first pitch meatballs....bug?

**ParisB** · 03-07-2013, 12:19 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

I tried another game at Default All-star. I was Nationals playing at Rockies facing Chacin. At the end of the game, I checked the pitcher analysis and filtered to check "first pitch" and "early count" strikes. They were 88% and 77% respectively. I played normally, and even started hacking. The CPU never caught on and kept chucking them in there on the first pitch of each AB.

Relievers were even worse, almost exclusively straight down the middle (whereas the starter would once in a while throw a corner strike, but strike nonetheless).

I then played the exact same teams and pitcher, but changed sliders as below (I posted earlier but they went unnoticed):

Control - 5
Consistency - 3
Strike Freq - 0

First pitch strikes dropped to 58%, and early count was at 62%. Looked promising to say the least. I'll play a couple more games as this was just a single game.

**bobtrain** · 03-07-2013, 12:20 AM

Originally posted by nomo17k

I'm just trying to help out by giving out (what I believe is) reliable information, so that we (or even the devs) don't waste time on what could be non-issue. What I wrote earlier is something that could be found in past posts from the forum, and also something I heard/ask from/to the dev team at the CD event.

So do you need videos and screenshots posted here to help prove to the devs that this is an issue?

**ParisB** · 03-07-2013, 12:23 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

I took a couple screenshots of the 2 games mentioned above. The wife has claim to the TV right now so I can't use the PS3 until later, lol.

**Bobhead** · 03-07-2013, 12:28 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

Honestly, this thread has confirmation bias written all over it.

**nomo17k** · 03-07-2013, 12:28 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

Originally posted by bobtrain

So do you need videos and screenshots posted here to help prove to the devs that this is an issue?

I'm just saying in RTTS, AA and AAA are *designed* to be easier, and the game is doing so by lowering the difficulty level for human player. That's what I have been saying. And as everyone who has been playing the game on Rookie/Veteran, CPU pitchers throw more strikes down there (even though it's actually only a couple % more, if you are actually a patient hitter...).

Now, I have no idea how this discussion has expanded to regular gameplay....

**BoNity** · 03-07-2013, 12:42 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

just to chime in, Im doing a Franchise not RTTS and the first pitch of every single inning is a fastball (or the pitchers main pitch), right down the center (or very near it) really frustrating. ive counted 18 straight innings of it.

I was wondering why i had twice as many HR's than any other club. With the Mariners! lol
thought i figured out how to hit for a second there.

**tvman** · 03-07-2013, 12:43 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

Kinda sounds like Beginner mode is stuck in the ON position.

**AUTiger1** · 03-07-2013, 12:47 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

Ok. I have some info from my franchise game. I have CPU Pitcher Control, CPU Pitcher Consistency and CPU Strike Frequency all at zero on my sliders. Note I took the first pitch every at-bat because that's normally how I play the game. It allows me to get a more realistic pitch count on the opposing pitcher.

Doug Fister was the opposing pitcher. Here's his pitching line.
5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO - Realistic

Pitches - 89
Strikes - 56
Balls - 33

2SFB - 57 pitches (65% strikes)
4SFB - 10 pitches (70% strikes)
Slider - 11 pitches (45% strikes)
Curve - 6 pitches (33% strikes)
Changeup - 5 pitches (100% strikes)
TOTALS - 89 pitches (63% strikes)

To me that's a realistic pitch count and pitching line but I don't think it's a realistic breakdown of pitches. I think pitchers use their secondary pitches more than that.

Now on to each batter's first pitch. Batter's name, pitch, ball/strike, box location.

1. Grady Sizemore - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Middle
2. Tim Bliss - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Bottom
3. Joe Mauer - Change-Up - Strike - Outside Middle
4. Josh Willingham - Curveball - Ball - Inside Low
5. Justin Morneau - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside High
6. Jim Thome - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Middle High
7. Ryan Doumit - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Bottom
8. Juan Francisco - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Middle
9. Tyler Pastornicky - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - Outside Low
10. Grady Sizemore - Slider - Ball - Inside Low
11. Tim Bliss - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Middle Middle
12. Joe Mauer - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Outside Low
13. Josh Willingham - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Outside Middle
14. Justin Morneau - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - Low Middle
15. Jim Thome - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Middle
16. Ryan Doumit - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - In The Dirt
17. Juan Francisco - Curveball - Ball - Outside Low
18. Tyler Pastornicky - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Middle High
19. Grady Sizemore - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - In The Dirt
20. Tim Bliss - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Middle Low
21. Joe Mauer - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - Inside Middle
22. Josh Willingham - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - Inside Low

That's 22 batters faced and 13 first pitch strikes. So pretty realistic. So apparently the problem wasn't as big as I made it out to be after charting the info. At least not in franchise mode.

**BoNity** · 03-07-2013, 12:57 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

Originally posted by AUTiger1

Ok. I have some info from my franchise game. I have CPU Pitcher Control, CPU Pitcher Consistency and CPU Strike Frequency all at zero on my sliders. Note I took the first pitch every at-bat because that's normally how I play the game. It allows me to get a more realistic pitch count on the opposing pitcher.

Doug Fister was the opposing pitcher. Here's his pitching line.
5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO - Realistic

Pitches - 89
Strikes - 56
Balls - 33

2SFB - 57 pitches (65% strikes)
4SFB - 10 pitches (70% strikes)
Slider - 11 pitches (45% strikes)
Curve - 6 pitches (33% strikes)
Changeup - 5 pitches (100% strikes)
TOTALS - 89 pitches (63% strikes)

To me that's a realistic pitch count and pitching line but I don't think it's a realistic breakdown of pitches. I think pitchers use their secondary pitches more than that.

Now on to each batter's first pitch. Batter's name, pitch, ball/strike, box location.

1. Grady Sizemore - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Middle
2. Tim Bliss - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Bottom
3. Joe Mauer - Change-Up - Strike - Outside Middle
4. Josh Willingham - Curveball - Ball - Inside Low
5. Justin Morneau - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside High
6. Jim Thome - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Middle High
7. Ryan Doumit - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Bottom
8. Juan Francisco - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Middle
9. Tyler Pastornicky - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - Outside Low
10. Grady Sizemore - Slider - Ball - Inside Low
11. Tim Bliss - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Middle Middle
12. Joe Mauer - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Outside Low
13. Josh Willingham - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Outside Middle
14. Justin Morneau - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - Low Middle
15. Jim Thome - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Inside Middle
16. Ryan Doumit - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - In The Dirt
17. Juan Francisco - Curveball - Ball - Outside Low
18. Tyler Pastornicky - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Middle High
19. Grady Sizemore - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - In The Dirt
20. Tim Bliss - 2-Seam Fastball - Strike - Middle Low
21. Joe Mauer - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - Inside Middle
22. Josh Willingham - 2-Seam Fastball - Ball - Inside Low

That's 22 batters faced and 13 first pitch strikes. So pretty realistic. So apparently the problem wasn't as big as I made it out to be after charting the info. At least not in franchise mode.

how many strikes did they throw on the first pitch of the inning? I think thats the issue in Exhabition and Franchise

**AUTiger1** · 03-07-2013, 01:02 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

Originally posted by BoNity

how many strikes did they throw on the first pitch of the inning? I think thats the issue in Exhabition and Franchise

I don't know. But pretty sure that not everyone was a strike.

**bobtrain** · 03-07-2013, 01:16 AM

Originally posted by nomo17k

I'm just saying in RTTS, AA and AAA are *designed* to be easier, and the game is doing so by lowering the difficulty level for human player. That's what I have been saying. And as everyone who has been playing the game on Rookie/Veteran, CPU pitchers throw more strikes down there (even though it's actually only a couple % more, if you are actually a patient hitter...).

Now, I have no idea how this discussion has expanded to regular gameplay....

That's fine, but what about us on the high difficulties? We should still expect simulation. That's all I'm saying. I respect the crowd who said hitting was too hard but higher difficulty should be realistic. I'd hope we can appease both parties.

**BoNity** · 03-07-2013, 01:17 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

Originally posted by AUTiger1

I don't know. But pretty sure that not everyone was a strike.

hmm, just tried with the sliders at 0,0,0 and am still getting a strike on the first pitch of the inning 100% of the time. 1 was a ball but they called it a strike lol

**Majingir** · 03-07-2013, 01:24 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

I have similar thing. Doesn't always happens, but seems to happen more than it should. Almost like CPU intentionally does that in order to lower their pitch count. Which is why I hate swinging at 1st pitch(cause that's 2-3 less pitches per batter than I should be doing), but hate it more when I don't swing at 1st pitch which is like perfect location for my hitter to hit.

**Smokin Turkeys** · 03-07-2013, 01:31 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

In my opinion this is a RTTS game-breaking bug. On All-Star, about a week into the season I was hitting .500 with 4-5 home runs. It hit me that something wasn't right. After the second week I was hitting .547 with 9 homers. I realized that the first pitch of every single RTTS at-bat was the pitchers #1 pitch, in the middle 1/3 of the plate. Since then it has been like clockwork. The first pitch of every at-bat is a fastball (or whatever the pitchers #1 pitch is) in the middle 1/3 and is a meatball. This isn't a get ahead in the count type of pitch, its almost a BP type pitch.

From what I've read about it happening in the first pitch of the game, inning, or after a pitching change, it seems fairly likely to me that this is a bug. Likely, because of the simulation of RTTS, each time your batter steps in this bug triggers because it is like the first pitch of the game, inning, or of the pitchers appearance.

If you don't think this is a major problem, start a RTTS and play about 2 weeks or so. It won't take long for you to notice.

Finally, it seems plausible to me that this has some connection to the new beginner mode. Some code inside that could be triggering this bug. I have been with The Show since its inception, and I adore it. However, if this isn't fixed I am afraid it will make it impossible to play a non pitcher RTTS this year. I hope that isn't the case, as 95% of the reason I love The Show is RTTS.

**nomo17k** · 03-07-2013, 01:43 AM

Re: first pitch meatballs....bug?

Oh my goodness this is getting ridiculous....

Not *every* pitch is fastball down the middle.

Spoiler

If you are doing exceptionally well down in AA..... I agree that the hitting has gotten quite a bit easier (bigger timing window, larger PCI, etc.) so that it feels like the difficulty is a bit compromised down there. But AA has always been very easy; CPU pitched a lot of meatballs in the past down in AA. If the issue is that it just gotten a bit too easy with the new hitting change, I may agree somewhat.. but to say this is a bug just makes me think you weren't paying attention to RTTS in the past...

What is this mentality of guys having "the game must be bugged" during the launch week? There are of course bugs discovered when tens of thousands of people playing, but just because the game doesn't play to your expectation doesn't mean it's bugged....

first pitch meatballs....bug?

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