The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

[Troopershorty51]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

This is such a great thread and I could use some tips for sure....

1. When should you guard lines? The CPU seems to guard lines about half the time I hit it down the lines but I am clueless as to when to do this myself.

2. I often tend to give up runs the half-inning after I have just scored runs. I'm not going to attribute this to a "comeback code" because to be honest I have no idea if this is in the game, though it is most likely not, but that's besides the point. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm thinking it's because I get too comfortable on the mound and don't pitch as cautiously but I'd like to see what others have done to remedy this.

[Bobhead]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

This is such a great thread and I could use some tips for sure....

1. When should you guard lines? The CPU seems to guard lines about half the time I hit it down the lines but I am clueless as to when to do this myself.

2. I often tend to give up runs the half-inning after I have just scored runs. I'm not going to attribute this to a "comeback code" because to be honest I have no idea if this is in the game, though it is most likely not, but that's besides the point. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm thinking it's because I get too comfortable on the mound and don't pitch as cautiously but I'd like to see what others have done to remedy this.

I rarely guard the lines either. Only time I really do it is when I absolutely can't afford to give up a double. For example, when the tying or winning run is on 1st or 2nd base, and I'm in the opposing ballpark, in the 9th inning or later. You can also guard the lines on the first out of an inning, to avoid lead off doubles or triples, but I don't really do that.

As for shutdown innings, I have no idea if the game actually does something to the pitcher's confidence immediately after scoring a run. However, at the very least, I think the CPU is just programmed to be more aggressive at the plate once you've taken the lead. That means if you fall back into your old pitching pattern from the first few innings, you are likely to get into trouble.

I see it especially with the 1st pitch fastball. Don't do it. If you know it's an important inning, pitch like it is. Start the at-bat off with a changeup. Work the opposite side of the plate. Do something crazy, and don't be afraid to walk guys.

[Troopershorty51]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I know this whole argument was happening in another thread but that thread was locked and I feel as if I had to bring this up... I think the Mets/Nats game last night disproved any comeback code or timely errors discussion.

With a runner on 3rd in the top of the 10th Henry Rodriguez threw a wild pitch allowing the runner to score. Then the Mets, in the bottom of the 10th, had two errors by their shortstop, Valdespin, and a wild pitch which allowed the tying run to score. Then after scoring in the 12th to take the lead yet again, the Mets allowed a walk-off homerun to Bryce Harper.

Hey, that's baseball.

[JG1986]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

I know this whole argument was happening in another thread but that thread was locked and I feel as if I had to bring this up... I think the Mets/Nats game last night disproved any comeback code or timely errors discussion.

With a runner on 3rd in the top of the 10th Henry Rodriguez threw a wild pitch allowing the runner to score. Then the Mets, in the bottom of the 10th, had two errors by their shortstop, Valdespin, and a wild pitch which allowed the tying run to score. Then after scoring in the 12th to take the lead yet again, the Mets allowed a walk-off homerun to Bryce Harper.

Hey, that's baseball.

hahaha I was so pissed that the "This Doesn't Feel like Baseball" thread was locked because being a Mets fan and watching the game last night and following that thread, the VERY FIRST thing I thought of was that stupid thread regarding comeback code and "untimely" errors. I want everyone in favor of comeback code to watch the last several innings of that game, unless of course, Bud Selig programmed some type of comeback code for the Nats, which would make me look real foolish.

[Troopershorty51]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

hahaha I was so pissed that the "This Doesn't Feel like Baseball" thread was locked because being a Mets fan and watching the game last night and following that thread, the VERY FIRST thing I thought of was that stupid thread regarding comeback code and "untimely" errors. I want everyone in favor of comeback code to watch the last several innings of that game, unless of course, Bud Selig programmed some type of comeback code for the Nats, which would make me look real foolish.

Hahaha I know, I was watching the highlights on Quick Pitch and as soon as I saw the first Valdespin error I knew I had to post about it then it just got worse from there, but of course the thread had to get locked....

[HustlinOwl]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Just post those thoughts in this thread

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...ramblings.html

[wisdom less13]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

It was a walk-off single, not a home run. I like Harper, but he was the last guy I wanted at the plate in that situation. During the game, the announcers were talking about how Terry Collins refuses to play 'guard the lines'. That was one of the many reason the METS lost last night. Sloppy, but a damn good game of entertaining baseball. #LGM

[Troopershorty51]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

It was a walk-off single, not a home run. I like Harper, but he was the last guy I wanted at the plate in that situation. During the game, the announcers were talking about how Terry Collins refuses to play 'guard the lines'. That was one of the many reason the METS lost last night. Sloppy, but a damn good game of entertaining baseball. #LGM

Whoops my bad... I just saw "Harper wins it with walk-off" haha I just assumed homerun.

You know what they say when you assume things...

[JG1986]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Whoops my bad... I just saw "Harper wins it with walk-off" haha I just assumed homerun.

You know what they say when you assume things...

And I didn't want to be a d*ckhead and correct you, lol. Bases loaded walk off single with 2 outs (I believe). I would have been super pissed if it was a walk off grand slam though.

[HechticSooner]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Since we are talking about shifts I just want to bring up the way I do things. First off for those that don't know there is a way to have every position shift in whatever manner you would like. I'm a Joe Maddon type myself and play A LOT of shifts for different guys. So first time through the order I hit the select button first thing with each at bat. Look at the hitters tendencies and the bring up the up d pad screen and then go to the def positioning screen. At the first choice on that screen I set it to batter. He it then lets you change each position to wherever you want them to play. So let's say its a typical leadoff guy. A slap type hitter who hits more to left and right the center but like Reyes has good power. I'll shift my first baseman to guard the lines and my second baseman to play a slight shift to the right, then my SS will play to the left all of these guys playing normal depth. Then my 3b will play a guard the lines but will also go to a depth of 3rd base drag cover or at least halfway depending on the hitter. I know this gives away the up the middle shot but my pitchers responsibility at that point is to pitch to the low corners or in at the hands to make sure that a ball up the middle is really not possible.

The since the guy has some power I'll play the right and left fields back and toward center to cut down the power alleys as well as deep. Center will play straight up with normal depth so that if the straight up the middle shot does happen for whatever reason you got someone to make sure that what should be a single doesn't turn into a double.

So this is just a sample of what I do for one type of hitter, but everyone moves for a purpose and they are all moving based one what the hitter does. Now the first time through the order I set everyone up, since once they are the game will keep it that way every time the guys at the plate. But I am also not afraid to go back in and use the single batter def positioning to set up a more normal positioning for certain situations, or to even change the positioning like I normally would but in a different configuration because of situations that come up. Like say a man on base for Reyes second time through. I would then change the up the middle guys to at least play double play depth if not go all the way as to bring them back towards the middle of the field if I thought the situation warrented it. Like I said at the beginning though I play the game a lot like the "Mad Scientist" there are plenty of ways to play d and everyone is a little different, the main thing to takeaway from this is to think of you guy at the plate and where the best way to play him is right now in the situation you're facing and do it. Also that if you didn't know about the way to shift individual players was that might help a lot of you play d the way you want to play it, I know it took me 09 and midway through 10 to figure it out that I could do it that way, and then lookout my d improved to off the charts levels because of just that one not so little thing in the game. That's why I love this game the best translation of baseball video game wise that you actually get to play the guys (I think OOTP is probably the best video game translation overall but at times I wish I could play out the at bats at a more player based level then a manager one).

Sorry if I used the words situation or shift too much just could find other words that would still accomplice the baseball terminology any better.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

There are just too many factors in this game I believe to really get a feel for things. I think the biggest thing is having patience (not at the plate, but patience in general when playing several nine-inning games).

I've played several full games already and I'll admit I get really frustrated at times, but I'm only going to highlight my recent games.

So far in my current franchise I've played five games. My first two games I got blanked by both the Diamondbacks and Mets by a score of 2-0 and 1-0, respectively (With Cahill and C. Young both throwing complete game shutouts, incredibly frustrating games offensively). Both times the opposing team scored early and after getting things right with Casey Kelly on the mound and effectively using my bullpen, I just couldn't do anything against either pitcher.

In my third game, which was against the Nationals, I ended up jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead and managed to stave off a fourth inning rally triggered by an error (led to only one run). I proceeded to win that one 10-2 and not once did I have to sweat on the mound except in the fourth inning.

In my fourth game (against the Dodgers this time, with Clayton Kershaw going for them), I managed to get to quick early lead, but then Kershaw righted the ship immediately and shut down my offense for the rest of his nine-inning start. Kelly struggled through the third and fourth and I proceeded to have two errors in the game.

So that made is 3 out of 4 games where my inept offense cost me a chance at a win and in my recent game (Casey Kelly's fifth start of the year), both pitchers were dealing until the sixth inning. I ended up running into trouble after giving up a lead-off single and a walk, but I managed to get to two outs before Dan Uggla stepped to the plate with the two runners in scoring position. I battled but he ended up beating me at my own game (guessed right on a low pitch and he hit it for a double). There I went falling 2-0 to the Braves. Tommy Hanson was just rolling through my lineup and had a very low pitch count to begin the sixth inning (he was around 47, yes... you read that right). My team was hitting line drives all over the place but they were all finding gloves so it was looking like it was going to be like the first two games I played.

I led off the inning with Casey Kelly and opted to keep him in the game since as a former position player, he could hit a little bit and since it was the sixth I didn't want burn Denorfia or Guzman early to lead-off an inning against a guy who at the time appeared headed for an easy complete game shut-out. Fortunately, "luck" was on my side and Kelly ended up getting on second on two errors by the Braves (one by Pastornicky and the other by McCann, both throwing errors). I proceeded to pinch run him since I had already decided after the previous half inning that Kelly was done for the day since he began to struggle. Because of the leadoff error, I ended up having a five-run outburst and finished the game 5-2.

I've read some of the stuff in this thread and holding onto a lead is indeed tough, so I made sure that even though I had Brian Fuentes in the seventh that I had someone else warming up because relievers, despite how good they may be, can implode at any moment.

Sometimes you do everything right and lose like my first two games, working the count and keeping the opposing team from scoring. Then you do some things wrong (like fail to work the count against a very good pitcher) and end up winning. It's very easy to get frustrated in this game, but without that, games like the last one I had wouldn't be as satisfying.

[drsonoma]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Excellent post. This game can be so maddening, so frustrating & so rewarding. Patience is the key all the way around. And I don't have it .

I am finally better at hitting but that has only made the game harder as the CPU wants to respond in kind which means my pitching has seriously had to step it up. So nerve wracking but so GREAT when you make that perfect pitch to shutdown a rally.

My biggest frustration is when I take the right approach at the plate, work the count and finally have a mini break through in the middle innings (eg walk then single). Inevitably, I get anxious with the next batter & succumb to a 3 pitch strikeout followed by an inning ending double play. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[HustlinOwl]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

There are just too many factors in this game I believe to really get a feel for things. I think the biggest thing is having patience (not at the plate, but patience in general when playing several nine-inning games).

I've played several full games already and I'll admit I get really frustrated at times, but I'm only going to highlight my recent games.

So far in my current franchise I've played five games. My first two games I got blanked by both the Diamondbacks and Mets by a score of 2-0 and 1-0, respectively (With Cahill and C. Young both throwing complete game shutouts, incredibly frustrating games offensively). Both times the opposing team scored early and after getting things right with Casey Kelly on the mound and effectively using my bullpen, I just couldn't do anything against either pitcher.

In my third game, which was against the Nationals, I ended up jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead and managed to stave off a fourth inning rally triggered by an error (led to only one run). I proceeded to win that one 10-2 and not once did I have to sweat on the mound except in the fourth inning.

In my fourth game (against the Dodgers this time, with Clayton Kershaw going for them), I managed to get to quick early lead, but then Kershaw righted the ship immediately and shut down my offense for the rest of his nine-inning start. Kelly struggled through the third and fourth and I proceeded to have two errors in the game.

So that made is 3 out of 4 games where my inept offense cost me a chance at a win and in my recent game (Casey Kelly's fifth start of the year), both pitchers were dealing until the sixth inning. I ended up running into trouble after giving up a lead-off single and a walk, but I managed to get to two outs before Dan Uggla stepped to the plate with the two runners in scoring position. I battled but he ended up beating me at my own game (guessed right on a low pitch and he hit it for a double). There I went falling 2-0 to the Braves. Tommy Hanson was just rolling through my lineup and had a very low pitch count to begin the sixth inning (he was around 47, yes... you read that right). My team was hitting line drives all over the place but they were all finding gloves so it was looking like it was going to be like the first two games I played.

I led off the inning with Casey Kelly and opted to keep him in the game since as a former position player, he could hit a little bit and since it was the sixth I didn't want burn Denorfia or Guzman early to lead-off an inning against a guy who at the time appeared headed for an easy complete game shut-out. Fortunately, "luck" was on my side and Kelly ended up getting on second on two errors by the Braves (one by Pastornicky and the other by McCann, both throwing errors). I proceeded to pinch run him since I had already decided after the previous half inning that Kelly was done for the day since he began to struggle. Because of the leadoff error, I ended up having a five-run outburst and finished the game 5-2.

I've read some of the stuff in this thread and holding onto a lead is indeed tough, so I made sure that even though I had Brian Fuentes in the seventh that I had someone else warming up because relievers, despite how good they may be, can implode at any moment.

Sometimes you do everything right and lose like my first two games, working the count and keeping the opposing team from scoring. Then you do some things wrong (like fail to work the count against a very good pitcher) and end up winning. It's very easy to get frustrated in this game, but without that, games like the last one I had wouldn't be as satisfying.

Turn on the warm-up pitchers feature and get that one pitch confidence up by throwing strikes in those 8 warm-up pitches

[C_Bailey24]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Turn on the warm-up pitchers feature and get that one pitch confidence up by throwing strikes in those 8 warm-up pitches

Would you suggest that pitch be a breaking or off speed pitch since fastballs are easier? Also if a guy is having trouble throwing strikes in the warm up pitches is that a sign he's about to be wild and get shellacked lol

[HustlinOwl]

Re: The Difference Between Wins & Losses (Tips)

Would you suggest that pitch be a breaking or off speed pitch since fastballs are easier? Also if a guy is having trouble throwing strikes in the warm up pitches is that a sign he's about to be wild and get shellacked lol

I use Pulse Pitching, so I like to work on the breaking balls and get a feel for their movement. Also kind of depends in a ground ball double play situation then yes work the breaking balls or slider to induce that needed ground ball