The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

[C_Bailey24]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I'm happy to see you guys asking such smart questions and making such poignant observations after your franchise tales.

Let's just continue to keep it like that. Otherwise, the mods may refer us to the franchise progress thread.

Kentucky Gentleman, great question. There are definitely days where relievers seem doomed from pitch number one. That's why I always have two of them going, incase one of them gets smacked around.

Sometimes, it seems as if the CPU is just unbeatable (not so unlike real life). Maybe someone can chime in on how to go about combating this? But, first, the indicators:

1. The CPU will begin getting super aggressive early in the count - whether or not it's a pitch/location they've seen before.

2. The CPU's batters eye will narrow itself. They'll begin to suddenly be able take punch out pitches just centimeters off the black. If it ain't a strike...or if it's not THEIR strike...they'll take it when behind in the count (sort of a reverse of the above).

3. The CPU stops swinging and missing. Nothing you hurl at them fools them. NOTHING.

4. (I hate to say this one) The strike zone narrows. Let's please not belabor this one, as I'd like to keep this thread open...but, the umpires will go from one of those close friends that you'd invite to a party, to the guy that you just let go to voicemail. And MAYBE, you'll call him back if you're having a good day.

How do you guys handle these situations?

Pitch history helps, but...what do the rest of you do? One things for sure; if you want to win in this series, these are the moments that matter.

As Bill Burr would say i just plow ahead in these situations. I try not to over-think it. Not saying you guys do, or if you do that it's a bad approach but i usually just wing it lol But like u said pitch history and formulating a strategy for each batter is the best place to start.

[wisdom less13]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

As Bill Burr would say i just plow ahead in these situations. I try not to over-think it. Not saying you guys do, or if you do that it's a bad approach but i usually just wing it lol But like u said pitch history and formulating a strategy for each batter is the best place to start.

That's exactly it. You got to have a strategy for a guy. I find with that, and defensive positioning work well. I tend to check to see how early, late, or on time they are with their swings helps with what they're looking for. Winging it is fun sometimes as well haha

[BeatArmy]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I decided to start a Nationals franchise, and my first game was rough.

Got beat 10-2. Surprisingly I was winning 2-1 through 5 innings. In the top of the 5th however I drew a leadoff walk with Adam LaRoche, then did a hit and run with Danny Espinosa, and executed perfectly. LaRoche being the slow **** that he is got thrown out at third though.

Tim Hudson then proceeded to pick off Dany Espinosa, and then struck out Pudge. Needless to say it was HUGE buzzkill. Strasburg was dominating though with 10 K's through 5. However a leadoff walk doomed me. I proceeded to bring in Todd Coffey who was awful and wound up giving up a grandslam to Freddy Freeman.

The rest of the game was just ugly and finished with a 10-2 score unfortunately.

Are there some games where your reliever just DOESNT have it? As it seemed Coffey didn't. Granted it was just opening day but man it was brutal.

Yup, happens often. Especially if you've got someone who's really overplaying his attributes. I had Micah Owings (who I love in the NL!) at about a 2 ERA who then proceeded to get lit up for about two weeks solid putting it over 4. Sometimes he's my saviour in extra innings, sometimes he's the reason why I throw the controller.

[letsgopens66]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I hate to take this thread in another direction, but my problem is early inning hitting. I understand that I need to be patient, but I can't for the life of me hit with two strikes.

For example, in a game against the Cubs:

Bottom of the first

McCutchens works the count to 3-2, strikes out
Walker works the count to 2-2, flies out to third
Doumit, 2-2 count, strike out.

And by this point, Zambrano already has a decent bit of confident and the likes of Tabata, Cedeno, and Alvarez are no match for a confident Zambrano in the following innings.

By the end of the game I'll have struck out 11 times, have only 4 hits, and maybe have scratched across 1-2 runs.

Does anyone here have 2 strike hitting advice? I feel like if I could become a better two strike hitter and get more hits/walks out of these counts I will be more prepared for the following innings

[VonD]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Do you use the contact swing with two strikes?

[letsgopens66]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I do on 0-2 and 1-2, sometimes on 2-2, and only with poor hitters on 3-2.

[BeatArmy]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

In any pitcher's count (0-2, 1-2, even 2-2 against the nasty ones), use contact. Those sound like sweet ABs that just didn't work out properly. No biggie, just keep grinding.

Just because you got your Aces cracked doesn't mean you don't keep raising pre-flop.

[wisdom less13]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I used to be terrible with two strikes, but you gotta figure that they mostly nibble on the corners. I just faced Halladay and he pounds the strike zone. I got caught looking on a few that he got a call on. I use contact swing for the most part except with my guys with pop (Beltran, Ike, Wright) although David has a small PCI, I generally stay with normal swing. Like dude said before me, just grind. You'll pull through eventually. Just watch the confidence in their pitches since they seem to go with ones they have high confidence in.

[C_Bailey24]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Just watch the confidence in their pitches since they seem to go with ones they have high confidence in.

Great advice. This has slowly helped be become a little better when the count is against me. They will cross you up occasionally but they usually work their two most confident pitches off of each other.

[wisdom less13]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Yeah, they def will throw a "curveball" at you so to speak. But they generally throw the pitch that has been getting you out/you can't hit. Took me a while to realize, but now I kinda expect it.

[VonD]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

On another note, I always bring the infield in if there is a runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs. CPU usually runs on contact.

I also never pitch inside to RH hitters at Minute Maid; know your park dimensions and locate your pitches accordingly.

With weaker hitters, I like to influence ground ball in conjunction with the power swing on hitters' counts. Produces line drives and hard-hit grounders.

[wisdom less13]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I keep forgetting to bring my infield in late in close games. I do shift my defense around al the time though.

[C_Bailey24]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Ok everyone seems to be giving tips/discussing late game strategies. What about the early innings? The difference between wins and losses for ME is innings 1-5. It's like if i don't put together a couple of good scoring innings early (which rarely happens) i'm pretty much done for. How do you get to these pitchers early and get some runs on the board? I've got to crack the code this is driving me nuts lol This is the only game ever where i lose a lot and just keep coming back for more punishment.

[VonD]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Ok everyone seems to be giving tips/discussing late game strategies. What about the early innings? The difference between wins and losses for ME is innings 1-5. It's like if i don't put together a couple of good scoring innings early (which rarely happens) i'm pretty much done for. How do you get to these pitchers early and get some runs on the board? I've got to crack the code this is driving me nuts lol This is the only game ever where i lose a lot and just keep coming back for more punishment.

Best thing to do is take pitches early. If you're trying to jump on a guy in the 1st, you're taking a pretty big risk. You will reap the benefit of long ABs in the later innings.

[wisdom less13]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Take pitches early, but if the guy tries to lay one in there jump on it. You can't let their confidence get out of hand. Just work counts, and try and hit a pitch that's up in the zone. I tend to let low pitches go. I have no problem striking out looking.