Quote:
Originally Posted by ThePretender
Good study, but I hope you're wrong because then I'm not sure the punishment is significant enough for low defence. Seems like a very worthwhile trade off to go with a 3-5 defence catcher (1-10 scale) who is a 1B type of bat over a plus defender with no bat.
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Let's not forget that the above study only values pitch framing (specifically increases in K/9 and BB/9). Other things that Catcher ability definitely includes (passed balls, fielding generally) or possibly includes (helping rookie pitchers more, keeping HR/9 down, whatever) are not considered.
I'd personally put it at 4.5-5 runs per point, just to try and cover those other things.
And as for putting bad fielders in that position, it's no different from doing that at 2B or OF. You can put a guy with below average range and rating at 2B in the position, knowing he'll cost you an extra 10-12 runs per year, and hoping that he'll make up for it with his bat. Sometimes it's worth it. Usually it isn't.