PCI Change

[Maverick32093209]

One of the most under hyped changes has been the change in the PCI. I am soo curious what this means for the game.

Does it mean that it will be shaped like a bat. Does it mean it can move while you are swinging. This could be such a potential game changer in hitting. Does anyone have any info what they are trying to do with this?

[nomo17k]

Re: PCI Change

It will just be shaped like the U.S.A.

[GruffyMcGuiness]

Re: PCI Change

It will just be shaped like the U.S.A.

'MERICA. No Blue Jays allowed!

[cardinalbird5]

Re: PCI Change

I doubt it changes much.

I don't want a cursor for this game.

[MrOldboy]

Re: PCI Change

If I had to guess it might be a new visual option for it, if they add in a new PCI then they would likely keep the old ones. If they had changed something that fundamental you'd think it would be more clear on the fact sheet.

Of course it could mean that they changed how the PCI actually works, as in how ball placement on it affects a hit. Or maybe it the beginner difficulty has a slight lock on like PYS. Who knows, it could be as simple as a new look.

[Brian SCEA]

Re: PCI Change

This is a purely visual change to how PCI size is displayed. The new rule is underlined below (quoted from Strategy Guide)

The overall size of plate coverage is the average of the batter's Contact and Vision attributes, modified by the pitcher's attributes. Contact emphasizes the chances of getting line drives, whereas Vision deals more with the chance of fouling instead of missing. These attributes are modified by the pitcher's attributes of H/9 and K/9, respectively. There is an additional size adjustment for Power, but this is a visual aid only and reflects the fact that power hitters can sometimes get a hit that would have been an out for a weaker hitter.

In other words, the PCI size now correlates more closely with OPS, rather than AVG. If you go through the lineup, the best hitters will have the biggest PCI, rather than just the "high contact" hitters. The hitting engine itself splits off Contact, Vision, and Power as individual components for evaluation and this change does not affect that.

[aukevin]

Re: PCI Change

I would love it if it eventually was made to move after you swing. My only problem hitting is that I sometimes press X too fast and it doesn't register where I want to move the PCI.

[MrOldboy]

Re: PCI Change

This is a purely visual change to how PCI size is displayed. The new rule is underlined below (quoted from Strategy Guide)

The overall size of plate coverage is the average of the batter's Contact and Vision attributes, modified by the pitcher's attributes. Contact emphasizes the chances of getting line drives, whereas Vision deals more with the chance of fouling instead of missing. These attributes are modified by the pitcher's attributes of H/9 and K/9, respectively. There is an additional size adjustment for Power, but this is a visual aid only and reflects the fact that power hitters can sometimes get a hit that would have been an out for a weaker hitter.

In other words, the PCI size now correlates more closely with OPS, rather than AVG. If you go through the lineup, the best hitters will have the biggest PCI, rather than just the "high contact" hitters. The hitting engine itself splits off Contact, Vision, and Power as individual components for evaluation and this change does not affect that.

So a player with more power, but less vision could have a large PCI? I've always thought that plate vision affected the visual representation of the PCI the most among all the stats.

[dalger21]

Re: PCI Change

I'm hoping much more that the complete randomness of the PCI with timed hitting is a lot less random...

[seanjeezy]

Re: PCI Change

So a player with more power, but less vision could have a large PCI? I've always thought that plate vision affected the visual representation of the PCI the most among all the stats.

In his post he still says that contact and vision determine the size of the PCI, in addition to the newly factored power. The OPS statement is weird though, since K% has nothing to do with how it's determined and BB% (and therefore OBP) is completely user dependent. It's true that your best hitters have a high OPS, but it shouldn't determine the frequency of making contact.

[MrOldboy]

PCI Change

In his post he still says that contact and vision determine the size of the PCI, in addition to the newly factored power. The OPS statement is weird though, since K% has nothing to do with how it's determined and BB% (and therefore OBP) is completely user dependent. It's true that your best hitters have a high OPS, but it shouldn't determine the frequency of making contact.

Well in theory higher vision equals more chances to draw a walk for a human player, right? So a high vision hitter could have a higher OBP since the human player controlling him could foul more balls off, etc and draw more walks.

[nomo17k]

Re: PCI Change

In his post he still says that contact and vision determine the size of the PCI, in addition to the newly factored power. The OPS statement is weird though, since K% has nothing to do with how it's determined and BB% (and therefore OBP) is completely user dependent. It's true that your best hitters have a high OPS, but it shouldn't determine the frequency of making contact.

I think what Brian meant was that the current PCI is a "closer" representation of batting average (not OBP), because the size correlates with Contact attribute (and also Vision... but its effect on batting average is secondary). Now that the new PCI size correlates also with Power attributes, it becomes a closer (yet still approximate) representation of OPS, because, all things being equal, hitters with power can drive the pitch to the areas of the field where it is more likely to fall for a hit... and that's roughly represented by SLG... hence OPS.

So the gist of his message was that the PCI size used to represent BA (not OBP) more than others, but now it adds SLG. That's how I took it.

Edit: I would also add that because Power is a major factor in how CPU decides to go after or pitch around the hitter, it probably also affects his OBP significantly... at least the high-Power hitters. The point is that the PCI size will incorporate the element visually (but not internally).

[seanjeezy]

Re: PCI Change

I think what Brian meant was that the current PCI is a "closer" representation of batting average (not OBP), because the size correlates with Contact attribute (and also Vision... but its effect on batting average is secondary). Now that the new PCI size correlates also with Power attributes, it becomes a closer (yet still approximate) representation of OPS, because, all things being equal, hitters with power can drive the pitch to the areas of the field where it is more likely to fall for a hit... and that's roughly represented by SLG... hence OPS.

So the gist of his message was that the PCI size used to represent BA (not OBP) more than others, but now it adds SLG. That's how I took it.

Edit: I would also add that because Power is a major factor in how CPU decides to go after or pitch around the hitter, it probably also affects his OBP significantly... at least the high-Power hitters. The point is that the PCI size will incorporate the element visually (but not internally).

OK I think I get what you are saying, it's not really OPS then just power and contact. I just think it would be weird if someone like Joey Gallo had a giant PCI despite striking out nearly 40% of the time. I'm not too concerned about timing hitting, but what about zone? What's keeping his stats in check if I am able to square up every ball with a larger PCI?

[Knight165]

Re: PCI Change

OK I think I get what you are saying, it's not really OPS then just power and contact. I just think it would be weird if someone like Joey Gallo had a giant PCI despite striking out nearly 40% of the time. I'm not too concerned about timing hitting, but what about zone? What's keeping his stats in check if I am able to square up every ball with a larger PCI?

Jerry Gallo is dead....
Not Jerry Gallo...it's Jerry Callo with a C.
(had to take liberties with Joey/Jerry)

M.K.
Knight165

[MrOldboy]

Re: PCI Change

OK I think I get what you are saying, it's not really OPS then just power and contact. I just think it would be weird if someone like Joey Gallo had a giant PCI despite striking out nearly 40% of the time. I'm not too concerned about timing hitting, but what about zone? What's keeping his stats in check if I am able to square up every ball with a larger PCI?

I thought this was just a visual change. So the PCI should react the same way it has in the past.