Switching positions

[pallen_97]

Ok...so I have this 18 year old shortstop that's hitting like Babe Ruth. Unfortunately, he's playing shortstop like Babe Ruth's corpse. His bat is too good to keep on the bench, but I don't relish the dozens of balls that he'll flub. I could convert him to a DH, but want to use that as a last resort. So, my question:

If I move this player to say, third base, should I expect:

a) His fielding will get worse because he's playing out of position.
b) His fielding will improve because he's playing an easier position.
c) His fielding will be about the same because these two factors even out.

Another related question -- is there a chance that switching positions will negatively affect his hitting?

[cavemanx]

I've never moved a crappy fielder to another position except a catcher I moved to first base. He still stunk as far as 1B go. His hitting didn't seem to suffer, though he hit a tad fewer homers than I was banking on. So I guess I can't answer your question definitively, but you now have my experience. Make of it what you can.

Hopefully somebody else can give you a better answer.