Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

[DodgerFanatic2K3]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

I would be curious to hear what you see when bumping it to 3. Peavy killed me, partly because it was my first time playing this game but he was also pounding the strike zone with regularity but when I faced Jon Garland/Doug Davis they both seemed to start 90% of the batters faced with a ball so I was always hitting ahead in the count.

Ya a perfect example is Lowe who's a known control pitcher was throwing first pitch balls to almost every hitter and falling behind in the count too often with CPU strike frequency at -4

BTW Peavy is a strike throwing machine so it makes sense that he dominated the zone....I was able to foul off more pitches then before so even though he still K'ed me 11 times I got him to throw 98 pitches in 6.1 innings and was pleased with the results at default

[The Chef]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

Ya a perfect example is Lowe who's a known control pitcher was throwing first pitch balls to almost every hitter and falling behind in the count too often with CPU strike frequency at -4

BTW Peavy is a strike throwing machine so it makes sense that he dominated the zone....I was able to foul off more pitches then before so even though he still K'ed me 11 times I got him to throw 98 pitches in 6.1 innings and was pleased with the results at default

Your playing with strike frequency at default I take it? If so, how many times per game do you see the CPU pitcher start you off with a ball? I want to see it happen from time to time, but I also want to see them attack the zone a little more from the start as well. It seems that if the strike frequency only effects the first pitch the CPU throws then it would be reasonable to assume that with this at default we will still see balls thrown as long as we remain patient, am I correct in this thinking? I basically want the CPU to attack more early in the count, increase their ball/strike ratio to somewhere around 60/40 instead of the 50/50 Im seeing now while still getting walked 2-4 times per game, if thats possible then I will be in heaven, is this what your seeing on your end?

[pbz06]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

Good points from both sides, but for now I'm sticking with the CPU strike frequency at 0 (-5).

I've been getting great games so far. The good pitchers still seem to pound the strike zone, while the 4 and 5 pitchers are a little more shaky, which I feel is realistic.

When I played on default, no matter the pitcher they would just throw strike after strike, which resulted in me forced to swing at almost everything. I even messed around by just being super patient, and I would literally strike out every time looking within 4 or 5 pitches. I noticed that the CPU threw strikes literally 80-90% of the time.

Now I feel that as the batter, I can step in the box and be able to wait on my pitch without being quickly 0-1, 0-2, or 1-2 EVERY single time.

I feel like I have the slight advantage against mediocre pitchers, while the good pitchers are still tough with their strikes.

[The Chef]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

Good points from both sides, but for now I'm sticking with the CPU strike frequency at 0 (-5).

I've been getting great games so far. The good pitchers still seem to pound the strike zone, while the 4 and 5 pitchers are a little more shaky, which I feel is realistic.

When I played on default, no matter the pitcher they would just throw strike after strike, which resulted in me forced to swing at almost everything. I even messed around by just being super patient, and I would literally strike out every time looking within 4 or 5 pitches. I noticed that the CPU threw strikes literally 80-90% of the time.

Now I feel that as the batter, I can step in the box and be able to wait on my pitch without being quickly 0-1, 0-2, or 1-2 EVERY single time.

Where do you have your CPU Pitch Control slider at? I have this at 0 (-5) and CPU Strike Frequency at 1 (-4) so maybe thats why Im seeing way too many balls at times. Im thinking that Strike Frequency raised while Control left at 0 (-5) might work out well since the control slider makes it easier to read pitches (some will be clearly balls from the get go so no guessing involved) while the CPU will still attack more earlier in the count.

[pbz06]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

Where do you have your CPU Pitch Control slider at? I have this at 0 (-5) and CPU Strike Frequency at 1 (-4) so maybe thats why Im seeing way too many balls at times. Im thinking that Strike Frequency raised while Control left at 0 (-5) might work out well since the control slider makes it easier to read pitches (some will be clearly balls from the get go so no guessing involved) while the CPU will still attack more earlier in the count.

For now I'm playing with Blzer's Global Slider changes only, and the CPU/Human sliders are at default EXCEPT for the CPU strike frequency which I felt was obvious when playing.

I have to play a lot more games to get a better feel for the current settings I'm on, but so far I like what I see. I read these threads to see what other people think and so far I like the input I see in this thread the best, not only do I agree with them for the most part, but guys like you seem to have good input to.

I haven't messed with the other sliders yet because I do it step by step and work on one aspect at a time So far I feel like the CPU strike frequency is working well for me at -5. But after a couple of games, I'll try doing your changes and see how it goes.

I think we can perfect these sliders by the time opening day comes! And we'll be set to play our franchises/seasons!

[pbz06]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

Another note, which I'm sure you guys are aware of already....this game is great because of the variety within each game you play. Sometimes I hit 3 homeruns in a game, other times I can barely scrap a hit....so that's why I don't make drastic slider changes after each game. I just make a mental note and play at least several in a row. PLaying with different teams and different pitchers throws another wrench in the equation too.

[The Chef]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

For now I'm playing with Blzer's Global Slider changes only, and the CPU/Human sliders are at default EXCEPT for the CPU strike frequency which I felt was obvious when playing.

I have to play a lot more games to get a better feel for the current settings I'm on, but so far I like what I see. I read these threads to see what other people think and so far I like the input I see in this thread the best, not only do I agree with them for the most part, but guys like you seem to have good input to.

I haven't messed with the other sliders yet because I do it step by step and work on one aspect at a time So far I feel like the CPU strike frequency is working well for me at -5. But after a couple of games, I'll try doing your changes and see how it goes.

I think we can perfect these sliders by the time opening day comes! And we'll be set to play our franchises/seasons!

Ohh, you have Strike Frequency at 0 (-5)? I mis-read it then since I thought you said you had it at default. Its tough to guage in some ways, Peavy and Chris Young seemed to pound the strike zone while Jon Garland and Doug Davis didnt, so while Im afraid to leave it and have all bottom of the rotation guys struggle to find the zone with that first pitch I also hate to raise it and then guys like Peavy and Young are always ahead in the count as well. Im probably going to give it some more time at -4 and see how things play out, my next game is against Webb so if I have this at -4 and he comes out behind in the count constantly from the first pitch like Garland and Davis did then I will be raising this for sure. Let me know what you see if you decide to raise this slider.

Side note, did you ever mention what you had your CPU Control Slider at?

[Blzer]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

The Chef, did you ever read my posts about Control and Consistency sliders? I have reason to believe Control has very little to do with throwing balls vs strikes, but rather throwing corner vs fat pitches.

[The Chef]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

The Chef, did you ever read my posts about Control and Consistency sliders? I have reason to believe Control has very little to do with throwing balls vs strikes, but rather throwing corner vs fat pitches.

Nope I never read it, I will hunt for it and give it a read unless you beat me to it and can provide a direct link.

EDIT- I read it and honestly Im not sure where we are really that different in our thought process. For me atleast, consistency means the higher the number the more prone they are to hitting their spots consistently and avoiding the wild pitch at the same time, lower it and you get the opposite outcome. Control to me means how many times a game they will hang one or throw one down the pipe for an easy hit. Strike frequency seems to only matter on the opening pitch of the AB and then after that its more about their control/consistency and whether they are pitching around someone or not. Are we basically thinking the same thing?

[pbz06]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

Ohh, you have Strike Frequency at 0 (-5)? I mis-read it then since I thought you said you had it at default. Its tough to guage in some ways, Peavy and Chris Young seemed to pound the strike zone while Jon Garland and Doug Davis didnt, so while Im afraid to leave it and have all bottom of the rotation guys struggle to find the zone with that first pitch I also hate to raise it and then guys like Peavy and Young are always ahead in the count as well. Im probably going to give it some more time at -4 and see how things play out, my next game is against Webb so if I have this at -4 and he comes out behind in the count constantly from the first pitch like Garland and Davis did then I will be raising this for sure. Let me know what you see if you decide to raise this slider.

Side note, did you ever mention what you had your CPU Control Slider at?

I have every Human/CPU slider at the default setting (so at 5, in the middle, with no change)...EXCEPT for the CPU strike frequency, which I lowered all the way to 0 (-5).

Other than that, I only changed the Global Sliders to what Blzer said, and have been getting great results. But you say you have noticed too many balls....we'll see, I'll stick with it for now and see what I'm noticing too.

[The Chef]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

I have every Human/CPU slider at the default setting (so at 5, in the middle, with no change)...EXCEPT for the CPU strike frequency, which I lowered all the way to 0 (-5).

Other than that, I only changed the Global Sliders to what Blzer said, and have been getting great results. But you say you have noticed too many balls....we'll see, I'll stick with it for now and see what I'm noticing too.

How many walks are you able to draw with those settings? Any idea off the top of your head what the ball/strike ratio is, roughly? I really think that the sliders are so minor in terms of what happens on the field when changing them that the difference between default and the extreme arent as far apart as I had previously assumed they would be.

[pbz06]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

How many walks are you able to draw with those settings? Any idea off the top of your head what the ball/strike ratio is, roughly? I really think that the sliders are so minor in terms of what happens on the field when changing them that the difference between default and the extreme arent as far apart as I had previously assumed they would be.

I'd say about 3 walks or so. I don't know if it should be more or not, I'm a little impatient by nature and it doesn't help that I'm a big Angels fan, lol. So drawing walks isn't part of my forte'

The Strike to Ball ratio is in the 60-70% range for me, which is A LOT better than what I've noticed with the CPU strike frequency at default. On Default, I would be happy if it got as low as 75%, because it was generally in the +80%, lol...I mean, taking pitches meant I was regularly taking strike 1 and strike 2.

We should do a test....play with the same pitchers and same teams tonight and compare results. We should both play with CPU strike frequency at Default, and then at -5. And then both of us compare the differences we noticed or saw

We should then do the same test and comparison with low level pitchers.

[Blzer]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

Nope I never read it, I will hunt for it and give it a read unless you beat me to it and can provide a direct link.

EDIT- I read it and honestly Im not sure where we are really that different in our thought process. For me atleast, consistency means the higher the number the more prone they are to hitting their spots consistently and avoiding the wild pitch at the same time, lower it and you get the opposite outcome. Control to me means how many times a game they will hang one or throw one down the pipe for an easy hit. Strike frequency seems to only matter on the opening pitch of the AB and then after that its more about their control/consistency and whether they are pitching around someone or not. Are we basically thinking the same thing?

Well I actually didn't know that about Strike Frequency, but yeah... everything else seems the same.

[The Chef]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

Here are my pitching stats for the CPU so far in my season with the following settings for CPU pitching...

Pitcher Control 0 (-5)
Strike Frequency 1 (-4)

Im only going to list the starters since the bullpen can be a total crapshoot and you will see that good pitchers pitch well and average pitchers are average at best...

Jake Peavy (8.0 IP, 18 Strikeouts, 5 Walks, 1 ER, 1 Hit) **First game on MLB so I struck out a ton obviously.
Chris Young (6.0 IP, 9 Strikeouts, 2 Walks, 0 ER, 4 Hits)
Cha Seung Baek (5.0 IP, 4 Strikeouts, 3 Walks, 3 ER, 4 Hits)
Jon Garland (3.2 IP, 5 Strikeouts, 4 Walks, 6 ER, 7 Hits)
Doug Davis (6.0 IP, 3 Strikeouts, 3 Walks, 3 ER, 5 Hits)

Nothing way too drastic so its not like Im killing great pitchers and other then the game against Garland I would say its been pretty realistic. Peavy and Young really dominated me, Davis was average but kept them in the game and Baek was a victim of **** defense that wasnt recorded correctly so his ERA should be lower then it is. The problem Im running into is the CPU's bullpens are terrible so far, Heath Bell came in to finish off the Peavy gem and sat me down in order to end it but ever since then Ive scored a ton of runs against the CPU's bullpen. In terms of the breakdown, Ive scored 14 runs off the SP for the CPU and Ive scored 11 off their bullpen but in far fewer at-bats obviously. Anyone think that having RP Stamina at 0 is negatively effecting the abilities of the CPU's bullpen?

[Blzer]

Re: Blzer's All-Star Sliders and Settings

I just think that Pitcher Control at 0 is simply far too low. If they don't pitch enough corners, they'll be serving way too many over the plate. That's why you had those numbers against Garland (and I'm actually surprised the manager kept him in for that long). Remember, you want to "calibrate" this so that it seems appropriate against aces, because when you face #5 starters you're not averaging 12 runs a game.