How the hell do you pitch in this game?

[Sportwarrior]

I'm an All Star veteren... My friend and I have played it religiously since ASB98... I've owned every version from 2002 on... 2002 was frusterating to me because I could never pitch effectively. I would always give up a ton of hits and could never strike anyone out. Climbing the ladder, curve up and in followed by heat down and away, nothing worked. They hit everything. Last year I really got it down and was able to consistantly do well on veteren level. Now granted I bought 2004 this past Saturday, but I have yet to give up fewer than 10 hits in a game. I have yet to strike out more than 5 guys in a game. I have yet to limit the opposing team to less than 3 runs. I've moved the cursor after it dissapears, I've painted the corners, I've busted them inside, I've pitched to the cold zones, and I can't get anything to work. Please please please please tell me what to do. I'm pitching on rookie level and my ego is taking a huge hit. Any help?

[Redbird]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

Switch to HH

Seriously, I do not know. I am reading everything that I can about the games in order to make an informed decision as to what game I will play.

[Redbird]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

Switch to HH

Seriously, I do not know. I am reading everything that I can about the games in order to make an informed decision as to what game I will play.

[p00p1]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

I'm finding it harder to strike people out this year than last year, but overall i'm pretty successful at keeping the number of hits down. Once piece of advice, don't throw your curveballs high, they will hang and the cpu will hit it every time, keep them down and they will break accross the zone or in front of the plate and be more effective

[p00p1]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

I'm finding it harder to strike people out this year than last year, but overall i'm pretty successful at keeping the number of hits down. Once piece of advice, don't throw your curveballs high, they will hang and the cpu will hit it every time, keep them down and they will break accross the zone or in front of the plate and be more effective

[Sportwarrior]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

The curveball thing makes sense, although I don't know how much a difference there's been from hits on curves low and hi. But this is a huge selling point for me. I might take this game back if I can't pitch effectively on rookie. I'd get too frusterated with the game, and 2003 was perfectly fine for me. Are there any other tips out there?

[Sportwarrior]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

The curveball thing makes sense, although I don't know how much a difference there's been from hits on curves low and hi. But this is a huge selling point for me. I might take this game back if I can't pitch effectively on rookie. I'd get too frusterated with the game, and 2003 was perfectly fine for me. Are there any other tips out there?

[nikeford]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

I have to say that I'm having no problem with the competitiveness of the cpu. I strike out 3-5 guys per game, and I'm the Rangers, not like I have any major aces so I think its pretty realistic. Maybe you're asking too much from your players. Don't expect to strike out 10 guys with a C rated pitcher. I like to mix up the pattern, I found that when I got too predictable, they hit me good. Now I mix up speeds and locations, and throw to the cold zones only when I need to. This way they stay off guard, I have pitched 3 really good games in a row now.

[nikeford]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

I have to say that I'm having no problem with the competitiveness of the cpu. I strike out 3-5 guys per game, and I'm the Rangers, not like I have any major aces so I think its pretty realistic. Maybe you're asking too much from your players. Don't expect to strike out 10 guys with a C rated pitcher. I like to mix up the pattern, I found that when I got too predictable, they hit me good. Now I mix up speeds and locations, and throw to the cold zones only when I need to. This way they stay off guard, I have pitched 3 really good games in a row now.

[raagnar]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

I love the pitching challenge in this game...Through about 5 weeks of the season, my Cubs are 4th in the NL in pitching(pretty realistic). Here are some things I've discovered that might help you out(and reasons why I love the challenge):

Be very careful of falling into a pattern. If it's always just up and in and then down and away, the cpu will catch on....instead of following that up and in pitch with a breaking ball away....come back with not as up and not as in once in a while....you'll get some popups and slow rollers off the hands.

Don't pitch the same way with each of your pitchers....two good pitchers may be effective in different ways....The first few times I pitched with Mark Prior I got shelled. What I came to discover is that the same location and movement with the joystick I would use with Kerry Wood to hit the corners or even miss the plate would leave the ball right down the middle with Mark Prior. The reason being that Prior has pinpoint control and Wood relies more on just explosive stuff and doesn't have the same control....Both are very good pitchers but with different styles and I do believe this game has captured those nuances......
So those are just a few things to think about....hope it helps

[raagnar]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

I love the pitching challenge in this game...Through about 5 weeks of the season, my Cubs are 4th in the NL in pitching(pretty realistic). Here are some things I've discovered that might help you out(and reasons why I love the challenge):

Be very careful of falling into a pattern. If it's always just up and in and then down and away, the cpu will catch on....instead of following that up and in pitch with a breaking ball away....come back with not as up and not as in once in a while....you'll get some popups and slow rollers off the hands.

Don't pitch the same way with each of your pitchers....two good pitchers may be effective in different ways....The first few times I pitched with Mark Prior I got shelled. What I came to discover is that the same location and movement with the joystick I would use with Kerry Wood to hit the corners or even miss the plate would leave the ball right down the middle with Mark Prior. The reason being that Prior has pinpoint control and Wood relies more on just explosive stuff and doesn't have the same control....Both are very good pitchers but with different styles and I do believe this game has captured those nuances......
So those are just a few things to think about....hope it helps

[raagnar]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

also.....something very important that I forgot....don't rely too much on the hot/cold zone...it's very helpful...but if you keep going to the same spots over the course of the game or a series, a ML hitter is going to catch on.
I definitely use the hot/cold zone but I try not to overuse it.....Early in the game I pitch to my pitchers strengths...later in the game...when my pitcher is a little fatigued or I'm using a middle reliever or need a critical late inning out....that's when I'll really more heavily on the hot/cold zone.

[raagnar]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

also.....something very important that I forgot....don't rely too much on the hot/cold zone...it's very helpful...but if you keep going to the same spots over the course of the game or a series, a ML hitter is going to catch on.
I definitely use the hot/cold zone but I try not to overuse it.....Early in the game I pitch to my pitchers strengths...later in the game...when my pitcher is a little fatigued or I'm using a middle reliever or need a critical late inning out....that's when I'll really more heavily on the hot/cold zone.

[HiJumpr111]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Be very careful of falling into a pattern. If it's always just up and in and then down and away, the cpu will catch on....instead of following that up and in pitch with a breaking ball away....come back with not as up and not as in once in a while....you'll get some popups and slow rollers off the hands.


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

This is OH SO True. I used to be very proud of the fact that I would "paint the corners" and do a great job of mixing things up. But all too often I found myself getting into a predictable pattern--sometimes without even realizing it!

Keep doing what you're doing.

Along this same line.....has anyone tried this?

After choosing my pitch type , then spotting its intended location with the curser, I like to move the curser as I am in my windup and the pitch is being delivered. Obviously when I do this the curser disappears (if your settings allow it to be seen in the first place.)
It seems to me that I am more effective using this technique. It's almost as if the CPU "locks in on my desired location" just in time for me to switch it.

Does anyone else do this?

[HiJumpr111]

Re: How the hell do you pitch in this game?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Be very careful of falling into a pattern. If it's always just up and in and then down and away, the cpu will catch on....instead of following that up and in pitch with a breaking ball away....come back with not as up and not as in once in a while....you'll get some popups and slow rollers off the hands.


<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

This is OH SO True. I used to be very proud of the fact that I would "paint the corners" and do a great job of mixing things up. But all too often I found myself getting into a predictable pattern--sometimes without even realizing it!

Keep doing what you're doing.

Along this same line.....has anyone tried this?

After choosing my pitch type , then spotting its intended location with the curser, I like to move the curser as I am in my windup and the pitch is being delivered. Obviously when I do this the curser disappears (if your settings allow it to be seen in the first place.)
It seems to me that I am more effective using this technique. It's almost as if the CPU "locks in on my desired location" just in time for me to switch it.

Does anyone else do this?