Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

[Geronimo22]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

I've got a few guys in trouble; about 45 games in:

Brandon Inge - .224
Austin Jackson - .218
Victor Martinez - .198

It really marks one of the high points of this game, though. When you get some guys who are struggling like that over that amount of time, it completely and totally becomes a mind game.

You're basically presented a choice: is this guy going to lay down, hit .200 and basically not be worth his spot in the lineup, or are you gonna stop rushing your at-bats and get his average up to a respectable level?

But as we all know, thinking about it too much - trying too hard, in effect - is no better than swinging at everything.

The subsequent psychological game you play with yourself with all this mind is what baseball is all about, and this game captures it perfectly, no matter how frustrating it might seem at times.

Excellent points

[PsychoBulk]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

I've got a few guys in trouble; about 45 games in:

Brandon Inge - .224
Austin Jackson - .218
Victor Martinez - .198

Haha, funny you should say that, the same 3 were struggling for me (plus Peralta and Avila) but are now starting to come round.

A-Jax was hitting .141 thru 20 games but in the last 5 hes really strung some hits together climaxing in 3-4 in the last game, hes now at .206 and rising.

Inge, well, its Inge, he'll always struggle to go north of .230, i have him at .216 2HR 9RBI.

Victor was also near the Mendoza Line for ages for me but has since exploded with a couple of bombs and lots of hits, now at .256 2HR 10RBI.

It really is just a matter of staying patient.

My biggest shocker is Cabby, hitting just .202 2HR 11RBI, before last night he was below the Mendoza, man its sad to see such a monster struggle but like the others i know he will get it going.

[chrishthomas]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

I'm currently struggling with two of my starters Pierzynski and Beckham: both are hovering around .220.

Different patterns:
Pierzynski started off stone cold, and has worked his way up to over .200, but I just can't seem to get enough multi-hit games to increase that number: he's generally 1 for 4 or 1 for 5 each game. Now, even when I'm waiting on good pitches I just don't seem to make good contact.

Beckham was the opposite--started off hot, but has cooled off and now I can't get it back.

Coincidentally, their in-game numbers are pretty close to their real-life numbers to this point in the season, even down to HRs, BBs, and RBIs (I have 3 dingers with Beckham instead of his real-life 2, and more strikeouts with Pierzynski, but otherwise eerily similar).

So...am I forcing too much, or is art imitating life? Admittedly, I know I am forcing: I think AJ should be doing better, and as a UGA grad, I'm trying to make Beckham play like an All-Star. And, sadly, last night I lost Carlos Quentin to a shoulder separation that will have him out 1 to 2 months...so now I'll be forcing more trying to get more offense from them to make up for Quentin's missing bat.

So, I said all that to say this, I don't know what the answer is when it comes to struggling players. But, I do know that I don't entirely agree with the view that you need to force yourself to take more pitches.

Now, I'm not saying swing at everything...you have to remain disciplined and not swing at bad pitches. However, and I can fully admit that this may just be my imagination, it seems like the AI in this game recognizes cold batters, and has no problem throwing strikes to them. When I have gone into an at-bat with these guys with a mindset that I was definitely going to take a pitch or two...I quickly end up 2 strikes in the hole, and then I've opened myself up to in-the-dirt curves and changeups or tailing-out-of-the-zone sliders. The CPU is challenging these guys to put the ball in play, and will put strikes in the zone if you go up there with intention of taking.

So, I don't think the full-on take-a-couple-of-pitches approach is going to get you out of your slump. Be prepared to swing at a good pitch early if it comes in, otherwise you're going to risk playing your at bats from behind in the count.

[rbowlden]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

I always seem to struggle with Heyward, I just love hitting with him so much I find myself swinging at anything close... right now about 15 games in he is hitting .216, but he does have 5 homers and 14 RBI so he is producing when I do get hits. Chipper is another guy, but I walk A LOT with him, his OBP is something crazy like .480 while is only hitting .167, hopefully they will turn it around, gotta take the bad with the good I guess.

[vexerr]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

I know I have. Currently I can't hit with Justin Upton with my Arizona franchise. I tend to swing at everything with him! I know that's the problem. But I think it's mental. I'm so anxious for him to hit a bomb that I lose my composure. Also my timming is always off with the guy even when I get a meatball. Any advice?

Funny you ask, I can't hit with his brother BJ. I'm trying to dump his salary but I'm having problems finding a suitor, so I guess I'll just deal with it.

[Bellsprout]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

You play long enough, you'll go through periods where you can't hit with everybody in your lineup.

Right now I can't hit with Corey Hart. At the beginning of my season, he was hitting .340 and was an MVP candidate.

The game does a fantastic job with having it so players go through these kinds of streaks.

[rymflaherty]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

When I first started playing the Show in 09' this was actually one of the aspects that made me love the game.

Unlike other sports games where it seemed like I'd have similar results regardless of game/season/team or player.....there seemed to be a great variation of results in the Show. At times even seeming independent of "rating" or what you may have done the past series/season, etc.

In both 09' and 11' the player I seem to slump with the most (farthest back from his actual numbers) is actually my favorite player Dustin Pedroia.
So maybe it's something psychological like you said....overall though it doesn't really bother me, because I'll take the variance and unpredictability
over having a similar stat line for all players in the same ratings grouping.

[Geronimo22]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

I'm currently struggling with two of my starters Pierzynski and Beckham: both are hovering around .220.

Different patterns:
Pierzynski started off stone cold, and has worked his way up to over .200, but I just can't seem to get enough multi-hit games to increase that number: he's generally 1 for 4 or 1 for 5 each game. Now, even when I'm waiting on good pitches I just don't seem to make good contact.

Beckham was the opposite--started off hot, but has cooled off and now I can't get it back.

Coincidentally, their in-game numbers are pretty close to their real-life numbers to this point in the season, even down to HRs, BBs, and RBIs (I have 3 dingers with Beckham instead of his real-life 2, and more strikeouts with Pierzynski, but otherwise eerily similar).

So...am I forcing too much, or is art imitating life? Admittedly, I know I am forcing: I think AJ should be doing better, and as a UGA grad, I'm trying to make Beckham play like an All-Star. And, sadly, last night I lost Carlos Quentin to a shoulder separation that will have him out 1 to 2 months...so now I'll be forcing more trying to get more offense from them to make up for Quentin's missing bat.

So, I said all that to say this, I don't know what the answer is when it comes to struggling players. But, I do know that I don't entirely agree with the view that you need to force yourself to take more pitches.

Now, I'm not saying swing at everything...you have to remain disciplined and not swing at bad pitches. However, and I can fully admit that this may just be my imagination, it seems like the AI in this game recognizes cold batters, and has no problem throwing strikes to them. When I have gone into an at-bat with these guys with a mindset that I was definitely going to take a pitch or two...I quickly end up 2 strikes in the hole, and then I've opened myself up to in-the-dirt curves and changeups or tailing-out-of-the-zone sliders. The CPU is challenging these guys to put the ball in play, and will put strikes in the zone if you go up there with intention of taking.

So, I don't think the full-on take-a-couple-of-pitches approach is going to get you out of your slump. Be prepared to swing at a good pitch early if it comes in, otherwise you're going to risk playing your at bats from behind in the count.

Yeah I think the CPU does recongize cold players. Because this happens all the time. First pitch meatball. Okay no way he's going to do that again. Let me wait on a change... Bam, second pitch fastball on the inside half! I'm like damn you CPU!!! 3rd pitch slider out of the zone, I'm done! Strikeout number 3 on the day. LOL.

But you made very good points. The game teaches you to see your pitch and not guess it!

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

I see your point. Its really pyschological I've gone into games using that approach with Justin Upton and the damn CPU pitches 3 straight meatballs strike-out looking! I need to find a way to just relax and use my normal fundamentals with him. Like I do everyone else. When ugly betty is talking to me I'm confident and controlled. When its Mellisa Ford I'm a nervous wreck and stuttering. LoL

Bingo! Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

A-Rod, oddly, leads my team in strikeouts. At first I was certain it was all me...

I mean, it's still 'some' me....

But the CPU approaches him very differently than my other players. They pitch around him alot! Good thing!...

But they also like to abuse me with soft away. And JUST when I decide to start looking that way, I'll immediately get three heaters, tight and in.

As John Sterling says, "Thems the breaks."

[baseball1014]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

Victor Martinez. I can't hit anythin with him right now. He's hitting .083 right now in my 30 team franchise.

[jbran23]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

I see the trend of peoples favorite players struggling. Like noted already, its probably from wanting to see them succeed so bad that most are pressing or just being impatient.

I have struggled by far the most with Chipper but he isnt my favorite player on the team. It would be Heyward and I absolutely rake with him. Hitting close to .400 with 5hrs and 21rbis in about 25 games. Chipper on the other hand is right around .200 with 1hr and 8rbis. I have started 2 seperate franchises with the Braves and in both Chipper has struggled mightely.

[yankees028]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

ryan Zimmerman I have never been able to do good with him... it sucks because he is a young 3b but I just cant do anything with him for some reason

[slickdtc]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

Jonny Gomes for me. He's a platoon player for me, or has been most of the season, and I swear he must lead my team in strikeouts. For some reason, I just always want to go yard with him. He was under .200 all of April, but recently I've gotten better with him and he's up into the .230's. My whole LF situation is messed up. Fred Lewis, Gomes, and Chris Heisey (Jeremy Hermida was sent down after a good start he completely flopped and I wanted Heisey up) haven't grabbed it yet... though I suspect Heisey will eventually. Drew Stubbs just got hurt, though only for a few games.

Jay Bruce is carrying me. 14 HR, 31 RBI in mid-May. Launched 3 HR's my last game. Hitting like .373!

[Qb]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

I'm not far into my franchise, but I'm having no success with Neil Walker. I didn't track his numbers for all the exhibition games I played before I started, but I think I struggled with him then as well. I decided to change the stance I'm using for him to give him a different look at the plate.

But I suspect there is a more concrete reason for this... he has no hot zones. His charts are entirely blue for both righties & lefties. Not sure how those are calculated/assigned, but it has to be a mistake.

[snailbiscuit]

Re: Ever Can't Hit with only 1 Player?

Jonny Gomes for me. He's a platoon player for me, or has been most of the season, and I swear he must lead my team in strikeouts. For some reason, I just always want to go yard with him. He was under .200 all of April, but recently I've gotten better with him and he's up into the .230's. My whole LF situation is messed up. Fred Lewis, Gomes, and Chris Heisey (Jeremy Hermida was sent down after a good start he completely flopped and I wanted Heisey up) haven't grabbed it yet... though I suspect Heisey will eventually. Drew Stubbs just got hurt, though only for a few games.

Jay Bruce is carrying me. 14 HR, 31 RBI in mid-May. Launched 3 HR's my last game. Hitting like .373!

I'm really stinkin' up the place with Gomes too. I'm 71 games in and he's hitting .214 with 9 HR and 20 RBI. At first I think I was having trouble becuase, like you, I was always trying to knock it out of the stadium. Now I've changed my approach to hit it where it's pitched and I still can't get anything going with him.

As far as Bruce goes, I really struggled with him for all of April and most of May. However, since then he's tearing the cover off the ball. Average up to .290 with 19 HR and 44 RBI. I didn't really change my approach either. I just had awful luck then things really started to click.

I seem to be opposite from everyone else about the favorite player thing though. I do better by far with my favorite player, Joey Votto, then just about any other 2 players on my team combined. In mid-June he leads the MVP race and has by far the most votes for the all-star team in either league. He leads both leagues in hitting with a .374 avg. He's also 3rd in HR with 22, after hitting 3 in my last game against his home town Blue Jays. He's 2nd in RBI with 54, 1st in doubles with 26, 1st in runs, 1st in hits, 1st in slugging, 1st in OPS, 2nd in walks and has an OBP of .471.