Does anybody else start a defensive specialist?

[Potatoes002]

I am really enjoying the changes made on the infield defense in this year's game. The animations look fantastic for guys that are great fielders. In the second year of my franchise I signed Brendan Ryan to back up either Chris Taylor or Brad Miller at SS, but he ended up starting despite his fairly poor hitting attributes.

Having Cano and Ryan up the middle is a lot of fun, and I have seen some amazing looking one-handed double plays created by them. Having a guy like Brendan Ryan easily saved me a lot of runs because of his superior defense, so sacrificing hitting doesn't bother me at all.

Just wondering if any of you guys are starting someone in your lineups purely because of their defensive capabilities. This is the first year where I have gone this route because not only does defense matter so much more in this year's game, the animations play out really cool with great fielders too.

[Schibling]

Re: Does anybody else start a defensive specialist?

i start Parra in LF usually even thou Davis is a better power bat. He throws people out at the bases/plate a lot saving me runs.

[bacon96]

Re: Does anybody else start a defensive specialist?

It depends on the position for me. At like second base or shortstop, Yes! I would play the guy whose better defensively. Not so much for corner positions though.

i start Parra in LF usually even thou Davis is a better power bat. He throws people out at the bases/plate a lot saving me runs.

Parra is a real good hitter too. So I'd start him anyways and use Davis as a bench bat even though he only plays left.

[KBLover]

Re: Does anybody else start a defensive specialist?

Granted, Chris Taylor isn't exactly a pure defensive specialist (he's not terrible with the bat...though he's not great), but I start him at 2B (87 reaction). Solano is in the same boat (not helpless with the bat, but hardly great), and I'm starting him at SS.

I rushed an outfield prospect up for his defense (above average reaction and 95 speed). I'm thinking of moving Yelich back to LF and not bring back CarGo since he's a FA...though he has great defense too.

Maybe I'll trade Stanton...

Anyway, I favor defense everywhere except maybe 1B.

BTW, this thread makes me wish I could get Machado from the O's. I DROOL over his defense at SS or 3B. SIGH

[RogueHominid]

Re: Does anybody else start a defensive specialist?

Granted, Chris Taylor isn't exactly a pure defensive specialist (he's not terrible with the bat...though he's not great), but I start him at 2B (87 reaction). Solano is in the same boat (not helpless with the bat, but hardly great), and I'm starting him at SS.

I rushed an outfield prospect up for his defense (above average reaction and 95 speed). I'm thinking of moving Yelich back to LF and not bring back CarGo since he's a FA...though he has great defense too.

Maybe I'll trade Stanton...

Anyway, I favor defense everywhere except maybe 1B.

BTW, this thread makes me wish I could get Machado from the O's. I DROOL over his defense at SS or 3B. SIGH

I use the player search feature to see if I can find good deals for players with dominant fielding traits but low OVR ratings and lower than average hitting ratings.

What that search taught me is just how rare a guy like Machado is. SCEA rosters overrate fielding generally, so there are more guys with really good skills at 3B than there should be, but even so, Machado jumps out at you.

A guy I really like defensively is Freddy Galvis. In Willard's roster he's got elite fielding attributes (better than the SCEA roster, where he's already good), and he brings the added value of being a switch hitter and a passable bunter. He's a great guy to add if you want a defensive specialist in the MIF.

[Spokker]

Re: Does anybody else start a defensive specialist?

I usually start a defensive specialist at shortstop. Seems like the most important place for it.

[KBLover]

Re: Does anybody else start a defensive specialist?

I think I ended up fantasy drafting a team full of young defensive specialists.

Oops

Oh well, should be interesting!

[NDAlum]

Re: Does anybody else start a defensive specialist?

I signed SS Hak-Ju Lee after trading away Troy Tulowitzki. He's not my starter but I plan on getting him into the game late for defense. He can also run


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[Dr Mc Tardy]

Re: Does anybody else start a defensive specialist?

I've been saving up to gets Brooks Robinson to play at 3rd to protect against bunts.