Your Batting Approach

[Infinite202]

Hey guys,

Just curious to know what everyone's batting approach is at the plate. What I mean is do you guys wait for a certain pitch in a certain location in a certain count, do you swing away at any pitch that looks good to you, regardless of zone, or do you use any variation in between? Do you only look for pitches in the hot zones for that particular batter you're using? Also, do you use guess pitch to help with whatever method you use (please let's not make this a for/against guess pitch thread. . .a simple yes/no would suffice)?

I would like to see everyone's approach and their success (if you're a very good hitter or if you can't hit the broad side of a barn). I'm thinking of changing my own since I'm not completely satisfied with my results.

Thanks.

[csker7]

Re: Your Batting Approach

well heres my general approach, disregarding specific hitters: first time thru the lineup, especially the first inning - almost always take a strike before i swing. thats important to work a pitch count up early.
2nd and 3rd time thru - depending on situation, but first hitter i try to be patient and draw a walk or get a hit. i wait to crush a ball for when i have runners on, i hate makin one pitch outs otherwise.
late innings - when trailing i try to be patient and not chase unless in a hitters count. leading i usually swing away and try to extend my lead.
overall - i notice i get a little antsy in a big spot (bases loaded or runners in scoring position less than two outs). thats when i take a deep breath and let things happen. if the pitcher gives you pitches to hit, go for it otherwise i try to not force anything to happen. i guess my overall approach is conservative; i dont like getting 4 or 5 hits to bring in a run. i'll take a single, bunt a guy over, take a walk here or there, try to bring a guy in with small ball stuff.

[Ruffy]

Re: Your Batting Approach

Keep it simple.....a great hitter once said.

Look for the fastball and adjust to the breaking ball.

Pretty much thats what i do. See ball hit ball....looking for mid level strikes to drive.

[edmus]

Re: Your Batting Approach

Its funny, I became a much better hitter when I quit looking for a certain pitch in a certain location. I don't even anticipate a certain pitch anymore. That probably means I'm not thinking like an MLB hitter.

For me, its "see da ball, hit da ball". I swing at what I'm comfortable with. I get lots of home runs on hanging breaking balls this way. That's not to say I don't have awkward swings at some pitches. And I usually manage to draw 2-4 walks a game as well. The one thing I usually do is keep close watch of the opposing starter's pitch count. If its low, I will try to work the count a little more -- especially if its a good pitcher who I don't want to face for 9 innings.

[nemesis04]

Re: Your Batting Approach

I tend to be patient at the plate. 95% of the time I take the first pitch. As much as possible I am trying to work myself into a hitters count. If the first pitch is a ball I am am not swinging at the next pitch no matter where it is. If I have the opportunity to work it to 2-0, I am only swinging if the pitch is mid zone. Besides just finding good pitches to hit we need to elevate pitch counts as much as possible to make sure that starter does not go deep into the game. If I find I am anxious and pitch counts are on the low side I will slow the game down and go back to my take pitches philosophy.

[Kearnzo]

Re: Your Batting Approach

I tend to be patient at the plate. 95% of the time I take the first pitch. As much as possible I am trying to work myself into a hitters count. If the first pitch is a ball I am am not swinging at the next pitch no matter where it is. If I have the opportunity to work it to 2-0, I am only swinging if the pitch is mid zone. Besides just finding good pitches to hit we need to elevate pitch counts as much as possible to make sure that starter does not go deep into the game. If I find I am anxious and pitch counts are on the low side I will slow the game down and go back to my take pitches philosophy.

Same here, for the most part.

If I am trailing, I tend to take the first pitch nearly every time, and maybe every five batters change it up. I'll look for a get me over fastball that the pitcher throws if he realizes i've started a pattern of taking the first pitch, and i'll look to drive it. If a starter is wild all game, i'll just keep taking until I get a strike.

If I have a reasonable lead, i'll continue to take the first pitch often, unless I have a big slugger up. In that case, i'll just sit on a fastball out over the plate in any count and swing away. If I don't get the fastball, I leave it alone.

[Bat]

Re: Your Batting Approach

*I don't use guess pitch or location feature*

I too usually take the first pitch with every batter. Sometimes I take two if the pitch is not what I am looking for.

I try to get in hitters counts and say I get 2-0 or 3-1 then I switch to hitting with power until 2 strikes, then its survival mode.

If I have a single runner on 1st I try and influence up to avoid the douple play. With runners in scoring position the need to influence seems less important. A solid hit seems to find a hole with guys in scoring position.

Pretty simple... try to get a fastball over the plate and drive it..

[jim416]

Re: Your Batting Approach

Pretty much what Nem said. I do sit on low pitches. The only time I will use the L stick and hold it down is anticipation of one, and don't ask me how I anticipate a low pitch, I just do, lol. I'm one of those swing only guys too, I don't do the zone thing with the stick unless it's a low pitch. It's worked pretty good so far, Dunn is second in the league in HRs with 29 midway through my season.

[Bahnzo]

Re: Your Batting Approach

Like Ted Williams said..."Get a strike, hit the hell outta it".

I rarely force myself to take the first pitch. I always look for a first pitch fastball, belt high and over the middle. If it's not there, I don't swing. I just really don't subscribe to the mentality of taking first pitches/strikes. If it's a great pitch, why let it go, even if it is the first pitch? When you get a good one, it's wrong to let it go by..you might not see another.

But like others have said, I think the most important factor in being a good hitter is working the count. If you get yourself 2-0, 2-1, 3-0, 3-1, chances are very very good you will see that fastball down the heart of the plate. And if you don't, no sweat...let it go and see if you get it the next pitch. Also, lay off the power swing unless you are in a hitters count and with a guy who can use it.

One thing I'd like to see in the game is some way to influence foul balls. Good hitters in the MLB can foul pitches off in two strike counts and wait for a good strike (Todd Helton is a master of fouling off outside strikes). But in The Show, even if you try to time it late to foul off pitches, there's still a good chance you either hit a weak dribbler or pop it up. Not sure what the answer is to that..maybe an improved contact system, or hold RB while swinging influences a foul ball?

[KingV2k3]

Re: Your Batting Approach

The best advice I read was in this forum a few years back that said something like:

"The at bat doesn't start until the first strike is thrown"

I'll take until that happens to not only get hitter's counts but drive the CPU pitch count up as early as possible...

Exceptions are situations like bases loaded (the CPU like to try to get ahead in the count early), middle innings where the CPU starter is running out of gas and occasionally tosses up a meatball early in the count and after a four pitch walk...

But for the most part "first pitch swinging" get you nowhere...

Other than that, yeah I use the L stick to anticipate location, based on H / C zones and how the ZPU is running a pitch sequence with the pitcher on the mound...

I also use the R stick to try to hit opposite field gappers, stay out of a double play, influence bunts and send hot shots back up the middle...

[eyeamg0dly]

Re: Your Batting Approach

i normally take strikes early in the game only because i want to see the release and how the ball is breaking, alot of times i will take 2 strikes before i even think about swinging. im pretty good at spotting pitches in or out of the zone.

once ive got the pitcher figured out then i dont mind swinging first pitch if its what im looking for. being patient and driving the pitch count is good, but imo if i see something that i can get extra bases or hit over the fence, then i feel that is an opportunity wasted by taking it.

[Socalbias]

Re: Your Batting Approach

Easiest advice ive ever given.

Expect fastball and react to a breaking ball. Same concept most players use in everyday life as well as me. Try to remember patters but never guess or make a logical decision where you think the ball will be. Ive seen 0-2 counts and they throw it right down the middle high where i nthat situation you have "3" balls to throw so u usually try to make them chase low or jam inside.

[Whitesox]

Re: Your Batting Approach

Easiest advice ive ever given.

Expect fastball and react to a breaking ball. Same concept most players use in everyday life as well as me. Try to remember patters but never guess or make a logical decision where you think the ball will be. Ive seen 0-2 counts and they throw it right down the middle high where i nthat situation you have "3" balls to throw so u usually try to make them chase low or jam inside.

Rediculous. This is why you get into hitters counts in the first place. If the count is 3-1, then you say, I think the ball will be here. If it is, hit, extra base hit, or home run(for the most part). If it isn't, ball. When the pitcher gets in deep, you have to make him pay.

You should try logic some time.

[Socalbias]

Re: Your Batting Approach

Rediculous. This is why you get into hitters counts in the first place. If the count is 3-1, then you say, I think the ball will be here. If it is, hit, extra base hit, or home run(for the most part). If it isn't, ball. When the pitcher gets in deep, you have to make him pay.

You should try logic some time.

I just gave you a logic anwser. If the o**** is 3-1 and im guessing the ball is going to be outside and it is inside I have already prepared myself ro an outside pitch so I have 2 readjust my whole mental thought to hit an inside pitch. Instead of thinking fastball so you dont get blown away and adjust to the breakingball. Try preparing yourself for a certai nlocation pitch in real life and have it be on the opposite side and get a base hit. NOT EASY.

[Whitesox]

Re: Your Batting Approach

I just gave you a logic anwser. If the o**** is 3-1 and im guessing the ball is going to be outside and it is inside I have already prepared myself ro an outside pitch so I have 2 readjust my whole mental thought to hit an inside pitch. Instead of thinking fastball so you dont get blown away and adjust to the breakingball. Try preparing yourself for a certai nlocation pitch in real life and have it be on the opposite side and get a base hit. NOT EASY.

As I said above, with three balls, the pitcher will likely throw it over the middle, or close. If they don't, take it. Even if you don't walk, the pitcher has 1 more pitch to his pitch count, and he has to throw another potential mistake and extend the inning.

And I play baseball in real life, hitting a ball in general is not easy.