[Threnodas]

I propose a compromise between "all training allowed" and "no training allowed." What if fielding skill ratings were based on that year's fielding stats, like they are now, but position experience were fixed based on career games played, possibly in a weighted average with games played that year? So, Cal Ripken, Jr. and Alex Rodriguez could play both 3B and SS, which is "realistic" even if they only played one at a time, but they couldn't be trained up at 2B, 1B, or corner outfield, which are "unrealistic" because they never played there.

I feel like this would let more players back up more positions and give us the flexibility needed to field a PT/tournament team with fewer than 16 position players, while still respecting the historical facts of what positions everyone played. I think we need some concession to the fact that almost all of the (historical) cards are for star players who held the starting job at a single position, so there are extremely few quality utility players, and I think sticking to the historical stats would satisfy more traditionalists than the current system of training (even though many of us have learned to make good use of it).