum at 2B. The place I may be willing to skimp based on $ and bat is AS/AA.

I wouldn't sign the first guy to a big contract but he wouldn't be a bad guy to have on your team. steals a ton of bases. Could be a good cheap option at 3b.

MY mistake...First guy was my starting SS for the past 6 seasons (I think I"ll go with an 86-89-90-93 guy who was a utility payer last year. Hit .300 with power rating of 5).

My starting 2B for the last bunch of seasons as this guy...

http://whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=956596

63-74-49-58 fielding...

But he's hit 130 HR's the last 4 years and in the .280/.370/.530 range....bunch of steals, too.

He's an FA who wants $6M for the next three.

He would seem to be a good LF candidate...Correct? Then keep the first guy above as a 2B with a minus glove but some pluses AB and on the bases?

Thanks...



Keith

Yes. That last option should be a solid LF for you,just watch out for the decline. Keep a good amount of $$$ in Training. Still not sure I'd pay that much for a sub-par 2B though....are there any other options at 2B open to you via FA or trade?

First of all, ALWAYS ignore any minor league stats. The stadiums are launchpads and owners often neglect their pitching to the point that they become completely inept. Minor league stats are fun to look at, that's about it.

The first guy who's been playing SS would be a good 3b for you. The second guy probably shouldn't start at all.

The last guy you said is past his prime. Things are gonna get much worse for him. Give him a 2 year deal max if you really want him. Personally I wouldn't sign him and would look for a worse fielder with a better bat to play LF/RF.

Cooper's a very solid LF, and worth signing. Make sure you put a mutual option on the 3rd season, though-- he's about to hit some real decline.

Breslow is a very nice reserve at the price. Could easily steal 35 bases in 42 tries and isn't a total disaster against RHP, will make 40 or so one-base errors at 2B but at least they won't be throwing errors, which cost more bases. Plays as a backup OF, PR, occasional starter at 2B to rest the right handed hitting starter against tough RHP.

Maeda is kind of OK against RHP in the same way Breslow is, is (imo) an OK glove at 2B because of very high AA for the position. Not worth the money, doesn't really hit well enough to handle 3B.

Look for something else to do as a starting 2B, but Breslow as a cheap fallback is the least of these 3 evils.

Thanks guys?

Any other input????...All is definately appreciated!

Keith

Not a chance I would sign Maeda for 5M+. I don't know what this character is talking about Maeda not being a 2B though. With 77 range he will make a few more "-" plays than desirable but he will make fewer errors than the average 2B and be strong at turning the double play. Overall, he is at least an average fielder at 2B, possibly even above average. However, an average-fielding 2B with a low-700 OPS is not worth 5M per season. Let him go to free agency and sign him for 2.5-3M when he drops his demands after going unsigned for a couple of days.

Generally speaking, you should be able to find an average-fielding 2B capable of OPS'ing low .700's for about 2-3M and high .700's for 5-6M.

Bristow is a not a bad guy to have on your team, but he is a bench guy. At 33 health, he is going to get hurt and miss significant portions of the season and with 49 makeup he is not going to recover well from injuries.

I would sign Cooper to 3 x 6M. I would probably see if he would go for something like 2 x 8M, but even factoring in his decline, he won't be terrible in the third year of that contract.

I Like 90/70 over 80/80 at 2b. I dont think its necessary for a 2b to have a super high glove. Not saying it isn't nice. I prefer the 2nd guy for his speed and the chance he'll develop some nice range and a 70 glove. He probably needs to be in the minors more though unless you dont mind him being inconsistent.

The other guy wouldn't be a bad base stealing vacuum at 3b.