Tips on pitching?

[BlueSkies77]

I’ve bumped up the difficulty from All Star to Hall of Fame because I found AS to be too easy. I was winning almost every game. My offense on HoF is just fine with some good challenge, but wow I suck at pitching on this level. The CpU averages about 7 runs against me per game and it’s driving me mad. One mistake pitch will get creamed. I’m deathly afraid of throwing sliders because it seems like the CPU rips them 90% of the time.

Been using meter since 2007 so I don’t want to give it up.

[Itsma806]

Re: Tips on pitching?

I’ve bumped up the difficulty from All Star to Hall of Fame because I found AS to be too easy. I was winning almost every game. My offense on HoF is just fine with some good challenge, but wow I suck at pitching on this level. The CpU averages about 7 runs against me per game and it’s driving me mad. One mistake pitch will get creamed. I’m deathly afraid of throwing sliders because it seems like the CPU rips them 90% of the time.



Been using meter since 2007 so I don’t want to give it up.

I'm on hall of fame as well. I get shelled on occasion but pitch fairly well using meter. I'd say that hitting the corners is very important but its difficult because the cpu is very good about not swinging at pitches outside the zone.

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[BlueSkies77]

Re: Tips on pitching?

I'm on hall of fame as well. I get shelled on occasion but pitch fairly well using meter. I'd say that hitting the corners is very important but its difficult because the cpu is very good about not swinging at pitches outside the zone.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

You ain’t lying! It’s even more frustrating when I do hit the corner but the umpire decides it’s a ball. I’ve been debating turning off variable umpires but I’m trying to resist. I do feel that it would help mitigate some frustration.

[canes21]

Re: Tips on pitching?

Try to get free strikes whenever you can. Pay attention to the hot/cold zones of each hitter. Understand which pitches are working that game for your pitcher. Just because a guy has 5 pitches doesn't mean you're going to be able to throw all 5 that game.

I always try and go somewhere on the 0-0 that is in the zone, but not something they'd want to swing at on the 0-0. If I can get a low and away fastball in there that doesn't even need to paint the black, I go for it. If I have a speedy batter up who doesn't have much pop, I'll throw a fastball in the upper third of the zone. Chances are they take it, but if they don't, their lack of pup makes that pitch significantly less dangerous.

If I can get ahead 0-1, then I try and paint a corner to get to 0-2. If it just misses I may try and paint a corner once more depending on the pitcher. If I have Soroka on the mound I may just throw a 1-1 sinker that I know is in the zone. Odds are any contact is a ground ball and likely an out. If I have Max Fried on the mound then my 1-1 is going to be another attempt at dotting the corner. If I have Ian Anderson on the corner, my 1-1 is likely a pitch to contact since he has a quirk that limits HR's. I'll probably throw is changeup down in the zone. Like Soroka, any contact there is likely a groundball and an out.

Not every 1-1 pitch is going to be either on the black or a pitch to contact. If my pitcher has a great breaking ball that he is controlling that game, I'm trying to get them to chase something slightly out of the zone on the 1-1. They either whiff or get weak contact if I hit my spot.

My biggest tip is getting ahead 0-1. After that you need to learn how to pitch to contact with each of your pitchers. Some guys simply aren't good pitcher to pitch to contact with and it won't be a good strategy that start. That's when you try to paint the black or get them chasing. Some guys also will only have 2 pitches out of their 5 that they can throw with any consistency. You'll have to figure out how to use those 2 pitches the best you can. Don't try and force a pitch that isn't working. I've had plenty of starts with Ynoa in my franchise where his 4-seam and curveball are all he can throw with any consistency. Those starts can be tricky, but you can make them work. You're likely not throwing a shutout with only two pitches, but you can still have a quality start if you get ahead often.

[bsbll5]

Re: Tips on pitching?

I've been using dynamic difficulty and pinpoint pitching, and I've gotten up to Legend+ and stayed there. I usually hold the other team to 2 runs or less and rarely give up a huge number.

There are several things I do:

1) Get ahead early like the other poster said. If you fall behind, don't give in with an easy pitch to hit, either.

2) Pay attention to hot and cold zones. If you're feeding a pitch in a hot zone the batter better not be expecting it as they are more likely to crush it.

3) I tend to work up and in, low and away, and low and in with some slight variation on locations around there depending on what I'm trying to do. Generally I work up in the zone with the fastball and down in the zone with offspeed stuff, but it depends on the pitcher and the hitter of course.

4) Don't be predictable. I don't know if this really makes any difference offline, but I make a conscious effort to mix up sequences like I would in real life so the batter keeps "guessing." Obviously the CPU knows exactly what is coming and it's more of an algorithm, but I would imagine that algorithm factors those things in.

5) Set up pitches. If you're throwing fastballs up and in and the batter is getting close to squaring it up, then throw a slider belt high off the plate away. Or throw a curve down and in. From the batter's perspective, it looks like a similar pitch to the fastball up and in and it can fool them into swinging at something bad. Again, the CPU knows what is coming, so algorithms?

[BlueSkies77]

Re: Tips on pitching?

Thanks for the tips. I’ve turned on hot zones, keeping them on at all times. I gotta be honest too, I’ve been sucking at hitting the meter. Don’t know if it’s harder to hit the sweet spot on HoF, but I usually don’t hit it. So I gotta get better.

[BlueSkies77]

Re: Tips on pitching?

Just gave up 9 runs in the first two innings against St Louis. I guess I just really suck that much.

[ktd1976]

Re: Tips on pitching?

I pitch on Legend difficulty, using Classic pitching.

Some tips I swear by.

1. Getting ahead in the count is key. The CPU gets more aggressive when they are behind in the count, will chase more pitches. BUT, don't throw an 0-0 meatball down the middle of the plate.

2. Mix up your pitches. Don't be afraid to throw an 0-0 curve, or slider, or changeup. Don't be afraid to throw a 2-0 curve or change up. Mix up your pitches. But, pay attention to individual pitch confidence. The more confidence in a pitch the pitcher has, the better he will locate it. But, DON'T completely disregard pitches with low confidence. Throw them, but throw them in a way that if you miss, you will miss out of the zone.

3. Do not be afraid to pitch inside. A good fastball up and in will jam hitters more often than not. Plus, it sets them up for a low outside off spead pitch.

4. Pay attention to your defensive shifts, and pitch accordingly. If the defense is in an extreme shift for a lefty to pull the ball, then throw the ball inside, try to get the hitter to hit it into the shift for an easy out.

5. DON'T give in to the hitter, especially with a base open. A walk is much better than grooving a fastball on a 3-2 count and having it tattooed somewhere.

6. Think 2 or 3 pitches ahead. I always throw a pitch, with the next pitch in mind. Sometimes, based on the result of the pitch, I might decide to change things up. But I always think at least one pitch ahead. Throw an inside fastball with the intent on setting the hitter up for a low and away off speed pitch.

7. Don't fall into a pattern. You have to mix things up. Don't start every 0-0 count with a fastball. Hitters will start sitting on it. Don't always throw a 0-2 or 1-2 breaking/offspeed pitch out of the zone. Those are the counts where you should be painting the corners, but mix up pitches and speeds. Don't fall in love with a certain pitch in a certain count.

[BlueSkies77]

Re: Tips on pitching?

Those are some good tips there. I don’t have much trouble getting ahead in the count. But then I run into a brick wall trying to put the hitter away. On HoF I find hitters will foul away the up and in heater pretty often. Painting the corners can usually result in hitters fouling the ball off.

But I do suck with meter pitching. Been struggling hitting the spot on HoF. If I try to throw a slider inside I will miss and it will end up in the middle of the plate. Slider can feel useless lol. Bu I will keep trying I’m gunna implement those tips.

[canes21]

Re: Tips on pitching?

Have you tried actually aiming further out of the zone to put them away? If they are fouling the high fastball off then try going even higher.

[BlueSkies77]

Re: Tips on pitching?

Have you tried actually aiming further out of the zone to put them away? If they are fouling the high fastball off then try going even higher.

Yes, they lay off of it if it’s high and not on the border. I guess my issue is that I’m not mixing things up enough. I’m just gunna keep trying.

[Caulfield]

Re: Tips on pitching?

Yes, they lay off of it if it’s high and not on the border. I guess my issue is that I’m not mixing things up enough. I’m just gunna keep trying.

yep, you have to think of the strikezone as having 25 distinct slots
(only 9 actually inside the zone, 16 outside of the zone)
and throw to all of them at least a couple times a game

you have to be so unpredictable that at some point you will have thrown a pitch in the zone on a 0-2 count against say, a Mike Trout

a rare occurance indeed, but the batter should not be able to take anything off the table when facing you

I'm so unpredictable I have thrown outside the zone on a 3-0 count... to a pitcher