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Playing Out Of Position & Position Changes

What happens when a player plays out of his "natural" position?
If you're looking for position changes in the low minors, please check out Low Minors Position Changes.

What are the effects of a player playing out of his "natural" position?

There is a formula for this. This was developed thanks to some insightful input from none other than ""Knuckleball"Knuckleball Lover"",Lover", a CSFBL beta tester! (Who knows if he remembers...)


Positions are "ranked"ranked in the order of difficulty:


@@successbox:SS - 2B - CF - 3B - LF/RF - 1B@@

When a player plays out of his natural position, his Range (RN) and Glove (GL) ratings are adjusted depending on how many "jumps"jumps to the right or left. His Arm (AR) rating remains constant, (unless you are using a player to a catcher). See below, "What about catchers?".


@@successbox:1 step left: -10%
2 steps left: -19%
3 steps left: -27%
4 steps left: -34%
5 steps left: -40% (maximum)@@

@@successbox:Examples:
A 1B playing SS five steps left would lose 40% of his Range and Glove ratings. A LF playing CF would lose 19% two steps.@@

Moving to the right is a little different.


@@infobox:1@@successbox:1 step right: -8%
2 steps right: -6%
3 steps right: -4%
4 steps right: -2%
5 steps right: 0% (maximum)@@

@@successbox:Examples:
A SS playing 1B has no drop in skill (5 steps to the right). A 2B playing LF has a 4% drop (three steps).@@

What about catchers?

Any player moving to catcher loses 34% of his Range and Glove. Catchers moving to other positions are considered one step to the right of 1B. So, a C moving to 3B (three steps left) would lose 27% of his defensive skills.

A player trying to become a catcher requires more than 80 games in one season at catcher + 400 total games at catcher for the career in order to permanently change. Also while playing out of position as a catcher, there is a 75% penalty to the AR rating until the player converts.

The changes are applied to a player's actual ratings after fatigue is factored in.

Permanently changing positions

A player's natural position will change if he plays more than 80 games in a position that is not his natural position. The actual position change will occur during the next season rollover.

At this point, a player's actual ratings will permanently change asto ifthe position he wasis playingnow outconverted of position (not a penalty because it's the same effect in the game anyway).to. A player's potential ratings will change also - if moving to a harder position, they change by the same percentage;percentage. ifIf moving to an easier position, they will increase,increase depending on how much easier the new position is. As a result, a player moving to an easier position has the possibility to become a better player at that position over time.

The effect of multiple permanent position changes over the course of a career can hurt a player's overall fielding skill. (Players do better when they get to specialize.) The extent of the ratings changeschange is based on the extendextent of the position changes.change. A shortstop who flip-flops with second base will have a negligible drop;drop. but aA first baseman who flip-flops with shortstop will see a significant dropdrop. if he continues these bad habits!

Lefties playing 2B, SS, 3B, and C

In professional baseball, it's rare to see a lefty-throwingplayer playerwho throws left handed at 2B, 3B, SS, or C. As a result, CSFBL will not create left-handed players at these positions. This does not preclude you from putting a leftyplayer throwerwho throws left handed at one of these positions;positions. rather, the lineupThe manager will avoid using leftyplayers throwerswho throw left handed at these positions at all costs. It's still possible, but a leftyplayer throwerwho throws left handed will only be used if there are no eligible rightyplayers throwerswho throw right handed on the bench.

Defensive penalties will apply for all lefty-throwingplayers playerswho throw left handed at 2B, 3B, and SS. The penalties will be:

  • RANGE - 20%, and
  • ARM -40%.

A penalty to a catcher's Armarm rating with respect to base-stealing will apply based on the throwing arm of the catcher and the batting hand of the hitter at the plate. The penalties are as follows:

  • RTC=Right (RTC=Righty-throwinghanded catcher,throwing LTC=Lefty-throwingcatcher.
  • LTC=Left catcher,handed RHB=Right-handedthrowing batter,catcher.
  • RHB=Right LHB=Left-handedhanded batter,batter.
  • LHB=Left handed batter.
  • TO2=runner trying to steal second base, base.
  • TO3=runner trying to steal third base)base.


@@infobox:Stealing@@successbox:Stealing Second Base:
RTC + RHB + TO2: No penalty
RTC + LHB + TO2: -10%
LTC + RHB + TO2: -15%
LTC + LHB + TO2: -5% @@

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@@infobox:Stealing@@successbox:Stealing Third Base:
RTC + RHB + TO3: -5%
RTC + LHB + TO3: No penalty
LTC + RHB + TO3: -40%
LTC + LHB + TO3: -50% @@