The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I'm 11 games into my Pulse-chise with NYY, and man...

I need some crash course refreshers.

In 10 of my games, I have allowed multiple runs in one inning.

7 of these innings were either the 5th or 6th.

I have only 4 QS.

I have allowed 11 unearned runs.

Kevin Youkilis and B. Boesch probably shouldn't be playing the hot corners for me.

It seems like lately, even if I'm rolling, all Hell begins to break loose. Generally in the 5th. Calls that don't go my way, errors (big one), lead off walks, lead off singles, etc. Then I start pressing and we all know how that turns out. I need some strategy on how to approach things, especially the third time through the order. Can anyone link me to the thread about "How to Avoid the Big Inning?" that was started quite a ways back? (I think that's what it's called. I did a search and could not find it). Or any of the other classic threads posted on here throughout the years?

If not, do you guys have any 5th and 6th inning strategies that have been working for you?

I know my Yankees aren't rated very well so I need to make sure I'm playing sound baseball to succeed with them. I'm not complaining, by the way. I know it's me. I think I just need to start approaching the CPU differently when they begin to get more looks at my starter.

[statdude]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I just wanted to add in here that I've given up the idea of a closer for my team, I'll use my best, whether its the closer or not, in the toughest situations. So, Bentacourt will come in sometimes in the ninth or in the eigth if the best of their lineup is coming up then. I know you may be reluctant to do it since you have Mo, but it might be a good way to mix things up and get those crucial outs

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I just wanted to add in here that I've given up the idea of a closer for my team, I'll use my best, whether its the closer or not, in the toughest situations. So, Bentacourt will come in sometimes in the ninth or in the eigth if the best of their lineup is coming up then. I know you may be reluctant to do it since you have Mo, but it might be a good way to mix things up and get those crucial outs

Considering I just blew a 3 run lead and a save thanks to two more infield errors in the 9th, I may just call on Chamberlain to see if he can turn my luck around next time out.

That, and trade for/call up a 3B/SS that excels in the fielding department.

Honestly, closer by committee isn't a bad idea for a lot of guys. I have Kimbrel in my Braves Franchise, so he doesn't need a replacement. But Mariano can be iffy in this game sometimes because of the lack of velocity variation.

[HustlinOwl]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Considering I just blew a 3 run lead and a save thanks to two more infield errors in the 9th, I may just call on Chamberlain to see if he can turn my luck around next time out.

That, and trade for/call up a 3B/SS that excels in the fielding department.

Honestly, closer by committee isn't a bad idea for a lot of guys. I have Kimbrel in my Braves Franchise, so he doesn't need a replacement. But Mariano can be iffy in this game sometimes because of the lack of velocity variation.

I know in later innings I like to sub in Jack Hannahan for Frazier at 3B for defensive purposes and take Ludwick out of LF

[stealyerface]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I will tell you what has worked wonders for me, and honestly, it is exciting that such important prep work that goes on in the real game pays the same dividends in this game as well.

Get a piece of paper, and allow yourself to take a look at the batter's scouting report the first time he comes to the plate. Write down the lineup, and for each player on the other team, write down his scouting report, so it might look like this:

Robinson Cano- P-XP, Pwr, 1,5,7

So, what this means is that Cano is a Pull to X-treme pull hitter, hits for pwr (based on his stats) and his Cold Zones are 1,5,7 (when using the 1-9 3x3 cube method. I play the game with no pitching indicators, nothing at all on the screen, so I have to memorize what repetoire my pitcher has, and I have no idea on his confidence in his pitches, other than what I know is working for me at the time.

What this does is force you to move the defense to the best positioning based on the batter at the plate. Let me repeat this. MOVE YOUR DEFENSE. There is nothing more rewarding that playing a double-play depth defense, and sliding the infield over to a pull defense, and having their big hitter rip it right at the well-placed SS for the 6-4-3 inning ender.

Write down the scouting report for each batter in the lineup, so you can take a quick glance at the sheet, and decide where you need to drop that strikeout pitch when the pressure is on. Utilizing this info, you will be amazed at how many more plays become routine, and more importantly how many less pitches your pitcher is forced to throw when you position the defense to his strengths and weaknesses.

The sheet comes in handy for a series, but remember to check the hot/cold ratings if you throw a left hander during the series. The hot/cold will change for the pitcher's handedness that the batter is facing.

You may wonder why the defense makes such a big difference, but think about the fact that if you save an extra at bat per inning by playing your defense correctly, and an average at bat has a pitch count of five pitches, by the 6th inning, you have saved your pitcher30 pitches+- That will pay dividends as the game progresses, and will keep your starter from unraveling, and thereby taxing your bullpen early.

S..l..o..w... down, and pay attention to your gameplan, move the defense, play the numbers, and don't get beaten by being lazy. The first time you move the outfielders back and play deep on a light hitting second baseman, but realize that you cannot give up any extra bases late in the game, and you camp under a ball hit to the wall as opposed to chasing it around in the corner for a double, you'll get the importance of the baseball strategy.

Utilize it, believe in it, and win.

~syf

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Stealyerface,

Thanks for the detailed advice! I like it!

Except, I generally play this game with as little human input as possible. I actually am not fond of the idea of being able to shift my defense at will, while the CPU cannot.

I think you're right about it being due to my pitching approach. By the fifth inning, the hitters have a pretty good idea about my patterns (I generally follow the API). Now, considering this is also when fatigue generally begins to impact my location, I'm giving up a lot of hard hit balls (and/or walks) in these situations, which only compounds the issue because of the hit to my Confidence.

Hard hit balls are also much much more prone to being misplayed.

After two more games of 5th inning error-fests, I think I need to start calling my own game from 70 pitches forward. Or at the very least, take the API suggestions as just that, a suggestion.

While on the subject, I've gotta say I love the performance variation in fielders this year. Jayson Nix is an absolute hazard (so much so that I may need to reconsider his place on my roster) and Youkilis has a pretty slow first step. However, Nunez is solid defensively but has an awful and inaccurate arm while Cano is basically the only one that's excellent in every way.

Even routine groundballs make me nervous now, which I kinda like.

[stealyerface]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Heroes...

I wonder about the fact that some people do not see the defense shirt for their hitters, but I definitely see the other team Extreme Shift for Ortiz, and play deep in the outfield when Naploi comes to the plate.

I also see the third baseman creep in when Ells or Ciraico is at the plate, so I do not feel like I am cheating the CPU by positioning my defense based on stats.

You are correct with the perf variation for fielders this year. Absolutely!! I have Jackie Bradley Jr. up on my big club still, but he cannot hit a lick. I have him there for his left field speed, and he has definitely saved me enough runs to look past his meager offerings at the dish.

I have no API on at all, just the catcher asking for his suggestions, but I pitch to the cyber hitters like I would in real life, and find sometimes the catcher calls for a pitch that ought never be thrown in that situation...

Just pay attention to the hitters, mix it up, and do not be afraid to throw pitches out of the zone.

There is a big difference between a waste pitch and a wasted pitch.

Use pitches to set up the one two pitches from now, and you will start to see some nice results.
~syf

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Stealyerface,

I really like, and have always liked, your perspective on the game. And I appreciate you coming in this thread to assist me. Your pitching advice is fantastic.

I guess what I meant to say was that I Auto Field. So I'm on a level playing field with the CPU. We both shift and change our depth based o the current situational programming. My personal preference is that going beyond this is unfair to the CPU because they don't have the same luxury to micromanage their fielders.

If you think of anything else, please be sure to share. Especially if that idea is related to a realistic and suitable back up to Eduardo Nunez. Jayson Nix is single handedly costing me games. Which is both fun and stressful all in one error creating package.

Thanks again. I will keep these pitching approaches in mind later on tonight.

[stealyerface]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Heroes,

Which Pitching Mechanic is your weapon of choice?

I am an Analog guy, and can help you with the actual execution of the pitches, but the pitch selection is where you really have to use the visual clues, and the feedback the game gives you, which I feel gives you some clues, and some logic-based formulas to utilize.

Here are a couple things to try tonight, and I will be looking forward to seeing how, and if, it helped you win some more games.

- Nibbling at the corners is great, but even a .210 hitter will start to recognize that you start off every hitter with something straight on the outside edge. Learn to mix up that first pitch selection, and do not get lulled into the same offering for the first pitch of the at bat. Don't think for one second that Cyber Dustin Pedroia does not walk back to the dugout and tell the next guy up you are throwing first pitch fastballs. *Whispers* I think they know....

Change speeds. Not just between pitch types, but between pitches themselves. If you are using analog, throw a fastball with fast motion on the stick at 93mph, then go easy with one at 89mph. Changing speeds on the same pitch works.

Use the feedback from the cpu hitters. If you throw a fastball at Josh Hamilton, who yanks the 95mph fastball thirty rows foul becuase he was so far out in front of it, well guess who is getting a change up the next pitch? If Granderson flails at a Curveball, and throws his bat into the stands because he is so off balance, guess who just put that in the memory bank for that 1-2 out pitch I need to get him out in a tough spot?

Work it in, then out, then a little farther out, then in under the hands... change the plane. Change the eye level. Stuff that works in real life will work in this game....

Throw a ball on purpose. Not one that is four feet outside, but maybe a foot outside. If you see the batter flinch, or make a quick 1/4 swing at the ball, that is a clue the game has given you, that the batter was looking to protect the plate, but is not opposed to expanding the zone. Use this information to set him up. He flinched at the 1-2 slider, so go up and in with the hard stuff, then come right back with the slider if he didn't bite on the straight pitch. I am under the impression that the animations in the game, with regards to check swings, half-swings, fouls tips, "swinging a garden hose up there" are not just random. I see them as a clue you need to decipher, and when I pitched in real life, how a guy reacted to every pitch was a piece of the puzzle for the rest of the at bat. This game does not have the human side of cat/mouse game down pat, but it is close. I could tell from my first pitch to a guy if he was afraid of being hit, or if he bailed out of the curveballs too early, by his front shoulder flinching. That set the stage for the rest of the game, and you can kind of do the same thing here, you just need to see the clues.

So now you are moving the pitches in and out, changing speeds, and mixing up the planes, and doing a nice job of keeping the hitters off balance... Now how do you drop the hammer on the other team?

Make ALL of your warm up pitches count. That means make them all strikes. Do NOT worry about location of the warm ups. You get NOTHING and like it for making a corner dotting fitch-ridden sinkerball land an inch outside the strike zone. Save it for the hitter, and make every pitch you warm up with hit the strikezone. The confidence goes up with each pitch, and you will see the batters miss more pitches, and you'll have better luck than if you throw balls or, god forbid, Back-Button through the warmups and not throw them. Throw them all, and make them strikes. This goes for the starter too.

If a pitch is not working, and the confidence meter is gone... don't throw it. Just don't. Some days I had a splitter that was to die for, and other days I could not make it move. Atmospheric phenomena, temperature, humidity, finger pain, hangover... whatever it was, there were days that pitch needed to go in the holster and not come out. And just when you thought it ought to, some guy hit it 500 feet. Some day I will tell you my Jeff Bagwell story. That guy hit balls very far.

So, in summation, pitch smart, pitch with confidence, and win some games!!

~syf

[HechticSooner]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I can not agree more with scars post, and I wonder the same about shifts. Now I don't see the infield shift as much as I play it, but I'm also a manager more in the vein of Joe "the mad scientist" Maddon. I see the outfield shade my guys all the time though. Not as much the corners but the CFer all the time. And to be honest this is how most MLB managers do it. But know heavy pullers get the over shift by the CPU all the time, Howard, Ortiz, these guys. Play the shifts they are there for a reason.

As far as the third time through this is most definitely the time where and extreme focus on your pitching must happen. Hitters are programmers to be more on your guy cause IRL they are. The pitcher no longer holds any advantage at this point in most games. Hitters know where your guys release point is, know what your pitches all look like, and normally you have very little surprises. This is where you must manufacture surprise.

This is how I try to manufacture surprises, as I call it. First before I say all this know that these things aren't always going to work and know when to go back to what has worked sometimes a see if that works too. Anyway here's how I always start the third time through. I start guys with pitches that I know I can get over for a strike but prefer a pitch that I've never started them off with. In a lot of situations that tends to be a curveball or a slider. Make a solid pitch but do it where its about a strike that's more important than making sure that its not fat. The CPU does get more aggressive third time but usually not against a non-usual pitch first pitch.

So if that's a strike this is where I'll usually go with a kool-a-like pitch, both location and speed. So curveballs if you have a straight change or maybe even a splitter, and start it at the same spot I started the curve or there abouts. If a slider then I want something with so pace a cutter is preferred but I'll go with a straight one too. With these the most important thing here is location. Try to paint the corners missing isn't a huge problem here as you'll get your fair share of swings even out of the zone as long as you make it look good.

Here we'll start as if you're looking at a 0-2 count. If that's the case this where I say **** the Bull****. No waste pitches coming from me here. This is usually where you're starting too watch your pitch count anyway so go get them cowboy. This where I like to go with something that looks and starts the same but finishes the opposite of the others have RFBs, 2seamers, circles, you know what I mean here. This one is where if I control effort its all in. Painting your spots cool but movement is more important at this stage, but I want to restate that don't just throw it up there you want them thinking and believing that you're going after then NOW.

Usually after that second pitch you aren't always starting at the 0-2 and looking to get them with the k you're now looking 1-1 and wishing that second pitch better than it was. Oh well don't let up. Move to making location pitches now. Stuff where you get the POP flys and groundouts and focus. These are you most important pitches all game. If you miss prefer out of the zone to in the zone you have some pitches to use.

3-2 if you get here stay with your best fb and best breaker and work back and forth up down fast slow and yes this does means the same pitch same spot.

[HechticSooner]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I need to hear that Bagg's story I love the killer B's in Baggs and Biggio


Edit: Berkman can go **** himself though BTW. Nothing really against the guy other than he donned the pinstripes and tends to launch them against me in every key ab...****er

[DaBull_33]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

One tip I've seen mentioned time and time again in this thread is: slow down! Don't let the game get away from you and don't get overwhelmed.

One thing I've found that works for me, and it's just a minor thing, is to hit X prior to the pitchers windup. This causes my hitter to take a practice swing or two in the box. IRL, hitters do this to stay loose prior to the pitch. In The Show, it sort of works the same way for me.

I don't know if it's a Pavlovian response, or if there's any merit to it, but that extra second sort of forces me to relax a little and focus on the next pitch. And, I do it from the start of the game, until the final out. It has become a habit for me, and if I don't it feels like something is missing.

Like I said, it's a stupid little thing, and it probably means nothing, but if you're looking for a way to slow the game down a little, it seems to help me. Also, like some other people have said, when things get a bit hectic, don't start skipping through the cutscenes to speed things up. Use those animations as a moment to gather your thoughts, take a deep breath, and relax a little. And, don't be afraid to call for time while in the batter's box. This is something I just started utilizing late in games when I'm behind, to keep me from pressing as much when I'm trying to score some runs.

Again, it may not have an effect on the actual gameplay, but it might offer the mental break you need to get back in the box and do what needs to be done.

I've been loving this thread! Keep the great info rollin' in!

And good luck gentleman!

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Thanks for all the excellent responses everyone. I think I'll leave my browser open and implement some of this advice while I'm playing.

Stealyerface, I have a Pulse Franchise and a Classic Franchise going.

So last night, in my Pulse-chise, I pitched an absolute beauty. Throwing my first combined (5 hit) shutout of the season.

Primarily, I did these things:

1. I made sure to establish my confidence early. Trying to get ahead in the first inning.
2. After this, I made sure to vary my strike to ball ratios in various situations, intentionally trying to throw balls in situations I had previously thrown strikes in (and vice versa).
3. I paid close attention to the CPU swing timing, adjusting my approach if they were early/late, taking/hacking, etc.
4. I successfully got out of a jam by doing an extreme shift in one specific situation (where the hitter had an extreme pull spray chart, but the game didn't adjust it for me automatically). And it felt awesome!
5. I worked CPU cold zones more often than usual.
6. I made sure to refer to the Pitcher Analysis Screen in 2 strike counts, making sure I wasn't always throwing the same pitches in the same places.
7. I used the curve to set up the 4FB and/or change up, especially if I wanted to use the changeup as an out pitch when it's confidence was low.
8. I made sure to pull Phil Hughes when it appeared he was starting to get tired.
9. When my first RP gave up two hits, I immediately pulled him (I made sure to have 2 RP's loose at all times after the 5th inning).
10. More often than not, I completely avoided my low confidence pitches against good hitters and pressure situations, even when the API called for it.
11. I built up the confidence on my low confidence pitches against weak hitters only, knowing I'd need them as the game went on.

It was an excellent excellent game and I really felt that I had earned every bit of its outcome. Very rewarding!

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I'd love to hear Stealyerface's story too...

[G3no_11]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

One thing I've found that works for me, and it's just a minor thing, is to hit X prior to the pitchers windup. This causes my hitter to take a practice swing or two in the box. IRL, hitters do this to stay loose prior to the pitch. In The Show, it sort of works the same way for me.

I don't know if it's a Pavlovian response, or if there's any merit to it, but that extra second sort of forces me to relax a little and focus on the next pitch. And, I do it from the start of the game, until the final out. It has become a habit for me, and if I don't it feels like something is missing.

This is exactly what I do as well. I am currently only playing RTTS. I usually start my 'chise after the trade deadline, but I am an avid practice swinger. It's part of a routine I developed and allows me to get a better feel for when the pitch is coming.
It seems like the more anxious you are for that pitch to come, or the inning to end, is when you start rushing everything. Swinging at bad pitches, making bad pitches, ect.