Okay, we have to talk about it. Changeups.

[rushinplayallgame]

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

you just have to guess when they're going to throw it, change ups are deadly, thats how a guy like james shields is considered a really good pitcher

[tcorb95]

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

I just wish they had some sort of balance. Pitchers locate them way too easy, just at the knees or right below majority of the time.

[ManiacMatt1782]

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

The best changeups drop off 10mph without tipping off the arm action. Guys like Neshek and Nolan Ryan if you play DD have Changes that drop off 20 MPH, I fear Nolan Ryan's change more than his fastball due to this ridiculous speed drop.

[ManiacMatt1782]

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

Nesheck Fastball actually tops out at 91, and his Circle change Bottoms out at 68. Thats 23 MPH differential. Thats unheard of. If he could actually do that with the same arm action. He'd be the best superhuman pitcher of all time.

[cmutat17]

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

I would agree that the change-up is the hardest pitch to hit in MLB 14 and 15. However, I will say that it's way easier to hit the higher rated change-ups than the lower rated ones. I can't really explain how though .

[Jgainsey]

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

Sigh... If only there was some kind pitch speed data for ever single pitcher in MLB. And if only it was freely available on a handful of baseball statistic websites across the Internet.

Maybe when that day comes we'll be able to have correct pitch speeds and pitch types in The Show. But until then, I guess we'll just have to settle with what SCEA gives us.

[tinjgn]

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

Some pitchers use it as their primary pitch, I can't do anything against DeGrom of the Mets. He practically pitches no-hitters every time I play against him.

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

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

What I do is just guess it and the location and wait for it

[bschneider15]

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

I just guess low changeup any time I am behind in the count. If i guess right, I know its coming, if not, I at least know it won't fool me.

[BobSacamano]

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

Changeups absolutely kill me in this game. There's just not enough visual data to differentiate a fastball from a changeup, especially one low in the zone. If you try to sit on a changeup, you WILL be late on the fastball. It's tough.



My suggestion is to play with the "timing" slider. It's helped in that when I'm invariably early on the changeup, it's not a certain whiff. I might at least foul it off.

[BobSacamano]

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

By the way, this has been an issue for years, and I SWEAR it's caused by the CPU throwing pitches at max effort too often. Coupled with the game programming high fastballs to have more velocity than low ones for some reason.



For example, Mike Foltynewicz burned me with a fastball at 97 MPH, followed by a changeup at 79. 18 mph differential! According to Fangraphs, in real life he averages 94.8 mph on his fastball, and 83.2 mph on his changeup. So, 97 mph and 79 mph are certainly in the realm of possibility for him - in the Show, you'd achieve this result by maxing out your pitch meter on the delivery.



My hypothesis is not that the pitch speeds need to be tweaked necessarily, but that the CPU has to stop maxing out their invisible pitch meter so often. If Foltynewicz fools me with a 79 mph changeup, it should be because he reached back to get me in a big situation, not the bottom of the 2nd inning.

[Smallville102001]

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

Changeups absolutely kill me in this game. There's just not enough visual data to differentiate a fastball from a changeup, especially one low in the zone. If you try to sit on a changeup, you WILL be late on the fastball. It's tough.



My suggestion is to play with the "timing" slider. It's helped in that when I'm invariably early on the changeup, it's not a certain whiff. I might at least foul it off.

They also slowed down pitch speed either last year or the year before don't remember but I think it was last year. I am finding that I actually hit better with the pitch speed slider at 6 then I do with it at 5 but still I cant hit changeups at all. Like you said you cant tell the difference between a changeup or fastball. It is so bad that I would say like 80% of the time no matter if I swing or not I cant tell that a changeup is a changeup when the CPU throws it. I also have a hard time hitting sliders to because sliders look like fastballs to me to. Sliders are not as bad has changeups but still I would say like 60% of the time I cant tell a slider and so I end up swinging at a slider that ends up just out of the strike zone or that ends up jamming me. Sliders are easier to time then a changeup but just like the changeup I tend to chase them to much.

[BobSacamano]

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

Sliders down and away from a righty are virtually impossible to hit as they look identical to fastballs until far too late.

[KBLover]

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

I hate all off-speed pitches lol.

I swear I'm right on the pitch but the game just spams "Early" at me LOL.

This is with pitch speed 10 even. I wait until "after the hump" and, at least what looks like to the camera view, the ball is near the plate - but, nope, early again.

I'd rather try to hit Chapman's fastball, all 105 MPH of it (or I guess 102...whatever the highest is in MLB:TS), for 9 innings. Interestingly enough, people who throw "power" breaking pitches (88+ Sliders, mid-80 curves, etc) I can hit far better - not "Early" all the time

[bfindeisen]

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

My tips after reviewing this thread and trying different things in game.

3) MORE REALISTIC GAME MEANS MORE DIFFICULT GAME, NOT A WEAKNESS OR SHAME TO TRY LOWER DIFFICULTY:
The Game is not the same as 14 so you may need to play a different difficulty level to get the same results you are used to. I play on All-Star still but do not hit as well as in 14. In 14 my team batting averages drifted into low .300 range. Now they stay in the .250 to .280 range which is more realistic. Stat lines are way better this year! But if last year you hit .250 you may this year using those settings hit .200. There is no shame in playing lower difficulty, make the game fun for you and get the stats you seek. There is a video game stigma about playing on lower difficulties, like it makes one a lesser gamer. Set the game where it plays as you want and forget the words, they made it adjustable because people play differently and just cause your buddy plays on Legend does not mean you should, heck he may spends 12 hours a day playing.

^This times 1000.

While I concede that there is definitely an issue with too many pitchers having too dramatic a gap between their fastballs and changeups, I think many players just need to consider dropping down a level in difficulty. In years past I was always HOF or better, but found my sweet spot this year in All Star, where I'm not amazing, but still struggle with good located pitches. I think in general, people (including myself) have a hard time accepting losing and underperformance as part of the game, and tend to focus on alleged problem with the game mechanics that actually trying to adjust and get better.