Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batter.

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  • ruskoz
    Rookie
    • Sep 2006
    • 125

    #1

    Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batter.

    First let me say I love the MLBTS series. A big thanks to the developer for all their hard work. One element that I think would exponentially increase the experience of MLBTS is a dynamic scouting report system. I will indulge a bit and describe one way of how it might be implemented.

    When pitching, each batters scouting information can be integrated into a virtual report that can be toggled on and off in the form of a overlay like the pitchers pitch type in 15 (R2 if I remember right). And a more complete scouting report in a side menu for a deeper dive would be a plus.

    The question is can it be done? Does the current platform have the functionality to track and list out the data? Components like out of the zone chases, swings at high fast balls, fastball swings on change of speed pitches, fastball hits vs off-speed hits etc. Then this data can be put into tables for each player and update dynamically as more data is accumulated in games. The data accumulation would need to be consistent in player and simulated games. I am not sure if the sim game data is the same shape&size as the player game data but I am guessing it should be.

    Here is a quick and simple use-case: Your are playing and pitching, late innings - game is still in question. 1st batter up is hitting .250 but has been on fire the last 12 games. he has been hitting everything inside. You can see this in the scouting report that he is hitting .450 in the last 12 games and is hitting .650 on the inside stuff. But even more is he hit .800 on inside fastballs. The scouting says that the slider away has been at a .125 avg all season and the last 12 games its about the same .130. Now that you-the-player know this you can attack his weakness with a authentic approach and feel. The way it is currently each pitch strategy is generic for each batter.

    If the current platform supports this type of development would be a great addition to any new release 2016 or 2017.... If it does not, creating the data fields and logic and presentation seems very doable.

    The real question is how does the AI deal with this data. The AI-batter described above needs to start addressing this slider issue based on the data (scouting report). Also in cpu-vs-cpu the AI pitching would need to utilize the data. And of course you-the-player-batter should face the AI which is armed with a scouting report in its tool bag and thus how you have handle that particular batter. Pitcher scout reports would be a great addition as well.
    Last edited by ruskoz; 02-24-2015, 02:27 PM.
  • HypoLuxa13
    MVP
    • Feb 2007
    • 1156

    #2
    Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

    Originally posted by ruskoz
    First let me say I love the MLBTS series. A big thanks to the developer for all their hard work. One element that I think would exponentially increase the experience of MLBTS is a dynamic scouting report system. I will indulge a bit and describe one way of how it might be implemented.

    When pitching, each batters scouting information can be integrated into a virtual report that can be toggled on and off in the form of a overlay like the pitchers pitch type in 15 (R2 if I remember right). And a more complete scouting report in a side menu for a deeper dive would be a plus.

    The question is can it be done? Does the current platform have the functionality to track and list out the data? Components like out of the zone chases, swings at high fast balls, fastball swings on change of speed pitches, fastball hits vs off-speed hits etc. Then this data can be put into tables for each player and update dynamically as more data is accumulated in games. The data accumulation would need to be consistent in player and simulated games. I am not sure if the sim game data is the same shape&size as the player game data but I am guessing it should be.

    Here is a quick and simple use-case: Your are playing and pitching, late innings - game is still in question. 1st batter up is hitting .250 but has been on fire the last 12 games. he has been hitting everything inside. You can see this in the scouting report that he is hitting .450 in the last 12 games and is hitting .650 on the inside stuff. But even more is he hit .800 on inside fastballs. The scouting says that the slider away has been at a .125 avg all season and the last 12 games its about the same .130. Now that you-the-player know this you can attack his weakness with a authentic approach and feel. The way it is currently each pitch strategy is generic for each batter.

    If the current platform supports this type of development would be a great addition to any new release 2016 or 2017.... If it does not, creating the data fields and logic and presentation seems very doable.

    The real question is how does the AI deal with this data. The AI-batter described above needs to start addressing this slider issue based on the data (scouting report). Also in cpu-vs-cpu the AI pitching would need to utilize the data. And of course you-the-player-batter should face the AI which is armed with a scouting report in its tool bag and how you handle that particular batter. Pitcher scout reports would be a great addition as well.
    Maybe this is something that would be more appropriate to bring up in a few months when the "Official MLB 16 Wishlist" thread appears here...

    But initially I'd say you would run a huge risk of alienating many users but the most hardcore sim players if something like this were to be implemented in a baseball video game. If it were at all realistic, and the scouting reports were to actually be valuable/needed to have success, a lot of players would be waking away. Just think about how many users already complain about how difficult hitting in The Show is already...

    Comment

    • seanjeezy
      The Future
      • Aug 2009
      • 3347

      #3
      Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

      One of the devs is always asking us if we want anything added to the analysis screen, that would be the first step. The next step would be archiving the data and being able to view it both in and out of games.

      I feel like we already have a mini scouting report available with hot/cold zones, player ratings, and the spray charts, but I think being able to view a season long version of the analysis screen outside of a game would be huge.
      Bakin' soda, I got bakin' soda

      Comment

      • ruskoz
        Rookie
        • Sep 2006
        • 125

        #4
        Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

        "HypoLuxa13" I dont agree with you on either account. This is a community forum about a game and not a stock market trade or business merger discussion. While expressing it in a wishlist is still a valid option there is no reason why the community cant express things as it sees that add value.

        As far as adding scouting reports, not sure i get your point. Is the game to hard for some people on beginner, veteran, all star, etc, yes it is. That why they make modifiers for each level to match player skill level. The effect of scouting report would need modifiers as well.

        Comment

        • HozAndMoose
          MVP
          • Mar 2013
          • 3614

          #5
          Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

          Originally posted by ruskoz
          "HypoLuxa13" I dont agree with you on either account. This is a community forum about a game and not a stock market trade or business merger discussion. While expressing it in a wishlist is still a valid option there is no reason why the community cant express things as it sees that add value.

          As far as adding scouting reports, not sure i get your point. Is the game to hard for some people on beginner, veteran, all star, etc, yes it is. That why they make modifiers for each level to match player skill level. The effect of scouting report would need modifiers as well.
          He wasnt saying it didnt deserve its own thread. Just that the best place for a dev to see it is the wishlist thread for the next game.

          Comment

          • HypoLuxa13
            MVP
            • Feb 2007
            • 1156

            #6
            Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

            Originally posted by HozAndMoose
            He wasnt saying it didnt deserve its own thread. Just that the best place for a dev to see it is the wishlist thread for the next game.
            Exactly. Devs are WAY too busy right now to even bother coming on here and discuss this idea. I actually like the idea a lot, and would be in favor of it someday. So 1) it would get more attention by reps from Sony San Diego Studios if brought up at a later date and 2) was just playing devil's advocate in suggesting one reason why SDS would be very cautions in considering adding something as hardcore as detailed pitcher or batter scouting reports.

            Comment

            • sink4ever
              MVP
              • Dec 2004
              • 1153

              #7
              Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

              This would tie in very nicely to an expansion of individual player tendencies. One of my dreams is to have (editable) player tendencies to really set different types of players apart from each other. Here is my tl;dr write-up from a few years ago.

              With actual tendencies driving player performance, it would then be wonderful to have scouting reports on players reflecting those tendencies. As in ruskoz's example, you could see that a certain player feasts on fastballs or really likes pitches middle in. It would add a nice dynamic to the pitcher-batter match ups and keep the actual gameplay fresh.

              Comment

              • ruskoz
                Rookie
                • Sep 2006
                • 125

                #8
                Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

                Since this has been hijacked and turned into a discussion of when a value added feature should and should not be discussed on public forums. I will try to rephrase.

                It was my intent to see if the "community" thought that scouting reports would be a good addition to the title. It was to generate dialog for anyone that might agree or disagree or just add to the discussion. This was not for a wishlist for developers at least not yet.

                I personally see that this feature would be a huge addition.

                Comment

                • Madden's Jowels
                  MVP
                  • Mar 2009
                  • 1249

                  #9
                  Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

                  I'd love to have scouting reports on pitchers as well. To know what every pitcher's "out" pitch is. What do they do on 3-2, do they come in the zone or try to get you to chase. How often do they throw first pitch strikes or first pitch fastballs. Etc. etc.

                  Comment

                  • sha_ba22
                    Rookie
                    • Jan 2013
                    • 9

                    #10
                    Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

                    In a way, I agree, but I think I would enjoy it more for player vs player games (I barely play against the CPU). It'd be awesome to be able to create user profiles and have it track all of your stats and tendencies offline, similar to your online player card. I think FIFA really nails this aspect of the game, as they have something similar to rivalry mode, but you can switch the settings, teams, etc. for each game. I always get super bored of rivalry mode really quickly because I'd much rather play with different teams every game, but it'd be awesome to be able to check your stats against other user profiles.

                    Back to the scouting reports. I don't know of a way to make this work well and cleanly, but I'd like to see hot zones that are aggregated over time as you play with your user profile (or road to the show player), rather than pre-determined by attributes. This obviously makes more sense for RTTS, but regardless of who my batter is I'm still going to have the same weaknesses at bat to at bat. Perhaps in franchise mode this could work by combining the user and the actual player up to bat. For example, say I mash pitches high and inside but struggle everywhere else. I could acquire players for my franchise team that are stronger at hitting around the zone to counteract this tendency. Sort of how the A's loaded up on low ball hitters this past season. Just my two cents.

                    Comment

                    • Ghost Of The Year
                      Life's been good so far.
                      • Mar 2014
                      • 6355

                      #11
                      Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

                      I'd rather see the scouting report before game & have an option to not be able to see it in game. I want to be able to go by memory of where & what to pitch. I don't really want to do anything that's going to make the game easier.
                      [/2cents]
                      T-BONE.

                      Talking about things nobody cares.

                      Comment

                      • K_GUN
                        C*t*z*n *f RSN
                        • Jul 2002
                        • 3891

                        #12
                        Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

                        if this is along the lines of Inside Edge...then..YES...Im all for more data like this within a game
                        Bummed that you're not on my ignore list yet?.....Don't worry, I'm sure you will be very soon.

                        Comment

                        • RandyBass
                          MVP
                          • Dec 2009
                          • 1179

                          #13
                          Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

                          At the very least they should add the percentage of times a pitcher will throw a pitch. This would go a long ways in adding a sense of realism to the game, because not all pitchers use their fastball, etc. with the same frequency.

                          It could be easily done too, just add a pie chart (or some equivalent) that included each pitcher's pitch type, then adjust the chart for each pitcher.

                          Comment

                          • RandyBass
                            MVP
                            • Dec 2009
                            • 1179

                            #14
                            Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

                            Case in point for adding pitch percentages:

                            Clayton Kershaw
                            Fastball - 66%
                            Slider - 19%
                            Curve - 12%
                            Change - 3%

                            Cole Hamels
                            Fastball - 55%
                            Change - 28%
                            Curve - 10%
                            Cut - 8%

                            I know the game currently has the pitches in order, but it does nothing to distinguish the differences noted here. Hamels is much more inclined to go to his secondary pitches, relying heavily on that change up of his.

                            These are career percentages by the way, probably the best way to do this would be to go back maybe three years, because I know sometimes guys will make changes to their approach and even their repertoire.

                            Edit: These numbers were found at fangraphs, and kind of annoying, had to figure them out by hand as they only listed the totals for each individual pitch. Maybe there is another site that shows percentages.
                            Last edited by RandyBass; 02-24-2015, 08:14 PM.

                            Comment

                            • @legendm0de
                              Pro
                              • Dec 2012
                              • 763

                              #15
                              Re: Scouting Reports in MLBTS are Needed to Stop Generic Pitch Strategy For Each Batt

                              That would require to track advanced statistics first.. I would at least like for a presentation to be made available pregame displaying the most recent outings of the opposing teams entire pitching staff. I've lost alot of confidence in this team, I don't see what's in it for them to take such a hardcore approach to improving the modes for these features. Not enough people would probably even use your scouting reports or my pregame summaries so if thats possible they wouldn't even bother with it.
                              Red Legend

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