(HELP) Players Per Position ?

[kobedoggie]

How many players per position are on a Major League Team?

[Déjà Bru]

This is a very good question but it will not have a definite answer. Teams may differ a bit in roster management procedures plus the answer varies over time, speaking historically.

Today, though, MLB teams typically do this:

• five starting pitchers
• three middle relievers
• setup pitcher
• closer

That's 10 players so far, out of a maximum of 25 roster slots. Depending on whether your league has it, leave a slot for the DH. Now we are down to 14 roster slots remaining for 8 fielding positions: C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF.

So simple math does not say "keep two of each." Woe betide the team that does not have two catchers, though!

To continue, then:

• two catchers
• four starting infielders 1B, 2B, SS, 3B
• three starting outfielders LF, CF, RF

That's 19 players in total now, 20 if you include the DH.

That leaves five roster slots for which a GM can be creative. Obviously, five do not provide one-on-one coverage for the four infield and three outfield positions. These five guys are called utility infielders and utility outfielders. They need to be able to play more than one position to provide adequate backup and therefore appear in multiple positions on the depth chart.

When I said "speaking historically," I meant that back in time, teams did things differently. For example, in the early 20th century, pitchers were expected to pitch many more innings than they do today. Therefore, teams carried only five or six pitchers in total, leaving that many more slots for position players. Back then maybe they could have one-on-one backups or more platoon situations (players regularly sharing playing time, perhaps L v R / R v L). Today, though, it's pretty much as I laid it out above.

[Orcin]

I assume you are asking about current MLB. Most teams carry 12-13 position players. The composition varies, but there are 8 starters plus an extra catcher on every team. The last 3-4 players can usually play multiple positions so there is a backup for everyone. In the AL, one of those last 3-4 can be an exclusive DH, or the team may just use the DH to rest regulars.

[kobedoggie]

Hey guys thanks for the quick and through responses! My Atlanta Braves appreciate it!!!!

[NoOne]

if you do have a couple versatile if/of guys + catcher, you can go with a more specialized role for 1 of your bench players.

a power lefty bat, for just one example -- not that you can expect a starter-quality guy on your bench, but it offers a possible 'better' option in certain late inning / high leverage moments.

i focus on speed and versatility on my bench. i avoid platoons as much as possible, but that will trump a preferred bench player anyday, if necessary. have to consider weight of use... 2guys @ 150-160g, or 1 guy @ 20-40g... so, don't overthink the bench. it'll be pure luck for that quality of player to perform well in there small sample of results.

[Padreman]

My take
5 SP
4 MR
1 SU
1 CL

1B
2B
3B
SS
LF
CF
RF
DH

C
INF
INF
OF
OF

[Déjà Bru]

kobedoggie, NoOne and Padreman demonstrate what I said about "Teams [and OOTP players] may differ a bit in roster management procedures."

Those five or so utility guys that I talked about could have specialized roles such as what NoOne brings up. Here's an extreme example from real life: Herb Washington. This guy really wasn't a baseball player, but he was a world-class sprinter. Back in the 70's, Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley hired Washington for two years as the team's "designated runner." He appeared in 105 games and stole 31 bases in his short career, but he never came to the plate to bat. Never! That's his career record below; exactly 0 PA.

Padreman shows 11 pitchers on his staff, and that is also common these days, but only one C. Uh-oh. Better have another decent C down in AAA, guy!

[kobedoggie]

More Info! You don't quit lol.NICE! THANKS!

[RubeBaker]

In the modern era, most teams have 13 position players & 12 pitchers (5 starters, 7 relievers). However, if you do a historical replay & go back to the 1970s or 1980s, you might have 15 position players & 10 or 9 pitchers (rosters were 24-man for a few years during the latter part of the 1980s).

Most teams carry 2 catchers, but a few will carry 3. I like to have at least a couple of infielders who can play all infield positions & some outfield. And to have at least 4 or 5 outfielders.

I prefer to have a couple of lefties in the bullpen, but this isn't a necessity. With relief pitchers, I look for pitchers with good control who don't walk many batters. I also like to have a couple of long relievers who can occasionally spot start in a 6-man rotation.

Something else that I look for in players, whenever possible, is switch-hitters especially on the bench. I like having guys who can bat against lefties & righties. I think it gives your team an advantage.

[NoOne]

i forgot to add... my bench players aren't necessarily 2nd on the depth chart either...

i will more likely use a AAA player for injury replacements... my bench players serve a specific role that isn't always conducive to starting, like deja bru's example above... that's not unusual for me... a guy on the bench that is 99% a pinch runner, lol. if i didn't sim through games, that situation would be a norm for me.

as far as pinch hitting, i'm not subbing a very likely crappy bench player for any respectable starter...but if you have a crappy team, that becomes more plausible option. all my statements are geared toward a successful team.

i.e. if you have a lot of situations where a bench player is a viable pinch hit option, you probably need to upgrade your starting lineup significantly. it's not magic. it's a simple break-even analysis where the benefits of being a certain handedness outweigh the difference in talent... if you have bench players that good... they are either young, or you should have traded them for a more 'useable' piece... a good talent playing 25% of the time is a waste of resources and hsould only be a short-term situation until you make more efficient use of resources available.

you don't simply sub a lefty for a righty, just because. so, while it sounds awesome in theory to worry about offense on your bench... in reality the benefit from it is so small and so unlikely to achieve, you are better off finding specialized talents for the bench. if your lefty on the bench is good enough to hit for a position player, that position player is likely terrible to begin wiht, lol... 6 in one, half-dozen in the other, even if they are L vs R.

then, depth from your AAA players and maybe a couple cheap FA you stashed in AAA for depth -- they may even be better than your bench players you keep when you send them down to AAA to start the season...

[Big T]

I use the following..........


5 SPs (try to get a couple of LHP)
7 Relievers (preferably 3 LHP and one closer)
2 Catchers (attempt to have one lefty or switch hitter)
3 1B/3B ( 2 starters and one that can play both)
3 2B/SS ( again 2 starters and one that can play both)
5 OF's (at least 2 that can hit left)


Haven't won a World Series in probably 20-30 OOTP seasons so maybe I would avoid my advise... LOL

[Padreman]

OK the first example I gave you was with the 25 man roster now there was talks of major-league baseball adding a 26 roster spot which is what I actually do in my game It works great for me
Ration:
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP

Bullpen:
RP
RP
RP
RP
RP
SU
CL

Starting line up
1B
2B
3B
SS
RF
CF
LF
C
DH

Bench:
C
INF
INF
OF
OF

I think major-league baseball will actually go with this rule in the near future of adding the 26 man. Make sure you have at least to left-handers coming off the bench and try to have two left handers in your bullpen . Also I try to have a least one left-hander in my starting rotation