Reasons I'm playing ESPN 2k4 again

[LIGHTNING]

Re: Reasons I'm playing ESPN 2k4 again

I just played a fantastic game of baseball last night on ESPN 2k4.

Angels at White Sox...Jeff Weaver vs. Jose Contreras (I since updated by trading Weaver to St. Louis)

Starting lineups: Angels

Figgins cf
Cabrera ss
Guerrero rf
Anderson lf
Rivera dh
Erstad 1b
McPherson 3b
J Molina c
Kennedy 2b

ChiSox:

Podsednik lf
Iguchi 2b
Mackowiak cf
Thome 1b
Konerko dh
Dye rf
Pierszynski c
Crede 3b
Uribe ss

Game settings were LEGEND, VERY SMALL CURSOR, REAL PITCH SPEED, LOW WIDE CAMERA BATTING, PITCHER CAMERA, CLASSIC 1-BUTTON HITTING.

A pitchers' duel through the first 6 innings. Contreras was keeping me off balance with a wicked changeup and had 6 K's and was shutting me out 1-0 on just 2 hits. Meanwhile, Weaver was almost as impressive, striking out 4 but walking 4 as well. Walks kill. In the third, Weaver walked the leadoff hitter, was bunted to second, and scored on a gapper by Uribe. Weaver got into trouble in the sixth as well, walking the first two batters on 10 pitches. A quick mound visit helped Jeff regain his composure though. He got Pierszynski to pop out to first then got Crede to hit into a 6-4-3 DP!!

The top of the 7th is what made this game a classic. Guerrero lined a sharp single to left. Garret Anderson fell behind 0-2 but worked a walk. Rivera popped out to 3rd. So, 1 out, 2 on, Erstad up. Erstad falls behind 0-2. Then a ball. Then two fouls. Then ball 2. Then another foul. Then ball three. Then Erstad fouls off six straight pitches until Contreras throws a belt high fastball and Erstad pulls one into the right field bleachers for a 3-run jack and a 3-1 lead!!! I was pumped! My wife looked at me like I was nuts.

Then the bullpen went to work. Scot Shields worked the seventh and I brought in J.C. Romero in the eighth. Romero started the ninth as I had him pitch to Pierzsynski. Then I brought in K-Rod. He strikes out the first hitter then promptly gives up back-to-back singles. He closes the game by getting Juan Uribe to fly out to center. Game over!! 3-1 Halos. What a classic!!

Final linescore: 3-6-1 for the Angels. 1-7-1 for the Sox.

This is the only game I've been able to work the at-bat like I did with Erstad. Fouling off pitches. You could in HH as well, but not quite like this. The DP I turned in the sixth to kill the ChiSox rally was so bang-bang it was sick. It was intuitive and just "felt right". Weaver had moments of brilliance, like striking out Thome on some high inside cheese after falling behind 3-0. Then, he couldn't put the ball over the plate and walked two successive hitters. The hit variety and ball physics are just simply superb in this game. And, while many people didn't like "cursor" hitting, it flows so smoothly and I NEVER feel like the ball being hit is scripted.

It's just too bad they couldn't have continued to develop this game with Blue Shift.

MLB 2K4 is indeed a great baseball game and I agree with your impressions. The hit variety is excellent and the pitch counts are very realistic and I throw some walks with the classic pitching unlike most other baseball games. There is a lot of variety in the games, some low scoring some high scoring etc. Great teams do not always play like great teams and bad teams do not always play poorly. One game when my pitchers confidence got real low, I threw ten walks with the classic pitching with the pitching variability slider set high. I am playing another season with the Astros. Too bad Kush decided to make so many unnecessary changes to this great game.

[griffy97]

Re: Reasons I'm playing ESPN 2k4 again

Great news guys!!

I am now in the final stages of my massive 2k4 roster update. I only have a few teams left to edit and then I plan to finish age-adjusting the players, tweaking ratings, etc.

Now, I can use YOUR help.

If anyone can help me with some of the following pitcher's repretrores I would be very thankful. (i.e. What do they throw and what's their "out" pitches):

Dodgers - Saito, Broxton, Billingsley
Giants - Hennessey, Cain
Padres - Chris Young
Rockies - Francis
Astros - Buchholtz, Wandy Rodriguez
Cards - Reyes, Wainwright
Reds - Majewski, Bray
Marlins - Nolasco, Sanchez, Olsen
Phils - Hamels, Lidle
Mets - Pelfrey
Braves - Davies, Chuck Jones
Angels - Jered Weaver, Santana
A's - Haren, Street
Mariners - Felix Hernandez
Rangers - Koronka, Otksuna
Twins - Liriano
ChiSox - McCarthy
Tigers - Verlander, Miner
Red Sox- Papelbon, Lester, Delcarmen
O's - Adam Loewen
Blue Jays - League, Jansenn, Chacin
Yankees - Wang
D-Rays - Kazmir, Switzler

Once that's completed and I finalize the post-trading deadline moves, I'm FINISHED!! And, I gotta tell you: It's looking GREAT!! Like a brand new game, guys! Any help any of you guys can give by posting some info on the above pitchers would be GREATLY appreciated.

[HK-47]

Re: Reasons I'm playing ESPN 2k4 again

Don't forget about Howie Kendrick...He's been tearing it up!

[griffy97]

Re: Reasons I'm playing ESPN 2k4 again

Don't forget about Howie Kendrick...He's been tearing it up!

He's on the third roster update that will be coming out in a few days. If you have this game, please check out the rosters I posted. You'll be pleased!