Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

[countryboy]

Just curious how many use the strategy of the shift (extreme pull/extreme push)

I myself don't use it. Anytime the game will put my players in the shift, I adjust them back to straight up defense.

I'm not a fan of the shift. I think it forces you to pitch hitters a certain way and its too easy for the batter to hit away from the shift.

What about you?

[forme95]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I always Auto Shift but recently I have been playing with a lot more manual shifts.

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[Bullit]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I do and voted yes. But not really in the traditional sense of using a shift. I mainly just "shift" individual players, based on an opposing hitter tendencies, the situation of the game or just plain old "going with the gut." I will move a 3rd baseman closer to the line, a short stop or 2b closer to the middle, cheat outfielders back or up etc. But I dont usually shift and entire field left or right in the usual way when people refer to a shift.

[countryboy]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I do and voted yes. But not really in the traditional sense of using a shift. I mainly just "shift" individual players, based on an opposing hitter tenancies, the situation of the game or just plain old "going with the gut." I will move a 3rd baseman closer to the line, a short stop or 2b closer to the middle, cheat outfielders back or up etc. But I dont usually shift and entire field left or right in the usual way when people refer to a shift.

I've thought about doing this, but I'm always concerned that I'll move players out of position.

[rjackson]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I def like to play my OF deep with 2 outs...no doubles defense.

[sydrogerdavid]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I let the computer handle it all because I can never remember to shift.

For me, whenever the computer shifts extreme right, the batter always seems to get pretty good contact to LF, especially A-Gon the past few years. Don't know why.

[reyes the roof]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I don't ever over shift, but if I get shifted against I'll gladly push a bunt down the 3rd base side and take my base

[Jr.]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I set my shifts before the first pitch. I get pretty nuanced with it, depending on percentages. I rarely just use the canned shifts the game offers. If I'm shifting to a pull side, often times I'll put the SS/2B on the pull side into a different shift to balance the field a little better.

[countryboy]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

Yeah I'll definitely do shifts like playing outfield deep to prevent extra base hits or in to throw runner out at home. And obviously I do double play shifts, as well as guard the lines or bring infield in.

What I don't do are the extreme shifts for pull hitters or push/oppo hitters. Too often I think the hitter is able to hit away from the shift resulting in easy hits/extra base hits.

[rjackson]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

Sorry for he short reply earlier on my phone...
I don't really find that to be the case (hitters taking advantage of the shift). Keep in mind that an extreme push/pull hitter has a much changed timing window. An online player can certainly switch to directional hitting and look for a middle out pitch, but the CPU is not going to be that successful at it. I use the extreme shifts about 2/3rds of the time and the not extreme shift the others. It does then dictate to me that I'm not going to be pitching low and outside but I will use breaking stuff in from an opposite handed pitcher and hard stuff up and away. You are only eliminating one corner and even then, you can still pitch there if you keep it far out of the zone. I still like to open up that corner at least 1 at bat, though, just for the different look.

[countryboy]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

Sorry for he short reply earlier on my phone...
I don't really find that to be the case (hitters taking advantage of the shift). Keep in mind that an extreme push/pull hitter has a much changed timing window. An online player can certainly switch to directional hitting and look for a middle out pitch, but the CPU is not going to be that successful at it. I use the extreme shifts about 2/3rds of the time and the not extreme shift the others. It does then dictate to me that I'm not going to be pitching low and outside but I will use breaking stuff in from an opposite handed pitcher and hard stuff up and away. You are only eliminating one corner and even then, you can still pitch there if you keep it far out of the zone. I still like to open up that corner at least 1 at bat, though, just for the different look.

I understand the strategy of pitching when you have the extreme shift on. What I'm saying is that its my experience that CPU hitters are able to hit away from the shift with a great deal of success.

I was playing the A's the other day who have Josh Hamilton on their roster. I forgot to over-ride the extreme right shift (pull hitter) and even though I threw a breaking ball in on his hands, he was able to swing late and send what would've been a routine ground ball to the 3rd baseman into left field for a double because everyone was shifted to the right. This happens too often for me to feel that putting the extreme shift on is a sound strategic move.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I utilize the shift a lot to great success. I rarely use the extreme shift settings, but the minor shifts I use all the time and they work out more often than not. I'll also switch up the depth of the outfielders a lot based of batter power and handedness.

There are still a few rare people that I do the extreme shift against, but I'll reduce it to a smaller shift if they are pull and I'm pitching with a fireballer.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I set my shifts before the first pitch. I get pretty nuanced with it, depending on percentages. I rarely just use the canned shifts the game offers. If I'm shifting to a pull side, often times I'll put the SS/2B on the pull side into a different shift to balance the field a little better.

I always wanted to set shifts before first pitch, but I found issues with that when faced with a double play situation. (I need to manually set the shift back). Since I sometimes forget to set the shift, playing with Auto-shifting always seemed the safest bet.

I was wondering though, does changing the shift setting to manual make it easier to manage? Or will I just get caught with my pants down a few times.

I really wish we could scout players and set permanent shift strategies between games on guys we have scouted. It's really annoying having to change the shift every game/AB/situation manually. Wish we could do the same to our own guys... my batting averages would be lower (and more realistic) if teams just played the shift against certain people in my lineup.

[underdog13]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I use the guard lines shift and that's about it. I also almost never use the double play depth shift.

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[rjackson]

Re: Do you utilize the strategy of the shift?

I understand the strategy of pitching when you have the extreme shift on. What I'm saying is that its my experience that CPU hitters are able to hit away from the shift with a great deal of success.

I was playing the A's the other day who have Josh Hamilton on their roster. I forgot to over-ride the extreme right shift (pull hitter) and even though I threw a breaking ball in on his hands, he was able to swing late and send what would've been a routine ground ball to the 3rd baseman into left field for a double because everyone was shifted to the right. This happens too often for me to feel that putting the extreme shift on is a sound strategic move.

It is going to happen sometimes, sure. Make sure you are not only remembering those times that it doesn't work and point out to yourself the times that it does. For the record, I also don't shift my OF right or left, just deep or shallow. Hamilton would have been much more like to hit a fly ball to left in your example rather than a grounder.