Defensive Potential

[frangipard]

Defensive ratings need to be expressed as current/potential, just as offensive ratings are. Outfielders do get better at running routes, infielders get better at positioning, catchers learn to frame pitches, throwing mechanics are improved, etc.

For that matter, there are a slew of other ratings that need to be subject to development, even if they dont have a clear potential rating per se. Players do get better at baserunning, bunting, holding runners on, etc. Honestly, it seems to me those things are at least as "learnable" as making contact.

[Bluenoser]

Defensive ability is subject to development and does improve/decline over time. It just doesn't show actual/potential.

Things like speed, base running etc also will improve/decline.

This works fine from my experience.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Defensive ability is subject to development and does improve/decline over time. It just doesn't show actual/potential.

Things like speed, base running etc also will improve/decline.

This works fine from my experience.

Yeah, I think that defensive potential unlike hitting is very difficult to gauge. One can look at a young player and agree that he may have 30+ HR power and he may or may not reach it while he plays. I would have trouble playing a SS prospect who was poor defensively but had good potential.

That's a long winded way of saying that most players are expected to be major league capable defenders long before they reach their offensive ceiling.

[Leo_The_Lip]

Actually, if you don't mind cheating a bit, you can get some idea of how the kid will progress if you enter the editor and scroll down on the right to the fielding positions. If the kid has less than '200' for games played, enter 200 and check the resulting fielding rating. Just remember to change back to the original games played figure. Or not if you can't wait for him to progress.

[frangipard]

Originally Posted by RchW

Yeah, I think that defensive potential unlike hitting is very difficult to gauge.

I don't see why. Two of the traditional five tools are exclusively about defense, and scouting reports commonly distinguish between guys who are already polished defenders (i.e. mostly as good as he's going to get) and guys who still need to work on their mechanics, footwork, positioning, etc (i.e. likely to improve with coaching)

That's a long winded way of saying that most players are expected to be major league capable defenders long before they reach their offensive ceiling.

True, but irrelevant when you're talking about drafting and scouting minor leaguers & prospects

The game doesn't make any distinction between one 18 year old CF who has good range because he positions well and gets a good read on the ball, and another who gets to just as many balls despite poor routes and lack of focus... the latter guy is much better prospect.

Similarly a SS may be committing a lot of errors beause he simply has inadequate hand-eye coordination, or because he needs to work on concentration and consistent mechanics. One of those is more teachable than the other.

[blasek0]

The scouting page doesn't distinguish between current rating and potential rating, but the composite rating shown is a function of the player's tools, and those numbers are factored into his overall current/potential rating. If the positional rating is low, but he has the tools to play the position well, according to scouts, then he's probably going to improve. It's not perfect, but it is there. Sort of.

I agree it could use improvement.

[RchW]

Originally Posted by frangipard

True, but irrelevant when you're talking about drafting and scouting minor leaguers & prospects

I don't agree. As a real life example it appears that the Blue Jays may consider going with a prospect Dalton Pompey in CF in 2015. He rocketed through their system last year and may have a bat. The only reason he is even in the discussion for 2015 is that the Jays have concluded he can play the position in MLB.

Maybe not a perfect example but the Yankees have concluded that Didi Gregorious bat or not is going to be their SS in 2015. Anything he does with the bat will be a bonus and better than Jeter in 2014. I'd suggest that makes my point. Defense is clearly developed or should be, before other skills.