Can Never Get a Rally Going

[scooterperpetual]

So let me start this off with I have loved this game so far this year but I have been very frustrated as of late. It seems any time I get base runners I never get them across the plate. I can have men on the corners with 1 out. Ill then strike out then ground out.

I dont know what I should do about this. I rarely hit home runs as well (But I give up plenty of them lol).

Normally these things wouldnt bother me too much but my team in franchise is in the top 3 in the league in runs scored and home runs. But I can never get more than maybe 3 runs across the plate in a game and have to depend on my pitching.

I have no problem getting hits and I often have around 10 hits a game but I can never get a rally going its usually 2 out hits or I get a leadoff hit then they just sit on base for the inning.

I am batting on Veteran with directional hitting in my franchise. I dont think lowering the difficulty is the solution as it is already at veteran. I have tried using Zone hitting but I struggle greatly getting good timing and getting the PCI on the ball. I could maybe learn zone hitting if that would help.

[My993C2]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

Not sure if this applies to you, but over the course of a season a team will be in a stretch of games where they are playing really well or playing really poorly. Case in point my team started the year really good sporting a record of 14-5 in the first three weeks of the season. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue every thing changed. My team went from one of the hottest teams in the league to one of the worst where the next three or so weeks of the season I was only 6-13 and wanted to go postal on 3/4 of my players. During this losing trend not only was my pitching staff pretty bad (they could not throw strikes, they were behind virtually ever batter they faced), but my offense also could "not get a rally going" in many many games. Then in the last week, for whatever reason, my pitching staff is still kind of rotten, but all of a sudden my batters are getting base hits and in some innings a nice rally surfaces where the team scores a lot of runs in one inning and the team is all of a sudden on a 6 game win streak, 1/2 game out of 1st place with an overall record of 26-18.

The game can be frustrating at times when it appears nothing is working. But that is the nature of baseball. Not saying you will go on a lengthy win streak or anything like that. Just make sure you are not confusing winning and losing trends with a systemic problem.

[scooterperpetual]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

Not sure if this applies to you, but over the course of a season a team will be in a stretch of games where they are playing really well or playing really poorly. Case in point my team started the year really good sporting a record of 14-5 in the first three weeks of the season. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue every thing changed. My team went from one of the hottest teams in the league to one of the worst where the next three or so weeks of the season I was only 6-13 and wanted to go postal on 3/4 of my players. During this losing trend not only was my pitching staff pretty bad (they could not throw strikes, they were behind virtually ever batter they faced), but my offense also could "not get a rally going" in many many games. Then in the last week, for whatever reason, my pitching staff is still kind of rotten, but all of a sudden my batters are getting base hits and in some innings a nice rally surfaces where the team scores a lot of runs in one inning and the team is all of a sudden on a 6 game win streak, 1/2 game out of 1st place with an overall record of 26-18.

The game can be frustrating at times when it appears nothing is working. But that is the nature of baseball. Not saying you will go on a lengthy win streak or anything like that. Just make sure you are not confusing winning and losing trends with a systemic problem.

Oh I understand that for sure but it has been all season. I would say 75% of the games I play are games that are very low scoring and this has been through the season, from spring training and now in mid September. Every now and then I get a good game where I am able to get some offense going but most of the time its just hoping my pitching keeps me in the game.

[Panopticism]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

Try mixing in all three swing types when you're struggling. I am fairly sure that the AI knows the difference between when you're shortening up(contact swing) and when you're swinging for the fences(power swing), and pitches accordingly. If you use only the normal swing, you might surprise them by mixing in a different swing.

Sometimes you can use the directional input to try to hit to a gap. Try to push something to opposite field against a shift and such. It often only takes a couple of good at-bats to change the way the pitcher is pitching to you.

[Thomas7]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

YOU are Doing Good. Just put the controller down or learn how to take pitches with runners in scoring positions( I know it sound Easy it is NOT, lol). The most IMPORTANT thing to do is to see what the pitchers are throwing in these situations. Just take your time and you will get your pitch but more important you may GET a Passed Ball. All STRIKES are Not Good pitches to SWING at. And above ALL remember this is a Game with Hot and Cold Times. When we are getting hits that should be outs we are happy just remember it will come a TIME when CPU get Hits that should have been outs and we are going to be pissed. LOL

[scooterperpetual]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

YOU are Doing Good. Just put the controller down or learn how to take pitches with runners in scoring positions( I know it sound Easy it is NOT, lol). The most IMPORTANT thing to do is to see what the pitchers are throwing in these situations. Just take your time and you will get your pitch but more important you may GET a Passed Ball. All STRIKES are Not Good pitches to SWING at. And above ALL remember this is a Game with Hot and Cold Times. When we are getting hits that should be outs we are happy just remember it will come a TIME when CPU get Hits that should have been outs and we are going to be pissed. LOL

This is actually some great advice thanks. You are especially right about the CPU part lol :P But I tend to get a little more jumpy for a lack of a better word once I get runners in scoring position and settle for bad pitches early in the count.

[zpq12]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

I have the same issue. I get runners on, and because I get runners on so rarely, I get super uptight. I swing at more junk than usual and just get antsy to hit anything in the zone. It's the same reason I think I find myself hitting into multiple double plays per game.

As a guy who hasn't found the ability to practice this on a consistent basis, you have to wait out a good pitch to hit.

[Joock]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

I get the same results, once I get a couple of Players on base. Sometimes I just fumble with the controls to get the right Baserunners to advance when I get a double or tripple, and sometimes I get caught up with the left stick, trying to send runners back and forth.

I wish there was an open practice mode, where you can just set up certain situations to practice. Right now I just try to get a situation and try to do as best as I can, but it can lead to frustration when you finally get that runner on third, and accidentaly run another runner and get caught out to end the inning. I had so many weird situations happen, I guess it's just baseball

[NDAlum]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

I get more nervous hitting in this game than I do when I step up to the plate for real.


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[UTAllTheWay]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

The name of the game is getting on base. See a lot of pitches, get a feel for the pitcher, and I know it's not a popular saying but don't be afraid to strike out looking.

The more pitches you see, the better you will be able to hit. Soon, you will be able to tell what the meat balls look like, when that pitch on the corner is going to miss the plate, or when he throws that sinker down and away that is sure to kill your rally with a ground ball double play.

A lot of people tighten up in those situations, but I try to remind myself not to give away the at bat. Don't hit a weak ground ball on 1-1 because the pitcher made a pitch on the corner and I REALLY wanted to make something happen.

Have an approach, and try to recognize his pitches and tendencies... Especially early in the game.

[RockPowderDownLoL]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

take a two strike approach. the pitcher will then likely try and get you out with something out of the zone and you could get a passed ball. also once the pitcher gets you two strikes, their pitch combinations are generally used up and if you didn't swing at either pitch they really don't have much to work from. it's a lot easier to pitch to a guy when he swings early in the count. ever notice you can never find a pitcher's release point if you are swinging.? with runners on base the pitcher's release point changes as well...so you might have to readjust your focus. when you give a pitcher two strikes you tempt him to try and strike you out rather than getting you to ground into double play, in addition, you might work a 3-2 count and those are great counts for possibly getting something to hit.

[Sgexpat]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

I feel your pain.

In this game the battle is against yourself for control of the strike zone.

Don't swing if the pitch isn't in your zone. (If directional don't swing if it's not the speed you are looking for as timing is everything , also don't swing if it's high or low edge as those can't reliably be hit on directional)


Hold up on 0-2 and 1-2 usually as they look for you to chase.

Take a few pitches most at bats.

Make sure your sliders are set to decrease strikes and decrease control (human too) as the base settings the pitchers show too much control and it's hard to get into a walk situation / favorable count

Consider taking 100 percent of the time if at 3-0/ 3-1 and some percent st 3-2. Try and take the first 3 pitches often. Put the controller down. Work their counts higher. Bullpen pitchers are terrible compared to starters so get the starter out by running up the count.

[scooterperpetual]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

Thanks for all of the advice guys I really appreciate it. Im also going to better utilize I think its called Batter Analysis or something like that to get a feel for where they are pitching against certain hitters.

Quick question:

For those of you that use directional hitting do you use contact and power swing? Also do you actually use the directional hitting? I havent but I am goign to give it a shot to see if it helps me hit more home runs/ get more well hit balls.

[scooterperpetual]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

Think I just had a breakthrough game it was by far my best offensive performance this year (And Pitching as well) I brought in 10 runs with 15 hits and 3 home runs on the game.

If you looked at this you would maybe say well you probably need to adjust your sliders but the thing I loved the most about it was it wasnt good hitting but bad pitching which resulted in that box score.

I was patient at the plate only swung when I got my pitch and was able to get runs in. I had the bases loaded at one point and instead of swinging away I took a few pitches then got a HBP and walked home a run.

I did bump up my timing and I may bring it back down but for now I liked it because up until the Rangers just imploded and allowed me to go crazy in the 7th I only had something like 3 or 4 hits.

I also started incorporating contact swing and using the directional hitting in certain situations. I tried power swing but I just cant get the timing close enough to be confident to use it. I use contact swing with my bad hitters (Anyone with a below 60-65 contact) Normal swing with every one else.

Used directional hitting only once in this game but it resulted in a home run so that was cool. All and all it was a lot of fun, game started out as a pitchers duel then turned into an offensive explosion for me and an embarrassment for the Rangers, so thats cool lol. I hope its not a fluke (I hope it is in the sense of the box score but I mean being able to get runs in)

EDIT: Not a fluke at least not in the next game im playing thanks again for all of the advice!

[zpq12]

Re: Can Never Get a Rally Going

I get more nervous hitting in this game than I do when I step up to the plate for real.


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Glory days...but man, maybe this game needs VR batting.