Archive of SportingNews.com's old SOM Baseball forum

What actual difference does having a 3 range catcher make? Is it just a no-no, or is the more important factor his arm? I usually always have a 2 or better range at catcher but was just wondering if it was that important.

Catcher range is not very important at all. Arm, PB and T ratings are all more important. Catcher range is actually tied to pitchers' WP ratings. All that a bad-range catcher does, in terms of the game mechanics, is test the pitcher's WP ratings more often. So if your pitchers' WP ratings are low, then it really is not a concern at all. If your WP ratings are high, then bad catchers' range will burn you more frequently, but the whole thing doesn't come up that often, so it just is not really a big deal.

I think catcher range a factor when blocking the plate after a throw from an outfielder.

You're right! I forgot about that. I still don't think it is as important as any of the other aspects of catchers' fielding, but that does even the scales a bit.

So having a 3 range catcher instead of a 2 range one is less of a problem than having 3 in CF or SS?
Who would you rather have: a 3(-2)e4 catcher or a 2(0)e 4 catcher in a pitcher's park?

[quote:e8cf2f510b]So having a 3 range catcher instead of a 2 range one is less of a problem than having 3 in CF or SS?[/quote:e8cf2f510b]Absolutely no comparison.[quote:e8cf2f510b]Who would you rather have: a 3(-2)e4 catcher or a 2(0)e 4 catcher in a pitcher's park?[/quote:e8cf2f510b]The former.

So let me get this right. Having a 3 range catcher is acceptable, provided he has a good arm? So it isn't always the case that a 2 range catcher is essential. Wow. I just always assumed that a 3 at catcher was a no-no and consequently have probably missed out on better offensive 3 range catchers in order to get a 2.

That's right. The range of a catcher ultimately has very little effect on the OBP of the opposing team like the range of other positions does. Catchers' ranges will only be tested about 9 times in 1000 plays, and even then is usually only an issue if someone is on base with a chance to advance.
By comparison the range of a shortstop will be tested about 30 times per 1000 plays and ALWAYS has an effect on OBP. A shortstop-1 can keep opponents' OBP 10 points lower than a shortstop-3. That's why even a light-hitting guy like Jack Wilson is so valuable. A 10-point difference in an entire team's OBP is equivalent to an individual hitter's OBP difference of 90 (since he only comprises roughly 1/9 of an offense). Give me a .350 OBP Catcher-3 over a .300 OBP catcher-1 and a .300 OBP shortstop-1 over a .350 OBP shortstop-3 any day of the week.

Thanks for all the useful advice guys. It has helped change a few assumptions I had. I always want good D at SS and 2B but thought a 3 at C was a no-no, regardless of arm strength.