Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

[cubby blue]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

Mike, I'm giving your sliders a shot this year. After playing on HOF for hitting and pitching, this game in my opinion is way to hitter friendly. I played about 52 games on HOF with solid hits at 4 everything else was default. I had 3 players Rizzo, Bryant, and Schwarber hitting at least .360. Heyward was batting .325.

Last year I played on default all star default without any problems. I had one player with a batting average of .330. My team batting average for the season last year was .267. This was acceptable stats for a season. This years game is way out of hand.

I restarted my franchise, and downloaded your 1.3 version. So far so good. I will update once I get a little further in my franchise. I've only played 4 games, but definitely notice a difference

I like the different hit variety in this years game, but way too many hits, IMO.

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

Mike, I'm giving your sliders a shot this year. After playing on HOF for hitting and pitching, this game in my opinion is way to hitter friendly. I played about 52 games on HOF with solid hits at 4 everything else was default. I had 3 players Rizzo, Bryant, and Schwarber hitting at least .360. Heyward was batting .325.

Last year I played on default all star default without any problems. I had one player with a batting average of .330. My team batting average for the season last year was .267. This was acceptable stats for a season. This years game is way out of hand.

I restarted my franchise, and downloaded your 1.3 version. So far so good. I will update once I get a little further in my franchise. I've only played 4 games, but definitely notice a difference

I like the different hit variety in this years game, but way too many hits, IMO.

I'd recommend using v1.45 here w patch 1.08.

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

Seeing great results. Just won game 2 of the 2018 season 7-6 after Cubs rallied for 2 in the 9th. Schwarber hit a 2B off the top of the wall, otherwise it would have been tied (next batter flew out to CF to end the game). Solid hits down was a perfect adjustment for us.

Assuming you're at or close to default v1.45, please share your CPU strike and first-pitch strike percentages. I want to make sure those are still where they need to be, otherwise drawing walks and offense overall will be too easy.

[cubby blue]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

I'd recommend using v1.45 here w patch 1.08.

Will do. Also, I'm using directional hitting/classic pitching. Thanks for posting these.

[TannerYoho]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

10-4 guys.

Just lost 3-0 because Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson both dove for two separate balls they had no chance at, and i had 4 or 5 "Good" "Good"'s 3 of which were power swings, fly out to center.

As much as I love the realism, I will admit I was mightily frustrated. Oh well such is life. I will keep plugging away!

[NolanRyansSnowmonkey]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

10-4 guys.

Just lost 3-0 because Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson both dove for two separate balls they had no chance at, and i had 4 or 5 "Good" "Good"'s 3 of which were power swings, fly out to center.

As much as I love the realism, I will admit I was mightily frustrated. Oh well such is life. I will keep plugging away!

Just curious how many games youve played and how your offense is doing. Just based on your last two posts, u said you were frustrated, is it just recent games only?

I think sometimes we (those of us who love realism) conflate realism with not being able to hit with any consistency. We dont want to hit too much, so we err on the short side. We basically torture ourselves for the sake of trying to achieve realism. Not saying that is what you are doing, but it is easy to do for those of us who seek realism because we dont want wins to feel cheap.

I know you said you are the Pirates, but while each franchise is its own separate universe, the real life Pirates are actually hitting pretty good. They are 4th in MLB in hits and 7th in batting average, as well as in the top 10 of most hitting statistics.

Its one thing to have a run of bad luck and panic and start bumping sliders everywhere, but sometimes we do need to adjust something to meet our own playing tendencies. Even a bad team has a few good-hitting games mixed in. Just something to consider.

[TannerYoho]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

Just curious how many games youve played and how your offense is doing. Just based on your last two posts, u said you were frustrated, is it just recent games only?

I think sometimes we (those of us who love realism) conflate realism with not being able to hit with any consistency. We dont want to hit too much, so we err on the short side. We basically torture ourselves for the sake of trying to achieve realism. Not saying that is what you are doing, but it is easy to do for those of us who seek realism because we dont want wins to feel cheap.

I know you said you are the Pirates, but while each franchise is its own separate universe, the real life Pirates are actually hitting pretty good. They are 4th in MLB in hits and 7th in batting average, as well as in the top 10 of most hitting statistics.

Its one thing to have a run of bad luck and panic and start bumping sliders everywhere, but sometimes we do need to adjust something to meet our own playing tendencies. Even a bad team has a few good-hitting games mixed in. Just something to consider.

So i simmed from opening day to may 1 to catch up. So I've played 6. Averaging 4 runs per game. My pitching is holding up. Only allowing about 3 or 4 per game. 2 games i was winning in the 9 and got walked off on (thank you Christian Yelich).

I will get my exact stats to ya tommorow. The main thing that I'm noticing is how many good good i get that are flyouts. The Pirates power numbers aren't high ratings wise. So i don't expect no doubters. But i try my best to work into a good count. I look at the batter analysis and try to catch the trend if the pitcher is hanging pitches or if he keeps putting the fastball in the same spot. So i get really mad when i finally power swing on a high Change up, it's good good in the center of my pci on the batter feedback and it's a flyout to center (albeit with Gregory Polanco)

I'm thinking about either lowering hitting to HOF or adding + 1 to power or something. I have 2 home runs in 6 games. Both came in one game, one inning.

I'm a few more bad games from punting on the season and simming and playing 1 every 5. Currently 5 games back may 7.

I'll get some screen grabs and post them tommorow.

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

So i simmed from opening day to may 1 to catch up. So I've played 6. Averaging 4 runs per game. My pitching is holding up. Only allowing about 3 or 4 per game. 2 games i was winning in the 9 and got walked off on (thank you Christian Yelich).

I will get my exact stats to ya tommorow. The main thing that I'm noticing is how many good good i get that are flyouts. The Pirates power numbers aren't high ratings wise. So i don't expect no doubters. But i try my best to work into a good count. I look at the batter analysis and try to catch the trend if the pitcher is hanging pitches or if he keeps putting the fastball in the same spot. So i get really mad when i finally power swing on a high Change up, it's good good in the center of my pci on the batter feedback and it's a flyout to center (albeit with Gregory Polanco)

I'm thinking about either lowering hitting to HOF or adding + 1 to power or something. I have 2 home runs in 6 games. Both came in one game, one inning.

I'm a few more bad games from punting on the season and simming and playing 1 every 5. Currently 5 games back may 7.

I'll get some screen grabs and post them tommorow.

I won the MVP award with Giancarlo Stanton who hit 57 HRs (59 IRL) playing every game of my 2017 season. Not once did I use a power swing.

P.S. Don't use power swing.

[TannerYoho]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

I won the MVP award with Giancarlo Stanton who hit 57 HRs (59 IRL) playing every game of my 2017 season. Not once did I use a power swing.

P.S. Don't use power swing.

See, i wish i knew that [emoji23]

Do you think it does anything good or is it actually negative? Appreciate the knowledge.

As for power numbers i have 3 guys scouted 100% with 80 power. Here's hoping one of them falls to me. Pirates NEED a power bat in the worst way.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[I_HATE_THAT_DUDE]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

I won the MVP award with Giancarlo Stanton who hit 57 HRs (59 IRL) playing every game of my 2017 season. Not once did I use a power swing.

P.S. Don't use power swing.

Yeah agreed..I use normal or contact and all my long balls come that way..it’s way more gratifying.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

See, i wish i knew that [emoji23]

Do you think it does anything good or is it actually negative? Appreciate the knowledge.

As for power numbers i have 3 guys scouted 100% with 80 power. Here's hoping one of them falls to me. Pirates NEED a power bat in the worst way.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

I'm not sure whether it's anything negative, but I'm certain it gives you unrealstic expectations that lead to frustration, and that creates a bad pattern which you're in now trying to likely force more power.

And don't draft power you need TODAY in the draft. That comes from a trade or offseason free agency. Players you draft now aren't going to help you for at least 3 seasons. Anything sooner, and you're rushing it.

[TannerYoho]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

Oh for sure, need some in the pipeline is what i meant.

It does create the unrealistic expectations for sure. Also, when i get frustrated i play bad. So those go hand in hand.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[NolanRyansSnowmonkey]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

I won the MVP award with Giancarlo Stanton who hit 57 HRs (59 IRL) playing every game of my 2017 season. Not once did I use a power swing.

P.S. Don't use power swing.

I completely agree with this. I never use it.

Yeah Pittsburgh does lack in the power department. But hopefully you can hit for average well enough, and use strategies to squeak some extra runs across.

I personally think baseball it more fun without as many home runs, and you have to move runners over, hit and run, steal a base, sacrifice etc, and then boom - bonus home run or two.

For me, I probably win or lose enough games throughout the season just with great or poor baserunning that would make the difference in making the playoffs or not. So try to become more adept at controlling individual runners instead of just mashing L1.

Take that extra base with 2 outs. Don't get thrown out at third for the first or last out of an inning. Take second base on a single when they throw to the plate. Go first to third on a single to RF or CF if there is one out and it's going to be close. With wild pitches a bit heavy, the more runners you can get to third the better. It's not cheap because the CPU sure doesn't mind advancing on Wild Pitches so we actually need to also. I also like to take an extra step lead on second and third if they aren't holding me on. That one step can make the difference in scoring and getting gunned down at the plate.

Just some thoughts on how to overcome low Power.

[Mike Lowe]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

I completely agree with this. I never use it.

Yeah Pittsburgh does lack in the power department. But hopefully you can hit for average well enough, and use strategies to squeak some extra runs across.

I personally think baseball it more fun without as many home runs, and you have to move runners over, hit and run, steal a base, sacrifice etc, and then boom - bonus home run or two.

For me, I probably win or lose enough games throughout the season just with great or poor baserunning that would make the difference in making the playoffs or not. So try to become more adept at controlling individual runners instead of just mashing L1.

Take that extra base with 2 outs. Don't get thrown out at third for the first or last out of an inning. Take second base on a single when they throw to the plate. Go first to third on a single to RF or CF if there is one out and it's going to be close. With wild pitches a bit heavy, the more runners you can get to third the better. It's not cheap because the CPU sure doesn't mind advancing on Wild Pitches so we actually need to also. I also like to take an extra step lead on second and third if they aren't holding me on. That one step can make the difference in scoring and getting gunned down at the plate.

Just some thoughts on how to overcome low Power.

How do you overcome a lack of power? Pitching & defense.

[TannerYoho]

Re: Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

How do you overcome a lack of power? Pitching & defense.

Hahaha, yes. Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte diving for balls they have no chance at is why I lost my last game cost me 3 runs, 2 of which was an inside the park Homer!

That's okay though, I've made a few bone headed decisions on the base paths!