Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

[Smallville102001]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

The change up is by far the most difficult pitch to hit and its rather annoying. You can get a fastball and a change up in the same spot, they look exactly the same but the change up is 15+ mph slower and impossible to hold back on. I have gotten to the point where I hit a lot of fastballs oppo but I still cant time up the change up consistently, which i think is ridiculous.

In my franchise last night, I played the Cubs and Wood threw 10 change ups in a row at one point. His change up confidence was maxed. I knew it was coming and still couldnt hit it.

Sounds about right lol. I have had problems hitting the changeup ever year with these games because 95% of the time it looks like a fastball so I am way early and miss it or it foul or weak ground ball. Like the 5% of the time I pick it up I am still early.

[agentlaw13]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

Yep, definitely the hardest pitch to distinguish in this years game. When batting, I find myself waiting back on pitches that look like a changeup bc I can catch up and usually foul it off if it's a fastball. If it's a changeup, and I'm not sitting back on it, I get a ton of replays showing me swinging super early like a fool! But like countryboy mentioned, when I get to anticipating a changeup and I'm patient with my timing, I can knock it around the park. Once I get to that point and can guess when the pitcher is leaving a changeup in the zone, it feels like I'm hitting off a tee.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Smallville102001]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

Honestly, I think the best way to look at changeups is to stop thinking of how they act and are recognized in real life. This is a 2D game trying to imitate 3D.

I have to most success using the other tools SCEA gives us in approaching this particular pitch. Recognizing AI pitching patterns is a big one, as is watching the individual pitch confidence meter and where that pitch lies numerically the pitcher's arsenal (1 being his best pitch, 5 being his worst).

I'll give you an example. A few nights ago in a game I was losing, it suddenly occurred to me that the pitcher had been going to the change exclusively during righties in middle count situations. And this it QC's, mind you, so keep in mind if you use that mode pitching patters are there too.

After getting burned in my last RHB at bat I KNEW IT WAS COMING. I 100% knew and I took that pitch, used the square button, and promptly hammered it over the centerfield wall for a dinger.

In 2D spaces, changeups are especially hard to see out of the hand because:

1. It acts most similarly to a pitch that moves pretty much straight (the 4SB).
2. 2D spaces allow for us to notice differences in vertical movements but not so much with "depth." (This is why you can 'see ball, hit ball' more consistently with sliders and curves as they act noticeably different in 2D fields from on another and clearly aren't fastballs).

Without gimmicky OSD's (thank god SCEA doesn't use MVP's flashes), or being able to see ball spin, you have to rely more on patterns and how strong the pitchers changeup is compared to the rest of his aresenal as tools. Use the Pitcher Analysis screen to filter through situations too.

I think if you adjust how you see things and do a little bit less of the whole see ball, hit ball thing your success against the change will improve.

Keep in mind, I normally see 'ball, hit ball' as my basic strategy to begin with; but when some patterns become available to me, I remind myself to adjust my course (even if it's just for a pitch or two, or just under certain situations I notice patterns in) and start using my brain instead of just only my eyes to hit.

I loved the hitters eye in MVP I don't know what is wrong with it. While I use the picture analysis thing a lot my self but for the most part the CPU is smart enough that I can really pick up any patterns with the way the CPU pitchers or hits. After the first 3 innings I will look to see what pitches the CPU is throwing in certain counts both location wise and pitch type and if I am being to aggressive or not enough. Same thing with pitching I will look to see what pitches I am using in creation counts and what location I am using to.

[55]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

I play mostly Diamond Dynasty strictly on Legend difficulty. If a pitcher has a changeup with a 12+ MPH difference from his fastball, I'm going to strike out 10+ times. No question. If the same pitcher also has a really slow curveball, I'm going to strike out 15+ times.

Last night I was being no hit through 6 by a CPU pitcher that had a 92 MPH fastball, 78 MPH changeup and a 68 MPH curveball. I was so frustrated. We are playing at Fenway and the 7th inning starts. I had struck out like 13 times already and Dave Winfield steps into the box. First pitch, curveball low and away on the black for a called strike. Second pitch, fastball up and in for a swing and a miss (25 MPH difference) for strike two. Down 0-2, I knew that the low changeup was coming, I just didn't know if it was going to be in the zone. Anyway, here it comes and it's an inch or two inside the strike zone right over the plate and Winfield destroys it. It clears the seats over the Green Monster and disappears. I'm not even sure it has landed yet. Biggest homer I have hit this year and the fact it was that ridiculous changeup made it all the more rewarding.

Then I proceeded to strike out five more times and lost the game 10-1. Changeups in this game are stupid.

[Smallville102001]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

I don't really strike out much though. I may not strike out enough in these games its just like 80% of the time I get changeup I am way early and foul it off or miss it and like 10% of the time I hit a weak ground ball and like 10% of the time I get a hit or something like that lol. But way to many foul balls on changeups.

[NDAlum]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

There are two ways in which facing change ups vary greatly from real life and this game:

#1 - You can see the spin of the ball when it's a change up. Fastballs, breaking balls, change ups...they all have different rotation. It's pitch recognition and reaction.

#2 - In real life you can keep your hands back if your bottom drifts forward. Let's say you're geared up for a fastball and a change up is thrown. Even if your bottom half drifts forward you can keep your hands back and still put a charge into the baseball. You can't replicate that in this game.

This is why I put pitch speed so low. I want hit variety. I want to be able to get a second to recognize the pitch and spray the ball all over the field. I see guys play and hit middle to oppo because they don't want to lower pitch speed. I don't want to play a guessing game. Hitting is not playing a guessing game. It's seeing and reacting and putting a good swing on the baseball.

I don't know if they can truly replicate that.

[Formula1Racing]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

I know, this CU is a deadly pitch, I too have troubles with it. What I do and maybe this is cheating. I use the guess pitch most of the time and only select CU down on the guess pitch. That way, I know not to swing at the lower ones outside the strike zone and crush the CU down the middle which I do most of the time cause I know it's coming!


You have to understand, I'm 53 years old! and my eyes are not the same anymore and yes, the CU looks like a fastball and it is a killer!!..lol

[Smallville102001]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

There are two ways in which facing change ups vary greatly from real life and this game:

#1 - You can see the spin of the ball when it's a change up. Fastballs, breaking balls, change ups...they all have different rotation. It's pitch recognition and reaction.

#2 - In real life you can keep your hands back if your bottom drifts forward. Let's say you're geared up for a fastball and a change up is thrown. Even if your bottom half drifts forward you can keep your hands back and still put a charge into the baseball. You can't replicate that in this game.

This is why I put pitch speed so low. I want hit variety. I want to be able to get a second to recognize the pitch and spray the ball all over the field. I see guys play and hit middle to oppo because they don't want to lower pitch speed. I don't want to play a guessing game. Hitting is not playing a guessing game. It's seeing and reacting and putting a good swing on the baseball.

I don't know if they can truly replicate that.

While I don't want to lower pitch speed because then its to easy to hit a fastball even if it is like 99MPH. It shouldn't be easy to catch up with a fastball like that and if you play with pitch speed at zero its like soft ball lol.

[NDAlum]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

To each their own. I'm trying offer another option for those struggling with changeups. If it's too easy for somebody of your skill level then move on. Have fun on the higher pitch speeds.

[55]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

I play on Legend difficulty with default sliders. I've actually considered bumping UP the pitch speed for those very reasons you just mentioned. I'm not very good at hitting as it is (I only win about 40% of the time on Legend) but I think playing on the most difficult settings is the best way to get better.

I can pitch like a mofo though, which is the only reason I can even stay in games on Legend.

[sydrogerdavid]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

Anthony DeSclafani's changeup, oh jeez.

It took two complete game shutouts before I remembered to go and edit his change speed.

[BA2929]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

I can usually judge the changeup if its up in the zone. I feel like the ball has a little bump in the trajectory on those pitches.

However, if its a low changeup - out of the zone...... it's almost impossible for me to judge and layoff. I've had issues with that pitch since MVP 05.

[Marino]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

Going through different rosters, so many pitchers have 12-15 mph differences between fastball and changeup. Seems a bit ridiculous in my opinion. I get trying to make it realistic, but come on, that makes it damn near impossible.

[Speedy]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

Late for the fastball....early for the change up.

Every. Single. Game.

Hitting has become much more frustrating this year. Would love to see a dev comment on the adjustments made this year because the change in pitch breaks could not have been this impactful.

[Jr.]

Re: Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

If anyone is on timing/directional hitting, try going to the broadcast camera to hit. I've been able to pick up changeups much easier. Partly because I can see the grip, but partly it feels like I can see a different movement between the changeup and the fastball.

There is definitely an adjustment period hitting from that camera, but if you're struggling mightily, it might be worth the switch.