Directional Hitting Guide

[Duff2]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Just wondering what everyone's definition of "Low Vision" or "High Vision" players are? I'm basically looking for advice on if I should use an influence with guys who have vision between 50-70s. I have guys that have 20-30s vision who I use "no Influence" with but I'm undecided about guys with 50-70. Thanks.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Just wondering what everyone's definition of "Low Vision" or "High Vision" players are? I'm basically looking for advice on if I should use an influence with guys who have vision between 50-70s. I have guys that have 20-30s vision who I use "no Influence" with but I'm undecided about guys with 50-70. Thanks.

It can change from player to player, on field experience is worth more than what an attribute says, but rule of thumb is mid 50s to low 60s. 70+ is firmly "high vision".

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Operation Sports mobile app

[Caulfield]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Just wondering what everyone's definition of "Low Vision" or "High Vision" players are? I'm basically looking for advice on if I should use an influence with guys who have vision between 50-70s. I have guys that have 20-30s vision who I use "no Influence" with but I'm undecided about guys with 50-70. Thanks.

It can change from player to player, on field experience is worth more than what an attribute says, but rule of thumb is mid 50s to low 60s. 70+ is firmly "high vision".

yeah, I'd say any attribute above 70 is above average
and ,excluding speed and power, below 60 is below average.
so in the 60's is close to average

[Funkycorm]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

A few years back, I can't find it now, a dev came here and said 62 was the average for any attribute except stamina and durability.

Based on that, you can extrapolate forward for what would be considered all star level and elite level. There will be some variance as that is the average but I have not looked at the ranges for vision specifically but knowing that 62 is the average gives you an idea of what would be better vision.

It's all about embracing what an average player overall is. That is some where around 76. That is also where this number comes from.

[NCAAFootballFreak]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I just want to jump in and say that I've spent parts of the last few days reading through this thread, and it has completely changed how I play MLB The Show 20. Dang.

I was a zone hitter for all the years I've played different iterations of the Show dating back to the PS2 days. But after just about five days of using this guide and switching to a directional approach, my hitting ability has gotten SO much better. While my RTTS player is still just below .300, I've raised his average nearly 30 points over the month of July in his season. Furthermore, my strikeout rate has dropped drastically and I'm nabbing a few more walks in critical situations here and there. (I'm also leading the league in triples with 15!) Ironically, my power numbers have dropped off, but I also got my first two HR game with this strategy.

My guy's currently playing for AA Jacksonville, but I feel a call-up to AAA coming either near the end of the season or next season. I can't get enough of this game now. Thank you for the time you've spent, TheWarmWind putting this guide together and answering so many questions over the past four plus years!

[Caulfield]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I just want to jump in and say that I've spent parts of the last few days reading through this thread, and it has completely changed how I play MLB The Show 20. Dang.

I was a zone hitter for all the years I've played different iterations of the Show dating back to the PS2 days. But after just about five days of using this guide and switching to a directional approach, my hitting ability has gotten SO much better. While my RTTS player is still just below .300, I've raised his average nearly 30 points over the month of July in his season. Furthermore, my strikeout rate has dropped drastically and I'm nabbing a few more walks in critical situations here and there. (I'm also leading the league in triples with 15!) Ironically, my power numbers have dropped off, but I also got my first two HR game with this strategy.

My guy's currently playing for AA Jacksonville, but I feel a call-up to AAA coming either near the end of the season or next season. I can't get enough of this game now. Thank you for the time you've spent, TheWarmWind putting this guide together and answering so many questions over the past four plus years!

yeah, I have this thread bookmarked. I like to refresh my memory every several months and reread the thread, keep from straying off target with my hitting

[bigd51]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

@WarmWind


I noticed you said that "drive" (down) influence has taken more precedence for you since you originally wrote this guide.


Which count and/or archetypes would you recommend to use "drive" influence compared to push/contact?


Should I use "drive" instead of push/contact in 0-2 and 1-2 counts? Is it still archetype specific?

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

@WarmWind


I noticed you said that "drive" (down) influence has taken more precedence for you since you originally wrote this guide.


Which count and/or archetypes would you recommend to use "drive" influence compared to push/contact?


Should I use "drive" instead of push/contact in 0-2 and 1-2 counts? Is it still archetype specific?

It depends partly on the situation, and largely on the version of the Show you're playing. If you're talking about 20, the down influence has been severely nerfed (and the up influence buffed), so down should be avoided at all costs if the possibility of a double play exists.

However, prior to 20, the down influence was a kind of "button hack", and I'm convinced that it should be used for damn near everyone in every situation. Only when ahead in the count should you even consider not using it. Do keep in mind that things like sliders and difficulty level can effect the efficacy of these strategies just as much as player attributes can, so don't take this as law, but as a general rule of thumb if you're playing any show other than 20, you should be abusing the down influence.

Moving back to 20 though, I still personally favour a down heavy strategy with most players, especially when behind in the count. A hybrid down-pull is often the starting point for my pull hitters, who usually move to a pull (for higher vision players) or a no influence (for low vision players) swing if they get ahead. Yes the down influence was nerfed, but rightfully so, it was near cheating to use it before. It's still very powerful, especially if you value OBP over everything else. Like I said above though, avoid it like the plague if the possibility of the double play is in effect.

I find in 20 my approach at the plate is much less written in stone than previously. I still have a strategy for each individual on my team, but that's only for when the bases are empty. Situational hitting is far more useful and/or necessary in 20 than years past. Example: Pressing circle to swing while influencing up is much more consistent at producing long flyouts, and not a bad idea to try when hoping for a sac fly.

I suppose I should stop rambling and get to answering your specific question though. Speedy archetypes will always want to favour down or down-hybrid swings when the bases are empty, as there is always a chance to make it to first as long as the ball touches the ground, and solid liners are pure gold to a player with a ton of speed.

Also be sure to check out a players hit chart. Hitting against a shift may feel pretty smart, but in my experience it can be difficult to go against a player's nature (this obviously can vary from player to player, never hurts to experiment).

Otherwise, it's never a bad idea to add a down influence to any player when the bases are empty and they are behind in the count. Even if they seem to struggle to get hits with it, the added vision can do wonders to help you foul off, check swing, and grind your way back into the count.

[bigd51]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Preciate the feedback, WarmWind. I don't mind the rambling, so no worries lol. I'm the same way when I'm writing and things keep coming to mind, so the more info the merrier.


I love this write up even to this day (been using it for years!) as I've always been and always will be a Directional user.

[mgoblue]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I'm just learning this, so the original old post is still pretty accurate? Trying to get better

[Husker_OS]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Will there be an update on this with '21? I used directional(All Star level) for the '15-'19 versions and loved it. But then with '20, my 98 OVR RttS power hitter went from a .315 hitter with ~70 K's per year to a .245 hitter with ~150 K's per year. My timing is typically good and my player's vision is a 90. With '19 I would use the up/pull influence every pitch if I wasn't behind in the count with success that generally mirrored the ratings. But now I'm rolling over so many weak grounders and fouling off so many pitches even with the standard pull(no up or down)influence.

I have '21 for my PS5 but haven't had the courage to fire it up yet before some things get patched.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I'm just learning this, so the original old post is still pretty accurate? Trying to get better

Will there be an update on this with '21? I used directional(All Star level) for the '15-'19 versions and loved it. But then with '20, my 98 OVR RttS power hitter went from a .315 hitter with ~70 K's per year to a .245 hitter with ~150 K's per year. My timing is typically good and my player's vision is a 90. With '19 I would use the up/pull influence every pitch if I wasn't behind in the count with success that generally mirrored the ratings. But now I'm rolling over so many weak grounders and fouling off so many pitches even with the standard pull(no up or down)influence.

I have '21 for my PS5 but haven't had the courage to fire it up yet before some things get patched.

There will not be an update for 21, I'm not getting it. Based on what I know it should still apply in general, though some of the specifics may need adjusting.

@husker - Settings and sliders can impact the effect of the influences immensely. I would consider the possibility that your RttS hitter is just slumping, but also keep in mind there are significant hidden difficulty differences between AA, AAA, and MLB in RttS (I have no idea why SDS does this). I'd say vision is a problem for your hitter, so throw in some more down influences, but if you truly feel like your RttS player should be doing better, try turning down CPU pitcher consistency a notch or two.

[Husker_OS]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

There will not be an update for 21, I'm not getting it. Based on what I know it should still apply in general, though some of the specifics may need adjusting.

@husker - Settings and sliders can impact the effect of the influences immensely. I would consider the possibility that your RttS hitter is just slumping, but also keep in mind there are significant hidden difficulty differences between AA, AAA, and MLB in RttS (I have no idea why SDS does this). I'd say vision is a problem for your hitter, so throw in some more down influences, but if you truly feel like your RttS player should be doing better, try turning down CPU pitcher consistency a notch or two.

I thought it was a slump but in about 200 games on '20 with my RttS carryover from '19 he's hitting at about a .240-.245 clip. Vision is a 90 rating as he's now 25 years old. But with '19 I was consistently in that .315 avg / .365 obp range. The OBP has dipped some down to .345-.350 but the lack of hits is just stunning. I've tinkered with sliders but to no avail.

[HeyFred]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

Hi! I just came across this post while looking for pointers for Directional Hitting. Do you think these tips hold true in 2024? I don't think 24 has the Hitter Types (Pull) like earlier versions had, so hopefully that doesn't matter much.

I really wish I would have found this years ago!

[WarEagle1212]

Re: Directional Hitting Guide

I read through this post years ago and have referenced back to it frequently. I feel like I read at some point over the years that this has been tweaked and isn't as useful anymore but I cannot remember details. I still use it like the post says especially if I have an extreme pull hitter I will always direction toward the pull side, or if I get behind in a count I will look to go opposite field. It is a very interesting thread though. I know there are people who know better how the hitting engine works now that I do.