The defensive spectrum according to Bill James starting in the 1980s':
DH - 1B - LF - RF - 3B - CF - 2B - SS - C
- The further to the left a player is, the better hitter he must be
- The positions further to the right are more challenging defensively and a skilled player there can get by with a lighter bat
- As players age they may move left across the spectrum. This obviously cannot apply Catcher to SS. It must start at SS>2B
- Before the 1920s-30s, 2B and 3B were reversed. This changed as double-plays increased and 2B had more to do than throw the ball 70 feet or so to 1B
I just Googled and read several posts about Bill James and the defensive spectrum, which clarified the concept. I have a lingering question: A player moved from which position would make the best catcher? Or which position would be the least hamstrung at catcher? This might be difficult if not impossible to answer as catcher is a specialized position and it cannot be assumed that any other position can just fill in there. In real life it seems that old catchers who have moved to 1B or maybe 3B, return to catch.
If WIS has made an adjustment and there is one of the other position players who does move to catcher better . . . which one is it? If there is no WIS answer, would we just follow real life and put a 1B or 3B there hoping they would do less damage?
Please don't post a link to old discussions about this topic. I've already tried to navigate them and they are too large and become overwhelming. If you have a current understanding developed from those posts or anywhere else, I'd like to hear it - in your own words.
thanks - bbcc