changing position in minors

[sdrocks]

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to have a player learn a new position in the minors.

[mikeh5]

I would like to have this flexibility and I would also like to see players who do play more than one position show this ability in the game. Some players - most notably Albert Pujols - seem to only be rated to play one position although in real life they play multiple positions.

Have other users had players like Pujols and played them at positions other than their normal positions (i.e for Pujols somewhere other than 3B). So far I haven't needed to, but I'm curious as to how this affects the players defensive and maybe even offensive performance.

[dturkenk]

I used Daryle Ward in RF for a long time, and his offense didn't suffer. He wasn't a great defender, but was at least adequate. Not that he would have been that great as his assigned position - 1B

[sudden]

I changed a great 3B prospect into a SS as I had Adrian Beltre at 3B but nobody useful at SS. In his rookie year he was rough defensively but his offense made up for it. After that he was definitely worth the switch.

I'm not sure how exactly the game handles switches at the major league level but it manages to change positions there so we should be able to change positions in the minors.

I think that the success of the switch should be based upon the player's age, his fielding ability and which direction you're switching him on the defensive spectrum - making a poor fielding 1B into a SS should be a recipe for absolute disaster;).

[datrain021]

We should be given an optin to convert a player to another position in the minors. In real life players change positions in the minors frequently. Most ML catchers were drafted in other positions. There needs to be an option to do this

[dsb01]

That would be awesome....

Though I think there should be limits on what position can be learned...like Corner infielders could learn 1st base or the opposite corner.

That sort of thing.

[catspaw27]

Sounds like an incredible amount of code would need to be written for a super-sub like McLemore or Polanco but...if it can be done it would be closer to real life.

Good examples of this are Pujols or perhaps Pat Burrell...he was originally a 3B, became a 1B to start his minor career since Rolen was a dominant 3B, then was switched to LF to accelerate his promotion to the bigs when 1B was already taken. Now that the Phillies are looking to deal Rolen, watch Burrell take some IF practice at 3B.

True he should be rated an "F" at any position up the middle (C, P, 2B, SS, CF) but at the corners he should be serviceable.

[willat]

Why don't they just rate a player at every position? Most outfielders should be able to play 1B pretty well, but not vise versa. SS & 2B should be close, but Catcher should be tough for anyone without experience there etc...

[skydog617]

I haven't really had any trouble with this. Mostly I switch OF or 1B/3B to catcher (it's been a while since I saw a good rookie catcher), and as long as the player has a good defense rating (>= A-), it's been a relatively easy transition. I have also switched OF to 2B, but only if they had good speed, range, and defense, and they did OK.

[billjoe439]

I think rookies should have their assigned position and stay that way until the major leagues. However, having individual ratings on positions would be a very nice feature. The longer you play a person at a different position, the higher the rating goes. Maybe a total point system of 10 dispersed over what they know, and it could change over time. I don't know, but I don't think AAA players should be able to switch position, I like it the way it is.

[Frost]

infielders should be able to change to mostly any position, since 2B, SS, and 3B are probably the toughest to play. but outfielders shouldn't just be able to learn SS in the minors. this would change the game dramatically. instead of developing players in the minors, people will just switch outfielders with big bats to the infield thus taking away from the game. their position switches must be limited.

[jollytacoman14]

Hey dont forget Knoblauch (that piece of **** yankee) he switched in the majors... so we should be able to do it

[Frost]

LOL true, but knoblauch went from second base, which is one of the toughest, to left field, one of the easiest positions

[Miketay77]

I am the Texas Rangers and I have at SS Alex Rodriguez. I also drafted a very good SS named Eric Difranco. I moved Difranco to 2B for a few season and intended to move him to short when ARod was no longer on my team. Well, now he's a bona fide 2B and the SS position is open for next year. What to do, what to do? LOL

[qetwry]

I have rollins at SS, and drafted a nomar-esque SS, who's playing 2B very well so far in his rookie season.. (soriano situation)
on the other hand, I've been trying to convert an OF to catcher and that project has not gone well at all.. he's rated A+ defensively so i thought he'd be decent.. but he lets by a passed ball every other game..
So from that, i gather the game handles the ease/difficulty of switching to certain positions pretty well, but yeah i'd love to see players try to feel out a new position in AAA, rather than losing games for the major league squad

also.. do players improve/mature better in AAA rather being on the bench and not playing everyday?

[tward13]

If handled realistically it would be a great additional feature.

Maybe have the success of a switch accelerated in the minors and during spring training. Also it should depend on the players fielding rating and the position he's switching from-to.

Catchers to 1B, 3B, LF are ok.

OF to 1B or 3B

CF to 2B

2B or SS to OF

1B or 3B to LF or RF

Maybe have additional positions like MI (middle infielder) and CI for corner infielder, just to save space.

Tom

[Clay Dreslough]

Originally posted by qetwry
also.. do players improve/mature better in AAA rather being on the bench and not playing everyday?

Players do mature better in AAA than on the bench.

Clay

[steetballer67]

It would be nice if that option was availible, but i think that it should involve some trial and error. For example if you trying moving a guy he may not learn the position well and sometimes he might.

[Winks469]

although i am currently not having that problem but i have in the past i think its a great idea that i have been asking for, for a long time.....however i think there should be limits, catcher to centerfield or vice versa, also i think 1st base to shortstop should not be permitted i think when u draft the players before they are designated a postion you should recieve what position they have played in AA and then you put them where you want and you can control the batting order and some pitching in AAA bc you cannot change a reliever to a starter but in the majors it happends alot (ex. latroy hawkins) and also the other way around a close or relieve works on his endurnace and they become a starter (ex. vicente padilla) i think this should be thought about