Hollding Runners

[csavage]

If this has already been addressed somewhere please forgive me.
Does anyone know of a good way to hold base runners while in the stretch position? In other words I want to be able to pause and check the runner(s) but all I can do know is a quick throw to a base or throw home. I use Classic pithing BTW.

[baa7]

Re: Hollding Runners

Using the left trigger (I think it is) gives you a view from the mound of the runner(s). I'm not sure what it is you're asking though...

[csavage]

Re: Hollding Runners

Using the left trigger (I think it is) gives you a view from the mound of the runner(s). I'm not sure what it is you're asking though...

I know what you mean about that. But the problem is that once you do hold that trigger there is no way to come set and pause before you come to the plate. Does that make sense?

[baa7]

Re: Hollding Runners

I know what you mean about that. But the problem is that once you do hold that trigger there is no way to come set and pause before you come to the plate. Does that make sense?

I never noticed that. You would think you could release the trigger and go back to the behind the plate view. So what doesn't work for you with holding / picking off runners using the plate view?

[baa7]

Re: Hollding Runners

I tried it all again last night: when pitching, you CAN at any time exit the L-trigger mound view of the runners on base and go back to the behind the P or behind the plate view. With the pitcher set using the behind the plate view, you only have to hit the corresponding D-pad direction to make the P throw to the base and attempt the pickoff.

[csavage]

Re: Hollding Runners

I tried it all again last night: when pitching, you CAN at any time exit the L-trigger mound view of the runners on base and go back to the behind the P or behind the plate view. With the pitcher set using the behind the plate view, you only have to hit the corresponding D-pad direction to make the P throw to the base and attempt the pickoff.

Ok great! I will give it a try!

[csavage]

Re: Hollding Runners

That didn't work.
I feel like an idiot here. This is my problem.
I have a runner on first. With the pitcher leaning in for the sign I then want to come to the stretch and stay in the strect to "hold" the runner. Then I have the choice of throwing to first or throwing to the batter. The whole key is can I come set, pause for a few seconds, and then throw where I choose?

At this time I have not found a way to come to a complete stop. I have to make a quick throw to first or throw home. To me this makes it extra hard to slow down a runenr looking to steal.

[baa7]

Re: Hollding Runners

You know, it occurred to me last night while laying in bed staring at the ceiling that one way to create another level of realism in this game would be to lower the arm strength and arm accuracy (fielding) ratings of many RHP’s and conversely raise the ratings of a number of LHP’s. Those two ratings don’t affect the P’s ability to throw when pitching – they only affect his ability to quickly and accurately zing the ball to first when fielding or when trying to pick off a runner.

Good old Sierra FPS I know, and Hardball (I think), had P pickoff ratings. With this game one has to try and re-create things like that, so what if the majority of LHP’s had higher strength and accuracy ratings than RHP’s? Then when standing at first trying to steal second, one would have to take all that into consideration, and be super-wary if a LHP happens to be on the mound…

[baa7]

Re: Hollding Runners

At this time I have not found a way to come to a complete stop. I have to make a quick throw to first or throw home. To me this makes it extra hard to slow down a runenr looking to steal.

Okay, got it... That's not programmed into the game. You have the choice of throwing to first before you pick a pitch. But once you choose a pitch you have to pitch it. Holding a runner the way it's programmed in the game does work. This morning Jose Cruz was bouncing around at first, ready to scoot. After three throws over, he cut his leadoff down from 1 step to no step. The next time he was on first, I went through the same routine with him, only this time I couldn't get him to cut his lead down, even after throwing over maybe 5 times.

[csavage]

Re: Hollding Runners

I agree very much with what you are saying. Do you now understand what I'm trying to get at in my last explanation?
Franlky while I do love this game I feel the entire baserunning system is screwy. After many slider tweaking hours I have the game playing very well except baseruuning. Still working on that.

[csavage]

Re: Hollding Runners

Okay, got it...This morning Jose Cruz was bouncing around at first, ready to scoot. After three throws over, he cut his leadoff down from 1 step to no step. The next time he was on first, I went through the same routine with him, only this time I couldn't get him to cut his lead down, even after throwing over maybe 5 times.

I agree that repeated throws to a base will slow down the running game. It's just kinda akward not being able to come to a compltete stop.

[baa7]

Re: Hollding Runners

Franlky while I do love this game I feel the entire baserunning system is screwy. After many slider tweaking hours I have the game playing very well except baseruuning. Still working on that.

The baserunning system was and is clunky, but I’ve pretty much got the hang of it. I only get burned by it once in a while now…

I don’t know what others are seeing, but I’m seeing way too many stolen bases with the throwing sliders (the grayed-out ones) set @ 50. From what I’ve tested, a 99 C cannot and will never come close to throwing out a 99 runner… or even an 89 runner for that matter. On the other hand, I felt the C throwing was very, very realistic when I set the throwing sliders @ 65 (Pro difficulty). Problem with that is the other throwing sliders aren’t the same for both User and CPU. I’m still trying to find a solution that works for me as far as this one goes.

[sask3m]

Re: Hollding Runners

is it actually possible to pick a player off in this game?

[baa7]

Re: Hollding Runners

is it actually possible to pick a player off in this game?

Good question… To test that I imagine you’d have to bump up runner Stealing and Aggressiveness ratings, along with the AI Steal 2nd slider. Then get some P with great Arm ratings, intentionally walk with the batter, then try picking him off a number of times. My guess and instinct is that it isn’t possible – one of those little (but important) things they didn’t program into the game.

[BigBlue]

Re: Hollding Runners

AHA!

Finally someone who notices the same problem with pitching that I have.

From the stretch, you can't FREEZE the baserunner. As soon as the pitch type+location is selected, your pitcher goes home.

The other game that I play (MLB2006) does this PERFECTLY (it's my OFFLINE game of choice). You select your pitch type, your pitcher sets . . . then you have as much time as you need to freeze your runner before selecting location and the X button to complete your pitch OR try the pickoff.

I hope that 2K modifies this next year. LAST YEAR, using effort pitching, you could freeze the baserunner because it was a two-button process. Eliminating that 2nd button this year doesn't let you freeze the runner. So no matter which pitching method you choose (KZone, Effort, Classic), you can't freeze him.

Hope I didn't confuse anyone.

BigBlue