Defensive skills peaking at 25?

[Jeffy25]

Says Bill James

Shouldn't it work that way in Mogul?

Does it already?

There’s enough to know in hitting stats that hitters peak around age 27. Do we have any idea with fielding?

It’s quite clear that a large number of players have declined defensively by the age of 27.

What do you think the peak age is?

I would guess it’s 25, but I’m not too confident. Which would mean that a lot of players are just getting to the majors at their peak defensively and they play their whole major league career in defensive decline.

[HoustonGM]

We shouldn't implement something in Mogul based on a guess by Bill James.

But, really, I'm pretty sure defense does peak earlier than offense in Mogul, though I'm not positive.

[ragecage]

We shouldn't implement something in Mogul based on a guess by Bill James.

But, really, I'm pretty sure defense does peak earlier than offense in Mogul, though I'm not positive.

Talking Mogul, it seems they both peak at the same time.

[filihok]

But, really, I'm pretty sure defense does peak earlier than offense in Mogul, though I'm not positive.

I never suspected this to be the case

[HoustonGM]

I vaguely remember a discussion about it years ago, so, like I said, I'm not positive at all.

[etothep]

I recall in earlier versions seeing less development in defensive skills than in offensive skills, but this is nothing more than anecdotal evidence

[Jeffy25]

My assumption has always been that a player basically improves until their peak start age, and than starts to decline, offensively and defensively at their peak end age.

If this is different, it would be news to me.

[Lex Logan]

I have a very strong impression (with absolutely no data to back it up) that, in real life, defensive skills reach ML level earlier than offensive skills, and deteriorate sooner; and that in Mogul, they peak at the same time. (I'm not sure whether they decline at the same time or not.) I find this very frustrating in Mogul, it's hard to give rookies playing time when they're huge defensive liabilities.

Real-life examples include Dave Concepcion and Ozzie Smith, who both excelled defensively for several years before becoming good hitters. In Mogul, I've never seen a player who was exceptional defensively before hitting peak.

[200tang]

It makes some sense that defense peaks earlier. In soccer, forwards peak around the same age because speed is their most important factor, which I assume is the same for fielding.

[etothep]

Cool soccer reference, loser

[HoustonGM]

Cool soccer reference, loser

^

[OregonDuck1989]

It makes some sense that defense peaks earlier. In soccer, forwards peak around the same age because speed is their most important factor, which I assume is the same for fielding.

You ruin everything.

[200tang]

I hate you guys :C

Either way, Bill James is dumb now, so I would take what he says with a grain of salt unless he provides a ton of data to prove it.

[ragecage]

cool soccer reference, loser

:3

[haveacigar]

Yeah I think Bill James' status as a pioneer has elevated his reputation ridiculously high.