Blocking Attribute

[baseballsim]

I know with a higher catcher's blocking attribute the less likely you will see passed balls but can this attribute be a factor in the number of wild pitches thrown?

[KBLover]

Re: Blocking Attribute

I know with a higher catcher's blocking attribute the less likely you will see passed balls but can this attribute be a factor in the number of wild pitches thrown?

Wild pitches allowed probably.

Whether or not a pitch is wild depends on the pitcher (and the pitch and the location and the consistency slider). Blocking probably helps determine if a pitch gets by him (or away far enough for advancement, which would then be a WP).

I think it might do more for WP than PB. Reason I say that is maybe PB are also impacted by Fielding (and/or Reaction?). I think one year, the infielder error slider had something to do with it (which points to Fielding, the error attribute for players).

When I tried Schwarber behind the plate, I saw more of both, but his catcher ratings are so bad (in OSFM2) that it's hard to say which is doing it because they all might have a hand in it.

[Caulfield]

Re: Blocking Attribute

I can offer no proof but I assumed the blocking attribute primarily affected wild pitches and passed balls secondarily . Passed balls are primarily affected by the catchers fielding attribute . I would also think catcher fielding would affect wild pitches secondarily . Maybe thats too much redundancy but it still seems plausible . While it would be nice to know exactly whats under the hood , one can see why Sony wouldnt let all the trade secrets known . In any event I am mostly content with how PB and WP play out , both on the pitchers end and the catchers as well .

[KBLover]

Re: Blocking Attribute

IWhile it would be nice to know exactly whats under the hood , one can see why Sony wouldnt let all the trade secrets known .

I understand the sentiment and on some level, you're probably right, but if that is what they think, it seems silly.

The PCI would seem more "proprietary" than whatever RNG inputs go into catchers blocking pitches - yet we are told what ratings factor into PCI size and the likelihood of PCI placement being correct (for interfaces where you don't control it).

In any case, I wouldn't be surprised if your thinking is correct. It seems redundant, but it really isn't.

Fielding = Glove work, ability to handle the ball securely
Blocking = Ability to receive the ball, even in the dirt or way off target/crossed up.

Both of those things in differing degrees could impact both WP and PB situations.

Baseball skills don't often work in total isolation.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Blocking Attribute

I think blocking also has an affect on throws home from the outfield as well, and the ability of the catcher to keep the ball in front of him.

It seems to me that everyone has a blocking attribute, it's just hidden unless they are a catcher.

I've used players who have Catcher listed as one of their secondary positions behind the plate. They seem to block just fine.

I wonder if this has an effect on the field as well? Like how often a 2B will let a hard hit ball through his legs. Maybe that's just fielding but I've always felt like there is something more going on out there.

[BrianM207]

Re: Blocking Attribute

Up until now I always assumed that blocking had to do with blocking the plate...learn something new everyday I guess haha

Sent from my LG-K330 using Tapatalk

[nomo17k]

Re: Blocking Attribute

It's not guaranteed that what we see in the sim engine translates directly to the gameplay engine, but if you run a bit of experiment with the sim engine, you find that the frequency of wild pitches are correlated with Blocking and that of passed balls are with Fielding attributes. In the gameplay it may be more difficult to find clear relation because for WPs to happen, the pitches must be wild enough, but that's pitchers' responsibility.

[KBLover]

Re: Blocking Attribute

Perhaps an experiment would be to intentionally throw terrible, way off pitches. In order words, TRY to throw wild pitches.

Do maybe 40 pitches like this (all the same, i.e all bounced curves low and away) and see what happens.

Of course, that's assuming that it's "pure", in that the only influence, other than a horrific location, is the Blocking rating. I.E. the game can't "bypass" a potential wild pitch check by the pitcher having a "perfect" release or something.

It also assumes there's nothing in the pitcher ratings that influences (do high BB/9 pitchers "artificially" lower WP against because they pass more "this is not wild" checks?)

[willo1822]

Re: Blocking Attribute

If I change Wilson Contreras to primary from Primary C and Secondary LF, to Primary LF and Secondary C/1B his blocking attribute disappears.

Does he still lose the ability to have that catcher specific rating, or does the game just not show it the attributes, like it's possibly hidden?

[nomo17k]

Re: Blocking Attribute

If I change Wilson Contreras to primary from Primary C and Secondary LF, to Primary LF and Secondary C/1B his blocking attribute disappears.

Does he still lose the ability to have that catcher specific rating, or does the game just not show it the attributes, like it's possibly hidden?

I think the attribute is still stored internally, but not shown when the primary position is not C. I think the blocking attribute must also get hit when the player plays C as his secondary position.

[willo1822]

Re: Blocking Attribute

You are right. It is still there. I changed Contreras as stated, saved him. Then went to the Edit player menu and looked at his attributes and the blocking rating is there. Works for me!