Default Slider Observation

[BleacherCreature]

OK, when I first tried default All-Star sliders I really enjoyed them. I thought the game played great. But after playing with default sliders for over a month and a half of my season I am seeing some kooky trends that I need slider adjustments to remedy and I would like some input from anyone.
Most glaring thing I see is practically every player on every team is the exact same player. I just finished a series with Detroit earlier today and I could not tell the difference between Adam Everett and Magglio Ordonez. They both hit the exact same way. Power to all fields, towering doubles and triples. The same for Ramon Santiago and Carlos Guillen. They both had eagle eyes against me as I walked each one about 5 times in 4 games, with many of the pitches taken for balls seemingly better than borderline.
In the last 2 games of the series I was defeated 11-3, and 9-2. They had 14 hits in the 11 run game, 10 were extra base hits (5 doubles, 3 triples and 2 homers) which I find a tad much. And of the 10 hits in the 9 run game 6 of those were extra bases (2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers). My ERA in the series was just under 7. Now correct me if I'm wrong but any pitching coach in the majors would be unemployed faster than he could say "Stottlemeyer" if he coached a group of pitchers with an ERA that high. And my team ERA is just above 6 for the season.
Also every pitcher is the same. Aces and 5th starters can pitch the exact same game for both me and the CPU. I don't feel the separation between AJ Burnett and Sergio Mitre is there, they are essentially the same pitcher in the game.
I don't know if I'm seeking advice or just complaining, or maybe a little of both. Frustration is setting in and I really don't want to be frustrated with this game.
Basically I am looking for players, both human and CPU, to play like they're supposed to. I don't want Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira to be the exact same player, because they're not. But in my game they are.
Has anyone else seen stuff like this and does anyone have any suggestions?

[ParisB]

Re: Default Slider Observation

That's why I'm a firm believer in reducing hitting sliders to create more "separation". The studs will still be studs, but the lower tiered guys struggle a little more.

I noticed the same thing on Default. I (or the CPU) can go to the plate with Nick Punto and feel like Albert Pujols.

I personally have Contact, Timing, and Solid Hits at 3 for the CPU (All-Star). It helps tone them down a bit.

[BleacherCreature]

Re: Default Slider Observation

I did a small brief test with sliders last night, dropping everything from default down 2 clicks.
Offensively the game felt much better, although the power wasn't there.
The pitches over the plate that should have been hit hard were and the players that I felt should have hit them hard did.
I was able to get solid liners from Teixeira and Rodriguez, yet was able to effectively slap the ball around with Gardner. I also had 3 hits by Jeter and they were all the typical inside-out opposite field hits that he is known for.
I think the hitting sliders at 3 feel pretty legit. I just need more power and I have to find a good setting for pitchers (both human and CPU).
I am leaving solid hits at default though. That, with fielder speed and reaction, seem perfect to me where it is.

[BleacherCreature]

Re: Default Slider Observation

That's why I'm a firm believer in reducing hitting sliders to create more "separation". The studs will still be studs, but the lower tiered guys struggle a little more.

I noticed the same thing on Default. I (or the CPU) can go to the plate with Nick Punto and feel like Albert Pujols.

I personally have Contact, Timing, and Solid Hits at 3 for the CPU (All-Star). It helps tone them down a bit.

OK, I just had to replay the last game of the Tiger series. I went to sim the rest of the day and hit sim season by mistake so I shut down and restarted that game.
I won 5-4 in 12 innings. Each team had 9 hits, 2 doubles each and no homers. I was able to handle the 7,8,9 guys in their lineup pretty well. I think I walked Inge who batted 7th. I didn't feel afraid to go after guys in the 12th with Rivera either which is kinda how it should be.
I think I will bump power up to 6 to compensate the lesser timing and contact. Only bad thing I saw was I struck out 16 times in the 12 innings.
I will work on this a little more and hopefully end up in my happy place with the sliders and the game.

ParisB what pitcher settings do you use? I think I asked you before but I can't remember what you said or where you posted them, and you're a classic pitcher not meter right?

[ParisB]

Re: Default Slider Observation

I did a small brief test with sliders last night, dropping everything from default down 2 clicks.
Offensively the game felt much better, although the power wasn't there.
The pitches over the plate that should have been hit hard were and the players that I felt should have hit them hard did.
I was able to get solid liners from Teixeira and Rodriguez, yet was able to effectively slap the ball around with Gardner. I also had 3 hits by Jeter and they were all the typical inside-out opposite field hits that he is known for.
I think the hitting sliders at 3 feel pretty legit. I just need more power and I have to find a good setting for pitchers (both human and CPU).
I am leaving solid hits at default though. That, with fielder speed and reaction, seem perfect to me where it is.

Yea, i enjoyed it much better at 3 (even solid hits). I forgot to mention, I did also raise Power to 6 to compensate. I might even go to 7.

[ParisB]

Re: Default Slider Observation

OK, I just had to replay the last game of the Tiger series. I went to sim the rest of the day and hit sim season by mistake so I shut down and restarted that game.
I won 5-4 in 12 innings. Each team had 9 hits, 2 doubles each and no homers. I was able to handle the 7,8,9 guys in their lineup pretty well. I think I walked Inge who batted 7th. I didn't feel afraid to go after guys in the 12th with Rivera either which is kinda how it should be.
I think I will bump power up to 6 to compensate the lesser timing and contact. Only bad thing I saw was I struck out 16 times in the 12 innings.
I will work on this a little more and hopefully end up in my happy place with the sliders and the game.

ParisB what pitcher settings do you use? I think I asked you before but I can't remember what you said or where you posted them, and you're a classic pitcher not meter right?

Currently I'm rolling with Control/Consistency at 4 for both the User and CPU, and Strike Frequency at 3.

[BleacherCreature]

Re: Default Slider Observation

I've come to the conclusion it's not the sliders that are giving me fits, it's my playing style.
For my own satisfaction (or torture), I tried one more game with all default except strike frequency which I put at 2.
I made sure to really focus on my pitching, as this is normally my downfall. I think what happens is I tend to get lazy when I pitch. I get a guy out on a fastball so I feel I need to throw the next guy a fastball right over the plate and it usually ends up in my unravelling. Today I decided to really pay attention to my pitches. I also tend to give in a lot to hitters. I wont want to walk that guy for fear of what it may do to my confidence (which really need an overhaul next year. It's way too sensitive and should take more into consideration the situation you are in). Anyway, I had CC going against the Twins. Pretty favorable matchup for me with all the lefties in their lineup. I get them 1-2-3 in the first with 2 K's. I score 5 in the bottom on 4 hits and 2 walks. I have already equaled my season walk average and I am not out of the first inning yet!! 5-0 after 1.
Top of the 2nd the Twins load the bases with 1 out. I get Harris to foul out to 3rd on a terrible pitch at his eyes. Next batter is Hardy and here's the weirdest play I have seen in the Show yet. He hits a hard chopper down the 3B line, and hits the baserunner! Last I knew if the ball was fair the batter gets credit for a hit but the runner is out. Well here he was safe. I also think if he's hit in foul territory then it's just a foul ball.
Anyway, everyone's safe. 5-1. They start chipping away and make it 5-4 after a Hudson homer in the 4th and an RBI single in the 5th. They had the tying run on 3rd with 2 outs in the 6th. CC is now at 105 pitches but I let him pitch to Hudson who had already homered. I strike him out to end the rally with the score still 5-4. Bottom of the 7th I get 3 more to make it 8-4 and that's where it ended. Marte pitched the 7th, getting all 3 tough lefties (Mauer, Morneau and Thome), and Robertson retired all 6 batters he faced to end it.
Probably the most thorough, satisfying game I have had so far, because I felt like I was able to make the right pitch when I needed to and got the big hit late in a close game.
So now I am back to default. This is driving me crazy!!!

[MannybeingManny]

Re: Default Slider Observation

Hey everybody,

I hope everyone is having a great day. I enjoy this site very much, I find everyone's opinions and results very helpful. I have posted two forums on this site maybe you have seen them (What a joke, and I Give up, under MLB 10 sliders) After struggling and basically giving up on this game and myself. I finally dropped down to Veteran for hitting level. I'm currently playing a 162 game season with the St. Louis Cardinals. I have only played four games and I have had great results. Hitting is much easier and I don't have to focus as if I'm trying to solve a calculus problem just to get a hit. I have set my team and know that I'm going to play with veteran hitting. I continue to pitch on all star however. The only question I have is that I continue to switch between default sliders, and Psycho perfect slider set. I don't really enjoy setting sliders but do find that the "Perfect slider set" is very realistic with the fielders ability's and type of hits. However I have been informed by several individuals that this game is just about perfect out of the box on default sliders and settings (which is believe is Veteran play?) I guess I'm looking for feed back on how difficult you guys find pitching on default sliders on veteran and or all star. Do you find it realistic? To easy to hard? Let me know. I'm SOOOOOOO tiered of worrying about the sliders and settings. I just want to play my season and regardless if I win or lose I don't want to have to blame it on the settings or sliders. what do you guys think? I find Veteran hitting way to easy put all star hitting a very hard challenge. There doesn't seem to be a in between. And as far as pitching there really isn't a difference for me on either veteran or all star. Thanks

[BleacherCreature]

Re: Default Slider Observation

If you're not focused and don't change your pitching strategies you will get hit hard in this game.
I have finally decided to stay with default all-star sliders with the only changes being CPU strike frequency is now 2 (-3 from default), pickoffs at 3 and pitch speed 0.
Pitch speed is entirely up to you, but I like this at 0.

[dorismary]

Re: Default Slider Observation

For more enjoyable games where I feel I have alot of control in what I do win or lose I play on Veteran

[BleacherCreature]

Re: Default Slider Observation

I tried veteran but didn't feel the CPU was as aggressive as it is on all star. They seemed a bit too easy to strike out with default sliders.
The whole key to the game for me this year is what level plays best with default. I was getting too caught up and burnt out trying to find a good slider set to my liking and my ability. Fighting the "should I change this, and will it effect this? What if I left this alone but changed this?" kind of thing I was going through. I just was spending too much time adjusting and not enough time playing.
That being said I truly enjoy default all star. Does it have its faults? Sure it does. Does the CPU seem invincible at times? Absolutely. But after toying with so many sets I feel I get the most satisfaction out of what I see with default.
OK, I am stepping off my soap box now.

[GJEM]

Re: Default Slider Observation

I tried veteran but didn't feel the CPU was as aggressive as it is on all star. They seemed a bit too easy to strike out with default sliders.
The whole key to the game for me this year is what level plays best with default. I was getting too caught up and burnt out trying to find a good slider set to my liking and my ability. Fighting the "should I change this, and will it effect this? What if I left this alone but changed this?" kind of thing I was going through. I just was spending too much time adjusting and not enough time playing.
That being said I truly enjoy default all star. Does it have its faults? Sure it does. Does the CPU seem invincible at times? Absolutely. But after toying with so many sets I feel I get the most satisfaction out of what I see with default.
OK, I am stepping off my soap box now.

I completely feel the same way as you BC as far as the whole 'Tinkering' aspect of things. I'm so burnt out on exactly the same points you just made, I just want to enjoy the game. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in the middle right now and don't know what to do. On default Veteran I'm starting to destroy the CPU on a pretty frequent basis but on All-Star I just feel it's lacking that IT quality that makes the games fun. I can win but it seems to lack the fun factor. I'm terrible at hitting with runners in scoring position so my last 10 games have all been low scoring 3-2, 1-0, 2-1 type games and I just get bored. Funny thing is on the pitching side of things I give up more hits, homers, and runs on default Veteran than on default All-Star, weird. Anyway, I just don't know what I'm going to do from here on out.

[DJ]

Re: Default Slider Observation

For more enjoyable games where I feel I have alot of control in what I do win or lose I play on Veteran

Agreed. I have been playing on default Veteran since I got the game a week ago and am right around .500 in my games. The only sliders I've touched is Pitch Speed (zeroed to help my slow reaction time) and CPU Strike Frequency down -2 clicks.

Game, to me, plays very well on default settings.

[ParisB]

Re: Default Slider Observation

Agreed. I have been playing on default Veteran since I got the game a week ago and am right around .500 in my games. The only sliders I've touched is Pitch Speed (zeroed to help my slow reaction time) and CPU Strike Frequency down -2 clicks.

Game, to me, plays very well on default settings.

Veteran is just too easy overall. I still lose games but feel like I can use the Royals and win 100 games and not feel disadvantaged. Playing on All-Star and learning to get better is more fun and satisfying for me. On Veteran you don't even need to work the count or draw walks. You get like 4 hittable pitches per most at-bats.

[dorismary]

Re: Default Slider Observation

Agreed. I have been playing on default Veteran since I got the game a week ago and am right around .500 in my games. The only sliders I've touched is Pitch Speed (zeroed to help my slow reaction time) and CPU Strike Frequency down -2 clicks.

Game, to me, plays very well on default settings.

Im not playing default Veteran but I feel its the best Base to start on for Realistic FAIR games without the crazy cpu AI stuff .
I mean on Allstar theres way too much boost in the AI on that level but On VETERAN its not as strong which leads too more enjoyable games fair games win or lose and your not sitting there pulling your hair out wonder what just happened .