Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

**TripleThreat1973** · 06-13-2011, 12:56 AM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

Any sinkerballers/2-seam guys just forego their 4-seamer (Hudson, Garcia, Pineiro, etc), and just pound that zone with down and in movement.

They're often high control guys, so throwing something that doesn't move is rarely in their gameplan.

They don't mind giving up hits (when they do) because the hits are often singles, and they supress homers. So, if a team is going to score they're going to have to get 2-3+ hits in an inning before they hit into a DP.

**The Cleanest Genius** · 06-13-2011, 01:36 AM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

I am scared to death to use a curveball. I feel like everytime I throw it, its either way off or an earned run. I stopped throwing curveballs to the top half of the lineup as well as when there are runners in scoring position. Mostly because I use analog pitching and if I miss, I get punished. Today I tried throwing a curve that started low and inside in the zone then breaks out of the zone. I got that yellow feedback showing that I timed it right but it still stayed inside the strikezone and Pablo Sandoval sent it over the fence.

Any advance on how to properly use a curveball would be appreciated.

**VideoTyrant** · 06-13-2011, 01:54 AM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

That is a really good point about curveballs not getting chased making them almost worthless, in real life most of the great curveball throwers rely on throwing curveballs out of the zone that get swinging strikes than get me over curveballs which get hammered in this game, I think next year they should look into the way AI hitters handle the curveball because it really makes it a scary proposition and almost a wasted pitch when you choose to throw a curveball in this game because you either miss the zone and they take it even if it misses by a couple inches low they still rarely chase it, and the risk of hanging one seems to just be too big in this game as curveballs that find too much plate just get slaughtered in this game.

**spit_bubble** · 06-13-2011, 03:03 AM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

Originally posted by The Cleanest Genius

...Any advance on how to properly use a curveball would be appreciated.

They can be used as a change of pace pitch when you think a hitter might be looking fastball. In these situations you can get away with aiming more towards the middle of the zone and will want to use more control, so for example if you're using classic pitching just tap the button.

The other way to use them is as a deceptive pitch, when you are ahead in the count and just want to make a real tough pitch. You can throw them low and have them break out of the zone to try to get the batter to chase, or you can throw them in the zone away after setting them up with a fastball in. In these situation you will want to throw them harder to get a sharper break, so for example if you're using classic pitching hold the button down longer.

**Geronimo22** · 06-13-2011, 08:09 AM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

Triplethreat thanks for detailed post. Very imformative. Spit_bubble thanks for the follow on how to use the curveball. It shouldn't be a wasted pitch especially if a guy has it has their second pitch.

**Heroesandvillains** · 06-13-2011, 12:27 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

Full disclosure:

I did get a handful of swinging strikeouts on curves in the dirt last night, but that said...

I'd love to see the AI logic on curveballs tightened up next year. The odds of making a mistake with one is way too high. Not that the 'mistake' part isn't realistic, but even pitchers with dominate curves can't rely on them for outs or K's (regardless of that pitch's confidence, which I think is the problem).

They almost have to be used as a real life changeup...keeping the hitter off balance in early counts.

**Antec** · 06-13-2011, 02:27 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

I find it helpful to build the confidence in the curve before using it as a strikeout pitch. Throw it first pitch for strikes and also against batters that don't scare you.

Once you start showing the CPU that you can and will throw it for strikes, start dropping it out of the zone for the K's. If you get a few K's with it and it has a high confidence then try dropping it right on the paint for a strikeout looking.

**Dogbarian** · 06-13-2011, 04:44 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

The classic fastball/curve pitcher relied on using the curve after throwing high fast balls. The curve would start on the same plane and then drop off, causing swing & miss over it, or the batter taking it for a low strike (fooled into thinking it was another high fastball).

In real life, this combo has faded away because of the umpires. The high strike call is a rare breed these days, and they also aren't calling strikes on dropping curves. So, the batters have learned this and just don't swing at curves, unless the pitcher hangs one over the heart of the plate. I was reading this a few days ago, some manager talking about it (wish I'd saved the link). Anyway, only the best curves in the game are remaining effective.

Now, I have no idea if the AI in the game works off of this. I don't think so, because I see the AI umpires calling high strikes all the time. If that's the case, then the classic combo should work - throw fastballs high in the zone mixed with curves aimed low or below it.

**nomo17k** · 06-13-2011, 05:44 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

Originally posted by Dogbarian

Now, I have no idea if the AI in the game works off of this. I don't think so, because I see the AI umpires calling high strikes all the time. If that's the case, then the classic combo should work - throw fastballs high in the zone mixed with curves aimed low or below it.

Though definitely much improved than MLB 10, CPU I think is still a bit too well disciplined against breaking/off-speed pitches. My best strikeout pitch remains fastballs out side the strike zone. High, inside, low... they all are effective, if not the best strikeout pitches when thrown at the right time.

Have been wanting to create an RTTS pitcher with high fastball and curve, a la Doc Gooden. Most of the time I end up getting Ks off fastballs. Or Mike Scott with splitter... fastball still is the best strikeout pitch.

**spit_bubble** · 06-13-2011, 05:48 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

Originally posted by spit_bubble

They can be used as a change of pace pitch when you think a hitter might be looking fastball. In these situations you can get away with aiming more towards the middle of the zone and will want to use more control, so for example if you're using classic pitching just tap the button.

The other way to use them is as a deceptive pitch, when you are ahead in the count and just want to make a real tough pitch. You can throw them low and have them break out of the zone to try to get the batter to chase, or you can throw them in the zone away after setting them up with a fastball in. In these situation you will want to throw them harder to get a sharper break, so for example if you're using classic pitching hold the button down longer.

Forgot to mention, you can also start them out of the zone off the plate and have them break into the zone. So for a RHP to a righty, start them in off the plate inside and have them break into the zone for a strike. And for a RHP to a lefty, start them off the plate away, and have them break into zone.

AKA the knee buckler and the backdoor breaking ball.

If you can track down any game pitched by Bert Blyleven... He had a nasty curve and used it masterfully.

**bronko3** · 06-13-2011, 09:44 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

The first couple times through the batting order I like to always start with a medium power fastball on the low, outside corner (meter pitching and only if the low, outside corner is a cold zone). Early in the game the CPU rarely seems to swing at that pitch (AS level anyways) so it is an easy way to get ahead in the count. As the game progresses and I notice the CPU starting to catch on, I start changing the tendency. I really don't think the CPU hitters are any better from the 7th inning on, you just have to start changing your pitch tendencies. I also like changing speeds on my fastball, going from full throttle to less effort does seem to throw the CPU batters off balance a lot of times.

A pitch combo I like is 4SB outside, 2SB inside then slider outside.

**Dogbarian** · 06-14-2011, 03:43 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

Originally posted by nomo17k

Though definitely much improved than MLB 10, CPU I think is still a bit too well disciplined against breaking/off-speed pitches. My best strikeout pitch remains fastballs out side the strike zone. High, inside, low... they all are effective, if not the best strikeout pitches when thrown at the right time.

Have been wanting to create an RTTS pitcher with high fastball and curve, a la Doc Gooden. Most of the time I end up getting Ks off fastballs. Or Mike Scott with splitter... fastball still is the best strikeout pitch.

I have really good luck with my RTTS SP's slider as a strikeout pitch, great swing & miss pitch. Although, for that matter, when I was using analog control with him, he didn't have much trouble striking anyone out period. I switched to classic to get a bit better representation of his skills and the K's have dropped. I think that's because I focused on movement over control, so he's got pretty good movement on everything, and my skill with analog was offsetting his control.

I have a lot of guys I'm running through now, but if I make another, I'd start a right handed SP with a big curve, just to see how it does.

**Geronimo22** · 06-24-2011, 03:27 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

It's always good to revisit this thread, lots of good stuff in here.

As I'm working on using classic pitching, and control is tougher, I need to continue to improve my pitching strategies to get the CPU out.

I'd like to talk about pitching with runners on base or in scoring position. In doing some research I read this tip which I think is pretty good.

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Anybody else have tips for different situations with runners on?

**Dogbarian** · 06-24-2011, 04:36 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

Originally posted by Geronimo22

I'd like to talk about pitching with runners on base or in scoring position. In doing some research I read this tip which I think is pretty good.

Anybody else have tips for different situations with runners on?

Well, in general, if you have runners on, keep the ball down. You won't give up as many HRs, and you'll increase the chance of getting GIDPs. Especially if you have a runner at 3B with less than outs, because you don't want to give up a fly ball. And, in a situation with a runner at 2B or 3B, you want to work inside pretty often, to make it harder for the batter to hit something to the right side and advance the runner.

On the other hand, in a bunt situation, you want high pitches, to make it harder to get the bunt down.

To be honest, I pretty much aim to keep the ball down all the time, so I don't change my approach a whole lot with runners on. I do try to concentrate a little harder.

And one thing I'm not good at - don't be afraid to pitch around/walk a dangerous hitter in favor of a better matchup, or to re-establish a force play. I don't think I do this well enough, it's better to give a walk than a hit, but even so, I prefer a ball in play over a walk, to give my fielders a shot at making the play.

**samboz19** · 06-30-2011, 12:15 PM

Re: Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

I found my new favorite strikeout pitch. Instead of using a changeup I have played around with the Fork Ball and to be honest it is money punching out a lot of batters. Right now I am running with a Running Fastball, Cutter, and Forkball with my RTTS player. What I particularly like is that once you get the timing down with the forkball it is downright nasty and nearly unhittable. You can place the pitch in the middle and just outside the zone and it will break back and catch the lower outside corner a large portion of the time getting a lot of batters caught being frozen and striking out looking. Additionally, the forkball seems to be much more effective with a side arm style delivery. I love the generic 13 pitching motion...lots of movement with this motion.

I should mention though that since the forkball is similar to the splitter you have to be careful with it...if you miss your timing and leave it up in the zone it will come to the plate flat and be crushed. However, once you get used to the movement of it you'll love it. It sometimes will dance like a knuckeball when breaking back into the zone, but with a vicious fall off the table break...when you get the forkball doing this you can be rest assured you will see many swings and misses.

Cheers!

Food For Thought - Pitching Strategies

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