Range Factor - A Bit Concerning

[Gorinski]

First of all, I'm really enjoying the game. It is the best version yet!

Range factor is something I've paid very little attention to in the past (with previous versions of OOTP) but after my most recent season I was looking at fielding leaders and came across hopefully an aberration. My leader among 2nd basemen (5.99 range) was a first baseman playing out of position. He was not rated at any other position and according to my scout he's pretty poor defensively at 1B.

His fielding percentage was .977 which is below average for a second baseman but you would think that playing a 1B at 2B would have much worse results than that.

[ctorg]

Were there a lot of groundball pitchers on the team?

[Gorinski]

Originally Posted by ctorg

Were there a lot of groundball pitchers on the team?

That might explain it, but it still seems that he performed too well. I would think a first baseman would struggle more at 2B and it's just not a move you would see in baseball. You see 2B become 1B, but not in reverse.

[JWay]

how many opportunities did he have? I've seen players get high range factors and only make a few plays, at which sample size makes and issue. If he played the whole season there, maybe he learns well? Or gets really lucky? Or perhaps he put in hundreds of hours of practice to adjust to the switch!

[Curtis]

I was just checking out a text file I downloaded a couple of years ago that gives numerical explanations for fielding ratings at different positions. Interestingly, range and error ratings are more highly valued at first than at second(!), and turn double play is more highly valued at second.

By extrapolation, I then come to wonder if your first baseman had a good TDP and a poor range and error rating. If so, that might explain it.

[Gorinski]

how many opportunities did he have?

656 total chances, he started 112 games.

By extrapolation, I then come to wonder if your first baseman had a good TDP and a poor range and error rating. If so, that might explain it.

TDP = 7 (I'm using 1-10 range)
Infield Range = 2
Infield Error = 4

I just was looking at his career fielding stats and he has played 2B quite a bit throughout his career (35 yr old, 13th ML season) so it does make more sense. I guess the question is why isn't he rated at 2B?

Btw, he just won the Gold Glove for 2B, so congratulations to Santiago Rivera!

[StyxNCa]

Originally Posted by Gorinski

how many opportunities did he have?

656 total chances, he started 112 games.

By extrapolation, I then come to wonder if your first baseman had a good TDP and a poor range and error rating. If so, that might explain it.

TDP = 7 (I'm using 1-10 range)
Infield Range = 2
Infield Error = 4

I just was looking at his career fielding stats and he has played 2B quite a bit throughout his career (35 yr old, 13th ML season) so it does make more sense. I guess the question is why isn't he rated at 2B?

Btw, he just won the Gold Glove for 2B, so congratulations to Santiago Rivera!

Players don't receive a rating at a position if the 3 ratings involved don't come up to a certain minimum number. What those numbers are for 2B I couldn't say.

[Elendil]

I think Styx is onto it. He may not have a rating at 2B but may nevertheless be qualified to play it. If you go into the player editor, check his experience and rating at 2B. I'm willing to bet a nickel that he's got 100+ experience at 2B, most of which would have come before the season.

[OldFatGuy]

I guess I don't see the point of the rating at all then if someone without one can win the gold glove. Makes me rethink the positional ratings all over. I've ALWAYS wondered about them, since many didn't seem to make sense given the "underlying" defensive ratings. But in the example above, it really makes me wonder about all defensive ratings if the gold glove winning second baseman is rated on a 1-10 scale:
TDP: 7
IF Error:4
IF Range:2
IF Arm: We aren't told, but second base is where arm isn't as important as 3rd or SS.
2B Pos. Rating: 0

If that guy wins gold gloves, what's to be gained by knowing the ratings?

Or perhaps what's wrong with gold glove awards???

[Elendil]

Originally Posted by OldFatGuy

Or perhaps what's wrong with gold glove awards???

Well, that's an issue as well. Gold Glove awards seem to take Range Factor into account, but RF can depend highly on where balls are hit. This particular guy is an acceptable but not good 2B, but if a lot of balls just happened to be hit his way, he'll pile up the assists. That could also happen if he's teamed with a great SS, who feeds him a lot of double play balls.

[tchalifour]

In 2007 I used to assemble largely ground ball staffs and put good defenders behind them, resulting in high RF for my infield. They usually swept the fielding awards as a result - despite errors.