OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Catcher Ability - Worth Starting a Weak-Hitting Catcher?

Garlon · 02-02-2021, 02:58 PM

This is an interesting thread. I am concerned that the value OOTP may be placing on CA is too much.

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/catch...min=q&sort=4,1

The difference between the best and worst catchers in baseball is about 30 runs, not 100 runs over a season. A difference of 0.71 in ERA comes out to 162*0.71 = 115 runs. This is about triple the distance between what catchers can really do in baseball. Great seasons for catchers will get them 15-20 runs saved above average. So if you had to choose between an elite defensive catcher and an average defensive catcher and their hitting abilities were all the same except that the average defensive catcher could give you an additional 10 HR, then those two players will be about equal since those 10 extra HR will give you about 14-15 extra runs on offense, roughly the same amount that the great defensive catcher will save your team.

I think that the effect of catcher ability ratings on pitch framing may need to be significantly reduced.

02-02-2021, 02:58 PM	#12
Garlon Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 4,375	This is an interesting thread. I am concerned that the value OOTP may be placing on CA is too much. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/catch...min=q&sort=4,1 The difference between the best and worst catchers in baseball is about 30 runs, not 100 runs over a season. A difference of 0.71 in ERA comes out to 162*0.71 = 115 runs. This is about triple the distance between what catchers can really do in baseball. Great seasons for catchers will get them 15-20 runs saved above average. So if you had to choose between an elite defensive catcher and an average defensive catcher and their hitting abilities were all the same except that the average defensive catcher could give you an additional 10 HR, then those two players will be about equal since those 10 extra HR will give you about 14-15 extra runs on offense, roughly the same amount that the great defensive catcher will save your team. I think that the effect of catcher ability ratings on pitch framing may need to be significantly reduced.