Player positions

[munstermash]

Has anyone ever noticed that just about every shortstop has a better rating at 1B then their primary firstbaseman?

I can not think of one SS that plays 1b in the MLB, will this change in OOTP9?

[Riverdome]

Originally Posted by munstermash

I can not think of one SS that plays 1b in the MLB, will this change in OOTP9?

Can you think of one SS that couldn't play 1B? Seems like a player with a good arm and great range could easily make the transition to 1B.

[Kemp]

Originally Posted by munstermash

Has anyone ever noticed that just about every shortstop has a better rating at 1B then their primary firstbaseman?

I can not think of one SS that plays 1b in the MLB, will this change in OOTP9?

But I think the question is - COULD they play 1b? If Omar Vizquel was moved to first base (for whatever bizarre reason), I bet he'd be SUPER defensively over there.

I think it's good that the game does this as I believe it's realistic and provides flexibility.

[Kelric]

Originally Posted by munstermash

I can not think of one SS that plays 1b in the MLB, will this change in OOTP9?

Say hello to Ernie Banks. Or Carlos Guillen (who is now a third baseman as well and potentially a left fielder).

[Charts]

Originally Posted by Kemp

But I think the question is - COULD they play 1b? If Omar Vizquel was moved to first base (for whatever bizarre reason), I bet he'd be SUPER defensively over there.

I think it's good that the game does this as I believe it's realistic and provides flexibility.

I think that one of the most important parts of being a first baseman is how far you can reach without coming off the bag. Little O, bless his heart, at 5'9 might make some great plays on ground balls at first, but he'd get pulled off the bag much more often than a 6'2 JT Snow or a 6'5 John Olerud. It's not all that important in the scope of the game, but height should probably play some role for rating at first base.

Also Carlos Guillen and Ernie Banks were both 6'1 so their height wasn't really a problem

[Kemp]

Originally Posted by Charts

Little O, bless his heart, at 5'9 might make some great plays on ground balls at first, but he'd get pulled off the bag much more often than a 6'2 JT Snow or a 6'5 John Olerud. It's not all that important in the scope of the game, but height should probably play some role for rating at first base.

I get what you're saying and I don't disagree. However, in the grand scheme of things, I'm not sure height matters THAT much. I mean, how many throws might Vizquel miss that a JT Snow would have caught over the course of a season? And that assumes that someone would take a SS and make him a starter at 1b which, let's face it, is very rare. Heck, I'd argue that if the SS were that good a hitter in the first place then he's probably a pretty big guy anyway!

[Left-handed Badger]

Originally Posted by Kemp

I get what you're saying and I don't disagree. However, in the grand scheme of things, I'm not sure height matters THAT much. I mean, how many throws might Vizquel miss that a JT Snow would have caught over the course of a season? And that assumes that someone would take a SS and make him a starter at 1b which, let's face it, is very rare. Heck, I'd argue that if the SS were that good a hitter in the first place then he's probably a pretty big guy anyway!

Yeah, and I believe there have been 5"9 1B before (and even shorter). Though more in the old days. If I remember Joe Judge of the old Senators was 5'8 1/2. Height is an advantage sure. Course, if your IFs arent making wild throws, you dont need to worry about your 1B having to come off the bag as much.

Would I want a 1B that is 5'9. Probably not. But, it should be more of a case by case thing. Rather than he is 5"9 he has to play THIS position. That is all I am saying.

[Jpotapoff]

Jose Offerman was a shortstop who eventually moved to First Base (although I think they had him at 2b for a bit first before 1b was the last place they tried to stick him).

[Curtis]

Just out of curiousity, does the game give a higher first base rating to guys who throw lefthanded?

[Cork55]

Originally Posted by Left-handed Badger

Yeah, and I believe there have been 5"9 1B before (and even shorter). Though more in the old days. If I remember Joe Judge of the old Senators was 5'8 1/2. Height is an advantage sure. Course, if your IFs arent making wild throws, you dont need to worry about your 1B having to come off the bag as much.

Would I want a 1B that is 5'9. Probably not. But, it should be more of a case by case thing. Rather than he is 5"9 he has to play THIS position. That is all I am saying.

Steve Garvey of the Dodgers was only about 5'10" or so. He was a pretty good first baseman in his day.

-Cork55