Errors

This mornings discussion has led to some interesting points and an interesting topic for discussion. For one, the simulation of the plays is to the players actual ability. To know a players actual ability, you need to spend 20M in advance scouting. I for one can't see spending 20M in advanced scouting and cut corners a bit at 18. However, using Darren Dessens as an example will try to explain this mess. He is a 22 year old SS with range = 82, glove = 82, arm = 91, 85 (as I see him). The recommended stats for an "elite" defensive SS are range = 80, glove =85, arm = 85, 85. As for Dessens, he will grow into an "elite" defensive SS soon. As you can tell, his range is above recommended as I see him at 18 and probably at 20 also. His glove however is 3 points below and at 20 may be 4, so he will occasionally boot that routine ground ball. As for his arm, the accuracy could be below by a point or so, as for that, you would have to know where he was throwing from on the field to determine why he is missing 2B. I would say if he is deep in the hole and had to throw quickly, he could miss 2B but that is about it. Another thing that could happen for that throw is the 2B himself. Is his range under recommended, what about his glove, would the play be classified as a "bang bang" play?

So many things to consider and there is even more. Where do coaches fall into this mess? Many of you would say "what does that have to do with it?". But if one thinks about it, could have many possibilities. If training and discipline fall into his decision on whether to make the throw or not. If he was taught to make the throw the 2B will be there, since he is young he would make the throw. Or in another scenario he would hold the ball for an infield hit because he made the decision that the 2B wouldn't be there in time. Now, by looking at the coaches for said team I am a bit split in the situation and how it may be handled. If you look at the FI, I would say he makes the throw. If you look at the Bench coach, he may or may not make the throw. If you look at the Hitting coach, he may or may not make the throw.

The part about coaches is a closely guarded secret from everything that I have read except they have no "in sim" action unless you get thrown out of the game and the bench coach takes over. However, coaches train the players. So the players will react in any situation as to how they were trained IMHO.

This is purely speculative on my part. If the FI has high patience and discipline, I would say the ball would be held because he would check the whereabouts of the 2B. Now why did I go from FI to Bench to Hitting? The FI is suppose to train ALL players in the art of fielding. Can he be in all 6 places at once? If he is, I sure don't want his job at all and he doesn't get paid enough. So, I would think the secondary action of fielding would fall to the Bench coach. That is unless, the Hitting coach or others are higher rated in the art of fielding. Since I have noticed each year that coaches tend to gain points in the major areas, I would say the FI actually trains the other coaches and the training of players comes from that. I have noticed a correlation between the coaches and the points garnered each season to justify saying that. In simple terms, the FI trains the coaches in fielding and the coaches feed off each other depending how good they are to garner points and advancement in all the other major areas.

One last thing, since Dessens is a SS, errors are inherent to that position regardless of how good they are (and that fact has been largely publicized). I would also say that any player regardless of their stats could make an error from time to time as in real life. If you have one that is making a lot of errors at a position and the stats don't justify it, then that is another story.