has anyone successful transitioned someone to catcher who did not have ability already?

[sabrtoothtiger]

I've heard it can be done, but i've never tried it myself. Can anyone confirm? It does happen it real life - Wilson Contrereas comes to mind

[Lukas Berger]

It can be done if they have the catcher ability but just not experience, but it takes a loooonnnnnggggggg time.

Plan on at least 2-3 seasons before you start seeing results.

[sabrtoothtiger]

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

It can be done if they have the catcher ability but just not experience, but it takes a loooonnnnnggggggg time.

Plan on at least 2-3 seasons before you start seeing results.

without ability it won't occur? so essentially they already need to have ratings there to even have a chance?

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by sabrtoothtiger

without ability it won't occur? so essentially they already need to have ratings there to even have a chance?

Yeah, exactly.

[skywalkr2]

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

Yeah, exactly.

I guess that's a problem. How many players have been transitioned to catcher IRL? Answer: a lot.

[sabrtoothtiger]

I was thinking you could move a 20 arm/20 ability guy who might have say a 70 arm there in the low-minors and they might find something.

[thesmokeshow]

Originally Posted by skywalkr2

I guess that's a problem. How many players have been transitioned to catcher IRL? Answer: a lot.

Regardless of that, I think they have it right. I personally wouldn’t want it to be easy to “manufacture” catchers. In real MLB, a catcher is a very difficult position to find offensive ability at. OOTP should continue to mirror that.

[skywalkr2]

Originally Posted by thesmokeshow

Regardless of that, I think they have it right. I personally wouldn’t want it to be easy to “manufacture” catchers. In real MLB, a catcher is a very difficult position to find offensive ability at. OOTP should continue to mirror that.

Difference between difficult and impossible.

[thesmokeshow]

Originally Posted by skywalkr2

Difference between difficult and impossible.

The vast majority of high end catchers come from the draft or an international signing. That is where I like the opportunity of getting a high end or franchise catcher. That feels a lot more organic to me.

[Geoff Rey]

When a starting pitcher loses his spot inthe rotation, does he have to "learn": to be a long reliever or can I just edit his position to RP?

[Dyzalot]

Not sure what the OP means. I have transitioned guys who didn't have a specific rating at catcher but did have the raw skills needed to play the position. I'll rarely find a guy floating in my minors playing another position who could actually play catcher. It does however take about two seasons or more to go from no rating at catcher to a rating of one. Once there it goes up a little faster it seems but don't expect to turn that 30 year old utility player into a 3rd string catcher in one spring training.

[itsmb8]

Originally Posted by Geoff Rey

When a starting pitcher loses his spot inthe rotation, does he have to "learn": to be a long reliever or can I just edit his position to RP?

I think they just move to the bullpen. In my test save I signed Keuchel to the Brewers and the AI moved Anderson to a long reliever role and emergency SP secondary role.

But this brings up a good point, pitchers should be PITCHERS, without a specific "position." Instead, they just have experience ratings as either a starter or reliever role. This would also make stamina universal, which IMO it should be. IRL pitchers are starters because thats how they are used, not because thats their "position." Also, IMO closer should not be a separate role to reliever.

[TomVeal]

Originally Posted by itsmb8

I think they just move to the bullpen. In my test save I signed Keuchel to the Brewers and the AI moved Anderson to a long reliever role and emergency SP secondary role.

But this brings up a good point, pitchers should be PITCHERS, without a specific "position." Instead, they just have experience ratings as either a starter or reliever role. This would also make stamina universal, which IMO it should be. IRL pitchers are starters because thats how they are used, not because thats their "position." Also, IMO closer should not be a separate role to reliever.

My understanding is that "pitcher" is a single "position" in OOTP. "Starter", "reliever" and "closer" are "roles" and are of mostly cosmetic significance.