Hold Ratings

I've considered using Ugueth Urbina as a cheap RP option, but that +9 hold rating scares me off. Just how bad can a hold rating like that be? Do all baserunners steal with impunity? Bryan Harvey seems overpriced because of that.

Also, I have a hard time wrapping my head around why Jeff Nelson has two cards with +9 hold ratings (1995 and 1997) and yet has a -2 hold rating in 2001. Did he finally learn how to hold runners on when he returned to Seattle? Gene Conley same type of thing, hold ratings all over the place. I'd think a pitcher is either skilled at holding runners on, or he's not.

I'd appreciate any wisdom from more experienced Stratophiles. Thanks, Casey

Urbina's hold rating only hurts him if there are runners on base ........ His card is great but that is scary though I have been using him of late due to the value of his pitching card.

Also - the highest (and lowest) hold + catcher's throwing arm that is allowed vs. base runner is +/-5.

Also - the highest (and lowest) hold + catcher's throwing arm that is allowed vs. base runner is +/-5.

So, in effect, his Urbina's practical rating is really no worse than +5. If you are using a -5 catcher, that will pull it down to s +4. Otherwise, there's no practical effect.

So, if you're willing to use of +5 RP, and you don't have a mega-arm catcher, then Urbina's practical impact on holding runners isn't much of a loss compared to that +5.

Clearly whoever sets the pricing blew it on Urbina. Mark Clear, another +9 who is very popular, seems like another example of blowing the pricing, due to that bad hold rating. Other examples abound.

whoever sets the pricing blew it on Urbina. Mark Clear, another +9 who is very popular, seems like another example of blowing the pricing, due to that bad hold rating. Other examples abound

You mean: too high or too low?

Definitely too low, Urbina, Scott and Clear should be priced higher! But as long as they're not I'll keep using them, and I'd add Kim and his +4 hold as well.