JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

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  • JoshC1977
    All Star
    • Dec 2010
    • 11564

    #1

    JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

    Update: September 23, 2019 - Updates to Pitch Control and Pitch Speed Settings

    I strongly debated whether starting a slider thread, given the sheer simplicity of what I am using. However, as I looked across the other slider threads, I realized that I am a bit 'different' in terms of philosophy/approach than many. The sliders you DO NOT change are just as important as the ones you DO change.

    Why All Star?

    I’ve always preferred the “feel” of All Star – it doesn’t feel forced or biased. It feels like little subtleties in player ratings mean more. Don’t get me wrong, HOF is fine and dandy, but things that should happen on occasion (like a mid-40s power guy hitting a HR or hitting an oppo-field shot) are just a touch too rare for my taste. I've historically waffled a bit between AS and HOF and I ultimately went to HOF last year as I rarely felt "threatened" by the CPU offense on AS.

    All star is a really good difficulty level this year; it's more challenging than it was last year. That said, I want to ramp-up the mental challenge a bit...I want a "smarter" version of All Star, but one that maintains the fundamental balance of the level.

    Before I get into the setup, a couple of general comments about how I approach the game:

    •Directional hitting/classic pitching are a 'must'. I want player ratings to be at the forefront of outcomes. To me, it's pointless to play a game with real players if the user can dictate too much of the outcome. On All Star, interfaces like meter pitching and zone hitting can allow the user too much control over the outcomes; which we do not want.

    •I care WAY more about gameplay than I do stats. I just want variety in outcomes; if every game feels the same, it's boring. I don't go crazy looking at in-depth stats to try to compare to real life trends. As long as the final outcomes fall in the range of what's believable, I'm good.

    •Turn off every possible visual aid - you'll never learn to walk on your own if you always use a crutch. Turn off vibration too, it's an aid for aiming pitches that we don't need. Real pitchers' arms don't magically vibrate when they're aiming out of the zone, our controllers shouldn't either. Do everything by feel. Of course, it enhances the beauty of the game, but it does something else; it adds a layer of difficulty for the user without changing a darn thing slider-wise.

    •If slider adjustments are needed, adjust to make the game "smarter" whenever possible. Yes, you can actually tone things down by toning other things up. That said...I STRONGLY believe that going more than 1 point from default in either direction will begin to cause issues (see the next bullet). So, our world here will be defined by values between 4-6.

    •I disdain "Slider RNG". Slider RNG is basically where a slider is set to heavily influence outcomes outside of player ratings. When I push a button to swing the bat or throw the ball, I want the player ratings to drive the outcome (not the fact that I changed a slider to preferentially favor an outcome). Now, sometimes there are game imbalances which necessitate a slight adjustment to bring it back to balanced; but I will not adjust a slider to favor one outcome more than another (i.e. tailoring the game to what I think baseball should be).


    The Settings

    Batting and Baserunning:
    Hitting Difficulty: All-Star
    Hitting Interface Directional
    Input Type - Buttons
    Plate Coverage Indicator - Off
    Camera Shift - Off
    In-Play View Offense - Broadcast

    Hitting View: Retro (Users Choice)
    The camera angle you hit with. Majorly important!! Retro works really well for me but it may not for you. If you have a nice solid sample size (~40 games) or if you've had very consistent outcomes over a 15-20 game stretch and feel hitting is overly easy or overly difficult for you based on the team/players you're using, this should be the first place to look. I do know for a fact that one's perception of the pitch speed will vary depending on your camera (fish eye is an example of a camera where pitch speed will seem faster).


    Ball Trail - Off
    Button Interface: Classic

    Guess Pitch: Off
    There are horror stories about people who think this will make the game a bit easier. The reality is that the game arbitrarily punishes you for guessing wrong. Anticipating the pitch and location is already part of the game - guess pitch is an redundant and unneccessary setting. I implore everyone to not use it.

    Baserunner Interface: Default
    Baserunning Decisions: Assist
    Sliding Decisions: Assist
    Runner Window: Off (Much more challenging and rewarding plus cleaner screen)

    Pitching:
    Pitching Difficulty: All Star
    Pitching Interface: Classic

    Pitching View: Broadcast
    This adds a little variety as the angle changes for each stadium (and it will change how much you need to move the stick to move the ball marker as well...so it is an adjustment for road games...like real life). If you're not a fan of that (or if you get a bad angle that doesn't show the catcher's sign), the Outfield camera is a nice option (I used that all last year)

    Pitching Ball Marker: Off ("On" for those that struggle with it off)
    Pitch Callout: Off (cleaner screen but turn it on if you like)
    Pitch Confidence: On
    Pitch Delay: Normal
    API: Default

    Fielding:
    Throwing Interface: Buttons

    Throwing Meter: Off
    Throwing Difficulty: NA
    Throwing Decision: Off
    Throw Canceling: On

    Fielding Decision: Auto
    Auto fielding is awesome because it maximizes player ratings and it looks beautiful. I've also seen manual fielding in action and SDS did a good job of making those ratings matter. So, if you like the challenge, go for it.

    Defensive Shift: Manual
    Auto-shift has cost more players games (both offline and online) than any other thing. If you use auto-shift, be very conscious of extreme shifts...an oppo hit away from the shift can change the outcome of a game.

    All Indicators - off
    Fielding View Offense: Broadcast
    Fielding View Defense: Broadcast

    General
    Strike Zone: Off
    Hot Zones: Off
    Warm Up Relievers - On
    Balks: Off
    Tutorial Tips - Off
    Post Game Auto Save - On
    Umpire Balls and Strikes: Personalized
    Umpire Close Plays: On
    Check Swing Appeals: On
    Injuries: On
    Ejections: On
    Scorebar Display - On
    Pitch Select Display - Off
    Swing/Pitch Info - Off
    Vibration - Off
    Game Log Order - Default

    Presentation Options
    Presentation Mode - Broadcast
    Pre Pitch Cameras - Your choice
    Frequency - Your choice
    Batter Walkup - On
    In-game Ticker - On
    Closed Captioning - Off

    The Sliders

    Dynamic Difficulty Sensitivity 0

    User/CPU Contact 5
    This is a big change from before where we had it at 6. I just feel as though the change from default made high contact hitters a bit too good (particularly for users). It lead to some amazing ball physics but it was ultimately too imbalanced for my tastes.

    User/CPU Power 5
    Power/exit velo is fine on default All Star.

    User/CPU Timing 5

    User/CPU Foul Frequency 5
    Dropping this to even 4 and you start seeing some BAD looking swings that make no sense (meaning we have to compensate with about 3 other sliders...which is taking us the wrong direction, away from default). I'll say this, I see just as many 10 pitch ABs on lower values as I do at default. I've never really seen the benefit in changing this slider. We leave this alone.

    User/CPU Solid Hits 4
    The classic adjustment most slider guys make, lowering solid hits. This is a good global tuning for hitting. This will allow for more batted ball variety without introducing too much 'Slider RNG' to the mix.

    User/CPU Starter Stamina 6
    Looking to add ~10 or so more pitches per start - this works very well. My belief is that SDS' default setting is geared towards the 'average gamer' who will be unable to draw an appropriate number of pitches per inning. You should target 12-15 pitches per inning as a goal for number of pitches seen....which means a SP will throw about 90 pitches in 6 innings.

    User/CPU Reliever Stamina 5

    User Pitcher Control 6
    I've gone back and forth on this. I really do feel like this is the best overall value. The CPU hitting is just smarter here. Sure, I arbitrarily miss spots more at 5, but I tend to walk more batters at 6. I can't explain it, but I get hammered a lot more by the CPU offense with this setting.

    CPU Pitcher Control 6
    I've gone back and forth on this as well. Ultimately, the CPU pitchers are just smarter here.

    User/CPU Pitcher Consistency 5
    I see an adequate number of wild pitches here; no need to change.

    Strike Frequency 5
    First strike percentages are fine and vary depending on context. No changes needed.

    Manager Hook 5
    You're going to see wonky outcomes at times, but you do IRL too. Just roll with it.

    Pickoffs 5
    Looks fine as is.

    Fastball Pitch Speed 7 (users choice)
    Off speed Pitch Speed 6 (users choice)

    Updated for my own personal preferences. Huge shoutout to Gman here. The thing I've always hated with the higher pitch speed setting is that it makes the input feel entirely reflex-based. By keeping the off-speed pitch setting a notch below, it helps keep the 'skill' in hitting while adding more velo.

    Fielding Errors Infield 5
    Fielding Errors Outfield 5
    Throwing Errors Infield 5
    Throwing Errors Outfield 5
    Default is beautifully well-done this year with respect to errors. Raising these just makes major leaguers look like little leaguers on the field.

    Fielder Run Speed 5
    Fielder Reaction 5
    Fielder Arm Strength Infield 5
    Fielder Arm Strength Outfield 5
    Baserunner Speed 5
    Baserunner Steal Ability 5
    Baserunner Steal Frequency 5
    Wind 5

    Injuries 6 (optional)
    You're welcome to use whatever you'd like here; Armor's injury approach should be ok here for sure; I just forget to change them back-and-forth half the time.

    Trade Slider 5 - April
    Trade Slider 6 - May
    Trade Slider 7 - June
    Trade Slider 10 - July
    Trade Slider 6 - August
    Trade Slider 5 - September
    Trade Slider 5 - October
    Trade Slider 9 - November thru February
    Trade Slider 6 - Spring Training

    This is similar to Armor's, but I like to see a little "ramp-up".


    Possible Set Modifications

    1. Camera...camera...camera. Hitting is 'too easy' or 'too hard'? Look at this before ANYTHING else.

    2. Pitch speed. If you feel like you are ahead of every pitch, bump up the speed ONE notch. That's it. If you feel like you are behind every pitch, bump down the speed ONE notch. That's it.

    3. To change your challenge but without changing game difficulty, adjust the timing slider to make it easier/harder for the user or CPU. One-click is enough to make a major difference.

    4. If you need an extreme change in difficulty (harder or easier), just change the difficulty and use the current set - it should work beautifully regardless of level.

    Frequently Asked Questions
    What is an appropriate sample size?
    I consider a 'small sample size' for any sports games to be about 1/4 of a season. For baseball, that's about 40 games. Now, corroborating support (when assessing a change) can reduce the sample size significantly. But for 'run of the mill' assessments of a slider set's balance and effectiveness, I consider that 1/4 season to be the smallest acceptable sample size.

    How do you handle pitch selection?
    I do not believe that following your catcher's pitch suggestions is "more sim" than calling your own. The fun part of pitching (and that requiring the most user skill) is knowing how to pitch and set up a batter.

    Can I use Quick Counts?
    First of all, I never use them; I like to see the pitcher/batter duel unfold. I've heard positive reports with QCs and this setup. Just know that you might be making it tougher on yourself using these, as sometimes those early count pitches are the ones you can feast on.

    Can I use other control interfaces (meter, zone, analog, etc) or use these for MoM or CPU v CPU mode?
    You can try, but you're leaving more of the outcome in your hands instead of with the ratings. If you're skilled at those interfaces, it may skew the results in your favor. For you guys who enjoy just watching the action, I have no clue. We're pretty balanced here, so it should be OK...but if you're a 'stat hound' and expect every little stat to be perfect, I suggest you go to a dedicated thread.

    I see (too many/too few) of (insert stat name). What slider can I adjust to fix that?
    The most common (and annoying) question. Be objective and look at your own approach at how you play the game. It's often quite revealing and will give you ways to improve upon that stat(s) without changing a single slider. Sliders are all relative, so it can be tricky to isolate one particular area of the game without affecting 5 or 6 more.

    How many games do you play in franchise?
    I play every pitch of every game. I just cannot sim through stuff, I feel disconnected.

    What's the best roster to use?
    There is no such thing as a 'best roster' - they are all flawed in some way. I'm using an SDS roster for my Reds franchise (as the prospect potentials are more muted and make it much harder to make trades when you don't have 15 - 20 A/B potential guys in nearly every farm system) but will dabble with some custom rosters as well. One piece of advice: choose wisely.
    Last edited by JoshC1977; 01-07-2020, 11:34 AM.
    Play the games you love, not the games you want to love.
  • SFNiners816
    Pro
    • Aug 2008
    • 616

    #2
    Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

    Much like you I was using All-star on every version except for last year when All Star just seemed a bit too easy. I've played probably 40-50 games thus far with HOF hitting on 19 and honestly I haven't liked it as much as I did with the AS on the previous versions.


    I was currently using dynamic (Only 5 or 6 games so, I think my Hitting is at a veteran +) with the hopes that an All Star + would suit me well when I got there.



    I'm liking the looks of your slider set here and I plan on giving them a try.

    Comment

    • No.27
      Pro
      • Dec 2015
      • 543

      #3
      Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

      Josh, thanks for sharing these and providing such a coherent slider explanation. I moved back to Default All Star about a week ago because basically I like the way it pIays and looks. I have also noticed pitches drifting back into the zone. Cutters for me have been particularly annoying. I aim well outside the zone and have my Pitchers delivery points down but I’m never sure whether it will be a strikeout or giving up a home run. I’m going to give the tweaks a try for a week and see how I go.

      Comment

      • bravesfan1984
        MVP
        • Mar 2008
        • 2808

        #4
        Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

        Love your philosophy for sliders Josh, use your Madden ones every year. So glad you decided to share your MLBTS sliders!
        Braves | Cowboys | ND Football | UNC Basketball | 4-Kevin Harvick


        Comment

        • SFNiners816
          Pro
          • Aug 2008
          • 616

          #5
          Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

          I wanted to sneak in one of my 2025 Cubs franchise games with your sliders before my real Cubbies play the Dodgers

          I gotta say that was a very fun game of baseball and not nearly the chore that HOF/zone/with everything on screen had become for me on 19. I can’t stress how much of a revealation it is to play a game with a clean screen and directional hitting. It just feels right and I honestly think that I have found a new way to play after over 1800 franchise games that goes back to Mlb14.

          As for the game, I won a 9-3 contest over the pirates. I had 9 hits and 8 walks. The pirates had 5 hits and 2 walks. I realize that the true test of sliders lies in a nice sample size but this just felt different. It’s just so much fun tracking balls without all the stuff on the screen. I’m almost mad I haven’t been playing like this all along

          My team is a dynasty (5 WS in 11 years and 10 straight division titles) I have 6 90+ rated players so I should be seeing good results. The highlight of the game was Kris Bryant (now this is an 11th year HOF track 450+ career HRs 95 rated guy) going deep 3/4 of the way up the batter eye in PNC. That definitely didn’t suck

          I look forward to using these settings for a lot more games. However, first impressions are very favorable on my end.

          Comment

          • JoshC1977
            All Star
            • Dec 2010
            • 11564

            #6
            Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

            Originally posted by No.27
            Josh, thanks for sharing these and providing such a coherent slider explanation. I moved back to Default All Star about a week ago because basically I like the way it pIays and looks. I have also noticed pitches drifting back into the zone. Cutters for me have been particularly annoying. I aim well outside the zone and have my Pitchers delivery points down but I’m never sure whether it will be a strikeout or giving up a home run. I’m going to give the tweaks a try for a week and see how I go.
            Yeah, I feel ya. It took me a while to figure out, but there was just a tad too much variability on pitch movement for my taste on default. Bad pitchers still can get punished, but your aces will definitely feel more like aces. My results for my first five games in my real franchise (using Twins):

            7-1 Win
            5-4 Win
            14-6 Loss
            5-2 Win
            7-2 Loss

            Definitely some variability (which is the key of what I am looking for)...

            As a total side note, in 5 games I also lost Sano for 2 months and Buxton for the season. Injuries are for real and I am loving it (yes, at default)

            Originally posted by SFNiners816
            I wanted to sneak in one of my 2025 Cubs franchise games with your sliders before my real Cubbies play the Dodgers

            I gotta say that was a very fun game of baseball and not nearly the chore that HOF/zone/with everything on screen had become for me on 19. I can’t stress how much of a revealation it is to play a game with a clean screen and directional hitting. It just feels right and I honestly think that I have found a new way to play after over 1800 franchise games that goes back to Mlb14.

            As for the game, I won a 9-3 contest over the pirates. I had 9 hits and 8 walks. The pirates had 5 hits and 2 walks. I realize that the true test of sliders lies in a nice sample size but this just felt different. It’s just so much fun tracking balls without all the stuff on the screen. I’m almost mad I haven’t been playing like this all along

            My team is a dynasty (5 WS in 11 years and 10 straight division titles) I have 6 90+ rated players so I should be seeing good results. The highlight of the game was Kris Bryant (now this is an 11th year HOF track 450+ career HRs 95 rated guy) going deep 3/4 of the way up the batter eye in PNC. That definitely didn’t suck

            I look forward to using these settings for a lot more games. However, first impressions are very favorable on my end.
            Absolutely man, if you have a stacked team, you should perform well....I mean, that's the whole point of team-building. Glad you enjoyed the feel in your first game!
            Play the games you love, not the games you want to love.

            Comment

            • No.27
              Pro
              • Dec 2015
              • 543

              #7
              Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

              Thanks for the heads up on the injury slider and will leave it as is. I’m convinced the game on Default All Star out of the box this year is like a dream come true. It’s right in my wheelhouse. Like you I tinkered with Fielder Reaction and Speed, Foul Frequency etc but felt I kept going backwards in terms of animations and gameplay. With your tweaks I’m finished tinkering so early and the game is so good I can see myself getting in all 162 games.
              Last edited by No.27; 04-24-2019, 10:18 PM.

              Comment

              • SFNiners816
                Pro
                • Aug 2008
                • 616

                #8
                Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

                Just a little update 4 games in:

                W 9-3 with 9 hits and 8 walks
                W 7-3 with 7 hits and 6 walks
                L 3-4 with 7 hits and 5 walks
                L 3-4 with 3 hits and 8 walks

                I was always pretty patient and the clean screen makes it even easier to do so. I’m making it a point to grind ABs and take walks. I actually love it because it’s giving me Great Ave and On-base splits.

                I have yet to face an ace (90+ rating). My next game is vs a 93 rated P.

                Comment

                • bravesfan1984
                  MVP
                  • Mar 2008
                  • 2808

                  #9
                  Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

                  Josh, hoping I'm not overlooking it, but do you use quick counts or no?

                  Sent from my SM-G965U using Operation Sports mobile app
                  Braves | Cowboys | ND Football | UNC Basketball | 4-Kevin Harvick


                  Comment

                  • JoshC1977
                    All Star
                    • Dec 2010
                    • 11564

                    #10
                    Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

                    Originally posted by bravesfan1984
                    Josh, hoping I'm not overlooking it, but do you use quick counts or no?

                    Sent from my SM-G965U using Operation Sports mobile app
                    No, I do not...every single pitch, every single game. If I want more 'quick play' in a gaming session, I switch over to March to October or DD.
                    Play the games you love, not the games you want to love.

                    Comment

                    • JoshC1977
                      All Star
                      • Dec 2010
                      • 11564

                      #11
                      Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

                      Originally posted by SFNiners816
                      Just a little update 4 games in:

                      W 9-3 with 9 hits and 8 walks
                      W 7-3 with 7 hits and 6 walks
                      L 3-4 with 7 hits and 5 walks
                      L 3-4 with 3 hits and 8 walks

                      I was always pretty patient and the clean screen makes it even easier to do so. I’m making it a point to grind ABs and take walks. I actually love it because it’s giving me Great Ave and On-base splits.

                      I have yet to face an ace (90+ rating). My next game is vs a 93 rated P.
                      Are those walk totals the walks you've taken or the ones you've issued (I'd assume the former but was curious)?
                      Play the games you love, not the games you want to love.

                      Comment

                      • bravesfan1984
                        MVP
                        • Mar 2008
                        • 2808

                        #12
                        Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

                        Originally posted by JoshC1977
                        No, I do not...every single pitch, every single game. If I want more 'quick play' in a gaming session, I switch over to March to October or DD.

                        Figured that would be the answer, just wanted to verify. Appreciate it!
                        Braves | Cowboys | ND Football | UNC Basketball | 4-Kevin Harvick


                        Comment

                        • SFNiners816
                          Pro
                          • Aug 2008
                          • 616

                          #13
                          Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

                          Originally posted by JoshC1977
                          Are those walk totals the walks you've taken or the ones you've issued (I'd assume the former but was curious)?
                          Those are the ones I’ve taken. I should also mention that I do use quick counts. I’ve always loved that feature.

                          I’ve always been pretty patient (well, as much as quick counts allow you to. It is fun battling out of an 0-2 hole). My Kris Bryant’s career ave/OB is like .295/.398 with his Uber year being .330/.450.

                          Just out of curiousity, what is the mlb ave for walks per game? Edit: I looked it up and it appears that 3-4 walks per game seems to be the average. So I’m trending well above that thus far.....I’m gonna see if this trend continues. Go thing is I just started my 2025 month of May so at months end I will get a nice stat layout of approx 30 with these sliders.
                          Last edited by SFNiners816; 04-25-2019, 09:54 AM.

                          Comment

                          • Ranger Fan
                            Rookie
                            • Dec 2005
                            • 478

                            #14
                            Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

                            Originally posted by JoshC1977
                            I strongly debated whether starting a slider thread, given the sheer simplicity of what I am using. However, as I looked across the other slider threads, I realized that I am a bit 'different' in terms of philosophy/approach than many. The sliders you DO NOT change are just as important as the ones you DO change.

                            Why All Star?
                            I’ve always preferred the “feel” of All Star – it doesn’t feel forced or biased. It feels like little subtleties in player ratings mean more. Don’t get me wrong, HOF is fine and dandy, but things that should happen on occasion (like a mid-40s power guy hitting a HR or hitting an oppo-field shot) are just a touch too rare for my taste. I've historically waffled a bit between AS and HOF and never really found using All Star+ (using dynamic difficulty) to be an adequate solution. I ultimately went to HOF last year as I rarely felt "threatened" by the CPU offense on AS.

                            I have played a lot at Default All Star this year and it is fantastic. I would go as far as to say that this year's All Star is on par (difficulty-wise) with last year's HOF. I played MLB 18 right up to the launch of 19, and I've gotten my butt kicked more on AS this year (in a much smaller number of games) than I ever did on HOF last year. The CPU can hurt you on AS this year with the enhanced hitting engine, animations are smooth, and CPU pitching is smarter on AS than it has been in the past.

                            However, there is one significant wart; there are flat-out WAY too many base hits for both sides. Every game I have played on default AS, both sides have had 10+ hits. Lots of variety in wins/losses, but just way too many runners on-base in general (a related concern was that elite pitchers did not feel elite enough - again, for both sides). My goal here, bring back variety in terms of total hit numbers without altogether nerfing offense (i.e. I don't want a 2-1 score every game).

                            Before I get into the setup, a couple of general comments about how I approach the game:

                            • I care WAY more about gameplay than I do stats. I just want variety in outcomes; if every game feels the same, it's boring. I don't go crazy looking at in-depth stats to try to compare to real life trends. As long as the final outcomes fall in the range of what's believable, I'm good.
                            • Turn off every possible visual aid - you'll never learn to walk on your own if you always use a crutch. Turn off vibration too, it's an aid for aiming pitches that we don't need. Real pitchers' arms don't magically vibrate when they're aiming out of the zone, our controllers shouldn't either. Do everything by feel. Of course, it enhances the beauty of the game, but it does something else; it adds a layer of difficulty for the user without changing a darn thing slider-wise.
                            • Directional hitting/classic pitching are a 'must'. I want player ratings to be at the forefront of outcomes.
                            • If slider adjustments are needed, adjust to make the game "smarter" whenever possible. Yes, you can actually tone things down by toning other things up.
                            • I disdain "Slider RNG". Slider RNG is basically where a slider is set to heavily influence outcomes outside of player ratings. When I push a button to swing the bat or throw the ball, I want the player ratings to drive the outcome (not the fact that I changed a slider to preferentially favor an outcome). Now, sometimes there are game imbalances which necessitate a slight adjustment to bring it back to balanced; but I will not adjust a slider to favor one outcome more than another (i.e. tailoring the game to what I think baseball should be).

                            The Goal
                            So, the idea here is to keep the sliders (on All Star) as close to default as possible while toning down base hits.

                            The Settings

                            Batting and Baserunning:
                            Hitting Difficulty: All-Star
                            Hitting Interface - Directional
                            Camera: I use retro as it helps me identify low pitches better (at the cost of visualizing pitch timing) but it's entirely up to you. Find a camera that works for you. Note: with a complete clean-screen, you may want a wider angle to see your runner at first for steal attempts.

                            Pitching:
                            Pitching Difficulty: All-Star
                            Pitching Interface: Classic
                            Camera view: I'd advise broadcast view. Every ballpark has a different view, which means you have to adjust how you aim pitches on the road. It builds-in a little 'home field advantage' for you once you adjust to the team you're using (why having the cursor and vibration off is so key).

                            Fielding:
                            Throwing Interface: Buttons
                            Fielding Decision: Auto

                            Remember - turn off all the UI plus vibration - if you need a full breakdown, go to Armor and Sword's thread, just toggle vibration off as well!!!!


                            The Sliders

                            Dynamic Difficulty Sensitivity - it doesn't matter

                            User/CPU Contact 5
                            This affects SO many things (read the in-game description) and frankly, is the core of the hitter's ability. With too much offense overall, it would seemingly make sense to change this to tone down the offense. But, it sapped way too much and dumbed down the CPU. This stays at default.

                            User/CPU Power 5
                            Power/exit velo is fine on default All Star.

                            User/CPU Timing 5
                            I considered adjusting this down, but I'd rather improve gameplay by making things smarter (not dumbing-them down). Default it is.

                            User/CPU Foul Frequency 5
                            Dropping this to even 4 and you start seeing some BAD looking swings that make no sense (meaning we have to compensate with about 3 other sliders...which is taking us the wrong direction, away from default). I'll say this, I see just as many 10 pitch ABs on lower values as I do at default. I've never really seen the benefit in changing this slider. We leave this alone.

                            User/CPU Solid Hits 5
                            This was a much more critical slider to lower last year due to the hitting engine's imbalance favoring power hitters. This was the first value I tested to tone-down the number of hits, but it just wasn't the issue.

                            User/CPU Starter Stamina 5
                            User/CPU Reliever Stamina 5
                            I'm just being honest, I haven't touched these sliders in years. Yup, wonky stuff happens on occasion, but wonky stuff happens in real life too. Stamina settings do affect CPU pitching AI, so tread very carefully here. Remember that pitchers early in the year tend to throw fewer innings, so don't wig if a pitcher is pulled earlier than expected when you're in April (that said, I've had starters go 120+ pitches against me when I was getting shut down).

                            User/CPU Pitcher Control
                            And here we go, the one change. Point blank, at default, there are just way too many hittable pitches. Pitch Control is a direct antagonist to the Contact slider and since we don't want to lower the contact slider, we're raising control. I'm going to break this one down between the user value and CPU value.

                            User Pitch Control - 6
                            I pitch just OFF the edge A LOT (i.e. I try to aim outside the zone). On default, way too many of those borderline pitches drift back into the zone - which can lead to more hard contact at the expense of walks. On AS this year, the CPU is really good at punishing pitches in the zone and with a bit too much variance in pitch control at default, it led to too many hits. With the slider raised to 6, I see fewer pitches drifting into the zone and as a consequence, I've seen an uptick in user-issued walks and a decrease in hits. If you pitch smart, elite guys will stand out more, weak control guys are going to struggle a bit more to find the plate. But here is what I love, since we did not dumb down CPU hitting, if you miss your spot, a good CPU hitter can really punish you. This is why I think turning off the ball marker and vibration are SO key; you don't really know (except by feel) where you're aiming. If you're too skittish about throwing off the plate, you're going to get punished over the plate; you'll learn very quickly to err on the side of aiming well off the plate when trying to nibble.

                            CPU Pitch Control - 6
                            Let me say this, pitching AI on AS is improved on 19. Even so, it isn't quite where I want it at default as there is a hittable pitch nearly every at-bat, even by upper-tier guys. With the slider at 6, those upper tier guys will do a better job hitting the periphery of the zone until you can knock down their confidence. Lower-tier guys are smarter as well, but they make more mistakes for you to potentially punish. Overall, you'll be forced to swing at more sub-optimal pitches, which means more hit variety and more outs. Knowing your hitters, their timing windows, and how to exploit them with directional will make/break how well you hit.

                            User/CPU Pitcher Consistency 5
                            I see an adequate number of wild pitches here; no need to change.

                            Strike Frequency 5
                            First strike percentages are fine and vary depending on context. No changes needed.

                            Manager Hook 5
                            A lot like pitcher stamina, you're going to see wonky outcomes at times, but you do IRL too.

                            Pickoffs 5
                            Looks fine as is.

                            Fastball Pitch Speed 5 (users choice)
                            Off speed Pitch Speed 5 (users choice but match FB pitch speed)
                            The most important slider for user hitting; you HAVE to personalize pitch speeds to your needs. If you can consistently get out in front of high-90s fastballs (you should be able to sometimes, not all the time), it's too low for you. The biggest cries of "hitting's too easy" likely come from folks using pitch speeds that are too slow for them. Rule of thumb, find the pitch speed you're nearly always 'comfortable' with any fastball speed and then, bump it up one tick. Default has worked well for me this year.

                            Fielding Errors Infield 5
                            Fielding Errors Outfield 5
                            Throwing Errors Infield 5
                            Throwing Errors Outfield 5
                            Default is beautifully well-done this year with respect to errors. Raising these just makes major leaguers look like little leaguers on the field.

                            Fielder Run Speed 5
                            Fielder Reaction 5
                            If this were a HOF set, I would consider lowering both of these to 4 as defenders are just a bit too good there. On All Star, I feel it is very nicely balanced and the ratings shine nicely. I did try dropping these to stretch out the ratings a bit and some wonky animations began cropping-up.

                            Fielder Arm Strength Infield 5
                            Fielder Arm Strength Outfield 5
                            Baserunner Speed 5
                            Baserunner Steal Ability 5
                            Baserunner Steal Frequency 5
                            Wind 5

                            Injuries 5
                            You're welcome to use whatever you'd like here; Armor's injury approach should be ok here for sure; I just forget to change them back-and-forth half the time. I saw a fair number of injuries at default last year and have seen a few so far this year in a limited number of games. I don't think default is as bad as people make it out to be (people just get impatient if they go a few games without any).

                            Trade Slider 5 - April
                            Trade Slider 6 - May
                            Trade Slider 7 - June
                            Trade Slider 10 - July
                            Trade Slider 6 - August
                            Trade Slider 5 - September
                            Trade Slider 5 - October
                            Trade Slider 9 - November thru February
                            Trade Slider 6 - Spring Training
                            This is similar to Armor's, but I like to see a little "ramp-up".
                            By impatient on injuries you mean 1 minor injury in 45 games plus spring training being impatient. OK I'll have "more patience"

                            Comment

                            • JoshC1977
                              All Star
                              • Dec 2010
                              • 11564

                              #15
                              Re: JoshC1977's MLB 19 Sliders

                              Originally posted by SFNiners816
                              Those are the ones I’ve taken. I should also mention that I do use quick counts. I’ve always loved that feature.

                              I’ve always been pretty patient (well, as much as quick counts allow you to. It is fun battling out of an 0-2 hole). My Kris Bryant’s career ave/OB is like .295/.398 with his Uber year being .330/.450.

                              Just out of curiousity, what is the mlb ave for walks per game? Edit: I looked it up and it appears that 3-4 walks per game seems to be the average. So I’m trending well above that thus far.....I’m gonna see if this trend continues. Go thing is I just started my 2025 month of May so at months end I will get a nice stat layout of approx 30 with these sliders.
                              Yeah, see how those walks stabilize for you (I'm personally much closer to that 3-4 walks per game average). You may be seeing the ball a bit too well; if it does persist after about 30 games and IF you want to lower it, you could definitely raise the pitch speed to make it more of a challenge to decide whether to swing or not. (QCs also have a tendency to skew data like that).
                              Play the games you love, not the games you want to love.

                              Comment

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