How important is range for a 1B? Or 3B?

Libid21 · 09-24-2010, 09:34 AM

I have a catcher who's got gold-glove defensive talent but he's being blocked in the majors. I need a 1B, but a 3B the most.

Infield Range: 7
Infield Error: 37
Infield Arm: 67

I'm not at a level to compete this year but I want to see how this kid can do in terms of batting because it looks like hes not developing his bat in the minors anymore. He'll be 24 when the season starts.

Jaxxvain · 09-24-2010, 11:25 AM

those look like DH ratings to me.

CONN CHRIS · 09-24-2010, 11:55 AM

I'd plug him at 1B.

The most important skill for a first baseman IRL is his bat.

fintach · 09-24-2010, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Libid21

I have a catcher who's got gold-glove defensive talent but he's being blocked in the majors. I need a 1B, but a 3B the most.

Infield Range: 7
Infield Error: 37
Infield Arm: 67

I'm not at a level to compete this year but I want to see how this kid can do in terms of batting because it looks like hes not developing his bat in the minors anymore. He'll be 24 when the season starts.

I wouldn't even consider putting him at third. This guy will play sac bunts into singles and ground balls into doubles. If you're pitchers get a lot of ground balls, this guy's glove will worry away their WHIP and ERA.

He might be a tolerable first baseman, but I'd want a good defensive replacement available for tight, late-inning situations. If he can hit, though, I'd try him out here.

If he's gold glove caliber at catcher, why not try the other catcher at first? Is he actually a worse infielder than this guy?

DWK · 09-24-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

I'd plug him at 1B.

The most important skill for a first baseman IRL is his bat.

Agreed

Pete Grassi · 09-24-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWK

Agreed

Ask the Yankees if they would rather have Jason Giambi (when he could hit) or Mark Teixiera. A gold glove 1B could be more important than a crappy fielding 1B with a great bat because of the errors he can save on bad throws with scoops or stabs he can make at hard hit balls down the line.

StyxNCa · 09-24-2010, 02:53 PM

My guess is that defense at 1B isn't anything to write home about anymore. After all, Palmeiro won the gold glove at 1B in 1999 when he played 1B all of 27 games that year. Then again, defense hasn't seemed to be much of a priority in recent years at any position.

fhomess · 09-24-2010, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StyxNCa

After all, Palmeiro won the gold glove at 1B in 1999 when he played 1B all of 27 games that year.

This doesn't have any relevance to whether or not a good defensive first baseman is valuable or even how valuable so much as it's a statement about those voting for these things. It's pretty clear the voters were not actually watching him play.

StyxNCa · 09-24-2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhomess

This doesn't have any relevance to whether or not a good defensive first baseman is valuable or even how valuable so much as it's a statement about those voting for these things. It's pretty clear the voters were not actually watching him play.

I wasn't attempting to be relevant. I was poking fun at baseball. There are just so many ways one can do that these days.

Really though, how often does anything I say have any relevance to the thread?

CONN CHRIS · 09-24-2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Grassi

Ask the Yankees if they would rather have Jason Giambi (when he could hit) or Mark Teixiera. A gold glove 1B could be more important than a crappy fielding 1B with a great bat because of the errors he can save on bad throws with scoops or stabs he can make at hard hit balls down the line.

I think that you could provide reams of statistical evidence that the good glove at first is more valuable than the big bat and the yankees would still take the steriod-injected stone glove over a weak-hitting hot glove. The example of Tiexiera and Giambi probably isn't that good of a one to point out the silliness of baseball 'wisdon' though.

Malleus Dei · 09-24-2010, 04:42 PM

Don't put him at third! I tried that experiment once. Ooh, did it end badly.

RchW · 09-24-2010, 04:43 PM

FWIW Mark Teixeira is a player I really enjoy watching. Not only is he a good fielder but he makes the right play time after time. Too bad he's a "Damn Yankee".

RchW · 09-24-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malleus Dei

Don't put him at third! I tried that experiment once. Ooh, did it end badly.

How did you know? I thought ratings were off in your world.

fintach · 09-24-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

FWIW Mark Teixeira is a player I really enjoy watching. Not only is he a good fielder but he makes the right play time after time. Too bad he's a "Damn Yankee".

You're making me miss J.T. Snow. He used to play a great first base.

09-24-2010, 09:34 AM	#1
Libid21 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 540 Blog Entries: 1	How important is range for a 1B? Or 3B? I have a catcher who's got gold-glove defensive talent but he's being blocked in the majors. I need a 1B, but a 3B the most. Infield Range: 7 Infield Error: 37 Infield Arm: 67 I'm not at a level to compete this year but I want to see how this kid can do in terms of batting because it looks like hes not developing his bat in the minors anymore. He'll be 24 when the season starts. __________________ "It is the nature of being the general manager of a baseball team that you have to remain on familiar terms with people you are continually trying to screw." - Michael Lewis in Moneyball

09-24-2010, 11:25 AM	#2
Jaxxvain All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 531	those look like DH ratings to me. __________________ Jaxxvain aka Molson ~~~~~

09-24-2010, 11:55 AM	#3
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 28,372	I'd plug him at 1B. The most important skill for a first baseman IRL is his bat. __________________ Check Out My Cards!

09-24-2010, 04:43 PM	#12
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The big smoke Posts: 15,628	FWIW Mark Teixeira is a player I really enjoy watching. Not only is he a good fielder but he makes the right play time after time. Too bad he's a "Damn Yankee". __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

09-24-2010, 02:53 PM	#7
StyxNCa Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Victoria, Texas Posts: 3,136	My guess is that defense at 1B isn't anything to write home about anymore. After all, Palmeiro won the gold glove at 1B in 1999 when he played 1B all of 27 games that year. Then again, defense hasn't seemed to be much of a priority in recent years at any position.