Some Questions About Player Ratings

[waittilnextyear]

Does anyone know if the catcher ability rating affects the pitching staff in some way? All other things being equal, would a pitcher perform better throwing to a highly rated catcher for a full season? Would that same pitcher perform worse throwing to a poor catcher? I'm not sure if the catcher ability rating takes into account anything like pitch framing or pitch calling etc. This is what I'd like to know.

When you switch a pitcher from SP to RP they get a little boost to their stuff rating. Does anyone know if there's a downside to changing your entire starting staff to "RP" but leaving them in the rotation to make starts? Would they retain their stuff boost? Would their stamina be adversely affected by classification as RP?

[CurlyKarkovice]

Originally Posted by waittilnextyear

When you switch a pitcher from SP to RP they get a little boost to their stuff rating. Does anyone know if there's a downside to changing your entire starting staff to "RP" but leaving them in the rotation to make starts? Would they retain their stuff boost? Would their stamina be adversely affected by classification as RP?

It would be a cool experiment. My guess is the stuff just isn't as good more than once through the order and "goes back" to SP values. So it may say better stuff but that is only as a reliever going an inning or two. I've noticed stamina only suffers if the pitcher is only doing relief work or they are aging mid-late 30s. Idk if the position on the lineup card matters for stamina plus I mostly GM so I think you have to set a rotation unless your are managing every game, customizing the lineup card.

[BirdWatcher]

Originally Posted by waittilnextyear

Does anyone know if the catcher ability rating affects the pitching staff in some way? All other things being equal, would a pitcher perform better throwing to a highly rated catcher for a full season? Would that same pitcher perform worse throwing to a poor catcher? I'm not sure if the catcher ability rating takes into account anything like pitch framing or pitch calling etc. This is what I'd like to know.

I can't say definitively, but that certainly is the impression I have received over time- both from what I've read here (including hints, at least, from developers) and what I've experienced in the game. What the exact nature of the effect is or how dramatic is up for speculation I think. But there have been indications that framing ability is built into catcher defensive ability ratings and therefore one would guess that this could turn some potential balls into strikes, leading to better pitching performance.

Again, just guessing, but I'm thinking the effect might be strongest on pitchers who are roughly median level talent and perhaps less strong (or, anyway, less strongly felt) with pitchers who are very good or very bad.

I will say this- I will no longer keep catchers on my roster who aren't at least above average defensively. And in my primary save, my fictional team routinely has the best pitching including some apparent over-achieving compared to ratings. (Many factors, of course, as always, so hard to untangle all the threads to make any hard conclusions. I also have great infield defense, use mostly groundball pitchers, and have a pitching coach with a wonderful reputation who specializes in groundballers. But also a young starting catcher who just won his second consecutive gold glove award.)

My thought is that every little advantage counts. And I'm pretty sure that great defensive catchers give you at least a little bit of advantage in terms of your pitching staff's performance.

[waittilnextyear]

Originally Posted by BirdWatcher

I can't say definitively, but that certainly is the impression I have received over time- both from what I've read here (including hints, at least, from developers) and what I've experienced in the game. What the exact nature of the effect is or how dramatic is up for speculation I think. But there have been indications that framing ability is built into catcher defensive ability ratings and therefore one would guess that this could turn some potential balls into strikes, leading to better pitching performance.

Again, just guessing, but I'm thinking the effect might be strongest on pitchers who are roughly median level talent and perhaps less strong (or, anyway, less strongly felt) with pitchers who are very good or very bad.

I will say this- I will no longer keep catchers on my roster who aren't at least above average defensively. And in my primary save, my fictional team routinely has the best pitching including some apparent over-achieving compared to ratings. (Many factors, of course, as always, so hard to untangle all the threads to make any hard conclusions. I also have great infield defense, use mostly groundball pitchers, and have a pitching coach with a wonderful reputation who specializes in groundballers. But also a young starting catcher who just won his second consecutive gold glove award.)

My thought is that every little advantage counts. And I'm pretty sure that great defensive catchers give you at least a little bit of advantage in terms of your pitching staff's performance.

Cool. Thanks for the response.

You alluded to hints from developers? Does anyone recall anything official...overt or implied...said in this regard? I get it if they don't want to show the secret sauce, but I think the catcher is/should be an important part of building a roster.

[Matt Arnold]

C ability affects pitchers. Both Markus and myself have made comments to that effect.

And the SP/RP position doesn't actually matter. Pitchers who throw in relief get the stuff boost, pitchers who start use their SP stuff rating (except obviously openers/followers).

[waittilnextyear]

Originally Posted by Matt Arnold

C ability affects pitchers. Both Markus and myself have made comments to that effect.

And the SP/RP position doesn't actually matter. Pitchers who throw in relief get the stuff boost, pitchers who start use their SP stuff rating (except obviously openers/followers).

Well, there you have it.

Much obliged! Thanks for the response. I will redouble my efforts to find talented defensive catchers, lol.