by Proverbial Psalms » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:42 pm
Let me explain, and apologies if you laready know this...
"CF has more chances"...
This is strictly in relation to a pitcher's card reading of cf-x, rf-x, lf-x, etc.... it triggers a result using the fielder's range and e-rating, the 1 and e8 in our CF example.
It is these "x" readings on a pitcher's card where CF has a higher likelihood of their range and e-rating coming into effect than for RF or LF.
Of the pitcher's card, total of 108 different possibilities, there are always 7 chances for ss-x, 6 chances for 2b-x, 3 chances for cf-x, 3 chances for 3b-x, 3 chances for catch-x... and 2 chances for all remaining positions (rf-x, lf-x, p-x, 1b-x)
Thus the range/e rating for CF (3 chances) is 50% more likely to occur (come into play) than for either the RF or LF range/e ratings (2 chances), but the OF's are much lower chance than the ss and 2b for certain... which is one of the reasons middle defense is critical.
"Outfielder's Arm"...
In a whole separate, unrelated way the OF arm comes into play, it's not per se from any x plays on the pitcher's card, but rather it comes into play WHENEVER a baserunner is on and the result is single (RF) or single (CF)... Single (LF)... or Double (CF) etc.... this can come from either the batter's card, the pitcher's card, or the fielding charts from a cf-x, rf-x, etc... And there are many more of these chances on the batter and pitcher card readings than there are coming from the fielding charts.
So, why is RF the best place to put your best OF arm...? Because when a runner on first is trying for third on a Single-LF, Single-CF, or Single-RF, in addition to the baserunners speed rating and OF arm being applied, there's also a factor based on what fielder is involved... if it's LF, runner gets a -2 in addition to the OF arm... in CF there is a zero factor, while if it's RF, the runner gets a +2 factor added to the RF arm.. with the +2 in RF already giving the runner an advantage going to 3B, the RF's arm is critical... only the speedy runners will try 3B on a CF, so putting the best arm there won't have as much impact as in RF.
I'm simplifying a bit (because I need to log off), but that's my 2 cents. Hope it helps and that it's not confusing!!