I've used http://www.whatifsports.com/HBD/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=4977213  as my principal RF for the last 2 seasons.  Fielding #'s of 10-19-63-66

He played 1005 and 960 innings in RF over those two seasons.  I think I figured it correctly that he had 123 and 94 positive plays each season.  Looking at my other RF's  (61-63-70-76 and 54-50-59-61) he cost me 6.8 and 6.7 runs per season.  He hit .295-.385-.456 (..841) and .329-.398-.494 (.892).  He more than made up for the 6.7 and 6.8 runs his glove lost.  

Bump for Helaman.

what is bare minimum as far as arm strength for a rf?

I've gone low 60s.   The higher the better, less negative plays, but you already know you're getting neg plays so it's just a matter of how many you can tolerate.

What is the determining factor when calling a play "negative"?  If my guy with 0 range didnt get to the ball , sure thats a negative play but is it looked at as "If a player with X range were fielding this ball, it would not have been considered negative" .  I get the concept but Im trying to read more into it.  Or possibly too much into it.

I always assumed a negative play meant an "average" player would have gotten it. 

I think "average player would have gotten to it" is part of the regular fielding ratings. I think negative plays are meant to capture total screw ups. Watching a butterfly while the ball is hit their way sort of thing. Tripped over their own feet. Held the ball until everyone reached base. Blooper real stupid.

So what's the difference between an negitive play and an error then?

So to add the problem of a really bad season for my mauer team, I took on the experiment of putting a c/dh in RF and see what would happen. So I am looking for some much needed advice as I lick my wounds yet again on a bad season. My pitching stinks, but as you can see my hitting was ok, with his guy leading the way.
 Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Eddie Fisher

now the question is, did he hurt me and cause a bad year, or was he a lone bright spot in a team in the middle of a rebuild? Thoughts? Mike looking for your insight on this especially, since you have been doing the same experiment for a while. Was this a bad move putting him there? cost/benefit analysis?

I know you're waiting for Mike's response, but my two cents is that this player might have been one of the least of your problems.

No, not just Mike response, but he has the data to tell me if he's too costly in RF. But any comments is insightful. I tried to shore up my defense this season, because I knew what I was doing to be doing in RF. But by pitching, especially my bullpen was just friggin aweful!! I've got 2 stud RP coming soon, so that will help. 

With his bat and arm, he's not any kind of problem. 18 negative plays and 6 errors with a .298/.347/.537, 36 HR and 107 RBI on a team that's 20th in the world for runs. He'll be a solid RF for you for 10 seasons. His defense could be 25% worse and he'd still be an overall plus. Defense does hurt a pitching staff but RF is not involved in enough plays for that to be a concern.

Wow, my experiment is almost exactly the same so far...

Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Eury Piedra

Almost same fielding, range factor and negative plays. Horrible. But my current catcher is diesel and I know he's holding my staff together so I ain't complaining.

Fisher cost you about 60 outs in RF(as compared to a "normal" RF).    That's not horrible but worse than "normal" for a C in RF.   But I think his hitting probably made it a wash at the very least.    My guys I do it with usually have a RC27 over 7. 

Piedra is doing the same.   But, at 5.44 RC27, I'd move him out.  

I started doing it for Hardball Dynasty – Fantasy Baseball Sim Games - Player Profile: Kevin Ryu and he's usually in the 7.25 RC27 range and costs me about 50 outs.   He's on the decline so I'm not sure how much longer he'll be worth it.