Question in Regards in a choice I have between the following players.

1999 Terry Shumpert & 1999 Alex Gonzalez

Shumpert fielding at Shortstop Ratings are-D+/D-

Gonzalez fielding at Shortstop Ratings are C/C-.

Batting: Shumpert .347, .413, .584 Great offensive force.

Batting: Alex Gonzalez .277, .308, .430

This is a progressive League. I will be in the playoffs, wanted opinions on who I should start, better defense better offense.

Thanks

I'd go with Shumpert and set my defensive replacements to pull him with a lead late in the game. His offense is worth quite a bit more than Gonzalez; enough to warrant the start even in light of the defensive differences. If Gonzalez was an A/B sort of guy, my answer might be different, but this is a 'No Brainer" in my assessement.

Thank you. I was leaning that way. Would you recomend pulling in the 7th with 2 run lead.

Can the rest of your team hit? If it is 1999 they probably can. If so, I would play Gonzalez.

I am real leery of playing D- guys now.

I'd go 8th inning w/ one run lead

Quote: Originally Posted By Trentonjoe on 3/20/2010Can the rest of your team hit? If it is 1999 they probably can. If so, I would play Gonzalez.

I am real leery of playing D- guys now

he might get you a "-" play or two, but he is so much better offensively that he should more than make up for that extra out, if it even happens in a short series.

gonzalez bat makes one more out every 2 games and he has less power. no way the fielding will differ by that much, not even if shumpert is D-- range.

Thanks For the Imput.

for me it would depend on the rest of the lineup. if you had enough offense, i'd put the defensive guy out there in the 8 spot. if you dont then of course i'd lean the other way.

I might actually go the other way. If your team is a pitching and defense team and the whole bottom of the order is weak, I might consider using Gonzalez. It's not like he's going to have anybody to drive in or be drive in by anyway. Even so I'd be unlikely to play him. That offensive difference is huge, and the defensive difference is relatively small. Don't think I'd ever consider benching Shumpert except in defensive substitution situations.