Pitches magically increasing/decreasing in speed due to location is unrealistic.

[kehlis]

Re: Pitches magically increasing/decreasing in speed due to location is unrealistic.

Excellent point. I hadn't thought about this. That could definitely be factoring into the displeasure with the phenomenon.

How is this a phenomenon?

You saw the chart earlier showing that this is how it tends to register in real life.


Regardless of it's because of intent or not, fastballs up in the zone tend to be faster than fastballs low in the zone and to me The Show tends to accurately represent that. I really don't see the issue here.

[Jgainsey]

Re: Pitches magically increasing/decreasing in speed due to location is unrealistic.

I don't have a problem with increased velo up in the zone, per se, but I hate the way it consistently plays out in-game with the differential in speeds between fastball and off speed pitches.

Take a pitcher who already has already been given incorrect velocity ratings by SCEA. For an example I'll use Kris Medlen of the Braves.

Real Life Medlen

2SFB - 89.3
All other FBs - 88.6
CH - 81.9
CU - 76.6


The Show Medlen (Most recent live roster update)

2SFB - 90
4SFB - 91
CH - 79
CU - 79

So, aside from the nearly 2mph missing from his real life change up velocity, these don't really appear to be that bad at first glance. But it's a completely different story when you're actually playing the game.

In game, I can dial up 94-95 with Medlen's fastballs, simply by locating up in the zone with close to max effort on the meter. And what's worse, is that I can follow up that 95 with a change up low in the zone at anywhere from 76 to 80. It would be one thing if this was a rare occurrence, but that isn't the case when these player stats get put into real gameplay.

I'm not looking to get into another argument about why SCEA can't get pitch speeds right, but when you add unrealistic variation in pitch speed on top of already inaccurate velocity attributes, you wind up with a pretty big flaw in the pitcher/batter battle.

So, while I can see both sides of the argument here, I think most of the argument is mute, given how unrealistic the end result can often be.

[Bobhead]

Re: Pitches magically increasing/decreasing in speed due to location is unrealistic.

How is this a phenomenon?

You saw the chart earlier showing that this is how it tends to register in real life.


Regardless of it's because of intent or not, fastballs up in the zone tend to be faster than fastballs low in the zone and to me The Show tends to accurately represent that. I really don't see the issue here.

To call the chart conclusive would be to completely ignore all the other variables and human elements in play, such as fatigue, intended velocity, variations in arm angles, and intended location.

Jgainsey also nicely laid out another issue with it.

And like I said in the post directly before, there is a big difference between a pitch increasing in velocity because you aimed it high, and a pitch traveling up high because you intentionally put more velocity into it. This can't be understated. In real life a pitcher does not throw a high fastball and then go "oops that was a lot faster than I expected!" It's only the other way around that the tendency even makes sense, physiologically. The pitcher controls his arm speed, the location is the variable.

[kehlis]

Re: Pitches magically increasing/decreasing in speed due to location is unrealistic.

To call the chart conclusive would be to completely ignore all the other variables and human elements in play, such as fatigue, intended velocity, variations in arm angles, and intended location.

Jgainsey also nicely laid out another issue with it.

And like I said in the post directly before, there is a big difference between a pitch increasing in velocity because you aimed it high, and a pitch traveling up high because you intentionally put more velocity into it. This can't be understated. In real life a pitcher does not throw a high fastball and then go "oops that was a lot faster than I expected!" It's only the other way around that the tendency even makes sense, physiologically. The pitcher controls his arm speed, the location is the variable.

Alright fair enough.

I guess I am just going to have to disagree and leave it at that.

It works okay for me and that's all that really matters!

[cardinalbird5]

Re: Pitches magically increasing/decreasing in speed due to location is unrealistic.

I don't have a problem with increased velo up in the zone, per se, but I hate the way it consistently plays out in-game with the differential in speeds between fastball and off speed pitches.

Take a pitcher who already has already been given incorrect velocity ratings by SCEA. For an example I'll use Kris Medlen of the Braves.

Real Life Medlen

2SFB - 89.3
All other FBs - 88.6
CH - 81.9
CU - 76.6


The Show Medlen (Most recent live roster update)

2SFB - 90
4SFB - 91
CH - 79
CU - 79

So, aside from the nearly 2mph missing from his real life change up velocity, these don't really appear to be that bad at first glance. But it's a completely different story when you're actually playing the game.

In game, I can dial up 94-95 with Medlen's fastballs, simply by locating up in the zone with close to max effort on the meter. And what's worse, is that I can follow up that 95 with a change up low in the zone at anywhere from 76 to 80. It would be one thing if this was a rare occurrence, but that isn't the case when these player stats get put into real gameplay.

I'm not looking to get into another argument about why SCEA can't get pitch speeds right, but when you add unrealistic variation in pitch speed on top of already inaccurate velocity attributes, you wind up with a pretty big flaw in the pitcher/batter battle.

So, while I can see both sides of the argument here, I think most of the argument is mute, given how unrealistic the end result can often be.

And this is why I have a problem with it. You said it perfectly. I wouldn't have a problem if Medlan threw 90 mph high with maxed out meter and 88 low with no effort in the meter...but that isn't the case. It is more like 87-95.

And no one is mentioning the breaking balls magically not breaking if they are higher in the zone. I understand hanging breaking balls happen, but if you actually watch a game and announcers say that...the break is still there (most of the time) but the location was bad. This actually makes it harder on the hitter sometimes. An opponent will throw a high breaking ball and I will assume by its trajectory it will break right into the middle of the zone, but no....it breaks just above the strike zone and I fly out.

I understand why SCEA does this, but it is a big exaggerated and defies physics. Shouldn't a hanging breaking ball occur when you mess up on the meter or put little effort into it??