Is batting harder or is it just me?

[BeatArmy]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

I could use some advice. For the first time in YEARS I feel absolutely helpless at the plate. Last year I was a .250-.260 hitter - way better in years prior - but this year I'm .200. Probably worse and I can't figure out why.

Has anyone noticed anything different this year that I can apply to help me get going?

I'm a Timing Only hitter. Default AS. I've so far only used directional situationally, and 95% of the time, I'm X only. Am I supposed to use Directional and power/contact more now?

My "Good" timing hits all seem to be hit in the center portion of the field, usually for outs. Early and Late is so incredibly brutally punishing this year that even when I am able to turn on something and get a base hit I feel like it was bad strategy, because the other 9 out of 10 times I'm early/late I hit a weak popup/chopper.

I'm struggling identifying pitches this year too, which was never a problem. Same TV, same chair, same difficulty level and everything. I guess the new and easier to see pitch breaks haven't become obvious to me yet?

Anyway, any advice would be great. If you guys noticed ANYTHING different from last year that I can apply in 15, help would be appreciated.

Well, the speed difference between FB and offspeed seems to be much more pronounced this year. I'm finding it real hard to get anything close to "Good" timing and, when I do, it's usually fouled straight back. Dammit.

Use the contact swing more. As in, if you've got RISP, use it instead of X. I'm hitting well below .250 with the X but slugging likely about .400 with it. Contact feels like I'm hitting .750 with .750 SLG. Your team BA will thank you with more contact swings and more so with RISP.

[grushcow]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

I was struggling mightily with zone hitting on All Star. I used to get 10 hits a game easily in past years with zone. I switched to directional and wasnt much better. Then I switched the camera to offset (not catcher offset) and I had a much easier time timing my swing. Scored 6 runs the first inning with offset / directional.

Hopefully, thats a sign of good things to come.

A thousand times yes. Offset has made pitch recognition and timing way easier. Props to you bud!

[JPCaveman13]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

I've had the mix this year. I'll have a stretch where I'll hit really well and then another where I'll bloop, dribble, or chop everything.

I have noticed that I'm drawing more walks this edition. The high fastball is easier to pick up and lay off of it just like the breaking pitches breaking out the sides of the zone are easier to pick up and read. That changeup, curve, and slow splitter in the lower edge of the zone and dropping out is still tough to read.

I've also noticed that certain speeds in general are easier to hit than others. I'm usually sending 94mph+ to center or opposite field. If a pitcher comes up with their top fastball registering in the low-mid 80s, forget it. I'm either early to the point of pulling it way foul or straight back or I try to sit back on it and then launch it foul the other way.

In my RTTS, a replacement player for a pitcher not in MLB15 had an 83mph 4FB, 74mph slider, 68mph curve and changeup (his velocity rating on his player card was 19). Cranking up the pitch speed slider did nothing to help me in the 10+ish attempts at this game.

[geisterhome]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

I'm using the new Analogccontrols for hitting and I'm enjoying it. My issues is that I'm getting a fair amount of hits and making good contract but way too few doubles or triples. HR numbers on the other hand seem alright . Dynamic Difficulty brought me to Veteran am I'm using sliders close to the Default ones. Anybody else experiencing a lack of doubles and triples??

[foxis]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

Hitting is so much harder for me this year. I have hit into a boat load of double plays and every single liner I've hit into the gap has been caught. I honestly am really frustrated right now. I'm about to be shutout for the 3rd time in the first 8 games I've played and the 2nd time where I've recorded just 2 hits. I wanna scream. It's ridiculous. I've tried being patient and working the count and getting good pitches to hit and it still doesn't help. I always hit the ball right at someone. Doesn't matter if I hit it hard or not it's an out.

This for me as well. No matter how good I hit the ball, it will inevitably end up right in the opposing team's glove. My players never seem to hit the gap or in any way that induces hits or runs. The CPU teams on the other hand always seem to hit exactly where my team has gaps, or in a way that leads to the players missing a catch etc.

Very frustrating and not at all enjoyable!

[jcar0725]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

It's all in your head. When I'm hitting well, it's because I'm being patient and sitting on offspeed pitches and reacting to the fastball. When I'm hitting poorly, it's because I'm impatient, reacting to every pitch I see, and not sitting on certain pitches in certain zones.

[dubplate]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

A thousand times yes. Offset has made pitch recognition way easier. Props to you bud!

I need to give this a try tonight as this is my biggest issue the past two years. I find it impossible to judge when to swing and it's been a frustrating struggle.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

I'm using the new Analogccontrols for hitting and I'm enjoying it. My issues is that I'm getting a fair amount of hits and making good contract but way too few doubles or triples. HR numbers on the other hand seem alright . Dynamic Difficulty brought me to Veteran am I'm using sliders close to the Default ones. Anybody else experiencing a lack of doubles and triples??

My power numbers actually look pretty good. Generally when I end a game with like 4 total hits, 2 of them are doubles. LOL! I'm having a hard time hitting singles.

Triples have been plentiful too. I had 2 in a game with Mark Texeira (I know I know).

But stringing together base hits have been impossible.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

It's all in your head. When I'm hitting well, it's because I'm being patient and sitting on offspeed pitches and reacting to the fastball. When I'm hitting poorly, it's because I'm impatient, reacting to every pitch I see, and not sitting on certain pitches in certain zones.

This is sound advice and I know deep down this is probably my problem.

Just can't snap out of it...

[geisterhome]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

My power numbers actually look pretty good. Generally when I end a game with like 4 total hits, 2 of them are doubles. LOL! I'm having a hard time hitting singles.

Triples have been plentiful too. I had 2 in a game with Mark Texeira (I know I know).

But stringing together base hits have been impossible.

just played another game (didnt look at the stats before) with 13 hits, 10 singles 2 doubles 1 triple... will play a few more and see. the 2 doubles were off the wall, cant even remember right now when i had the last double in the gap.

[jcar0725]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

This is sound advice and I know deep down this is probably my problem.

Just can't snap out of it...

It really does get in your head. You have to be patient and not be afraid to hit with 2 strikes. And for ME, sitting on offspeed stuff, and reacting to the FB helps a ton.

Have you tried to go over to hitting practice?

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

It really does get in your head. You have to be patient and not be afraid to hit with 2 strikes. And for ME, sitting on offspeed stuff, and reacting to the FB helps a ton.

Have you tried to go over to hitting practice?

Yes.

Took Buster Posey into BP and hit two homers on my first three pitches.

Went back into Franchise and got torched. LOL!

It's gotta be a mental thing.

[jcar0725]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

Yes.

Took Buster Posey into BP and hit two homers on my first three pitches.

Went back into Franchise and got torched. LOL!

It's gotta be a mental thing.

Hahaha yep, so true.

[CanOfCornCobb]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

More times than not it is mental. Early in games i have some success early in counts hitting fastballs, but then pitchers adjust and start throwing changeups/breaking stuff getting me out in front. You start swinging and missing early/chasing offspeed out of the zone. They then start sneaking fastballs by you up and/or in. By now its all in your head. "I have to sit back on the offspeed, but I have to be ready to react to the fastball in." The problem is you are trying to hit 2 different pitches at once and you never really are able to square up on anything because you're still in front of the offspeed and behind the fastball. When MLB players go cold at the plate its because they are thinking like this. You need to know the pitcher is going to adjust. Be patient, know what pitch you want on certain counts, and stop trying to hit every type of pitch on every count. Its OK to take a fastball down the middle on 0-0. If you take the same approach with every hitter the AI will tear you apart. I play on HOF with timing hitting and I have very good success because I know what I want when im hitting and i change my approach to match strengths on who's in the batters box. Taking the next leap in your hitting is being able to do this. I hope this helps a lot of people get out of their own heads. Id say I played 1 near perfect game from a hitting perspective and scored only 5 runs while ive played other games not so well and put up 8 runs. Hitting works this way. Hits/runs are not the only determining factor on how well you hit. The most important thing is feeling comfortable in the box and not getting constantly fooled.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Is batting harder or is it just me?

More times than not it is mental. Early in games i have some success early in counts hitting fastballs, but then pitchers adjust and start throwing changeups/breaking stuff getting me out in front. You start swinging and missing early/chasing offspeed out of the zone. They then start sneaking fastballs by you up and/or in. By now its all in your head. "I have to sit back on the offspeed, but I have to be ready to react to the fastball in." The problem is you are trying to hit 2 different pitches at once and you never really are able to square up on anything because you're still in front of the offspeed and behind the fastball. When MLB players go cold at the plate its because they are thinking like this. You need to know the pitcher is going to adjust. Be patient, know what pitch you want on certain counts, and stop trying to hit every type of pitch on every count. Its OK to take a fastball down the middle on 0-0. If you take the same approach with every hitter the AI will tear you apart. I play on HOF with timing hitting and I have very good success because I know what I want when im hitting and i change my approach to match strengths on who's in the batters box. Taking the next leap in your hitting is being able to do this. I hope this helps a lot of people get out of their own heads. Id say I played 1 near perfect game from a hitting perspective and scored only 5 runs while ive played other games not so well and put up 8 runs. Hitting works this way. Hits/runs are not the only determining factor on how well you hit. The most important thing is feeling comfortable in the box and not getting constantly fooled.

This is excellent stuff and was exactly how I viewed things up to MLB 13. It helped.

I think Quick Counts have forced me into some bad habits. I find that I'm swinging a lot but sometimes I feel like I have no other choice because generally if I take a strike, my back will be up against a wall because I'll likely be down 1-2.

How are you Quick Count players approaching hitting?