How to better recognize pitches?

[Grim]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

There is a penalty on classic guess pitch if you guess wrong, but the penalty is alot bigger if you guess wrong on location AND pitch type. That is the main reason I only use it for location only. I have guessed low and still hit some homers and hard hit balls if its up in the zone or inside/outside. But yes, there is a penalty.

[eF 5ive]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

1. Go to a batting practice, or even in game.

2. Don't swing at anything. Just take your time on reading pitches, seeing break, seeing how it travels out of the hand.

In game:
Let the first pitch go by. Who cares if it's a strike. You either get a one pitch AB out, you whif and build their confidence, or you happen to get a base hit but he still only pitched one time.

If you can't read a pitch, chances are you are swing happy. When you're swing happy you're down 0-1, and in your case, since you can't see the pitch, you've already lost.

You have 7 pitches to play with. Make him throw you strikes. Once you start seeing the ball take a chance on the first pitch strike but only if it's with your power bat.

A lot of strikes you can't really do anything with anyways, so just build your patience and get that money ball, and if nothing else make the CPU throw the max pitches in an inning.

If you take that approach, maybe you don't get a hit till the third, but if you can get the pitcher tired, opportunities will come. It's chess not checkers.

Also, if you consistently swing early or late on a FB should indicate if you should increase or decrease pitch speed. Having it too low can actually be negative on you increasing your batting skill.

I once swung at everything, but when I get to the plate I treat every AB as it's own and do much better.

Hope you guys find your timing and contact!

[extremeskins04]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

1. Go to a batting practice, or even in game.

2. Don't swing at anything. Just take your time on reading pitches, seeing break, seeing how it travels out of the hand.

In game:
Let the first pitch go by. Who cares if it's a strike. You either get a one pitch AB out, you whif and build their confidence, or you happen to get a base hit but he still only pitched one time.

If you can't read a pitch, chances are you are swing happy. When you're swing happy you're down 0-1, and in your case, since you can't see the pitch, you've already lost.

You have 7 pitches to play with. Make him throw you strikes. Once you start seeing the ball take a chance on the first pitch strike but only if it's with your power bat.

A lot of strikes you can't really do anything with anyways, so just build your patience and get that money ball, and if nothing else make the CPU throw the max pitches in an inning.

If you take that approach, maybe you don't get a hit till the third, but if you can get the pitcher tired, opportunities will come. It's chess not checkers.

Also, if you consistently swing early or late on a FB should indicate if you should increase or decrease pitch speed. Having it too low can actually be negative on you increasing your batting skill.

I once swung at everything, but when I get to the plate I treat every AB as it's own and do much better.

Hope you guys find your timing and contact!

This is sound advice!

What I've been doing is I use guess pitch (default) and guess a 4 seamer on the inside every time. If it doesn't light up I don't swing.

I go a lot of 3-2 counts with this method. Of course if I go down 0-2 or 1-2 I have to protect the plate, but you get the idea. Works well for me. I do get into a bit of trouble against pitchers like Fernandez, Kershaw, Sale, etc.

I salivate when Big Papi gets into a 3-1 count and that poor pitcher throws a 4 seamer on the inside at 90-95mph (which i guess correctly of course). Ball gets absolutely crushed so hard that it sounds like a gun shot.

I love this game.

[seanjeezy]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

I use a slightly offset and top down camera angle and it helps with depth perception immensely. The hardest pitches for me to hit are the straight ones because with no sense of depth they sneak up on you really fast. 2-Seam or a running fastball at 99? No problem. 4-seam at 90? Ugh...

[jkjgiants26]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

The last thing you should do is use guess pitch, it's a crutch and you'll develop a reliance on it, turn it off. My tips would be this: on the first pitch focus on the middle of the plate or your favorite location to hit a fastball, really focus on that spot and if it's not that exact location let it go even if it's a strike, an 0-1 count won't kill you. Relax and really watch the ball come out of the pitchers hand and turn down the pitch speed if that's hard for you. Go into batting practice and just set your controller down and watch the pitcher throw to you and get an idea of what it's like to see a pitch out of the strike zone without you swinging at it. And the tip to know your count is probably the most important, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, are your best friends, the chances of getting a fastball in the zone is a lot higher. All in all just try to be more patient and if all this is hard just take the first pitch no matter what it's not the best plan but it'll help you see more pitches.

[BA2929]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

I always guess fastball, then if I'm wrong I react to what's most likely an off-speed pitch.
That's what (most) real baseball players do and it seems to work for me in game.

I never guess location.

If someone had a sure fire way to recognize the change up and to a lesser extent, the low and away slider, they'd be my bestie for all of eternity.

This has been an issue for every baseball game of all time. Not being able to see spin is a killer on those pitches. That's why I enjoyed what MVP did with the color indicators out of the pitchers hand. It at least gave me a fighting chance.

[RandyBass]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

Don't you get penalized when you guess wrong?

There is but if the pitcher leaves one out over the plate you can still have success.

The last thing you should do is use guess pitch, it's a crutch and you'll develop a reliance on it, turn it off.

A crutch? It actually is a pretty good reflection of how Major League hitters approach an at bat. Like I said in my suggestion when you use Guess Pitch and don't get it, it's best to just let it go unless it's out over the plate, because often times it will be a borderline ball just outside the zone which you normally would have swung at without guess pitch.

"Guess Pitch" is sort of a misleading name. It should probably be something more like "Pitch Anticipation" or something like that, and it helps because it doesn't leave you at the mercy of trying to recognize everything out of the pitcher's hand.

If anyone thinks MLB hitters don't use some sort of anticipatory approach they should probably think again.

[Grim]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

There is but if the pitcher leaves one out over the plate you can still have success.



A crutch? It actually is a pretty good reflection of how Major League hitters approach an at bat. Like I said in my suggestion when you use Guess Pitch and don't get it, it's best to just let it go unless it's out over the plate, because often times it will be a borderline ball just outside the zone which you normally would have swung at without guess pitch.

"Guess Pitch" is sort of a misleading name. It should probably be something more like "Pitch Anticipation" or something like that, and it helps because it doesn't leave you at the mercy of trying to recognize everything out of the pitcher's hand.

If anyone thinks MLB hitters don't use some sort of anticipatory approach they should probably think again.

^^ Agreed. I have always used some form of guess pitch over the years but I ONLY use it when I have 2 strikes against me. I have tried to play 20-25 straight games without it, but I just drastically struggle with low pitches, so I turned it back on for good. Many at bats I dont need it at all, but it is helpful for me with 2 strikes. I still strike out at times on low pitches even with it on. I have realistic batting averages across the board with nobody batting over .350 and a couple guys hitting .170-.190. To each their own regarding "guess" pitch.

[TheFlamingWeazel]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

Practice, there is no other easy solution.

[TheFlamingWeazel]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

I always guess fastball, then if I'm wrong I react to what's most likely an off-speed pitch.
That's what (most) real baseball players do and it seems to work for me in game.

I never guess location.



This has been an issue for every baseball game of all time. Not being able to see spin is a killer on those pitches. That's why I enjoyed what MVP did with the color indicators out of the pitchers hand. It at least gave me a fighting chance.

I'm sorry but no, That's too easy for the game to tell you what pitch is coming. The show does it better.

[BA2929]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

I'm sorry but no, That's too easy for the game to tell you what pitch is coming. The show does it better.

I liked it. I didn't say the Show should replicate it exactly and everyone should be forced to use it. Agree to disagree.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: How to better recognize pitches?

A few random things

1. I always use the feedback thingy. It tells you pitch type, speed, location, and info on your swing (if applicable). That is my best friend.

2. I do not use guess pitch as it hinders your ability to read pitches.

3. Know the pitcher's arsenal and understand the count.

If you are ahead expect fastball (or their best pitch, usually the one associated with the X button). Pay attention, some guys feature a 2 seamer or sinker as their primary pitch.

If behind expect anything but pay attention early in the game to what the guy is using as his out pitches. If he throws a 0-2 slider low and away in inning 1 expect that same pitch later on. I usually just swing defensively until I get a good pitch.

4. Notice trends. Don't come out swinging in the first inning. My goal for my leadoff hitter is always at least a 5 pitch AB. Dont be afraid to take a strike.

5. Practice. The more you watch pitches the better you will be, unless you use guess pitch and are just looking to see if you guessed correctly.