How to not strike out (tips)?

[Cras]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gagnon39

I pick the pitch up out of the pitchers hand. And I've played on All-Star every year since 08 and I'll do it again this year. I'm not going to get worse at hitting. But it is costing me money. I think I need anger management classes because after my last RTTS at-bat (striking out for the 3rd time in the game) my controller met the floor at about 100 miles per hour.

Been there done that.
Try using the Wide camera view. I find the low pitches the hardest to judge, and the wide camera view has more of an emphasis above the strike zone, so you can really tell if a ball is heading down under the zone.

And, using a favorite phrase of Hawk Harrelson, you have to be a 60 ft hitter. You have got to pick up the ball right when it comes out of the pitchers hand. Some times I am lazy and only pick up the ball maybe 40 feet before it crosses homeplate, and then I am royally screwed. Pick up the ball out of the pitcher's hand and you will be able to tell quickly if it is a breaking ball or not, then all you have to do then is judge location and speed. Easier said then done yes.
And working the count will also help you guess which pitch will be coming. Dont look or swing at a breaking ball on pitch one, and sit fastball on 2-0, 3-1, and dont even think about swinging 3-0. With 1 strike, still stay away from the low junk, even taking a strike if you have to. Only go into protect mode with two strikes where you still look for a pitch middle up, and be ready to quickly hack at a pitch low to survive.
And watch out for that damn slider running away, the pitch gets me every time.

[abcabc]

Quote: Originally Posted by baseball66

I use 1/4 guess pitch and always guess down in the zone, that way i can eliminate that part of the zone if i don't get an indicator that it's coming there. Low in the zone is my weak spot. If i get better i may stop. By the way 1/4 has the least amount of bonus for guessing right and the least amount of penalty for guessing wrong.

that's interesting... can i ask, how long you've played w/ 1/4, and what team you use, and what's your team batting avg? i dont do any guess stuff, have it all turned off. i do okay, but just curious if it'd help me.

[budsticky]

You also have to remember that you will have crappy ratings at the beginning of your career. A lot of pitches that you might normally foul off will be swings and misses until you build up your plate vision and contact ratings. I was worried too when I started my RTTS because I was striking out like crazy, but then I started playing some games in season mode, and with Major League hitters I wasn't striking out nearly as much. When I went back to RTTS I was whiffing a ton again..so that convinced me that the ratings really do make a big difference.

[Braves Fan]

Quote: Originally Posted by baseball66

I use 1/4 guess pitch and always guess down in the zone, that way i can eliminate that part of the zone if i don't get an indicator that it's coming there. Low in the zone is my weak spot. If i get better i may stop. By the way 1/4 has the least amount of bonus for guessing right and the least amount of penalty for guessing wrong.

Wow, that really works, it almost feels like cheating though.

I've never used guess pitch, just tried it and it tells you exactly where the ball is going to wind up. So if it's in the dirt you know ahead of time. That's my weakness as well and where most of my strikeouts occur. I swing at a lot of stuff in the dirt.

Thanks for the tip.

[baseball66]

Quote: Originally Posted by Braves Fan

Wow, that really works, it almost feels like cheating though. I've never used guess pitch, just tried it and it tells you exactly where the ball is going to wind up. So if it's in the dirt you know ahead of time. That's my weakness as well and where most of my strikeouts occur. I swing at a lot of stuff in the dirt. Thanks for the tip.

Lol, yeah i sometimes feel like it's cheating a bit but what the heck it's in the game! I find that when i do get a pitch that "locks on" it's not an automatic hit for me, far from it actually, i generally get so geared up that i'm always early. Helps me work the count as well by being able to lay off the low stuff. There is a penalty as well for any balls you swing at that aren't in that particular zone so it's not all a benefit to you.

[RogueHominid]

Super helpful, Gagnon! I took High Heat's house rules, Psycho's sliders, and your advice and saw massive improvements--without any aids. Much appreciated.

[LowerWolf]

I sucked up my pride and put the pitch speed slider at 0 (on All-Star). It's helped me be a lot more patient. Before, I was always gearing up for the inside fastball, which led to me swinging at junk. Drew five walks last night in a play-now game.

[TripleThreat1973]

Quote: Originally Posted by Braves Fan

Wow, that really works, it almost feels like cheating though.

It's not cheating when MLB hitters look for a specific pitch in a specific zone ... and don't swing until [1] they get that pitch in that spot or [2] are forced to change their approach (count, lack of success, etc).

I use Classic 1/4, wide view, and often select the change or sinker "down in the zone", not because I am looking to hit that pitch, but because those are the two that I have the most difficulty recognizing when they are down. The "cheating" aspect is that I have a good idea of whether it is going to be in or out of the zone. That part probably is a cheat. The thing about guess pitch is that you don't HAVE TO swing. There's plenty of times when I have guessed right on 2-1 and the pitch has been a low and away changeup, and I've decided to wait and see what I get on 2-2. That's a realistic approach. Few MLB hitters are just up there reacting to every pitch and flailing away like blind men with no approach or purpose.

Most other pitches I can recognize, but the change in speed or extra movement will still give me some trouble, as it should.

I also take the first pitch, unless I "guess right" and it's a fastball "up" ... no hitter takes that pitch (Except Wade Boggs).