Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

[MattGarza13]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Alright.. You guys got my convinced to try classic and I'm loving it. I used pulse before and I regret using that for 80 franchise games now. I always thought classic took no skill and all you do is press a button. I was wrong it takes a lot of stratgey and I' loving it so far! Played some practice games, then in my first franchise game Morrow pitched 7 allowing 1 run walking 3 and strikeing out 9 on HoF Difficulty.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Wow...

I don't even remember what it's like to pitch a gem anymore. LOL!

I am WELL past the AS break (still) in July, and I have yet to allow less than 3 runs in a game this month. Generally, I'm getting smoked.

But it's not Classic.

And it's not (usually) 7 out of the 9 innings.

You know that inning - generally after you are rolling - where:

1. The ump starts squeezing you. Hard!

2. You throw a walk to the first batter. See above.

2a. Or the lead off batter singles.

3. And you issue another walk.

3a. Or single.

4. And the third hitter clears the bases with a double.

5. And you do a mound visit

6. And maybe get an out

7. But the cleanup hitter takes you deep on the very next at bat

8. And you give up another single

9. Swear a little

10. And finally manage to get out of the inning, wondering which direction the bus came from before it hit you?

That's my game right now.

And it's homerun derby! Especially from the Bautista's and Pujols' of the world. Every game the big boys go deep. I'm lucky to get my starter out with allowing less than multiple long balls. And they happen so fast and all of a sudden.

You guys would choke if I showed you my April and May boxscores. It was gem freaking central. I was on fire. But boy, has that changed.

These umps are killing me!!! Like, as if I flirted with his wife somewhere between the 4th and 6th inning.

Okay, rant over. I'm having a blast, but man...my luck has changed. I play OAK soon. Unfortunately, not soon enough. Again, not a Classic issue. Just a me feeling like being a chick for a minute issue.

[ILiveForThis]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Funny you say that, my 15 2/3 scoreless innings streak just ended with Zack Greinke.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Funny you say that, my 15 2/3 scoreless innings streak just ended with Zack Greinke.

D***

[ILiveForThis]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

I've felt really confident the last few days while pitching. Not too sure why, but I've literally been DEALING. Not even just Greinke either, but Gallardo, Ax, K-Rod and hell, even Michael Fiers. I've been throwing pitches that I would normally never throw and it's been a HUGE success.

As for those innings you speak of, my Blue Jays seem to frequent in those. We are 13 games OVER .500, yet are 3.0 GB of the NYY. This is with 3 days left in July. Ricky Ro and Morrow have hit ROUGH, ROUGH patches.

This game is awesome.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

And just like that I literally go and allow 2 runs in back to back games. I guess I should bitch more often.

Now tied with TOR for 1st in the AL East.

On both fronts: Good grief! This game is gonna kill me! LOL! It's crazy how great everything is! It's got twists and turns like a damn soap opera.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Manny Banuelos dazzles in his ML debut! 1 ER, 7 IP, 5 H, 6 K, 3 BB!!! Yeah! Though, this start did reminded me that I wanted to ask you guys a question about something I've noticed recently:

Does anyone have any specific strikeout advice (for my starters) during the middle innings?

I was racking up K's big time during April and May (doing 10+ with a starter three seperate times). But recently (June and July), I'll have these games where I'll strikeout 4 over 2.1 IP, but end up with like 5-7 max. If Iliveforthis didn't give me his breaking ball tips, my 5-7 would look more like 5...max! LOL!

This isn't a big deal or anything. I'd just like some tips. This "problem" isn't really much of anything, but I figured it was worth a shot asking. You guys always help me see the game in a different light.

It seems like I'm beginning to get very wild starting in the 4th inning (regardless of confidence). Back in May I used to be able to recover from this stuff, but here in July it's a totally different story. With the wildness, my FB confidence (or others that were high) begins to drop. I'll begin throwing 4 pitch walks with the ball marker down the middle, and the CPU will stop swinging and missing at anything other than the first pitch almost entirely all together (even on incredible pitches).

The worst ones are those times when the CPU will even start putting the ball in play (granted, usually with weak contact for outs) on balls WAY OFF the PCI. You guys have to know the pitches I'm talking about. Anyway...

I just can't seem to coax the strikeout when I get around the 60-70+ pitch mark. Though, to be fair, I do get plenty of check swings appealed in the CPU's favor... peppered around blown strike 3 calls from the umps.

My numbers are great, so this isn't a big deal or anything. The end lines are totally acceptable. I'm just wondering if stamina is the culprit here because of how late in the season I am, or if it's me, or if there's anything I can do to maximize my mid inning success?

[ILiveForThis]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Heroes, I've recently had the same problems as you. And all I've done is made 2 minor changes to get more K's throughout the 4-6 inning stretch.

Step One: Use the Fastball as a strikeout pitch
-- This allows the CPU to be late on your pitches, especially since you had been using the Slider/Curve/Change as strikeout pitches the first time through the order. Try this.

Step Two: Be more inaccurate
-- I know what you're saying.. "That will lead to walks, yes?" No. What I mean by this is be MORE in the dirt, be MORE off the outside corner, be MORE inside. The first time through the order, you can paint black and still get those swings and misses. Second time through? They will be protecting more. So, you either need to move it more off the edge or actually throw it for a middle column strike. Nothing is more satisfying than having a guy strikeout looking because he had NO CLUE what you were dealing. So priceless.

e. Also, congrats on the outing for Manny. Glad I could help give you his correct #'s.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Heroes, I've recently had the same problems as you. And all I've done is made 2 minor changes to get more K's throughout the 4-6 inning stretch.

Step One: Use the Fastball as a strikeout pitch
-- This allows the CPU to be late on your pitches, especially since you had been using the Slider/Curve/Change as strikeout pitches the first time through the order. Try this.

Step Two: Be more inaccurate
-- I know what you're saying.. "That will lead to walks, yes?" No. What I mean by this is be MORE in the dirt, be MORE off the outside corner, be MORE inside. The first time through the order, you can paint black and still get those swings and misses. Second time through? They will be protecting more. So, you either need to move it more off the edge or actually throw it for a middle column strike. Nothing is more satisfying than having a guy strikeout looking because he had NO CLUE what you were dealing. So priceless.

e. Also, congrats on the outing for Manny. Glad I could help give you his correct #'s.

Great stuff! As always!

When you go way off the plate, in the mid innings for a BIG miss, about how much effort are you using? I'm guessing light. Or, does it vary depending on the pitch or the pitch confidence?

And speaking of effort, refering to your first tip about fastballs, how much effort are you using there too? What's disappointing is how early on, mixing up FB speeds is so dynamite! But later on, hard/max ones are seemingly always put in play. Like I need to get more crafty as the game goes on, and less overpowering. Am I right there too?

[ILiveForThis]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Usually, on a waste pitch, I will go with light. But, if I want it to start in the zone and tail out, I will go with maximum effort.

Fastballs are tricky. I usually go quarter-second hold for fastballs regularly. I rarely go light as mine seem to get crushed always! Maximum effort is used for fastballs with movement, never the straight stuff.

And as for your last statement, correct. Not only does pitch type and location matter when in later innings, but so does effort. Craft it up, go high and hard then low and light. Also, sometimes, do a double such as;

Pitch 1: High and in
Pitch 2: Low and away
Pitch 3: High and in
Pitch 4: High and in
Pitch 5: High and out
So on and so forth..

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Another question:

You know those games where the CPU is swinging at, and putting in play everything you throw from the get go? How do you combat that?

It's like some games the CPU's discipline goes into hyper-drive.

[ILiveForThis]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

If I knew that, friend, I'd never lose a game.

[tbbucsfan001]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

I was in a real strikeout drought. Enter the first pitch breaking ball and fastball as a put away. Start pitching backwards. I was throwing way too many first pitch fastballs. Also on a big swing and miss guy, I'll throw a breaking ball in the dirt to start off the at-bat.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

I was in a real strikeout drought. Enter the first pitch breaking ball and fastball as a put away. Start pitching backwards. I was throwing way too many first pitch fastballs. Also on a big swing and miss guy, I'll throw a breaking ball in the dirt to start off the at-bat.

Will do.

I feel like I'm doing this, but THIS HAS to be what's happening here. It has to be...

[ILiveForThis]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion 2012

Maybe my tips aren't so good.. played today and everything I threw got crushed. Gave up 13 runs to Boston jn Fenway. :/