Training 101?

[whifflebird]

I've seen references to training cards in other positions - is there a good run down somewhere on how this works, strategy for it etc? Like is it relatively realistic (can't train a catcher to be a shortstop for instance)? Or do cards just get better when you move them to other positions regardless of anything (ie experience time based?

[chazzycat]

Training is based on the underlying ratings - range, arm, etc. It can only be successful when the player has the right skills to actually play the position. Every player has a "cap" they can reach at any given position based on those ratings. Experience (training) will take them from a zero rating to that cap, but they can never surpass the cap.

[whifflebird]

This is on historical cards right? Or all cards?

Also, are the caps known or do you just eventually stop getting better.

[chazzycat]

All cards can train, historical and live.

Note: training does NOT work for tournaments.

Here is a handy calculator for the caps: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...CkE/edit#gid=0

[Orcin]

Don't forget that left-handed throwers cannot train at SS,2B,3B.

[whifflebird]

Originally Posted by Orcin

Don't forget that left-handed throwers cannot train at SS,2B,3B.

Or catcher, I would imagine. It seems like such a simple thing, but this level of detail is awesome.

Sorry, I'm sure most of you guys are used to this by now but as a new player things like this just continue to amaze me.

[Dogberry99]

Three additional caveats to know about training:

1) Height only matters for playing 1B, but it matters a lot.

2) Poor IF Arm ratings will severely inhibit max ratings at 3B. An example of this is Peak Craig Biggio, whose 38 arm limits him to a max positional rating of 21 at 3B, even though the calculator says he can get to about 42.

3) Catchers take significantly longer to train. A card with no rating at catcher that has ratings for Catching Arm and Ability (such as one of the Josh Donaldson's, iirc) will take much longer to finally get any positional rating. I believe they progress normally once they do finally have enough experience to receive a minimal rating.

I don't think it has been confirmed that southpaws can't learn how to play Catcher. However, between the length of time it would take to test this and the lack of players who could test this, it would be a major annoyance and likely not worth the time.