Quote:
Originally Posted by RchW
Zobrist types (not as good defensively) exist and there are way too many already. The AI forces bats, often power bats into inappropriate defensive positions such as 2B. This causes a cascade throughout a league where good defensive 2B cannot compete for that position because they are up against big bat OF 3B and less often 1B with power who have marginal 2B skills. When these bats reach the threshold to play 2B you end up with 20-30 of the 40 or more MLB 2B being bad fielders. The few successful "true" 2B tend to be unusually good hitters for 2B as that is the only way they can compete. The poor defensive 2B get platooned often, so you will find two players splitting 2B and playing OF (LF RF) or 2B and 3B or 1B plus OF. The moved 2B is sometimes replaced by the SS or 3B or OF partner in this bizarre dance. Infield GP and GS are a mess.
This is completely unrealistic as most real life 2B play only 2B. In 2014 MLB the top 30 2B started 70% of all games at 2B. If you consider a backup then the top 60 2B started 87% of all games at 2B. That is not a lot of sharing. SS is even more exclusive; top 30 76% of all starts top 60 95% of all starts.
2014 Major League Baseball SecondBase | Baseball-Reference.com |
Yeah, this is my only problem with the game to date.
I cringe every time I see the AI start a poor & overweight second baseman (who should be playing corner OF by then, but he's bumped by another poor defensive player because of his bat) just because he can hit instead of the good defensive 2b
In most scenarios, the good defensive 2B can play multiple positions and is usually playing musical chairs between many different positions instead of starting everyday at an important position like 2B.
I wish they raise the threshold for C, CF, 2B, SS in 16.