Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

Would any of you care to share what difficulty and sliders you're using? Is everyone in here using Armor's set? And are you using QC's?

I'm on Default AS/QC only/Timing/Auto Everything Else/injuries 6.

My brother has come into town and rather than playing, I've been watching him play an Angels Franchise (Veteran+, Dynamic Difficulty so far, the rest identical above) and it's been a blast watching someone else play. Just had a cool moment where he hit a grand slam trailing 4-2 in a ST game to go ahead 6-4 and we both practically jumped out of our seats when he took the 6-4 lead in the 8th. LOL! He was so damn excited!

Anyone care to share their setting/stats/sliders?

[SpritePuck]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

Switched sliders to default excluding
-1 pitch speed as I swing late a lot! Even with the -1
injuries -2 (not super authentic but injuries depress me)

- All-Star difficulty (should use veteran or veteran+ hitting but hoping to improve)
- NO QC's
- Classic Pitching
- Timing Hitting (directional only when bunting as swings I try to just use timing)
- Guess Pitch Off
- Auto Fielding (I was told this means ratings matter more)
- Manual Throw setting where power is by rating not timing (away from PS4 forget setting name... you pick when and where their rating determines rest)
- Assisted Sliding (I choose all slides to keep player and situation apropriate. example: a pitcher never slides head first, cpu has them do it sometimes, so I take control and put a stop to that silliness ) should say they shouldn't, I am sure they sometimes do in real life but pitching coaches probably sigh hahaha
- Assisted baserunning (I like running the bases)
- All zones and icons off- excluding lately with API to figure catcher signs out but now it is off again

I was using Armor's sliders and may return to them but wanted to see how much they changed and have not decided how I feel yet. Though for 80 games his sliders were amazing! Have them saved and I will most likely return to them.

[KingV2k3]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

Veteran (Zone) Hitting / All Star Pitching / Classic / QC / Auto Fielding and Baserunning / "Clean Screen" (no visual aids) / API: Default / slightly adjusted sliders that are pretty close to default for both HUM and CPU, but also address the various minor issues in the Global category (errors, fielder speed / reaction / etc)

My gameplay style has been the same for years (with the addition of QC) and I'll prob post sliders at some point in my blog when I'm sure they're "done"...

Not a great deal of variance between what I'm using or the various sets posted in the forum, as the game doesn't need much adjustment...

BTW: Played my first game yesterday employing the catcher's call tips and it was pretty much the most immersive / enjoyable experience I've had with this title...

I always read the catcher's signs for pitch type and side of plate, but this raises that game considerably...

Continued thanks!

Lastly: If you have API enabled on AS level or higher, the "virtual glove" isn't seen, but if you want to take a look at the exact location called for you can pump the R2...shows you that AB's pitch history and where the next pitch is supposed to be thrown...

I don't use that, because having a little random "human element" seems more realistic and less "video game" to me...

[Shuckman]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

I play on Allstar for hitting and pitching. I use directional hitting and Classic pitching.

I use a combination for sliders started out using Armor & Swords but have since made a few tweaks to suit my style and my level of play. " I always try for realistic results"

I am now trying quick counts out for a few games and going with the clean screen approach.

I keep a thread over at shownation for my franchise so I can keep track of how things are going and its fun for me to do.

[gman2774]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

Great thread. Is it possible to play above the ratings using classic pitching? In other words, how much user influence is possible? If I were to take a lousy team/rotation, would I be able to overachieve with them? Or will they ultimately be bad based on ratings no matter my influence? I generally like to take a lower rated team in a franchise and see if I can overachieve with them. I play every game.

[SpritePuck]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

Great thread. Is it possible to play above the ratings using classic pitching? In other words, how much user influence is possible? If I were to take a lousy team/rotation, would I be able to overachieve with them? Or will they ultimately be bad based on ratings no matter my influence? I generally like to take a lower rated team in a franchise and see if I can overachieve with them. I play every game.

In my expierience and opinion on All-Star pitching you can overachieve while using classic pitching. Good placement and decision making is key. One must place pitches and though I go with catcher calls... I do shake off pitch calls I think will be disasterous. And use my head keep sinkers, curves and the like down in the zone. Levels above All-Star, no you will not in my opinion over achieve.

You will not do something like crazy beyond the guys ratings. In other words Hughes is not going to throw no hitters. You will not take the Rockies and have a team era of 2.0 or something like that. You could maybe get in the CY Young race with a low 80 or high 70 rated pitcher but not a mid 70's guy. (in my opinion he has to be in the eighties to have any real shot) Some people are better than others at playing so obviously they could maybe achieve well with someone I can not.

The rating is going to have an impact and guys who pitch to contact are not gonna throw no hitters. But you could take a team with say middle of the road pitching and get your team era in top ten. But obviously a team like the Rockies are gonna need run support to compete but with that lineup it should be doable.

I am using the Cubs and have the fifth best team ERA, which is way overachieving in my opinion. This is classic and on All-Star.

Not sure if everyone feels the same about this. Again you can do better than what would occur if simming games. I can not see using All-Star and classic pitching and pitching like Kershaw (numbers and results wise) with a bottom of the rotation guy. But if you pitch poorly you could take Kershaw and have an era of 6!

Pitch location and selection is still huge. Also in my opinion when you release X has an impact.

[cts50]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

This thread is epic.

The whole pitching signs thing is so obvious now. Wow.

[eastcoast49ers]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

I always thought the fist sign was for a pickoff move. The Pitch Selector will still flash a pitch type because you have to pick one, but then the catcher wants you to throw to first to attempt a pick-off.

[KingV2k3]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

Great thread. Is it possible to play above the ratings using classic pitching? In other words, how much user influence is possible? If I were to take a lousy team/rotation, would I be able to overachieve with them? Or will they ultimately be bad based on ratings no matter my influence? I generally like to take a lower rated team in a franchise and see if I can overachieve with them. I play every game.

Well, that's what sliders are for!



This year, you don't have to dip much below default...but dropping control and consistency slightly will lock the ratings driven elements of classic into focus...

At default, it's a little too easy to "play above the ratings" on AS and below...IMHO...

I am using the Cubs and have the fifth best team ERA, which is way overachieving in my opinion. This is classic and on All-Star.

I'm also using the Cubs and only play T. Woods starts and sim the rest...It's late May in my franchise and CHI currently has the 5th best Team ERA...and a lower ERA in simmed games than the ones I play...



I agree with your post, but I maintain that end result is also easily manipulated by tweaking the HUM control and consistency sliders...

The tough part is finding each individual's slider "sweet spot" with all the variances engendered by different rosters (with pitch edits or not) and USER ability (strategy / button release / location, etc.)

[SpritePuck]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

I always thought the fist sign was for a pickoff move. The Pitch Selector will still flash a pitch type because you have to pick one, but then the catcher wants you to throw to first to attempt a pick-off.

thought this for a long while... but you get it with no runners on base.
I really do not know but my honest opinion is it is a glitch. Typically I get it first batter when we switch sides in a later inning.

[SpritePuck]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

This thread is epic.

The whole pitching signs thing is so obvious now. Wow.

Totally agree... it is strange now that I have them down to think I used to play not knowing them. I knew the 1-4 finger part a while back then the wiggle flashed four (pitch 5 R1) caught my eye and I was like wait a second they call the actual game locations and all...

I wonder how many years this has been in The Show? Last year I played a lot and never noticed, though this year it was only because of the sign for fifth pitch.

[SpritePuck]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

I'm also using the Cubs and only play T. Woods starts and sim the rest...It's late May in my franchise and CHI currently has the 5th best Team ERA...and a lower ERA in simmed games than the ones I play...



I agree with your post, but I maintain that end result is also easily manipulated by tweaking the HUM control and consistency sliders...

The tough part is finding each individual's slider "sweet spot" with all the variances engendered by different rosters (with pitch edits or not) and USER ability (strategy / button release / location, etc.)

Agree about slider use. It is hard to find the sweet spot for pitching. It varies depending on how the user pitches in my opinion.

If you get a chance what is Lester's era? Curious as you sim his starts, while I pitch them. I am just at 100 games played and he has a 2.85. I think it is maybe kinda low but in realm of possible. It is so hard to say about stats because if a team gets a pitcher an early lead they can be so much stronger.

Also as a huge Sox fan, Lester sometimes has days where he flat out has to abondone pitches when he can not locate them. This is hard for a video game to reproduce. While I love Jon and am not bashing him at all, his video game self is somewhat more consistent. Which makes sense as the ratings do not change per start. He has bad starts in games but it is just not like in real life where sometimes after the second inning he literally does not throw a certain pitch anymore.

Again, I love The Show and it is superb. There is a limit to how human like a game can be. After all a slightly stiff muscle or something can be huge in pro sports.

[KingV2k3]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

Totally agree... it is strange now that I have them down to think I used to play not knowing them. I knew the 1-4 finger part a while back then the wiggle flashed four (pitch 5 R1) caught my eye and I was like wait a second they call the actual game locations and all...

I wonder how many years this has been in The Show? Last year I played a lot and never noticed, though this year it was only because of the sign for fifth pitch.

I've been playing "similarly" to this for years, but it SEEMS as though the interface has been fine tuned, along with the rest of the game...

I'm really impressed with the "cat and mouse" pitch calls the AI dials up re: variance of in / out of the zone / location / speed...

I'm wondering how much of the CPU batter's hot / cold zones are taken into account, as factoring in the pitches that worked or did not in previous at bats...

Do you have any take on that yet?

[SpritePuck]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

I've been playing "similarly" to this for years, but it SEEMS as though the interface has been fine tuned, along with the rest of the game...

I'm really impressed with the "cat and mouse" pitch calls the AI dials up re: variance of in / out of the zone / location / speed...

I'm wondering how much of the CPU batter's hot / cold zones are taken into account, as factoring in the pitches that worked or did not in previous at bats...

Do you have any take on that yet?

The AI is awesome! The cat mouse and whole game strategy has me liking this more than any form of gaming entertainment ever! The more I play the more I likethe game (usually the opposite occurs and the new shiny wears off of games fast). I really hope 16 does not over focuss on some of the complaints I read and somehow mess up what is amazing this year. I know it needs a few fixes and can always improve but I always fear they will worry about people who say hitting is too hard! When in reality they are saying this because they can not hit .450 with their favourite player and still brag to their buddies they play on Legend with pitch speed maxed. Again there are legitament complaints but man I read some stuff online that I just really hope the developers ignore. I wrote them a long honest assesment from someone who knows 1-3 is truly amazing. Hopefully they get enough of them from folks like us to not do what FIFA did with goal scoring. Yes, I am paranoid hahaha as they keep it very sim each year, if anything becoming more realistic.

It is really hard for me to tell. It seems count is huge factor as is pitch confidence, almost as if the catcher knows your confidence, and then hot cold zones. I am specualting because there is so much involved. Also previous pitch and so on. Maybe even last at bat? I think pitch count (the total number thrown), or at least strategy seems to evolve as the game goes along.

If anyone figures this out I would love to know.

I can not even imagine working on this game. I am a numbers and stat nut but the design is mind blowing. I think the games algorythms have algorythms! haha

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Classic Pitching Questions and Discussion Thread 2015

Great thread. Is it possible to play above the ratings using classic pitching? In other words, how much user influence is possible? If I were to take a lousy team/rotation, would I be able to overachieve with them? Or will they ultimately be bad based on ratings no matter my influence? I generally like to take a lower rated team in a franchise and see if I can overachieve with them. I play every game.

I think there's some misconception on how user skill is one of the only ways to play "above" or "below" a player's ratings.

The answers seem to have been fielded pretty thoroughly in this thread so I won't ramble. But I do want to point out that the individual confidence meter, as well as the individual pitch confidence meters, are designed to do exactly that; to make sure players can play above or below where they are rated on any given day.

Without it, players would ALWAYS play like themselves and that would get boring fast.