Big, bad D

[honestiago1]

In our AM-NAT league, I have a big bat lineup with good defense in the middle. I'm stuck, however, with a 4e37 at 3B (Darrell Evans). This is a theme league, and player movement is limited (it's quite a challenge! everyone has distinct weaknesses to deal with).

I'm wondering how much 3B defense is actually going to hurt me. I've played whole seasons with 4's in either LF or RF (one year I used Moreland and Daniels together in the OF) and done fine. I've used Hojo at 3B extensively. But this has to be the worst combination of range/e-rating I've ever tried.

Anyone used someone as bad or worse all year long? How did it come out for you?

[Panzer ace]

I have used a 4e37 at 3B before. It isnt pretty. You have to have a decent def replacement for the late innings. How much it hurts you will depend on what kind of offense you get. You will give up runs, how many will Evans produce? That is what you have to balance. You may want to look for someone to platoon him with that can also be a def replacement.

[honestiago1]

My PLT player is Brookens (gah!), and the DEF replacement is Riles. These are thebest I can get in your league at the moment. No one is trading because we're all waiting season to go so we can see what cards we get. Yeah, I HOPE he produces!

[YountFan]

if he HITS it don't matter

[nycalderon]

I have played with Evans at 3rd and when you get him in one of his masher years he's worth going with guilt-free...

[Outta Leftfield]

I've seen Evans be devastating if given enough AB's. But is playing him at 1B an option, given your restricted roster choices? He's a 4e11 at 1B, so he'd do a lot less damage than at 3B--26 fewer errors is a lot.

[honestiago1]

I have Will Clark at 1B and Jack Clark is my DH. I can play J Clark in RF, moving Evans to DH, but then I lose Gibson from RF. In fact, Clark does play RF against LHP, and Brookens gets in the lineup against LHP, as well, while Evans shifts to DH (unless he ends up not hitting LHP, then I'll sit him down).

My roster is made up of DET-SF players, which is why my 3B options are so limited.