Why move your best player out of position?

Well I have to admit that example wasn't the best but it was a quick one off the top of my head. I guess a better example would be moving the shortstop to third or first or centerfield.

Now as for your question why would you move your best player out of position - I think it's a truly case by case situation. An overall thinking is that if he's your best player he should be able to play anywhere pretty well. Maybe the guy who will be taking his spot while he moves can only play that position for whatever reason.

Only real way to get an answer is to ask the coach.

Simple cost-benefit analysis...the losses by moving the stud are lesser than the gains by the new player.

I should have said it isn't my kid. But I have seen it and it is pretty accepted in coaching. You do what is best for the team. But is it really? If you move your best ss to center and play your second best at ss, doesn't that hurt your team? Your second best guy will not be able to make the plays that your number one can make. If he can get more outs that means less pitching and less scoring. Both things that are good for the team. It could be any position. Playing your best centerfielder in right because he has a strong arm will hurt your defense up the middle and ultimately cost you more runs. I just have never understood the philosophy of moving kids out of there best spot for the good of the team. All you do is weaken 2 spots instead of one. Or make a more important defensive spot on the team weaker.

I would say that's overly simplistic. Just to expand a bit, maybe you get your two best bats in the lineup. Maybe your SS-turned-OF is not a loss, since the pitching is not keeping the ball down. Again, it's CBA.

Matt, I like simple. If you want your second best ss in the game for his bat, why not play him at second if he is better than your second baseman? If he isn't better than that guy how about third. If he isn't better etc... It just makes more sense to me to play the best players at their position to keep your team strong and then adjust at the other spots because you have holes there anyway. Maximize your strengths.

If baseball were simple, we wouldn't need managers or umpires.

I don't know why other coaches make this move and I can only speak for myself. Personally I would try everything in my power to avoid doing this but sometimes it does have to happen. If I move my best player it's because I have solid belief that he can make the plays that need to be made in his new position. The guy who is taking his spot will have my belief in him that he can make the plays.

Like Matt says you sometimes have to get a better bat in the lineup. Plus if the new bat can generate more runs than he lets in due to weaker defense then you're still in good shape. Maybe injuries have decimated the roster and you are a small team / school who doesn't have a JV to pull from.

This shouldn't be a fly by the night move - it should be made after considering everything possbile postive and negative. If the positives outweigh the negative then you can make the move.

I've seen this move blow up in coaches faces but I've also seen it work. Sometimes you're lucky and it works and sometimes it was a good move and bad luck hits you. Regardless, you have to make the decision after some serious thought and considerations.

I have seen coaches start to play younger players when if the team is out of their league race to develop younger kids for next season. They might not say it but they throw in the towell and start planning for next season.

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
The "Help from coaches out there for rising sophomore" thread got me to thinking. Not always a good thing I will admit, but why would you move your best ss out to right field to help the team? the ss will have what, 10, 20 more chances at helping your team get outs during a game on average versus a right fielder who may have one chance every other game? I have never understood that philosphy.

Coach is trying to put the best 9 on the field to give the team the best chance to win.
This particular scenario could occur if all of the following conditions exist...
A. - best SS is also a very good OF
B. - two of the other best 9 are very solid MIF's but shaky or non-experienced OF's
C. - the next best OF and MIF (#10 and 11) are a considerable drop in talent

So, what you give up by moving best SS is more than made up for by what you get elsewhere compared to your other options.

Usually a good player is moved off of his main position to get another good bat in the lineup. Also, it is done only if said good player is proficient at his secondary position and the incoming player is not capable of playing another position in the coaches opinion. The moved player should be better than any other option the coaches has at his new position. This moves brings you back to the old saying of 'if you can hit you will play'.

Bottom line is that the move, in the coaches opinion, should improve the team overall. Happens alot and typically is the correct thing to do. I the new player starts booting too many balls then the coach should look for plan C.

DM, I think you are over exagerating the number of chances a SS gets during a game. 20 come on! There are only 21 outs in a HS level game.

It isn't just the outs. Knocking balls down. Keeping it in the infield, adjusting to bad throws, holding runners, etc

Cabbagedad, if the other guys are solid middle infielders then they should be able to cover the outfield or play somewhere else. Plus if they aren't good enough to start it is in their best interest to learn a new position.

f he can aDEQUATELY BE REPLACED YOU DO IT TO STRENGTHEN THE TEAM

TR, I would rather have the adequate guy in left field instead of up the middle. I want the best players in a position to make the most difference in a game.

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
It isn't just the outs. Knocking balls down. Keeping it in the infield, adjusting to bad throws, holding runners, etc

If they can't do this then they don't need to be in the game.

I guess the question is - how big is gap between best player on the team versus to someone who is adequate? If the backup in your example can't do those things then the gap between him and the best player is too big.

If you have a ball up the middle that's a tough one to get but the stud can make the play. I expect his replacement to be pretty daggone close to making it as well. That little bit of "umph" to get that ball is the tradeoff I'm willing to sacrifice by making this move. Reason is that play won't really happen very often. It's either a clean hit up the middle for both guys or it's a play made by either guy. If the replacement guy can't make this play close then he shouldn't be there.

This is also on the contigency that the backup can't play another position for whatever reason. Like I said earlier I would want to avoid this if at all possible but sometimes you just have to do it. But if you do it then make sure to consider all the possibilities first.

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
Cabbagedad, if the other guys are solid middle infielders then they should be able to cover the outfield or play somewhere else. Plus if they aren't good enough to start it is in their best interest to learn a new position.

DM,
Please re-read the scenario I described. The two MIF's WERE good enough to start with the proper juggling and the pros outweighed the cons.

A similar (and real) example - Last year, we tried to move the best 3b to RF because the #2 3b had a good bat compared to some other starters and we figured #1 3b was plenty athletic enough and had the arm strength to play RF. Didn't work in that instance because #1 3b turned out to be totally uncomfortable and a liability in OF. My point being that not all good IF's can make that transition, including an athletic one.

In another instance, a few years back, before the team had depth, the best SS had to move to C because starting C was giving up too many bases with past balls and inability to keep runners from stealing. The team lost a lot at SS but gained more by saving lots of free bases. This controled the chaos and allowed the team to begin to compete. Pros and cons. I know this isn't quite the same comparison because SS and C both have lots of touches, but still another scenario where a best player would get moved.

I do agree with your points about the importance of being as strong as you can be in certain positions such as SS (and C). All factors that have to be weighed.