MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

[Ender's]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Best choices for 4th and 5th pitch?

Currently doing very well with only a Running FB, Change, and 12-6 Curve.

Would like something that runs away from RH batters...so thinking one of my new pitches should be a Slider or Cutter.

I like the combo Running FB / Cutter.

Also thinking Splitter or Sinker to increase groundballs. Though I have always liked the Slurve. I really like the Sweeping Curve, too...but think that would be redundant with the 12-6.

Thoughts?

It all pretty much depends on the setup. If you're painting corners with fastballs as the first two strikes, I suggest the change first, about knee high to the batter coming in, and ending up low and out of the strike zone. Batters see this pitch coming in knee high and slow and they can't help themselves, usually.

If, however, you've setup with breaking pitches and perhaps a fastball, then maybe a cut or running fastball with some movement off the corner to come into the strike zone is a good idea. Reason being, he's been seeing straight 4s fastballs coming in and isn't anticipating the break at the end. This coupled with the speed is the reason and you're going to want your moving fast pitches to be in the realm of your 4sfb's velocity.

For me, it's always one of two things. A.) A pitch he's going to swing at and miss outside of the strike zone or B.) A pitch he's going to watch that ends up a strike.

[PDuncanOSU]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

I started a RTTS w/ a starting pitcher (Right handed w/ sinker, slider, & changeup). I was drafted by the Braves and pitched well for a short time in the AA bullpen. Requested a move to the starting rotation and got 6 quality starts out of 7 (one that was not quality start was b/c I didn't make it through 6 innings b/c of pitch-count). I was promoted to the AAA bullpen then traded to the Royals, where I finished the season in their AAA bullpen. I'm starting my second year (age 19) and am still in the bullpen for the Royals AAA team. I'm pitching lights-out from the pen but manager won't put me in the rotation.
I don't follow the real life minor leagues much, and am wondering if this is realistic for an "A" starting pitcher prospect to move from AA bullpen-AA rotation-AAA bullpen-AAA rotation-MLB bullpen-MLB rotation? It seems like they would mostly stay either in the rotation or in the bullpen, depending on where they expected to be in the bigs.

[SmashEd44]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

So, basically I am looking for suggestions for a new pitch addition for my guy. Started a new RttS, currently in June of Year One with the AA-affiliate of the Phillies.

I currently have:

4-Seam Fastball ~95 mph
Changeup ~82 mph
Curveball ~75 mph
Screwball ~76 mph

Tearing up AA, undefeated with an ERA under 1. Any suggestions? Thinking Slider, but I'm not sure.

[Dogbarian]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Well, the first of my guys to finish the 2011 season was my 3B/LF with the Braves. He stayed in AA the whole season, and really didn't shine anywhere. In fact, he had a fairly lousy season, hitting just over .200 most of the year, ended the season with 7 walks and over 100 K's, 40 or so RBI, and 7 HRs. I'll have to jot down the full line and post it here, just for the futility of it, although I did earn quite a few rating points. I simmed through the offseason and he starts 2012 in AAA as a backup. Chipper did retire, so if I can figure things out, I have a decent shot at getting called up - my current overall is just under that of the guy who's starting at AAA, and the big club has Dustin Ackley playing out of position as the 3B in the opening day roster.

I'm tempted to purchase rating points, but I think I'll wait until he goes through the 2012 season, assuming of course I can get him figured out and start hitting.

[fugazi]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Went with the Cutter for pitch #4...

That gives me a Runner, a Cutter, the Change, and a slow 12-6er.

Not bad, if you ask me. Pitch 5 will be a Slurve, in all likelihood...but it is a ways off. The cutter needs a lot of work.

Imo, my Change is too fast...it is in the mid 70s...I want it slower, but it started that fast, so there it is.

[wrigleyville33]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Is anyone else sucking wind? I'm batting .200 in aaa now. I literally feel every hard hit ball is caught. I batted .324 my first season. Second season I hit in the low .200s and right now I'm struggling to hit over .200. What gives? I'm playing on HOF with the offset camera that was made up on this forum about offsetting the camera an inch to the inside of the batter.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Just an update on my RTTS, I just finished my first full MLB season in 2014. I managed to squeeze into White Sox lineup in late-April, forcing Dayan Viciedo from RF to DH. The White Sox were dominating the AL Central with a 20-game lead after the All-Star Break, but in an effort to improve the team, decided to trade me along with a minor league RF to the Orioles for Nick Markakis. The Orioles didn't have the talent, but they did have Josh Hamilton and Coco Crisp. I finished the year hitting .319, 18 homers, 88 RBI's, and 13 SB's, 39 BB's, 27 K's, in 125 games, along with a gold glove.

Now I'm going in 2015 as the "star-player" of the Orioles since they didn't re-sign Hamilton. They did acquire Kendry Morales and another hitter.

In other news in my RTTS, the Phillies rotation now consists of Felix Hernandez, Ubaldo Jimenez, Tim Lincecum, Justin Verlander, and a fully-developed Brian Matusz. However they have no offense to speak since they didn't retain Howard, Utley, or Domonic Brown. They even had Pujols for one season.

[GatorBait#15]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Im a die hard Red Sox fan. Drafted by the sox . Then traded to the Yankees :{. Got called up and im now pitching for the Yanks

[Gagnon39]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

I think Mike Scioscia is trying to make my arm fall off. I just threw a complete game (non-shutout) and threw 160 pitches! What the crap? I kept expecting to be taken out of the game but I just kept getting sent back out there. I guess the AI just takes into account your energy level and not your pitch count. Perhaps I should lower the stamina of pitchers?

For you guys that are starting pitchers, what slider settings do you use in this regard? Do you change the manager hook slider or the stamina slider?

[redbird294]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Update on my RTTS.

Maxed out my other 2 pitches, finally. Still ripping up AA, but I don't think the Twins are going to move me up yet. Last start, I struck out 16 guys--9 of them with the knuckler. I think it's the splitter/knuckler combo that's throwing them off. They swing too late for the knuckler, and too early for the splitter. I love the way the knuckler floats back over the plate at the last minute to ring them up on the corner. The curve is my pitch to get 2 strikes on, the lefties can't seem to hit it at all. Plenty of ground balls. I'm thinking of adding a sinker so I can be a sinkerballer and a knuckleballer all in one. Too bad there's no eephus pitch, lol. I'd love to toss that in there too.

Just working on maxing out stamina, H/9, BB/9, etc. before I add another pitch. Looks like I'm going to spend the rest of this season in AA, might as well take my squad to the playoffs.

[ZachenFoot]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Finished my first two MLB seasons with the Mariners. First season I went 16-8 with a 2.62 ERA and won Rookie of the Year. Second season I went 18-7 with a 2.28 ERA and went 4-1 with a 2.52 in the postseason, losing the World Series to the Cubs.

In the offseason they extended me an extra year, but traded me to the Giants in February (awesome!). Lincecum, Cain, and myself in the rotation and it's boss. So far I'm 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA in five starts. Had a perfect game with 7 2/3 innings before hitting Kyle Blanks, then I gave up a hit on a boneheaded defensive play breaking it up. It hurt way worse than my other near no-no when I just gave up a screamer up the middle. Defense screwed me this time.

So far, a great career. Only 23 and my HOF potential meter keeps going up. Looking forward to continuing later today!

[Dogbarian]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

I think Mike Scioscia is trying to make my arm fall off. I just threw a complete game (non-shutout) and threw 160 pitches! What the crap? I kept expecting to be taken out of the game but I just kept getting sent back out there. I guess the AI just takes into account your energy level and not your pitch count. Perhaps I should lower the stamina of pitchers?

For you guys that are starting pitchers, what slider settings do you use in this regard? Do you change the manager hook slider or the stamina slider?

I have Starter Stamina at 6 and Reliever Stamina at 1, and then Manager Hook at 7 (CPU settings at the same numbers), and those seem to be giving me good results.

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Is anyone else terrible at hitting in RTTS?

In 2014 with the Tigers I'm batting .242

In 2013 I batted .228

My players hitting ratings are solid across the board with a B in contact and C in power.

I've resorted to dropping the difficulty level to Rookie and I'm using Timing hitting and still struggling. What is fusturating is i'm hitting the ball well and most of my outs are deep flyballs.

I may switch things up and go to zone hitting. I've never stuggled this bad with hitting in any baseball game.

[Kentucky_Gentleman]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

I started a RTTS yesterday, and have been completely obsessed with the mode. I made an 18 year old first baseman who was drafted by the Reds (which was surprising considering they have Joey Votto, and a top prospect in Yonder Alonso).

However, I was tearing it up in AA for the Carolina Mudcats (we were TERRIBLE as a team). I was to my surprise called up to AAA Louisville after tearing it up in AA hitting like .392 with 7 HR's and 29 RBI's.

I started off on the bench in AAA, but quickly was named the started and did very well. Then (not to my surprise as I noticed I was on the trading block) I was traded with Travis Wood, and another prospect for Jason Marquis to the Nationals.

I've settled in with the Syracuse Chiefs as the starter, and am now hitting .299 with 5 HR's and 15 RBI's since my call up to AAA. I'm just now on August 1st. I'll definitely keep everyone updated. Love reading other peoples stuff.

[ChernoTheInferno]

Re: MLB 11 "Road To The Show" thread

Hit my first home run of the year! There won't be many. I should've uploaded the replay. Did the whole stare and throw the bat away animation, haha. And he watched the ball *barely* clear the high wall in right-center in Oakland. That really needs to be taken out of the game for some players. No reason for my guy to stand there and watch a barely-over-the-wall home run. He's an all-contact/speed guy and should've been flying around the bases just in case. And got my BR Aggressiveness up to 99 finally. Leading league in SBs.