first pitch meatballs....bug?

[Levesque7]

So here's a breakdown of CPU first strikes in an exhibition game vs Sabathia/Yankees.

All-Star Batting
CPU Control 4
CPU Consistency 3
CPU Strike Freq 2

While 65% is too high (and I helped out on a few pitches), it's not nearly as extreme as people are saying. "every pitch a meatball" and "sliders have no effect" just doesn't fly. And this was with one of the better pitchers in the MLB. I'd imagine with lesser pitchers the numbers would drop.

It was mentioned about 30 times now that it is the first pitch of an INNING or when a new pitcher comes in.

[orion523]

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

So here's a breakdown of CPU first strikes in an exhibition game vs Sabathia/Yankees.

All-Star Batting
CPU Control 4
CPU Consistency 3
CPU Strike Freq 2

While 65% is too high (and I helped out on a few pitches), it's not nearly as extreme as people are saying. "every pitch a meatball" and "sliders have no effect" just doesn't fly. And this was with one of the better pitchers in the MLB. I'd imagine with lesser pitchers the numbers would drop.

65% for Sabathia actually isn't high, last year he was at 63% which is close enough. Again in exhibition games overall I don't see an issue but I have seen it first pitch of an inning every single time, every time without fail using default sliders which IMO is the only way to test this.

[nemesis04]

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

It was mentioned about 30 times now that it is the first pitch of an INNING or when a new pitcher comes in.

So all this fuss over 6 or 7 pitches for a starter?

[orion523]

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

If you guys are gonna compare or run tests you should use the same settings such as All-Star/Default sliders

The only actual way to test is with default all-star settings which is pretty much middle of the road difficulty.

[Levesque7]

So all this fuss over 6 or 7 pitches for a starter?

The problem is that you know exactly when those pitches are coming. It leads to an extra 5 to 6 hits per game.

I have no problem with 6 or 7 meatballs on the first pitch. It's a bigger problem when you know exactly when they are coming.

[dkrause1971]

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

So all this fuss over 6 or 7 pitches for a starter?

It seems to be all first pitch of the innings, and the first pitch of a reliever but couldn't you say the same thing of the stutter issue or other issues? Are they important enough? And are we to the point of first saying its not happening to the just dismissing of it not being good enough? Say 10 pitches a game out of the average of 143 even is 7% of all pitches you would see.

[nemesis04]

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

It seems to be all first pitch of the innings, and the first pitch of a reliever but couldn't you say the same thing of the stutter issue or other issues?

Kind of apples and oranges, couple more hits in the game as opposed to not being able to play the game. I understand your point though.

[bobtrain]

The Show (other than the 2K basketball games) is as close to the real life thing as I've ever seen in a video game. My main focus on any video game is the gameplay itself and I have several gripes with all the games I play (including The Show) but I don't see anything that turns my experience into an arcade one. No one else has to feel that way, of course, as we all come with different perspectivs.

But just as you were a beat writer for the Gophers, I have several years of playing and coaching experience so we both feel we know what "real" is and then there is a picture of what we expect it to look like in a game.

I may very well see this first-pitch thing as an issue at some point, but I haven't experienced it yet. Nor have I seen any proof besides others saying they experience it. Even the spray chart wasn't significant in my opinion, but that is just my interpretation.

I feel a few are hell bent on making the case that there is no issue and ignoring facts such as typical major league batters see first pitch strikes 58% of the time. Let me present the facts to the jury. Playing RTTS on HOF. I'm using these CPU pitching sliders.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686254.022908.jpg

I decided to test the theory that the AI consistently throws strikes down the middle when you take pitches. So for 10 conservative games I decided to swing at the first pitch regardless of location. The following screen shots display my first pitch location for each at bat in those 10 games. Let me add that I bat 8th in the order. Batters in this position usually see the #2 and #3 pitches.

Game 1:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686541.124433.jpg

Game 2:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686556.709610.jpg

Game 3:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686571.154268.jpg

Game 4:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686585.471028.jpg

[bobtrain]

Game 5:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686662.711478.jpg

Game 6:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686676.990191.jpg

Game 7:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686689.988544.jpg

Game 8:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686707.269589.jpg

[bobtrain]

Game 9:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686725.592067.jpg

Game 10:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1362686740.030359.jpg

Please tell me again how this is realistic?

[Spaced Ace]

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

Regardless, I'm sure SCEA will take a look at it.

[Bobhead]

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

I feel a few are hell bent on making the case that there is no issue and ignoring facts such as typical major league batters see first pitch strikes 58% of the time. Let me present the facts to the jury. Playing RTTS on HOF. I'm using these CPU pitching sliders.

I decided to test the theory that the AI consistently throws strikes down the middle when you take pitches. So for 10 conservative games I decided to swing at the first pitch regardless of location. The following screen shots display my first pitch location for each at bat in those 10 games. Let me add that I bat 8th in the order. Batters in this position usually see the #2 and #3 pitches.

We aren't ignoring any facts. You're using custom sliders and an ill-advised experiment setup to draw your conclusions. THAT'S the problem with your findings, and really this entire thread.

The custom sliders you have will produce more meatballs than on default. That gives your entire set of data an incredible amount of bias that you are not accounting for.

On top of that, at least a third of the pitches highlighted aren't even "meatballs." Not every pitch in the zone is a meatball.

And on top of that you're playing RTTS, against a minor league team. Minor League pitchers are programmed to be more aggressive ("stupider" would be more accurate) to re-create the experience of actually facing minor league teams.

And yes, actual minor league pitchers do indeed throw more strikes than MLB pitchers do. Look it up. I'll edit the data into this post when I get the chance, but I have to go to the supermarket right now.

You want to prove something? Put all the pitching sliders back to default, enter an exhibition game against an MLB team, and seek to make the best contact possible on any pitch in the zone. Then show your "1st pitch" results after that.

Changing the "Result" to "Label Pitchtype" would help too, so we can see how many of those pitches are fastballs.

[Bat]

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

I noticed this too.. Bummer.

[jmik58]

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

@bobtrain...

I'm definitely alarmed at how many hittable strikes were thrown. I wouldn't say there is an abundance of meatballs (not saying that's your claim). But based on the ten game sample you provided, that's not realistic at all in terms of strikes (that are very hittable), in my opinion.

[bobtrain]

We aren't ignoring any facts. You're using custom sliders and an ill-advised experiment setup to draw your conclusions. THAT'S the problem with your findings, and really this entire thread.

The custom sliders you have will produce more meatballs than on default.

On top of that, half of the pitches highlighted aren't even "meatballs." Not every pitch in the zone is a meatball.

And on top of that you're playing RTTS, against a minor league team. Minor League pitchers are programmed to be more aggressive ("stupider" would be more accurate) to re-create the experience of actually facing minor league teams.

And yes, actual minor league pitchers do indeed throw more strikes than MLB pitchers do. Look it up. I'll edit the data into this post when I get the chance, but I have to go to the supermarket right now.

You want to prove something? Put all the pitching sliders back to default, enter an exhibition game against an MLB team, and seek to make the best contact possible on any pitch in the zone. Then show your "1st pitch" results after that.

Changing the "Result" to "Label Pitchtype" would help too, so we can see how many of those pitches are fastballs.

1. How are my sliders that far off from default?

2. Baseball metrics points out that batter will see first pitch strike 58% of time. Do you see first pitch strike being 58%.

3. Minor league pitchers have less command than Major Leaguers and thus have harder time locating strike zone. I've seen pitchers throw their #1 pitch and hit the dirt.

4. Going to exhibition ignores the fact that there is a problem in RTTS.

5. Changing it to pitch type is not valid argument. We're simply talking about the level of first pitches thrown for strike.