Better arm or Lower Errors in the OF?

[Outta Leftfield]

I just added Glenn Braggs as a RH bat to a team that has been using Luzinski--who is scorching the ball!--as full time DH. Braggs is replacing a better LF who's simply not hitting LHP. The question is, should I promote Luzinski to LF vs LHP and use Braggs as DH? Or should I keep Luzinski as DH and put Braggs in LF?

Braggs is a 4(-1)13 in left while Luzinski is 4(0)9 in left. So the question basically comes down to this--is Braggs -1 arm worth more than Luzinski's 4 fewer errors. The more general question might be, which matters more in the OF, arm or errors.

My gut tells me to go with Luzinski, but I'm wondering what others think. :wink:

[bjs73]

I'd rather have the lower e numbers in LF if I had to choose between those two guys.

A -1 arm isn't all that much to write home about. E numbers come into play much more than a player's arm.

Also, LF is the best place to put someone with a weaker arm since there are no (bonuses) given to the runner going from 1st to 3rd on a base hit.

I believe that all runners going from 1st to 3rd get a +2 added to their running if the ball was hit to RF. I think it's +1 to on a basehit to CF and no bonus on a basehit to LF.

[Jablowmi]

All things being equal, I think I'd go for the arm, although it's probably a minor issue either way. An e13 will give you only 4 more errors in an entire season than an e9. I'd suspect that the -1 would come into play at least the same, possibly more (though not many), times. At the end of the day, I don't think I'd ever make a decision based on this difference.

[LMBombers]

I would go for Luzinski to play the field in that scenario. I think the e difference of 4 is worse than the 1 arm difference.

I have a similar problem on one of my teams that also includes Braggs. Who do you play in RF Braggs or Almon. I know, either option is brutal defensively. But if you HAD to choose who would you take?

4(+2)e8 Almon
4(-1)e13 Braggs

There is much more of an arm difference and the e rating gap is also wider.

One DHs and one plays RF.

[Outta Leftfield]

It's a tough call and maybe not a big deal for me either way, since Braggs will only be playing against lefties, so we're not talking about a huge number of plays. For now, I'm going to go with Luzinski, partly because of bjs's point that the arm matters less in LF.

Meanwhile, Braggs played his first game and hit two home runs in three AB's, drew a walk, drove in five runs and scored three, and basically keyed the team to an 11-4 win. If he keeps hitting like that, I'm not too worried about my fielding in LF. One can always dream.... :D

Meanwhile, I might go with Braggs in RF in LMB's situation. There the arm difference is significant and RF makes it more important. The five extra errors might matter less--I wouldn't want a +2 in RF. :wink:

[honestiago1]

Go for the most 'O' you can get in LF, & at 1B. Trade the D for the additional runs scored. All things being equal, if you've got to go with a 4, low e's in LF better than high e's and arm, unless arm is two steps better or worse.

This has nothing to do with the question, but consider this comparison: do you take say, a 4e9(0) in left over a 3e2(+2)? Are these considered somewhat equal, since the +2 is going to get run on a lot?

[Outta Leftfield]

Well, Luzinski's playing LF but in 24 AB's Braggs is hitting .417 with power and walks, resulting in a 1.250 OPS. I'm not sure how long this can last, but I'm definitely glad for the offense. :D

And I think I'd take the 3e2(+2) in LF. The better range and fewer walks are going to save a lot of baserunners. I think that trumps the bad arm. Is that Brian Downing by any chance?

[honestiago1]

(gasp) You got me. That's who I was thinking of. I guess between Downing and Luzinski, you have to consider offensive contributions. Know what'd be neat? If Downing had a C rating. I realize he spent vast majority of seasons as an OF, but he is rated as a decent catcher on the historical disks w/the computer game. As a C, he'd have a lot of value, wouldn't he?

Or how about if Raines was rated as a '3' at 2B (the position where he started)? Think he might start there for a few teams. What is DwMurph was somehow a 3e27 at SS? Come to think of it, I might have to draft an "out of position" team one of these days.

[Outta Leftfield]

Just lucky, I guess....

Actually, Downing has a pretty unique defensive rating. The very low errors, the 3 range and the +2 arm make up a pretty distinctive defensive package combining an unusual set of strengths and weaknesses. :D :wink: