JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

[JoshC1977]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

I need to start thinking like this lol

I'll tell you what got me into franchise for this series; Diamond Dynasty (offline only). Playing MLBTS18 I got myself in a twist (like always) with franchise a month after launch. I finally started toying around with Diamond Dynasty and something funny happened; I started having fun again.

It did 2 things for me:

1. Being forced to play on default 'sliders' I quickly realized that you can get a massive array of results. You just have to keep playing and having fun....the stats work themselves out.
2. It separated my previous compulsion with comparing everything to real life. I was 'that guy' that re-started constantly; whether it was a new roster or obsessing over stats. Whether you're playing DD or franchise...you have a player card with ratings.

Late in MLB18's cycle; I got to the trade deadline playing every game in about 2 months. I completed my first 162 game season (every game) for MLB19, and played 2 full seasons (yes, every game) last year. I fully expect to play 2-3 seasons with this game as well.

[JHedges2]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

"Real life" flies right out the window the moment you hit "Start Franchise".

I have such a hard time coming to terms with this, but it is absolutely spot on. I’m learning how to get over this mentality lol, but it is hard!


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[Rmiok222]

JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

I'll tell you what got me into franchise for this series; Diamond Dynasty (offline only). Playing MLBTS18 I got myself in a twist (like always) with franchise a month after launch. I finally started toying around with Diamond Dynasty and something funny happened; I started having fun again.



It did 2 things for me:



1. Being forced to play on default 'sliders' I quickly realized that you can get a massive array of results. You just have to keep playing and having fun....the stats work themselves out.

2. It separated my previous compulsion with comparing everything to real life. I was 'that guy' that re-started constantly; whether it was a new roster or obsessing over stats. Whether you're playing DD or franchise...you have a player card with ratings.



Late in MLB18's cycle; I got to the trade deadline playing every game in about 2 months. I completed my first 162 game season (every game) for MLB19, and played 2 full seasons (yes, every game) last year. I fully expect to play 2-3 seasons with this game as well.

That’s great advice. From launch this year my goal is to play a whole season, every pitch. Hopefully two! It shames me to say I’ve never done that. I’m determined though.


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[JoshC1977]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

I have such a hard time coming to terms with this, but it is absolutely spot on. I’m learning how to get over this mentality lol, but it is hard!

It IS hard...been there my friend...but you have to accept that it's an entirely different universe:

1. Different rosters (i.e. only 93 man)
2. Different rules (only three players per trade as a prime example)
3. Different injuries, lineups, and other interactions once you get into it.
4. Different budgetary dynamics.
5. Different draft pools.

I can go on and on. But even just the first one completely transforms player valuation and changes the ENTIRE dynamic of the whole league. Take everything you know about 'real' baseball and chuck it out the window; it no longer applies. You have to bury yourself in the ratings, not the names/likenesses. Just because some roster maker slaps the name Spencer Torkelson on a created player doesn't change anything....it's still just ratings...

It's why I focus on player ratings mattering and mode-balance vs "real life". That latter goal is literally unachievable....you will never, ever get a true mimic of real life in a franchise mode (for any sports game).

[bryanm1982]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

Very true. I'm itching to start a franchise but still don't know what NL Central team to go with.

Cubs - being a Cubs fan and might have some hard decisions with the core players. Keep them or trade them and do a rebuild. I love the animation from Baez hitting a home run though.

Cardinals - beautiful park and a good team. You read that Arenado loves being a Cardinal and you want to run that team and get them a championship.

Brewers - beautiful park as well. A good team that seems that can't get far in the playoffs. Be fun trying to win with them being a small market team.

Reds - Interesting team that can have a chance this year with some luck. Good mix of vets and young players coming up.

Pirates - I don't know if I have the patience with a full rebuild but that park is beautiful.

Have my heart set on the NL central so I can go to those parks often.

[Rmiok222]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

Very true. I'm itching to start a franchise but still don't know what NL Central team to go with.



Cubs - being a Cubs fan and might have some hard decisions with the core players. Keep them or trade them and do a rebuild. I love the animation from Baez hitting a home run though.



Cardinals - beautiful park and a good team. You read that Arenado loves being a Cardinal and you want to run that team and get them a championship.



Brewers - beautiful park as well. A good team that seems that can't get far in the playoffs. Be fun trying to win with them being a small market team.



Reds - Interesting team that can have a chance this year with some luck. Good mix of vets and young players coming up.



Pirates - I don't know if I have the patience with a full rebuild but that park is beautiful.



Have my heart set on the NL central so I can go to those parks often.

I thought about Milwaukee myself. Ended up going with Seattle though


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[ILLICIT206]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

How many games and what team are you using?

I've played around 20-25 games with various teams. Currently I'm running a franchise with the Marlins until OSFM rosters drop. I'm finding that my starters allow 1-2 runs at most and maybe a run or two from my bullpen. I usually use the Mariners and will be doing so in my franchise. It just seems a bit easy, so tough to find the sweet spot of challenging but not punishing.

[Detroit Tigers]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

I'm having a hard time finding the sweet spot this year. I find AS+ is perfect for hitting, but AS/AS+ is still a tad easy for pitching. HOF is definitely more challenging, but it becomes too hard to strike out the CPU using classic pitching. Any one in a similar spot that can offer up any tips?

I’m on AS+ hitting and HOF pitching and I like what I’ve seen so far. Has only been a handful of hours but nothing has stood out as being OP.

Lost on opening day 7-3 to CLE and it felt really earned, I made several bad mistakes; without them it’s probably more of a 4-4 game. I’m excited to keep going.

As for K numbers on HOF, mine are pretty low but my staff sucks. Batters in general don’t feel OP though. Plenty of bad swings when my pitchers actually execute their pitches.

[GoBlue81188]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

There probably are; definitely go through the roster (any roster you use) and make your own personal edits. I've made a handful of "little thing" changes throughout the roster and will probably continue to do so as I dive into my franchise. Whether it's Tarik Skubal or Felipe Furcal; at the end of the day, it's just a player card with ratings.

I'll say this....I'm viewing this as a fictional franchise with real players, not a replication of real life. "Real life" flies right out the window the moment you hit "Start Franchise".

All fair points. I had considered the 15 year sim as well to flush out these "real" players. However, I REALLY love sharing the franchise stories with the community here.
Part of that sharing is that we all have the same roster, same players, and so people become more engaged when they also connect to that same player.
That got me through the full 162 last year. I looked forward to shooting the breeze with you, Rogue, Bacon, etc.. It was a great little escape for me and a highlight of my 2020 gaming!

Good advice as always though. I wish we had the Bacon roster already, cuz it'd be cut and dry for me then.

[JoshC1977]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

All fair points. I had considered the 15 year sim as well to flush out these "real" players. However, I REALLY love sharing the franchise stories with the community here.
Part of that sharing is that we all have the same roster, same players, and so people become more engaged when they also connect to that same player.
That got me through the full 162 last year. I looked forward to shooting the breeze with you, Rogue, Bacon, etc.. It was a great little escape for me and a highlight of my 2020 gaming!

Good advice as always though. I wish we had the Bacon roster already, cuz it'd be cut and dry for me then.

I feel ya on the 'sharing' piece.

BTW, I attempted a sim as a starting point (I was 30 seasons out)...to be honest; meh. It just further cemented just how brilliantly artistic Bacon's roster is.

[ILLICIT206]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

I’m on AS+ hitting and HOF pitching and I like what I’ve seen so far. Has only been a handful of hours but nothing has stood out as being OP.

Lost on opening day 7-3 to CLE and it felt really earned, I made several bad mistakes; without them it’s probably more of a 4-4 game. I’m excited to keep going.

As for K numbers on HOF, mine are pretty low but my staff sucks. Batters in general don’t feel OP though. Plenty of bad swings when my pitchers actually execute their pitches.

I think I'll give it a go. How do you pitch? Do you go full clean screen? I'm just starting to try it out. I usually use ball marker fade and go with what the catcher calls, but I'm sort of enjoying learning the feel.

[Detroit Tigers]

JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

I think I'll give it a go. How do you pitch? Do you go full clean screen? I'm just starting to try it out. I usually use ball marker fade and go with what the catcher calls, but I'm sort of enjoying learning the feel.

Yep all clean but I do have rumble turned on fwiw

Edit: I should prolly turn it off Josh is gonna yell at me 🤣🤣

[tc020791]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

Want to start off by stating I’m playing on AS+/AS+. I’ve been having some similar issues as other people using this set. Pitching has been very easy and hitting has been a struggle for the most part. After a very small sample size, about 15-20 games, I’m just getting a lot of 2-1, 1-0, 3-2 games, with an occasional 6-4 game, but absolutely no shootouts. I’ve also been using different teams so it’s not like I’m getting used to a certain pitching staff or am playing with a below average lineup every game.

I play with swing/pitch feedback because I like how it shows where the pitch ended up just like it would on a real TV broadcast. I really wish you had the option to only see the pitching feedback like they had a few years back. Since I do get to see the swing feedback though, I do use it to see what’s going on under the hood. The thing I noticed most, with solid hits on 4, if you don’t get good or perfect timing, you’re probably not hitting the ball hard no matter who the batter is.

If we are looking for a ratings driven approach then I think this number could be off this year. I moved solid hits back to 5 and I am now able to see a difference in a great hitter and a bad hitter. You don’t need good or perfect timing to square up a ball with a great hitter anymore. Meanwhile you still do need to get that good or perfect timing to square up a ball with a sub par hitter. I’m also still seeing plenty of bloops, choppers, pop ups, and lazy fly balls. I feel like it’s breathed some life back into the game for me. I still need a bigger sample size but last game I had 7 runs on 14 hits with the Cubs, while striking out 15 times and walking 3 times.

On a totally unrelated note. I’ve been trying to find your explanation on stealing Josh. I know you said there’s another way to steal besides holding and releasing LT, or just tapping LT.

[Friar Fanatic]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

Hey Josh, I just wanted to give you an update. My SPs have slowly started to come back down to earth without any slider changes.

Their K/9, BB/9, WHIP, and ERAs, are all now well within normal ranges as real SPs. I will go back to hitting next year but im waist deep in the WC race and cant afford to blow games due to my hitting but I stuck with your pitching sliders (foul freq at 6) and have used the same sliders for like 95% of my games and they have been amazing. First time ever playing the show and your sliders have been a huge help to me!!! Thanks bud!!

I made some changes with my bullpen and called up and sent down some others and it has been much better. I seem to do much better with high K/9 RPs

[ILLICIT206]

Re: JoshC1977's "Maximize Player Ratings" MLB 21 Sliders

Want to start off by stating I’m playing on AS+/AS+. I’ve been having some similar issues as other people using this set. Pitching has been very easy and hitting has been a struggle for the most part. After a very small sample size, about 15-20 games, I’m just getting a lot of 2-1, 1-0, 3-2 games, with an occasional 6-4 game, but absolutely no shootouts. I’ve also been using different teams so it’s not like I’m getting used to a certain pitching staff or am playing with a below average lineup every game.

I play with swing/pitch feedback because I like how it shows where the pitch ended up just like it would on a real TV broadcast. I really wish you had the option to only see the pitching feedback like they had a few years back. Since I do get to see the swing feedback though, I do use it to see what’s going on under the hood. The thing I noticed most, with solid hits on 4, if you don’t get good or perfect timing, you’re probably not hitting the ball hard no matter who the batter is.

If we are looking for a ratings driven approach then I think this number could be off this year. I moved solid hits back to 5 and I am now able to see a difference in a great hitter and a bad hitter. You don’t need good or perfect timing to square up a ball with a great hitter anymore. Meanwhile you still do need to get that good or perfect timing to square up a ball with a sub par hitter. I’m also still seeing plenty of bloops, choppers, pop ups, and lazy fly balls. I feel like it’s breathed some life back into the game for me. I still need a bigger sample size but last game I had 7 runs on 14 hits with the Cubs, while striking out 15 times and walking 3 times.

On a totally unrelated note. I’ve been trying to find your explanation on stealing Josh. I know you said there’s another way to steal besides holding and releasing LT, or just tapping LT.

Yeah man, sounds like we're in the same boat here. I've taken the suggestion by Detroit Tigers to move pitching to HOF, and I've also adjusted both HUM/CPU solid hits to 5 and so we'll see how that pans out. In my first game at least, I'm finding that on HOF you realllllly have to play around with location and mixing pitch effort to strike out the CPU. I'm going to play around for the rest of the week and hopefully settle on something by Friday in time to start my Mariners franchise with OSFM!