The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

[dragon4ever]

A 100 MPH heater isn't as effective as I thought it would be. The same could be said about the slider. I don't know but I think the best pitch in the game is the slurve or the changeup. I seem to get the most strikeouts with these pitches. The sinker and splitter seem to get jacked for homeruns the most, depite whoever is on the mound.

[bradleyhutchison]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

I hate throwing the sinker. It seems to generate ground balls if I leave it up. If I place it down and away, or even out of the zone, it is either taken for a ball or smashed into the outfield. This happens when I use anyone, including Tim Hudson, Fausto Carmona, or anyone else.

For me, the slider is the most effective pitch. The 2-seam and normal fastball are great for getting ahead and for placing your pitches, but the slider can be unhittable at times if placed correctly. Picking the corners with someone who has a nasty slider is very satisfying.

[peigone]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

If you're talking versus CPU, you really have to take into consideration CPU players' IE tendencies. Check them, and you'll see for example that one guy will swing at outside sliders, whereas someone else chases fastballs inside. Given CPU hitters are programmed to hit particular types of pitches, I have a hard time believing there are particular pitches in the game that all CPU hitters are going to have trouble with.

[wangjaz]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

as i've written in another post, unless you edit your pitcher's tendancies (groundball outs), the sinker is not an effective pitch in the game.
haven't tried editing each batter's groundball tendacnies.

most of the top sinkerballers/groundball pitchers have groudball tendancies similar to SO/flyball pitchers, around 40-60. you won't see much range throughout the game.

[SynShadowzz]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

It's all about situation for me.

If I've managed to maybe sneak a fastball over the heart of the plate for strike 1, and then nick the corner with a fastball for strike 2.. I'll usually go high and out of the zone with a changeup and try to get the batter to chase it. If he makes contact, there's a good chance it's going to be fouled back. Then I'll usually come back to the fastball, and throw outside.

So at this point, the count is 2-2. Then depending on the pitcher, I'll go to the Curve/Slider (whichever he has, or has rated higher) and try to nip the low outside corner of the strike zone. If I miss with it, and it's a full count.. I'll go high in the strike zone with a fastball again.

That's just one example. It's really about how I've started the at-bat, what the count is.

There's nothing better than blowing 2 strikes past the hitter and then dropping a gigantic 12-6 curve in the middle of the plate for a strike. Awesome stuff.

[bonafied0034]

The 12-6 curve that Wainwright and Carpenter have is nearly unhittable.

[broncos10]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

yea i was just about to post that wainwright's curveball is basically a guarantee strike. i also found out that if you throw a high curve (with any pitcher), the cpu usually take it because it looks like it will be way out of the zone. i've gotten plenty of strike outs this way.

[Sullyb2332]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

I think it depends on the pitcher, but I seem to have success getting K's on sliders running away from RH hitters. Also Power Curves dropping out of the strike zone are effective. I also have success on any pitch that I can start out of the zone and run back over the inside or outside corner. The 2-Seamer works great for this.

With regards to giving up HR's on Splitters...If you are giving up solid contact on a splitter, you are throwing it to the wrong location. It is not a pitch that should be thrown for a strike. Most of your splitters should bounce in there, hoping the hitter will chase. If you elevate a splitter trying to get a called strike, then it should be crushed. Start it at the bottom half of the zone and let the drop out of the zone.

[Kernel Pie]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

as i've written in another post, unless you edit your pitcher's tendancies (groundball outs), the sinker is not an effective pitch in the game.
haven't tried editing each batter's groundball tendacnies.

most of the top sinkerballers/groundball pitchers have groudball tendancies similar to SO/flyball pitchers, around 40-60. you won't see much range throughout the game.

Have you found this to be effective? I've tried this myself and didn't think it was doing anything.

[Sabo's corked Bat]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

Big Screwball=almost unhittable. I'll pitch three in a row down and away on any hitter on All Star difficulty.

[DontHateOnNumber2]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

Not even close. Knuckleball. It might get hit, but rarely hard. More often than not it'll be a dribbler out or popped up.

[Maccy46]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

Big Screwball=almost unhittable. I'll pitch three in a row down and away on any hitter on All Star difficulty.

Yep the screwball is my go to pitch for my player. Do any of the pitchers in the game have the screwball ?

Palm ball is a beauty as well.

[wangjaz]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

Have you found this to be effective? I've tried this myself and didn't think it was doing anything.

surprisingly, yes, i did notice a difference.
i've raised it for my pitchers to 80-95 for groundball outs.
AI still rarely hits for my sinker/splitter/2 seamers for grounders, more SOs, but i seem to be getting 30%-50% more infield groundballs overall.

haven't tried editing the AI pitchers and see if it effected my hitting though.

[wangjaz]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

Not even close. Knuckleball. It might get hit, but rarely hard. More often than not it'll be a dribbler out or popped up.

i hate knuckleballs with a passion.
messing up my timing real bad when they suddenly go to the BP and some guy starts throwing 90-95mph FBs. could never get back on track.

[Sabo's corked Bat]

Re: The most effective pitch to throw in the game?

Yep the screwball is my go to pitch for my player. Do any of the pitchers in the game have the screwball ?

Palm ball is a beauty as well.

Sure, Braden, Dice k, Russ Ortiz, throw them in real life, not sure about the game. I gave it to my 83 rated created pitcher in my franchise. His screwball is rated 84 and is his strikeout pitch. Just threw a no hitter and walked 2 with him.