Re: MLB The Show 18 Franchise Discussion Thread
For me:
Infield generally: Good hands (Fielding) and quickness (Reaction).
SS, 3B: Strong arms are a must, or at least VERY helpful. Accuracy is always nice, but I'll choose the loose cannon over the accurate average arm every time.
Outfield generally: Speed and first step (Reaction). I hate slow outfielders. The objective need for OF speed does depend on your park. For example, in Fenway, you really need two CF to cover anything from the right field line to dead center and probably left-center honestly (some parts around the Monster are no short poke). Coors needs athletic OF all over. It's very spacious.
Arms are great and accuracy is important. I would rate accuracy as slightly more important because you can always relay, but a strong arm rating will make runners more conservative about taking bases on hits and you can punish them more often if they get aggressive.
Catcher: I like Blocking and a strong, accurate arm. Offense is nice if you can get it, especially a guy who can make some contact and be a pesky out.
Pitching: It's complicated for sure. You want to keep the ball in the park but relies more on you than ratings (HR/9 does nothing in "live" play, unless that's changed this year) unless you sim a lot (HR/9 is used in sim results). Picking up strikeouts is always good and is the current MLB "meta". Best way to manage contact is to prevent it altogether, so to speak.
Walks are bad, but if the pitcher has good ratings elsewhere, he can manage. One thing, though, BB/9 impacts your ability to pitch on the sticks as does the Control rating.
I guess mainly get the best guys you can until you learn how you work best on the mound, and then start leaning to that. So if you like to get 13-14 K's per game, go for the high K/9 and high velocity pitchers. If you like quick innings and pitching to contact, go for high H/9, good control and BB/9 so you can work the edges and just off to get chases.
For me:
Infield generally: Good hands (Fielding) and quickness (Reaction).
SS, 3B: Strong arms are a must, or at least VERY helpful. Accuracy is always nice, but I'll choose the loose cannon over the accurate average arm every time.
Outfield generally: Speed and first step (Reaction). I hate slow outfielders. The objective need for OF speed does depend on your park. For example, in Fenway, you really need two CF to cover anything from the right field line to dead center and probably left-center honestly (some parts around the Monster are no short poke). Coors needs athletic OF all over. It's very spacious.
Arms are great and accuracy is important. I would rate accuracy as slightly more important because you can always relay, but a strong arm rating will make runners more conservative about taking bases on hits and you can punish them more often if they get aggressive.
Catcher: I like Blocking and a strong, accurate arm. Offense is nice if you can get it, especially a guy who can make some contact and be a pesky out.
Pitching: It's complicated for sure. You want to keep the ball in the park but relies more on you than ratings (HR/9 does nothing in "live" play, unless that's changed this year) unless you sim a lot (HR/9 is used in sim results). Picking up strikeouts is always good and is the current MLB "meta". Best way to manage contact is to prevent it altogether, so to speak.
Walks are bad, but if the pitcher has good ratings elsewhere, he can manage. One thing, though, BB/9 impacts your ability to pitch on the sticks as does the Control rating.
I guess mainly get the best guys you can until you learn how you work best on the mound, and then start leaning to that. So if you like to get 13-14 K's per game, go for the high K/9 and high velocity pitchers. If you like quick innings and pitching to contact, go for high H/9, good control and BB/9 so you can work the edges and just off to get chases.
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