I really, really want to like this game.

[cusefan74]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

Why on the play that Arod ole's the ball why did you have him playing in for a bunt? They are not gonna bunt with 1 out and a man in scoring position. I think if he is back where he should have been he would have made the play.

On the squeeze play, Teixeira is never gonna get to that ball in time to get the guy at the plate. That was a soft bunt that didn't go far at all and Teixeira was playing back on the edge of the grass.

On the first video the bad hop to Arod sucks, but it just happens. Nothing you can do about that one.

[KBLover]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

Next batter hits a ground ball to third for what appears to be an easy, inning ending double play, right? Wrong. The ball takes a convenient bad hop, eats Arod up and gets past him for an error and an RBI to make it 3-2.

Errors happen. I've had Solano make the stupidest throws at the worse time. He has 16 errors and some of them have come at bad times.

Should players be forbidden from making errors late in the game?

Seeing that Wilson doesn't have his stuff, I bring in Betances who was warming up and is ranked an 89 in the game with a 99 hits against rating and 99 strike out rating. He strikes out the next batter for the second out. Light hitting Everth Cabrera comes up and smokes a pitch to the right center field gap for an rbi ground rule double and we're tied at 3.

99 H/9 and 99 K/9 doesn't mean guaranteed success for the pitcher.

Relievers can blow games. I've seen my relievers screw stuff up, but over the course of the season, they are excellent.

I've had bad games from Jose Fernandez (98 H/9, 90 K/9). I've seen Paco Rodriguez (86 H/9, 84 K/9, 83 Clutch in my franchise) give up 3 runs on 6 pitches before. Stuff happens.

Take a look at the video below. And there's no "back-handed" logic going on on the higher difficulties? Please....

Yet I've seen the AI miss squeeze attempts when I throw pitches out of the zone (anticipating bunt attempts) for some free outs/strikes.

If the AI "knew" the pitch out was coming, then, yeah, that's bad. I wonder sometimes when I steal bases - does the AI input read knowing I'm going to attempt a steal?

But that happens all the time, not just late in the game.

And why not fall behind 2-0 if you know the squeeze is coming? Trust your pitcher to come back from down in the count. Throw one out of the zone. Maybe he'll bunt at it, miss and the squeeze is on for a free out?


Regarding the videos:

A-Rod was playing in against a sharply hit ground ball. What is his Reaction rating in your franchise? I know what he has in mine, but I'm 4 years in on a MLB14 carryover so I can't really use that to compare.

As for Teixiera - what did you want him to do on that ball? As slow as he is, the runner would have scored anyway by the time Teixiera gets there. He wasn't playing very far in, imo. I've seen the corners be far more in when a sure bunt is on.

I pitch on HoF Classic and use Auto fielding. I pitch using tendencies (if my pitcher is a flyball guy in real life, I'll throw up in the zone more - and for fictionals, I come up with a tendency and stick with it). Often that means, in MLB15 terms, I'm "falling into a pattern" because I throw 65% fastballs with a power arm, or emulate Paco Rodriguez's anti-fastball mindset.

I'm literally at the mercy of the RNG once I push that pitch button. No user input from pitch thrown to fielder getting it. My team is #2 in ERA in baseball. My BABIP allowed is .295 (pretty much spot on). If there's back-handed logic going on, then I must have a special game because the AI isn't using it.

[Jr.]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

You're ignoring the nonsense that happened :
- the Cpu generated misplay on a routine double play to allow the computer the score (how exactly did I blow this?)
- the ole on another easy grounder (again, how did I blow this?)
- the fact that I played my corners in to defend the suicide squeeze play and still couldn't
- the fact that Stephen Pearce actually laid down a suicide squeeze in that situation.
- the fact that I already pitched out to defend against the squeeze and the computer just happened to know when I was doing it and conveniently decided to do the suicide squeeze in the second pitch.

Nothing about these plays has any semblance of realism. The fact that you guys blindly defend this is very frustrating.

Only going to comment on this point, but teams rarely call a suicide squeeze on the 1st pitch of an AB. It's much more common to do it on the 2nd pitch, for the very reason that the CPU did it to you. Teams are more likely to pitch out on the 1st pitch, and if they do, they almost never do it 2 pitches in a row. Calling for it on the 2nd pitch gives the offense a chance to see if the pitcher/defense were anticipating it.

The suicide squeeze is a really tough play to defend in this game, but I don't think because the game chose to do it on the 2nd pitch means that it's reading your button presses.

EDIT: Last point.. it's been acknowledged by quite a few people that the game is unfairly harder on higher difficulties. Not necessarily harder later in the game, but harder in general due to the boosts that the CPU teams get.

[SECElit3]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

All of this is why I play DD. it's amazing the difference in game play provided by those +s


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ajsas]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

As ridiculous as the the graphics were in the game, I've never had more fun batting than I did in MLB power pros, set to the hardest difficulty. Grounders and fly balls made complete sense as they only happen when you get over/under the ball. The batter ratings were directly and intuitively displayed in the batting PCI. Sure, sometimes you would square one up, hit it hard, and have it find a glove (that's baseball for you).

I'm not finding batting very satisfying in this version of the game. I'm still fiddling with settings, but as I've had the game for months now I'm starting to lose my optimism.

[Weisszach]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

Torn whether to get this game and all the comments are great but felt the last game just didn't grab me as much. MLB is the best series out there but is the difference between this year and last year really enough for me to shell out another £50.

[saintjimbo1885]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

Have found this years version of the game to be quite infuriating once you play on HoF or Legend!!

Far too much crazy stuff happens on the higher settings to make the game enjoyable as if you get ahead, you are generally waiting to see what BS the cpu comes up with to try and start a comeback!!


Here's some examples from HoF with auto fielding:

First baseman going for a wander!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsrKaDfv-oY

First baseman enjoying the scenery of the outfield instead of watching the play!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Jk7zHvq_U

Pitcher and first baseman get in each others way!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_474Bamo9VY

Fielders running past the path of ball before reachind down to grab!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMggycR_SUo

Invisible wall!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLkcqXKQQC4

Oops!! Missed it!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFv5qSuURxk

And one time I was making a comeback!!


Warping in Boston!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGI98fyciik

Have gone to playing my season on All-Star as the funny stuff is non-existent but still like to play the odd game on the higher levels!!

[kehlis]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

Have found this years version of the game to be quite infuriating once you play on HoF or Legend!!

Far too much crazy stuff happens on the higher settings to make the game enjoyable as if you get ahead, you are generally waiting to see what BS the cpu comes up with to try and start a comeback!!


Here's some examples from HoF with auto fielding:

First baseman going for a wander!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsrKaDfv-oY

First baseman enjoying the scenery of the outfield instead of watching the play!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Jk7zHvq_U

Pitcher and first baseman get in each others way!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_474Bamo9VY

Fielders running past the path of ball before reachind down to grab!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMggycR_SUo

Invisible wall!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLkcqXKQQC4

Oops!! Missed it!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFv5qSuURxk

And one time I was making a comeback!!


Warping in Boston!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGI98fyciik

Have gone to playing my season on All-Star as the funny stuff is non-existent but still like to play the odd game on the higher levels!!

This is a fantastic example of a constructive post. Very nicely done.

I see some of that stuff but not frequently enough to hinder my enjoyment but wanted to point out what great post this is.

[thaSLAB]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

Have found this years version of the game to be quite infuriating once you play on HoF or Legend!!

Far too much crazy stuff happens on the higher settings to make the game enjoyable as if you get ahead, you are generally waiting to see what BS the cpu comes up with to try and start a comeback!!


Here's some examples from HoF with auto fielding:

First baseman going for a wander!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsrKaDfv-oY

First baseman enjoying the scenery of the outfield instead of watching the play!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Jk7zHvq_U

Pitcher and first baseman get in each others way!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_474Bamo9VY

Fielders running past the path of ball before reachind down to grab!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMggycR_SUo

Invisible wall!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLkcqXKQQC4

Oops!! Missed it!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFv5qSuURxk

And one time I was making a comeback!!


Warping in Boston!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGI98fyciik

Have gone to playing my season on All-Star as the funny stuff is non-existent but still like to play the odd game on the higher levels!!

Great, thorough and constructive post, sj1885. Good way to gather examples.

I'm not sure it's a difficulty level issue, alone. I would lean towards a combination of difficulty and auto fielding maybe? I say that, because I've yet to see any of those while playing on HOF, but I do use assisted (manual) fielding.

The SS (over-running ball) and P (missed catch) plays are definitely a result of fielding ratings. Not sure what was going on with the 1B not covering, other than thinking it was a hit... other people have mentioned this happening, I'm curious now if they were using auto fielding too.

htcONE [M8] 5.0 | Tapatalk

[nomo17k]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

I see all these things in the videos happening in CPU vs, CPU games, which is agnostic of difficulty levels. Also, CPU doesn't know whether it's playing against a human or another CPU. So all these are certainly good examples of what could happen in the game, they don't really demonstrate how funky things *only* happen on higher difficulty levels.

If people want to talk about the current shortcomings of the game and suggest improvements, I really do think people should focus more on individual elements of the game, rather than lumping them together under the umbrella of wonky logic to force certain outcomes.

[dubplate]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

I don't understand being concerned with the timing feedback. I don't care if I'm late on a pitch, early on a pitch or good on a pitch, as long as I am hitting. You shouldn't need feedback from the game to know if you were early or late on a swing. Maybe it's just me, but I can tell when I swing the bat.

As can I, but I tend to check it whenever I'm pretty sure I made good timing that resulted in a foul ball or high pop-up and I want to see what went wrong. Nine times out of ten my timing was good and it pisses me off and ruins an otherwise great experience.

I still love this game, but this is one of my major complaints and it needs to be addressed next year.

[dubplate]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

This. If you got "good" feedback all the time on solid hits, it would mean you're hitting the ball back up the middle way too often, because your timing was perfect or close to it. Early/Late is one of the main factors that sends a ball to left or right field.



Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

The problem is "good' timing RARELY EVER equates to a hit. Just a high pop-up or foul ball.

I've played a lot of games in this year's version already and may have gotten five hits from good timing if I'm lucky. That wouldn't be so bad if the ball were at least being put in play realistically instead of a high pop-up nearly every time (except for foul balls).

[Jr.]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

The problem is "good' timing RARELY EVER equates to a hit. Just a high pop-up or foul ball.

I've played a lot of games in this year's version already and may have gotten five hits from good timing if I'm lucky. That wouldn't be so bad if the ball were at least being put in play realistically instead of a high pop-up nearly every time (except for foul balls).

It's funny how different people's games play so differently. I would say out of the 100ish games I've played, at least 50% of my hits come on "good" timing.

[SECElit3]

I really, really want to like this game.

Using the contact swing early in the count has helped immensely. I used to only use it to protect the plate when in pitcher's counts. I smacked a 3-1 fastball for a home run with Gomes using the contact swing.

This is with adjusted sliders that more favor the pitcher.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Baseball Purist]

Re: I really, really want to like this game.

Have found this years version of the game to be quite infuriating once you play on HoF or Legend!!

Far too much crazy stuff happens on the higher settings to make the game enjoyable as if you get ahead, you are generally waiting to see what BS the cpu comes up with to try and start a comeback!!


Here's some examples from HoF with auto fielding:

First baseman going for a wander!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsrKaDfv-oY

First baseman enjoying the scenery of the outfield instead of watching the play!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Jk7zHvq_U

Pitcher and first baseman get in each others way!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_474Bamo9VY

Fielders running past the path of ball before reachind down to grab!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMggycR_SUo

Invisible wall!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLkcqXKQQC4

Oops!! Missed it!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFv5qSuURxk

And one time I was making a comeback!!


Warping in Boston!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGI98fyciik

Have gone to playing my season on All-Star as the funny stuff is non-existent but still like to play the odd game on the higher levels!!

Excellent post. I've always wanted to clip these happenings on HOF so kudos.


With that said, I am in shock that you're getting that with auto-fielding, as I've always assumed that auto-fielding would be more advantageous than manual.


Which leads me to my next point. Most of the guys (including me) that have issues like this play on HOF or higher. I think a majority that play on lesser levels want to just label these issues as happenstance or baseball being baseball, but that's video evidence that some things just aren't right on HOF.


I feel like you would not see any of that stuff if you were on All-Star with auto fielding.