Pitching tips?

[MaddenBalla]

I am from MLB 2K10, I did play The Show 07, 08, and some 09 and I just cannot have control and grasp of the mechanics. I cannot paint the corners like I did in MLB 2K10, heck I can't even strike out the batter! I switched the difficulty to Rookie and even put on Classic Pitching, I just cannot pinpoint the trajectory.

Any tips of how I can be a better pitcher?

Thanks

[thegut]

Re: Pitching tips?

I am from MLB 2K10, I did play The Show 07, 08, and some 09 and I just cannot have control and grasp of the mechanics. I cannot paint the corners like I did in MLB 2K10, heck I can't even strike out the batter! I switched the difficulty to Rookie and even put on Classic Pitching, I just cannot pinpoint the trajectory.

Any tips of how I can be a better pitcher?

Thanks

Well first of all it is hard to paint the corners as in real life. If you think pitchers just sit there painting the corners all day long you are mistaken. Secondly you have to switch up speeds and pitches. Try to through a fastball high and inside, then possible throw a change-up low out of the zone on the outside. Don't just throw strikes. If you are righty vs righty or lefty vs lefty, Try painting the black on the outside of the plate with fastballs and throwing out an occasional slider outside of the zone to try and draw poor contact or make the batter miss. Try to keep the CPU guessing because it recognizes patterns if you sit there throwing fastballs on the outside corner all game it will sit on that and light you up. Thirdly, classic pitching is tough to control I would suggest meter pitching to you. Try working the count. Don't be afraid to throw balls. My goal when I pitch is to get the CPU to make poor contact if they strike out then fantastic. Don't expect to strike everybody out. There are not many pitchers out there that average a strikeout an inning. Hell Gallaraga's perfect game (well you know...) he only struck out 3 guys through nine innings.

In a nutshell: Change pitches, Change speeds, don't be afraid to throw balls, work your advantage in R vs R or L vs L matchups. Try to generate poor contact. Meter pitching. The strikeouts will follow. Don't expect to strike everybody out. Pitch to your pitchers strengths and the batters weakness. Press select and see where the batters cold zones are. If you pitcher is low on confidence in general or on a certain pitch be careful and throw the ball low if you have to. When low on confidence you run more a risk of hanging a breaking ball or throwing a nice fat meatball.

Hope this helps.

[The-BigGeorge]

Re: Pitching tips?

Thank a lot thegut you actually helped me out too.

BTW, to the OP don't listen to the catchers sometimes...they actually give you a disadvantage.

[MaddenBalla]

Re: Pitching tips?

I never listen to the Catcher, I am trying to use all my knowledge from MLB 2K. I used to toast batters left and right in my Franchise, even with the pitchers who have very low control and a harder time to paint the corners (i.e. Hochevar and Pavano). In the sliders thread, I was given a few sliders to play with that gives me more User control, so it has the feel of MLB 2K10 and I can paint the corners with the best (Greinke) and have a hard time with the mediocres and below average pitchers (Hochevar). I went through a Simulation in practice and had a good success rate with pitching, I just played as if I was in MLB 2K (going as far as using the Pitcher view camera). I am really enjoying this game now.

I hope MLB The Show adds the analog stick controls as an option next year so it will be easy for us 2Kers. 2K has the X button like The Show, so I think The Show should have the analog controls like 2K.

Thank you guys for your help, follow my dynasty (signature) - I should get it up and running by tomorrow. Still trying to master the pitching mechanics.

[Rod_Carew29]

Re: Pitching tips?

thegut basically said it all...
I play on classic, not meter....

I'd like to add...to get the most movement on the corners from a 2-seam fastball (RHP vs. RHB)...aim down and just outside of the outer/lower zone..I've had pretty good success with the pitch breaking on the corner---which leads to the called strike

for running fastballs...my philosophy is kind of the same way....sometimes I'll aim a little off the plate and if it's a RHP vs a RHB, it's sweet to see it come back...circle change..the same

for regular fastballs, I love to attempt to jam the batters inside for 2 or 3 straight pitches....then work outside or up and away, and then come back in tight....

in the mix of deception, keep in mind there isnt anything wrong with throwing one at the top of the strike zone....just pick your spots...

Well first of all it is hard to paint the corners as in real life. If you think pitchers just sit there painting the corners all day long you are mistaken. Secondly you have to switch up speeds and pitches. Try to through a fastball high and inside, then possible throw a change-up low out of the zone on the outside. Don't just throw strikes. If you are righty vs righty or lefty vs lefty, Try painting the black on the outside of the plate with fastballs and throwing out an occasional slider outside of the zone to try and draw poor contact or make the batter miss. Try to keep the CPU guessing because it recognizes patterns if you sit there throwing fastballs on the outside corner all game it will sit on that and light you up. Thirdly, classic pitching is tough to control I would suggest meter pitching to you. Try working the count. Don't be afraid to throw balls. My goal when I pitch is to get the CPU to make poor contact if they strike out then fantastic. Don't expect to strike everybody out. There are not many pitchers out there that average a strikeout an inning. Hell Gallaraga's perfect game (well you know...) he only struck out 3 guys through nine innings.

In a nutshell: Change pitches, Change speeds, don't be afraid to throw balls, work your advantage in R vs R or L vs L matchups. Try to generate poor contact. Meter pitching. The strikeouts will follow. Don't expect to strike everybody out. Pitch to your pitchers strengths and the batters weakness. Press select and see where the batters cold zones are. If you pitcher is low on confidence in general or on a certain pitch be careful and throw the ball low if you have to. When low on confidence you run more a risk of hanging a breaking ball or throwing a nice fat meatball.

Hope this helps.

[Howie75]

Re: Pitching tips?

All good advice....

and to reiterate what Carew said, challenging them up in the zone is not only effective sometimes, but necessary. If you pitch nowhere but low in the zone, they will eventually adjust.

If you set the hitters up right even a mediocre fastball up can be effective.

Conversely, no matter how hard you throw if they aren't kept off balance, it will get crushed.