Superiority of IF and OF over SS and CF

[exep]

Could someone please let me know if utility players are at a disadvantage if they play other positions than their own if they don't have IF or OF. Does a 3B marked IF field wnen playing 2nd better than a SS not marked IF, assuming all else is equal?

[Godard]

I've had a good time using CF at any outfield position, just like real life, and OF don't do too poorly at 1B either.

Usually the blanket IF players don't have as good ratings as the 2B or SS specialists, so it might even out (move a 2b to SS and his rating drops, but if your IF is a C+ fielding anyway, it might be a wash)

[Cipster]

I've had good luck changing an ageing SS to 2nd base. That move seems to work well. I did it with Womack and Visquel and it added a couple of years to their careers.
I have changed a great young 1B (won a Gold Glove as a rookie) to play catcher but his D declined. He was always slightly above average but not lights out. It was worth is because he could hit and had a great eye .300 BA .400 OBP guaranteed. No great power but you can't have 2 Mike Piazzas in a generation. There are not many great offensive catchers in the game so it was worth it.

[exep]

Cipster, does the rating on the players screen change from SS to 2B after you play them that way for a while? Playing a non-catcher as a catcher caused huge numbers of errors. Does this eventually change and do they become catchers?
My original question had to do with the advisability of using IF and OF on the bench rather the CF or SS. I'm still not sure of the penality a SS on the bench pays when he covers 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

[Slugger222]

From my experience, the game does a pretty realistic job of playing players out of position. They do get penalized more the more out of position they become.

It does not seem to matter whether they come off of the bench or start there.

[exep]

If an SS is the only IF on the bench he will play all of the IF positions. If he does this long enough will he become an IF? If not, how do IF and OF differ from the other fielders?

[takaplan]

Yes

If you play a player at a different position long enough, his position will change. It really depends on the player's skills...i converted Mark Quinn from LF to CF in about a year and a half...It takes longer with worse defensive players. Obiously, converting a catcher into a center fielder would take longer than changing a first baseman to a third baseman, or a RF to a LF.

Sometimes the guys totally bomb at another position, sometimes they do well.

Tom

[BBM]

the question is will their defensive rating dropped due to this position switching.