mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

[RogueHominid]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

Yeah, I think I will lower the power to 75.

I tend to vary speed and location a good bit, and I switch from pitching guys forward one at bat to pitching them backward another. I also live by the MLB rule of only giving great hitters one good pitch to hit per at-bat (I throw lots of stuff out of the zone).

I've just seen guys clobber pitches well below the zone on this set, so it feels like nothing over the plate is safe at all, even if it's quite low. For that reason I've avoided pitching up. I try to pitch in to keep hitters honest from time to time, but I mostly live down and away.

It may be that I just need to get used to this set and try to vary my patterns even more than what I've done so far. I'll continue working on pitch variety and see what happens. Other than CPU hits, though, I'm thrilled with the set!

[mkharsh33]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

TM... I'm actually finding solid success by pitching HIGH in the zone. I'm always scared to pitch there, but I'm wondering if there's something to making the cpu think of their at-bats in terms of eye level planes. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it seemed at times I had the cpu baffled and actually had a few more called strike 3's today rather than swinging. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm wondering if this isn't programmed into the game somehow. I even saw Kouzmanoff swing at a pitch that was way HIGH and clearly a ball.

I'd hate for you to lower power down to 75 because I really think it takes away the potency of the cpu lineup. try moving the ball around in different eye levels and see what the next game does for you.

[RogueHominid]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

OK, I'll work first more on using the entire strike zone. I do think this game has pattern awareness, most definitely. I notice this especially when it comes to pitch speed, so it's not outlandish to think that the hitters can be confused on by hitting different spots on the vertical and horizontal planes in the zone.

I agree that at 80 PWR, the CPU lineup will put runs up on you. At 75 they're definitely handcuffed. I tried one game at 75 and could tell right away. On other slider sets I was just too able to command the zone and neuter lineups, even good ones. On this set, good teams will score 3-5 runs on you even if you pitch relatively well. It takes a heck of a performance to keep a decent lineup below that, which is good.

[mkharsh33]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

Another game...again, a WOW type of game. Monday's Astros (cpu) at Cubs (me) matchup. I won 4-3 in 11 innings. (yeah, back-to-back 11 inning walk off wins).

Astros struck first for a 2-0 lead in the first. (I seem to have Edinson Volquez disease). I came back to tie it in the bottom of the 1st. Took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 2nd. Astros tied it on a solo HR by Carlos Lee (a no-doubter to deep right).

It got interesting in the bottom of the 10th: Samardzja came on in relief of Kerry Wood. Walked two guys with 1 out. I walked Carlos Lee to load the bases and brought in my closer, Marmol. On a 3-2 count I struck out Bill Hall (pinch hitting for Wallace who was lifted by the cpu for a pinch runner earlier) and struck out Chris Johnson - both of them on sliders away.

In the 11th I got a single Soriano to score Castro (who was hit by a pitch). I win 4-3.

Astros: 3 runs - 8 hits - 0 err
Cubs: 4 runs - 9 hits - 0 err

Rodrigo Lopez: 7 ip, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2bb, 7k
Wood: 2 ip, 3 hits
Samardzja: 1/3 ip, 2bb
Marmol: 2/3 ip, 2k
Grabow: 1 ip, 1k (winning pitcher)

I walked 4 total batters, striking out 10. So, in 11 innings pitched I gave up a total of 8 hits. For you guys who think it can't be done, just wanted to show it can. Also, I had the dreaded shadows to deal with at Wrigley.

I threw a total of 126 pitches, 64% for strikes.

Astros had 8 hits: 6 singles, 1 Triple (Lee) and 1 HR (Lee) - Lee missed the cycle by a double, going 3-4. Astros team batting was .205

I had 9 hits: 7 singles, 2 doubles (Pena and Campana). Cubs team batting was .230

Again, great game and felt very realistic. I'm blown away by how fun these sliders play!

[PutridExistence]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

Mkharsh I have a question for you, since nobody seems to be answering my thread: I have pinpoint pitching on, and the catcher suggestions off, but the arrow indicating which way the ball will break are still showing up when I pitch; is it supposed to be that way? I thought pinpoint was about you place the ball where you want it to end up.

[Hal Fowler]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

Mkharsh I have a question for you, since nobody seems to be answering my thread: I have pinpoint pitching on, and the catcher suggestions off, but the arrow indicating which way the ball will break are still showing up when I pitch; is it supposed to be that way? I thought pinpoint was about you place the ball where you want it to end up.

You still pitch to the cursor, even if the arrows are there.

Personally, I like the breakpoint pitching, even though I was using pinpoint last year. One of the variables is just how much the ball will break. So it makes it interesting to hit spots from the breakpoint.

In reality, it probably doesn't matter. But arrows are on regardless this year. My real preference would be breakpoint pitching, but without the arrows.

[RogueHominid]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

Okay, so I went back and started working on using the entire strike zone and it's definitely possible to pitch great games on this set for me. I held the Twins to 1 run in an MLB Today game yesterday and I held the Jays to 3 runs in an MLB Today game today. Both games the opponent batted below .250, and in the Jays' game the 3 runs all game on one careless meatball to Bautista.

I'm still loving the HUM hitting. I hit a HR with a CLE player who had 48 PWR just because of the timing. And yet, that doesn't mean that you hit HR with everyone--it all has to line up right. Very nicely done.

I'm not sure I'm sold on the fielding sliders. The values seem excessive in comparison to Joe's, which are in the 90s for gathering errors but not nearly so high for the throwing errors. Is it really necessary to have both values so high? At that level pretty much every fielder's optimal throwing zone is the same infinitesimally small sliver. Just asking.

Thanks for the tips on pitching. I think the CPU bats are just right on this set!

[DJ]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

Mike, sounds like you've got your sliders nailed down. You've been getting some real nice results, I hope that continues for you moving forward.

[mkharsh33]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

I'm not sure I'm sold on the fielding sliders. The values seem excessive in comparison to Joe's, which are in the 90s for gathering errors but not nearly so high for the throwing errors. Is it really necessary to have both values so high? At that level pretty much every fielder's optimal throwing zone is the same infinitesimally small sliver. Just asking.

that's a simple fix... leave the two 90 values alone... simply raise your USER FIELDING ACCURACY up from 5 to 10 or 15 (or higher). Sounds like you're a good player who has the controls nailed down. My guess is that you will raise this, but eventually you'll come back. It's another element of the game that raises the difficulty to a sim-like/fun factor.

But, it's a great feeling when you make a tough throw and you nail that slim green line perfectly with these as difficult as I've made them. I have had ONE throwing error (not counting a few bobbles) in all the games I've played and that slider value mentioned above has always been at 5.

[cl34v4g3]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

that's a simple fix... leave the two 90 values alone... simply raise your USER FIELDING ACCURACY up from 5 to 10 or 15 (or higher). Sounds like you're a good player who has the controls nailed down. My guess is that you will raise this, but eventually you'll come back. It's another element of the game that raises the difficulty to a sim-like/fun factor.

But, it's a great feeling when you make a tough throw and you nail that slim green line perfectly with these as difficult as I've made them. I have had ONE throwing error (not counting a few bobbles) in all the games I've played and that slider value mentioned above has always been at 5.

Quick question.. Does it make a difference whether you hit the green or stop in the buildup? I know if you get any red at all its going to be a misplaced throw but I rarely actually hit the green and I never get throwing errors or runners beating out throws they shouldn't.

[beeker255]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

I just tried these sliders and wow these are awesome. It totally made the game play great and more like a real baseball game instead of the softball type run fest I had been having. The fielding and pitching where tight and the batting was a good challenge that I can easily see myself getting better at.

Just wanted to say thank you for these sliders they made the game really fun and realistic. I don't post much but felt I had to let you know these to me are dead on awesome

I also seen a lot more variety in hits and fielding was a fun game.

[RogueHominid]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

Quick question.. Does it make a difference whether you hit the green or stop in the buildup? I know if you get any red at all its going to be a misplaced throw but I rarely actually hit the green and I never get throwing errors or runners beating out throws they shouldn't.

Yeah, I wonder this too. I can't tell how much more effort goes into the throw when it's in that optimized zone as opposed to when it's in the buildup phase. I just play it safe and throw toward the top of that buildup phase at present.

[jonmchugh007]

Played a good game last night with my windians last night. Won a close game 4-2. It was a pitching matchup between masterson and pavano. Both were good and had it going early. I got 1 run in the 1st on a ground out and that's all id get until the 7th. They put up a 2 run rally on me in the 5th to go up 2-1. In the 7th, I got a couple of base hits and with 2 outs gotta 3 run bomb from Mark Reynolds. They scared me in the 9th. Had 1st and 3rd with 2 outs but CP shut them down.

Masterson actually had a pretty decent pitch count. I think he had like 85 pitches through 7. Pavono was impressive just allowing that 1 run in the 1st. I strike out a lot. really impatient at the plate because I swing at the 1st pitch a lot. Great sliders

Keep up the good work

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

[mkharsh33]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

My observations on the fielding bar...

- Just because you go in the red does NOT mean an automatic error. The fielding values/attributes of each player still come into play. The lower those numbers the more likely an error will occur. But there is a risk-reward factor if you need to make a quick-hard throw, especially those to 1B or a force out at another base.

- If you don't nail the green bar perfectly but stay below it, you'll notice a weak throw over to the base. For example, a 3B might even throw a dribbler over to 1B. So, the idea is to 1) get in position, 2) field it (and I love the added bobbles this year), and 3) make a solid throw. It's simple baseball.

I had a game a few days ago in which the cpu player (can't recall which one) made a bare-handed grab at 2B. He charged a slow roller and picked it up and made a bullet-throw to 1B to just get the out. When I replayed it in slo-motion it was a thing of beauty.

[bhl]

Re: mkharsh33 MLB 2K11 Sliders: Classic Hitting / Total Control Pitching

Loving these sliders have had low scoring games, 2 hitters, 15 hits, games where I blow a save late. It's great. Appreciate it.