Your pitching and batting strategies?

[extremeskins04]

Hello all,

I'm just curious what your pitching and batting strategies are, whats worked for you since you've started playing The Show and any advice you can give.

- When pitching, do you try to pitch what the catcher is asking for and in the location he's asking for? Or do you ignore him and do your own thing?

- When batting, what strategies do you use? Do you always take the first pitch? Do you use guess pitch? (see below)

- If you use guess pitch when batting, do you always try to select the SAME type of pitch in the same location?

Example: I use guess pitch (i know alot don't) but normally I'll choose 4 seam fastball every pitch and always to the inside. If it doesn't light up i'll normally take it except when I need to defend.

I'm really just curious what you guys do for your strategies.

[juegochamp]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

I go in different phases haha.

-Usually I pitch to the catchers calls. Unless its a hitters count like 2-1 and they ask for a curve, I usually will throw down and in fastball to guarantee a strike.
-If I am trying to make the game go fast I just come down and in with fastballs almost every pitch.

For hitting I have always played timing.This year I haven't gotten to play around much yet.
-Usually I just swing normal with timing (with PCI on.) I was not a fan of the PCI, but it was really really off when playing with just timing. So I had to play with the PCI on.
- I would only swing power when up 3-0, or when I have a big lead already. I never found it to make that big of an impact, as I hit just as many homeruns swinging normal.
-Guessing in 2014 was really hard because the ball lit up as it was in the air coming to you! It really messed my timing up. Otherwise I used to guess fastball on hitters counts back in the day.

If anyone has a similar style to mine, what have you found to best suit you in 2015? I haven't really gotten a chance to play yet!

[jcar0725]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

For pitching, I use the catcher's calls as much as possible because it forces me to call different pitches and move the location around, otherwise I get too predictable. If the catcher is calling the same pitch too often, I shake him off and mix in some other stuff.

For hitting, I try to be patient and confident. I take pitches early in the count, and sit on offspeed stuff and just react to the fastball. I cannot sit on the fastball because then anything offspeed comes and I'm all out of whack.

Hitting is all in my head........lol.

[YeOldTonk]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

I'm just a casual player, mostly a RTTS guy.

When pitching, I take in consideration the advice of the catchers target and pitch type, but I mostly look at the hot/cold zones of the batter and the synergy of what types of pitches I have. Not sure if it really makes a difference (casual player, haven't taken the time to research it), but like throwing a 2-seamer inside on a right handed batter, or throwing a couple 4 seamers followed by a changeup.

Its a game, I play what feels right for me at the time......

[braves_94]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

Yeah, I've found power to be toned down from 2013 in 2014. Even it hitters counts I would power up when I had a decent idea of where the pitch would be, and the results are almost always doubles or pop ups. I don't think I even hit a home run with the button... and I'm currently 154 games into the season, lol. But I don't use it often. Most games not at all.

Hitting: It all depends on the situation. If no one is on, I usually take until I get a strike. And I take anything on the corners with 3 balls regardless of count. I don't mind striking out looking. Same thing with runners on the corners and one out. If the pitcher throws a great pitch with 2 strikes, tip your hat and take a seat. One out is better than two. If I have runners in scoring position I'm looking fastball, or whatever the pitcher is throwing most of, early, including the first pitch. And I hit situational too. Runner on third I'm looking to loft something for a sac. Or if it's a leadoff hitting type, put something on the ground.

But I found the best way to start is look for the picher's x-icon pitch since it's his best and he should be throwing it most.

Pitching. I switch up location and always keep a pitch back for the strike out. Also don't be afraid to go out of the strike zone if ahead. It seems like once you show your hand on a pitch the batter is locked in into it. Try to get the CPU out as early in the count as possible And if he's working the count with runners on, don't be afraid to walk. Because the deep into an at bat the computer gets, the more likely they'll torch you. Also pay attention to the swing info after every pitch. It'll tip you what he's looking for.

[BL8001]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

So far through 5 games this is the first Show title where I feel really comfortable changing eye levels and speeds on the cpu batters without having to pay some unrealistic price for placing a ball up when it makes sense.

Bury a pair of sinkers low and away and then get bold and drift a change up high and in for the K.

Having, what so far seems like, the batters behave more like real batters is incredible.

I got A Rod out last night with a 4 seamer away, threw a hook into the top of the zone and then jammed him with a slider for an infield pop up.

I just love this feeling of being able to truly set up the batters with somewhat clever pitching.

Grab the MLB at bat app and you can look at pitcher vs batter matchups.

[juegochamp]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

What do you guys think makes more of an impact? Following the catchers calls, or pitching to the hot/cold zones?

[ManiacMatt1782]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

Batting. Play with Zone. Count less than 2 strikes. Hold PCI in a spot in the zone. Sitbon that location. Do not swing unless ball comes to said location. Even if it's a strike. You get a pitch in your happy zone, unload on it. Once you get to 2 strikes you have to be more defensive.

[ManiacMatt1782]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

Pitching. A lot of it is mental. You want to balance keeping a hitter off balance, with wanting to stay unpredictable. Sometimes changing speeds means keeping the same speed. For example. 1st couple hitters you have gone fastball-fastball-offspeed. Maybe the next batter, just to break the pattern you go fastball-fastball-fastball where the batter tries to pick up the tendancy and sit on that offspeed pitch. Being unpredictable is one of the most important parts. As well as mixing speeds to keep hitters off balance.

[YeOldTonk]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

How "smart" are the AI batters?
This is only my second year playing The Show, so I really haven't got into the pitching strategy and was wondering if the AI batter gets "fooled" by pitches like a human would or "looking for" pitches.

Throw a couple fastballs high and inside to get the batters eye up and then follow it with a slider down and outside. Are those things effective?

[saucerset]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

I like to follow the catcher calls. It seems that if you go off on your own then it turns out ugly. I used to turn off the catcher calls and just go on my own. It just depends on my mood at the time.

In hitting I like to see alot of pitches. I also take a look at the bullpen to see the caliber of reserves they have. If I am playing a 4 game series then I will try to burn out the starter early so I can wear down the bullpen early in the series. Makes it more interesting in games 3 and 4. If it is a high caliber starter, I like to take alot of pitches to get him tired and out of the game early. Sometimes it backfires when he will get his confidence high and end up staying out there for 120 pitches and no energy. Overall I try to average 15-20 pitches per inning.

[motivation03]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

Pitching, I rarely use what the catchers call, maybe the first pitch, but I just do my own routine and mix it up. First time through the order will be different from the next time. I try to think like a pitcher would, as crazy as that seems lol, I used to pitch quite a bit so I enjoy it.

Batting, I use zone usually, have yet to mess with directional, but will probably check it out. My strategy is I like to sit at the top or bottom of the strike zone with the cursor. If I'm facing a pitcher who throws a very hard 4 seam fastball or is a power pitcher, then I Def stay at the top of the zone so I stay on top of the ball. If I notice the pitcher is more off speed and a lot of his pitches sink then I wait at the bottom. From there I make adjustments pending where the pitch is thrown. Also, I do use power swing and that depends on the count and the batter I'm using.

[Ed21]

Re: Your pitching and batting strategies?

For hitting:

I'm very selective with the first couple of pitches. Unless it's a hanging breaking ball or a fastball down the middle I won't swing. If I get it to 2-0 I guess pitch fastball middle in. I have guess pitch on default so it'll only flash up if I get a fastball on the inner half of the plate. I just directional hitting to pull and with a big bopper (Abreu, Bautista, Rizzo, Stanton, Cruz etc.) I'll go for a power swing. Anything else and I leave it. Same if I get to 3-1. If I get to 3-0 I'll only swing if I've got an elite hitter like Cano, McCutchen or Abreu and I guess pitch correctly.

For pitching:

I usually follow the catchers suggestions. I occasionally start the hitter off with a fastball in a cold zone. If I get 2 strikes on the hitter I'll throw put away pitches (curves in the dirt, high fast balls, back door sliders) and if he doesn't offer I'll challenge him on 3-2 unless it's someone like Cabrera or Ortiz in which case I'll aim for the corners. I've found this method produces the most realistic amount of K's and walks.