CPU Baserunning

[BBallBryan23]

Other than each player’s individual attributes, is there a way to boost the baserunning decisions by the CPU? Biggest and most frustrating example I’ve seen is this. CPU runner (with decent speed) on 2nd. Hitter launches a fly ball to deep right-center. My OF makes a tough catch, but the runner doesn’t even tag up to advance! In a normal game, the runner could crawl to 3rd before the ball makes it back to the infield.

Another example is when there is a runner on 2nd or 3rd with less than two outs, and the CPU hitter hits a ground ball to the right side of the infield. My 2B makes a tough play for the put out at 1st, yet the RISP doesn’t even ATTEMPT to advance... even in a situation like this where it would be impossible for my 2nd baseman to make a throw to 3rd or home.

The only baserunning sliders left in the game are “baserunner speed” or “steal ability”. There’s no baserunning aggressiveness slider, so I’m at a loss. The CPU’s horrible baserunning decisions makes it less fun (not to mention less realistic) to play. After about 20 games into my franchise, I feel like these poor baserunning decisions cost the CPU about 2 runs per game. So it cheapens the wins that I actually do achieve, ya know?

Anyone else seeing problems like this? If so, any ideas on how to fix these issues?

[canes21]

Re: CPU Baserunning

This may be a result of how you have your baserunner speed sliders set combined with any fielder throwing strength sliders. I've seen a couple instances of this, but generally can see the logic behind it, especially not tagging to go to 3rd when the 2nd out was made, but overall with the way my sliders are tuned I don't see as many boneheaded baserunning decisions as I saw on sliders near default.

[DJ]

Re: CPU Baserunning

Something else I see that I'm surprised doesn't get talked about more is the CPU tries way too often to stretch singles into doubles, when they have no business doing so. It's like if you hesitate for a nano-second to throw the ball in from the OF, the CPU baserunner takes off for 2B, usually resulting in him getting thrown out by a good 5-6 steps.

[BBallBryan23]

Re: CPU Baserunning

This may be a result of how you have your baserunner speed sliders set combined with any fielder throwing strength sliders. I've seen a couple instances of this, but generally can see the logic behind it, especially not tagging to go to 3rd when the 2nd out was made, but overall with the way my sliders are tuned I don't see as many boneheaded baserunning decisions as I saw on sliders near default.

Ah, that makes sense. What do you have your baserunner speed and fielder throwing strength set at?

I definitely see what you’re saying, but I all three bad baserunning instances that happened in my most recent game happened when there was either one or zero outs.

[canes21]

Re: CPU Baserunning

Ah, that makes sense. What do you have your baserunner speed and fielder throwing strength set at?

I definitely see what you’re saying, but I all three bad baserunning instances that happened in my most recent game happened when there was either one or zero outs.

I have both fielder speed and reaction at 1.

Infield arm strength is at 3.

Outfield strength is at 4.

Baserunner speed is at 3.

[BBallBryan23]

Re: CPU Baserunning

Something else I see that I'm surprised doesn't get talked about more is the CPU tries way too often to stretch singles into doubles, when they have no business doing so. It's like if you hesitate for a nano-second to throw the ball in from the OF, the CPU baserunner takes off for 2B, usually resulting in him getting thrown out by a good 5-6 steps.

Oh yeah. I’ve definitely seen this too! But this is the only instance of where the CPU is OVERLY-aggressive on the base paths.

[BBallBryan23]

Re: CPU Baserunning

I have both fielder speed and reaction at 1.

Infield arm strength is at 3.

Outfield strength is at 4.

Baserunner speed is at 3.

Sweet, thanks! And you feel like with these sliders, you’re seeing more realistic baserunning decisions by the CPU?

[canes21]

Re: CPU Baserunning

Sweet, thanks! And you feel like with these sliders, you’re seeing more realistic baserunning decisions by the CPU?

Yes. I still see the occasional guy not tag and go to third, but most often it makes sense to me, e.g. shallow ball or with 2 outs. I pretty much never see the CPU try and take an extra base that they have no shot at anymore. I know on default settings you'd see guys blow past the 3B coach and get thrown out at home by a mile or they'd try and stretch a blooper into a double and not even get close. I don't see that happening anymore.

[BBallBryan23]

Re: CPU Baserunning

Yes. I still see the occasional guy not tag and go to third, but most often it makes sense to me, e.g. shallow ball or with 2 outs. I pretty much never see the CPU try and take an extra base that they have no shot at anymore. I know on default settings you'd see guys blow past the 3B coach and get thrown out at home by a mile or they'd try and stretch a blooper into a double and not even get close. I don't see that happening anymore.

I appreciate it, man! That’s all good to know. I’m looking forward to making these slider changes and seeing some more realistic play by the CPU.

[canes21]

Re: CPU Baserunning

I hope they work for you the way they've worked for me, but you know how these games can be.

[tuckermaine]

Re: CPU Baserunning

Something else I see that I'm surprised doesn't get talked about more is the CPU tries way too often to stretch singles into doubles, when they have no business doing so. It's like if you hesitate for a nano-second to throw the ball in from the OF, the CPU baserunner takes off for 2B, usually resulting in him getting thrown out by a good 5-6 steps.

I don’t see this enough....please tell me what your using for sliders..

[JHodges57]

Re: CPU Baserunning

I played a game earlier where a batter hit a grounder between 1b & 2b for a single. The runner on third headed for home right after the ball was hit but the runner on second dove back to 2b for some reason. What was even worse, the OF threw the ball to the 2b and as the secondbaseman was receiving the ball, the runner on second took off for 3b. He was out by 10 miles. WTF was that all about?

This was a MoM game and it was an opponent's runner. I've come to expect my players to run the bases like they were on LSD, but rarely see opponents do it.

[BBallBryan23]

Re: CPU Baserunning

I played a game earlier where a batter hit a grounder between 1b & 2b for a single. The runner on third headed for home right after the ball was hit but the runner on second dove back to 2b for some reason. What was even worse, the OF threw the ball to the 2b and as the secondbaseman was receiving the ball, the runner on second took off for 3b. He was out by 10 miles. WTF was that all about?

This was a MoM game and it was an opponent's runner. I've come to expect my players to run the bases like they were on LSD, but rarely see opponents do it.

That’s insane! That’s exactly what I see all the time. The CPU baserunning logic is totally broken or something.

I want as much of a challenge from the CPU as possible, but if I’m seeing the CPU leave 2-3 runs per game on the bases because of poor baserunning logic, it’s pretty irritating.

[Chad211]

Re: CPU Baserunning

The base running in this game is really bad user or computer and once again it has cost me some big games in franchise. If you hit the ball with a runner at first into the outfield I will see that runner take off and then turn back witch is something that just makes no sense to me and the computer ai keeps trying to stretch base hits into doubles all the time!!! Add that to the current fielding issues we are having and some obvious graphic issues right in front of our faces witch are some simple fixes SDS needs to get some things done to improve this games playability. Those guys have all the tools they need to fix this stuff even in the state of the current events going on right now I just think now they need to do it and they don’t have any excuses or bail outs now. Keeping us players in the dark is not a good move though even with what’s going on out here in this time. They do have all the tools to get this stuff fixed for an improved playability. I quit buying Madden 3 years ago because of the poor rosters and poor gameplay and design and Mlb the show seems to be going down the same path now witch really sucks for us diehard baseball fans!!!

[Chad211]

Re: CPU Baserunning

Something else I see that I'm surprised doesn't get talked about more is the CPU tries way too often to stretch singles into doubles, when they have no business doing so. It's like if you hesitate for a nano-second to throw the ball in from the OF, the CPU baserunner takes off for 2B, usually resulting in him getting thrown out by a good 5-6 steps.

Nope my man, it just comes down to poor ai and poor testing bye SDS with base running. User or computer this is one thing that is just poor game design once again SDS has the tools to fix this stuff even with all that’s going on in these strange times we are in but for a lot of us players keeping us in the dark and not letting us know about what is going to be done to fix this stuff for game playability is not a good way to go about it they are close to having a solid game but they got to start addressing the needs like base running and focus on other modes other then dd. They have the tools to get this stuff ironed out but it still remains to be seen about some result. It’s time for them to get it done and dealt with if they don’t this may be the last year that I buy the game.