Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

[Shamhat1915]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

I never got why so many OSers want to play with the catcher making suggestions on in the first place. I mean, maybe if I'm playing a RttS as a pitcher I get it a little, it's more immersive. But in franchise, you are in control of every player on the field, including the catcher. Why don't you want to call your own game? Why automate that aspect when you can be the catcher yourself?

I'm not trying to criticize, to each their own, and the way you play the game is honestly none of my business, just trying to understand for curiosity's sake.

I look at it as suggestions. I'll see whay pitch the catcher wants, where he wants it, and decide from there whether I want to go with it or not. Like real life, you know. Won't always go with It as that is my "pitcher" shaking off the catcher.
It seems to me the catcher has some sort of knowledge of the confidence in my pitcher's pitches and will change up his pitch calling. I had a game where Jordan Zimmerman had a lot of confidence in one of his breaking pitches because he kept getting swings and missed on it, and Tyler Flowers began to call it more often in the later innings, and not just in the two-strike counts I saw it in in the early innings.

[RogerDodger]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

As you said, "with the catcher making suggestions ON" , I don't have anything turned on as I play with a clean screen, he just gives one finger or two fingers etc... I usually throw the pitch he wants in the location of my choosing but sometimes I shake him off and throw a different pitch, just as pitchers do in real life. I don't really know another way of explaining why I do what I do other than when it's my turn to pitch my primary focus is being the pitcher and part of that is taking instructions from the catcher.

99% of the time I throw the pitch the catcher is calling. Sometimes he's not specific (at least to my knowledge) in terms of location and sometimes he'll show a fist, meaning just throw something for a strike, so it can be hard to decipher location (I don't have the glove icon turned on).

[Drty_Windshield]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

99% of the time I throw the pitch the catcher is calling. Sometimes he's not specific (at least to my knowledge) in terms of location and sometimes he'll show a fist, meaning just throw something for a strike, so it can be hard to decipher location (I don't have the glove icon turned on).

The other day he gave me 4 fingers with a pitcher that only has 3 pitches, I didn't know what to do.

[stealyerface]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

It would be tough to implement a rating system that would reward the locations and the pitch selection of high-rated catchers, without seeming to be unfairly cheating.

As the ratings go up, you could potentially see a catcher influencing the at-bat, based on his rating adding a boost to the pitcher's whiff ratings, etc...

However, that would immediately turn into discussions of an unfair slant towards the pitcher, and turn all sorts of typically OS ugliness.

What I might like to see in the future would be a reminder by the catcher to throw over to first, if I don't see the runner-window, or if I am not paying attention. I would not want it to turn into a pickoff fest, but if there was a high-speed-steal rated guy on at first, the catcher could keep me on point, as opposed to just the whistle from the dugout letting me know it is a steal situation.

As far as calling the game, I am on the other side of the fence in that when I am setting up hitters with locations, and purposeful misses, I am amazed that the catcher will often be on the same page as I am, where a 2-seamer on the inner half was set up by two sliders off the plate. More often than not, he'll be on board with what "should" get thrown.

I am also under the impression that this under-the-hood algorithm has something to do with the batter missing a pitch that was perfectly timed, and right inside the swing- feedback "splash".

Meaning, I throw two great sliders on the outer edge, that the batter just misses, or checks his swing on, and then I throw the cutter right under his hands on the inside black. The timing window states that the timing was perfect, and the ball marker is right smack dab in the middle of the swing indicator feedback.

By all rights, a swing that was perfectly timed, and had a perfect swing path placement should result in contact... But, maybe, under the hood, there is an algorithm adjustment whereby a perfectly released pitch, coupled with the "correct" choice, trumps the swing, and makes the swing coverage a percentage smaller, and thus, is a swing and a miss.

This would be the only way to fairly make a "boost" with a catcher's rating and utilize his high rating behind the plate.

~syf

[Drty_Windshield]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

That reminds me, is there a way to turn off the whistle tips in the top right hand corner? I feel like the game's holding my hand in those situations.

[stealyerface]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

Yes, I think it might be "Coach Notifications" or something to that effect.

You can turn those off I believe.
~syf

[RogerDodger]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

The other day he gave me 4 fingers with a pitcher that only has 3 pitches, I didn't know what to do.

Ha, that’s not much help! It certainly wouldn’t hurt to give the catcher a helping hand and upgrade their pitch calling intelligence. I’ve advocated giving them a rating for this facet of the game but I don’t see that happening, more likely is a global upgrade across the board.

[Drty_Windshield]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

Yes, I think it might be "Coach Notifications" or something to that effect.

You can turn those off I believe.
~syf

See if you can find it, because I can't seem to find it.

[stealyerface]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

See if you can find it, because I can't seem to find it.

I am at work til 7pm, but I'll check when I get home.

~syf

[digitalrock]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

What is with catchers calling for the same pitch back to back to back throughout a game? A deadred hitter could be up to the plate with an 0-2 count and catcher will call for gas down the middle.

I'll step off the mound 10-15 times and finally get him to call something else. Seriously immersion breaking - is there any way to have the catcher call for something offspeed? I swear there is little to no logic behind what they call.

Have you watched a game in your life? Some pitchers will through 4-5 fastballs back to back..it's still the best pitch in the game. My game the game calling is pretty good.

[digitalrock]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

Using the same pitch over and over, at least in offline play, doesn't result in the game forcing you to throw a meatball over the plate. There have been plenty of times I've thrown nothing but fastballs in an at-bat (5,6,7 pitches) and was able to either record the strikeout or induce weak contact.

In offline play, throwing the same pitch over and over, or pitching the same pattern repeatedly, will result in the CPU adjusting and recognizing and making your margin for error smaller, but if you execute your pitch (hit accuracy line on meter) then more often than not you're going to be successful in your pitch.

This...most pitchers throw fastball by far more then any other pitch for a reason.

[Aviator87AC]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

I never got why so many OSers want to play with the catcher making suggestions on in the first place. I mean, maybe if I'm playing a RttS as a pitcher I get it a little, it's more immersive. But in franchise, you are in control of every player on the field, including the catcher. Why don't you want to call your own game? Why automate that aspect when you can be the catcher yourself?

I'm not trying to criticize, to each their own, and the way you play the game is honestly none of my business, just trying to understand for curiosity's sake.

As others have already said, it boils down to the position I'm currently controlling. If pitching, I'm listening to the catcher because that's what I should be doing. Also, I'd be careful with your assumption of being in control of every player on the field. I play with semi but many play with auto fielding turned on.

Bottom-line, I'm seeing too many catchers call bad pitches that don't make sense in the situation (a third fastball on an 0-2 count). I stepoff whenever this happens and hope for a better call.

That reminds me, is there a way to turn off the whistle tips in the top right hand corner? I feel like the game's holding my hand in those situations.

Omg yes, I was just wondering about this the other day. Did someone find the setting and confirm it works?

[Hammerhunker]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

Have you watched a game in your life? Some pitchers will through 4-5 fastballs back to back..it's still the best pitch in the game. My game the game calling is pretty good.

Why come into the conversation this way? come on man! I think this was a legitimate question and led to some nice dialogue.

I believe each individual makes what they want of it, being what it is. I am not convinced the catcher AI is totally dialed in, but I will go with the catcher's call probably 3/4 of the time. I suspend the disbelief for the perceived authenticity.

I agree it would be cool if the pitcher could shake off a call and risk a cross-up if you are not on the same page as the catcher. I noticed this year the pitcher doesn't shake his head when you select a pitch that wasn't called, so that authenticity is gone. Being in the age of analytics, I wonder what the percentage of shake-offs are compared to the past?

[nemesis04]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

I would like to see some type of batterymate rating and a rating for the catcher to call a game. Right now it is all vanilla.

[Aviator87AC]

Re: Fastball, fastball, fastball... catcher pitch logic awful

I noticed this year the pitcher doesn't shake his head when you select a pitch that wasn't called, so that authenticity is gone.

It's still there, I just saw it happen. Which brings up another point- I swear I've seen the CPU pitcher shake his head "no" while on the mound. I've always wondered about this being an interaction between catcher AI and pitcher AI. If there is a "decision" being made on every CPU pitch, that's some next level stuff that I'd like to know more about. It would really lend itself to a "Catcher Signs" skill level.

Also, don't worry about the trolls. Dude's probably never been to a park in his life.