The Pete Rose/Harvey Kuenn problem

[italyprof]

In my case, it's a Harvey Kuenn problem, but it's the same problem (it could be called the Paul Molitor problem, etc.).

Now, don't get me wrong. I like players that can play a lot of positions, love them in fact. In my own profession, I am sort of a utility infielder, and I identify with such players.

I mean the players like those named above who are regulars at one position, then at another and who lose ratings at the previous position, so you can't keep them there.

The problem is, when it comes time to move Kuenn from short, to left field or third base etc., but you have someone you want to keep at those positions, you don't know what to do with them.

You can of course trade Rose or Kuenn or Molitor when their position ratings become inconvenient to your vision of the team, but in the case of Kuenn on my current team, the New Jersey Owls of the National Baseball Association, a random debut league starting in 1921, Kuenn is important to the offense.

I have - David Watts and Action Jackson please note, as one of you, I am sorry I can't remember which, is a big fan of my right fielder Al Kaline, age 24. I have a 27 year old Ken Singleton in Left, and Bill Virdon in center.

Kuenn is at third base, Bobby Wine at short, Marty Barrett, my leadoff hitter at second and Don Mattingly in his next to last RL season at first base - yes I have my favorite player ever at first and your favorite Kaline in right, nice team right? Chris Chambliss is a year before his RL rookie of the year season, and is Mattingly's back up at first and a great pinch hitter on the bench right now.

Well, just as if Rose were essential near the top of your batting order, so is Kuenn, at number two. Without him, Barrett is only okay as a leadoff guy and then there is no one really who gets on base to hit before Singleton, Kaline, Mattingly, my 3,4 and 5 batters.

So, for now Kuenn is okay, but he has 4-5 RL seasons to go and he will get worse at 3B, have to play OF, but there is nowhere to put him - neither Singleton nor Kaline can play center particularly well, and I like both players too much to part with them.

So, the Pete Rose/Harvey Kuenn problem.

Thoughts?

[Brad K]

Your problem isn't having a good hitter for the number two slot. Your problem is having the overall most productive player for each defensive position.

If Kuenn must play left or right but is less productive overall than the other players there, then he's out of a job. What you need isn't a good #2 hitter. What you need is a productive player who can play 3B. If you don't have a textbook perfect #2 hitter no big deal. Move the 3-4-5 guys up a spot.

[Lordofbrewtown]

I think this is a big reason many people base fielding ratings on career stats when setting up random debut leagues vs current year or 3 year averages.

I'm guessing you didn't want to do that, maybe because using career averages doesn't really 'age out' the player as well/force them to move from the middle of the field.

This is one reason I'd really like to see an option to use a 5 or 7 year average - gives more options/time to prepare or adjust roster; but would still reflect the moves over a career

[italyprof]

Thanks both of you. Good points to consider going forward.