Catcher Calls

[Vanilla_Gorilla]

What exactly are the mechanics and logic behind the pitch calls?

These catchers are morons. Aside from Jorge Alfaro, he's so far been the best I've used.

Wellington Castillo has no idea what the hell to call. Bases loaded and wants a high sinker or a down and in curveball to Miggy with Hector-Freaking-Santiago pitching? Are you mad, man?

I was never a pitcher in baseball, nor do I pay attention to pitching much when I watch baseball(I was a hitter ya see), so I'm not all the best in terms of Pitching IQ so I rely on my catcher so help me out but so far in this White Sox franchise, Castillo has only costed me gappers and grand slams.

[Caulfield]

Re: Catcher Calls

I dont use the API (?) I think thats what it's called? I'd rather be Sinatra & do it my way, BUT...

Wellington Castillo has no idea what the hell to call. Bases loaded and wants a high sinker or a down and in curveball to Miggy with Hector-Freaking-Santiago pitching? Are you mad, man?

...bases loaded & high sinker, not that it ultimately matters but whats the context as far as outs & count?
...you have to be willing to throw any pitch, any where, at any time, with maybe the exception of an off-speed pitch high IN the strike zone.

...curve down & in, to Miggy (even w/Santiago), unless its being called all the time, like I said earlier,
you have to be willing throw almost any pitch at any time any where, so the batter doesnt pick up on patterns.
remember --- hitting is timing, & pitching is upsetting the apple cart & disrupting timing.

and one more thing, I could be wrong but I believe the API is the same for every catcher,
be it from Buster Posey to Yadier Molina to Evan Gattis to Gary Sanchez.

[countryboy]

Re: Catcher Calls

I don't use the API but rather use the Pitcher/Batter Analysis screen/information to ensure that I'm not pitching a hitter in a pattern. The key is to keep the hitter off balance and as Caufield said, be willing to throw any pitch in any count.

Also remember sometimes a walk is a victory/good thing.

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Catcher Calls

I actually find myself agreeing with the catcher about 75% of the time. If I don't, then I ignore him and do my own thing. If my pitcher doesn't have a sinker, then I generally start high and inside and then work low and outside once he has two strikes.

[KnightTemplar]

Re: Catcher Calls

you have to be willing throw almost any pitch at any time any where, so the batter doesnt pick up on patterns.
remember --- hitting is timing, & pitching is upsetting the apple cart & disrupting timing.

This^

The CPU WILL also chase pitches out of the strike zone.

[Caulfield]

Re: Catcher Calls

Also remember sometimes a walk is a victory/good thing.

Yes, absolutely. I even subscribe to the Buck Showalter School of Thinking. I'd do the same as him and intentionally walk a batter with the bases loaded and a 2 run lead in the bottom of the 9th... so long as that batter was someone like Reggie Stocker.

[Houston]

Re: Catcher Calls

There was a baseball game called MLB 2K7 that had the "Catcher Call Feature" and they had "Inside Edge Reports" something this game needs.


https://www.gamepressure.com/games/m...ball-2k7/z059b


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnRLvbA5xhE


You can have preview the batter ON on MLB THE SHOW and you get HOT and Cold zones, but if you zero the ratings out on any hitter you get the same exact zones. The catcher call feature API if you will is just a visual thing doesn't make a difference who is pitching and who is catching.

[AUTiger1]

Re: Catcher Calls

Don't be afraid to pitch guys backward from time-to-time. That means a first pitch get me over curveball and make sure it's a strike. The CPU will almost always take it and it's an easy strike 1. Don't be afraid to throw multiple offspeed pitches in a row. Don't be afraid to throw multiple fastballs in a row. You cannot get into a pattern of throwing guys the same pitches in the same spots in the same sequences every PA because they'll adapt to it and you'll get hit.


Also as has been mentioned before, you don't always have to throw a strike to get a strike. If you set the pitch up correctly and you execute it correctly you can get the CPU to chase pitches outside the zone. But it doesn't always work because it's based on a player's individual plate discipline and vision. So a guy like Joey Votto is far less likely to chase than other guys.

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Catcher Calls

Don't be afraid to pitch guys backward from time-to-time. That means a first pitch get me over curveball and make sure it's a strike. The CPU will almost always take it and it's an easy strike 1. Don't be afraid to throw multiple offspeed pitches in a row. Don't be afraid to throw multiple fastballs in a row. You cannot get into a pattern of throwing guys the same pitches in the same spots in the same sequences every PA because they'll adapt to it and you'll get hit.


Also as has been mentioned before, you don't always have to throw a strike to get a strike. If you set the pitch up correctly and you execute it correctly you can get the CPU to chase pitches outside the zone. But it doesn't always work because it's based on a player's individual plate discipline and vision. So a guy like Joey Votto is far less likely to chase than other guys.

Its good advice. If my pitcher has a good changeup, I'll often throw that on the first pitch to try and get a free strike. I don't generally throw a curve on the first pitch though, due to it being more risky to end up in a ball and be behind. Getting ahead 0-1 is huge.

[AUTiger1]

Re: Catcher Calls

After I gave up a bloop single to Brandon Nimmo, first pitch to Asdrubal Cabrera was a changeup down and he swung at it and hit a comebacker right back to the pitcher for the easy double play. That's example where going offspeed first pitch is a good pitch selection.

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Catcher Calls

Immediately after I posted this, I played a game where my pitcher's highest rated pitch is his changeup. Third batter of the game, changeup down and outside, BOOM - homerun. I jynxed myself!

[kehlis]

Re: Catcher Calls

You can have preview the batter ON on MLB THE SHOW and you get HOT and Cold zones, but if you zero the ratings out on any hitter you get the same exact zones. The catcher call feature API if you will is just a visual thing doesn't make a difference who is pitching and who is catching.

Devs have confirmed in the past that the hot/cold zones are purely cosmetic.

[Unlucky 13]

Re: Catcher Calls

Devs have confirmed in the past that the hot/cold zones are purely cosmetic.

Seriously????? I've been playing this game for 11 years and I never knew that before.

So, we can pitch every batter the same way, or we just don't know where we should?

[bcruise]

Re: Catcher Calls

Devs have confirmed in the past that the hot/cold zones are purely cosmetic.

Let's put it this way - the difference is so small as to not really be a factor.

https://forums.operationsports.com/f...so-amount.html

That's the last time we had dev input on this (Woodweaver replying to H&V late in the thread) and it's from 2014. So assuming that hasn't changed (and I haven't missed a later post about it), there is one when the zones are turned on, and what little effect there is is disabled when the display is turned off.