How do I strike out more and get more walks?

[Chai2112]

I am using Armor's slider set in MLB 17 and so far am loving the realism of my games. My pitching seems perfect although perhaps I strike out too many batters.

The only two things that are unrealistic are: (1) I don't strike out enough as a hitter (I average around 4-5 strike outs a game); and (2) I don't walk enough.

What would you suggest I do slider-wise to get more strikeouts and walks as a hitter without then negatively affecting my hits/power etc? And likewise, what would you suggest to slightly lower how many Ks I get as a pitcher without negatively affecting the CPU's hitting ability?

Thanks.

[Rmiok222]

How do I strike out more and get more walks?

Well idk what your settings are but I use directional hitting on HOF. I put the timing slider down to 1 for user and the cpu pitching consistency at 6 and strike frequency at 4. I’ve liked those settings so far


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[forme95]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

I am using Armor's slider set in MLB 17 and so far am loving the realism of my games. My pitching seems perfect although perhaps I strike out too many batters.

The only two things that are unrealistic are: (1) I don't strike out enough as a hitter (I average around 4-5 strike outs a game); and (2) I don't walk enough.

What would you suggest I do slider-wise to get more strikeouts and walks as a hitter without then negatively affecting my hits/power etc? And likewise, what would you suggest to slightly lower how many Ks I get as a pitcher without negatively affecting the CPU's hitting ability?

Thanks.

Well without changing anything, 1 will solve the other. Make the pitcher throw more pitches. Get into more full counts, if that ball is coming in low and away or high and in etc on/off the black, and you let it go, it could be ball 4 or strike 3. Armor set is awesome for getting guys into full counts. I have no issues with SO/BB as I wont swing unless I know it clearly will be strike 3. I will try to foul it off unless its a good hitting pitch. Its especially fun when the pitcher is really hitting the edges of the zone.

[Chai2112]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

Well without changing anything, 1 will solve the other. Make the pitcher throw more pitches. Get into more full counts, if that ball is coming in low and away or high and in etc on/off the black, and you let it go, it could be ball 4 or strike 3. Armor set is awesome for getting guys into full counts. I have no issues with SO/BB as I wont swing unless I know it clearly will be strike 3. I will try to foul it off unless its a good hitting pitch. Its especially fun when the pitcher is really hitting the edges of the zone.

I play with QC and I find that the count starts at 1-1 like 90% of the time. It may start at 3-0 like twice a game. I try to work the count but it seems like the CPU pitcher throws the ball right down the strike zone all the time. They don't throw a lot of balls or nibble on the edge of the strike zone. Maybe that's my problem? Is there a slider to fix that?

[Chai2112]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

Well idk what your settings are but I use directional hitting on HOF. I put the timing slider down to 1 for user and the cpu pitching consistency at 6 and strike frequency at 4. I’ve liked those settings so far


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

Thanks, maybe I'll try that.

[forme95]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

I play with QC and I find that the count starts at 1-1 like 90% of the time. It may start at 3-0 like twice a game. I try to work the count but it seems like the CPU pitcher throws the ball right down the strike zone all the time. They don't throw a lot of balls or nibble on the edge of the strike zone. Maybe that's my problem? Is there a slider to fix that?

Oohhh. Then I'm not the guy to help here lol. I've never used qc. Hope others have helpful tips. Good luck.

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[FenwayMac]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

For striking out more, pitch speed and timing are the key sliders if you don’t want to throw too much out of whack.

For walks I subscribe to lowering the strike ratio down to put the CPU in a make batters chase game plan, and then raise consistency up to help pitchers execute that plan. Seems odd to do this, but if pitchers are erratic they seem to throw more meatballs over the plate. If the gameplan is to work the edges and they don’t miss as often due to raising consistency, you should draw more walks

[wisdom less13]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

For striking out more, pitch speed and timing are the key sliders if you don’t want to throw too much out of whack.

For walks I subscribe to lowering the strike ratio down to put the CPU in a make batters chase game plan, and then raise consistency up to help pitchers execute that plan. Seems odd to do this, but if pitchers are erratic they seem to throw more meatballs over the plate. If the gameplan is to work the edges and they don’t miss as often due to raising consistency, you should draw more walks

So, the strike frequency is for overall strikes? I just thought it was an earlier in the count thing...

[KBLover]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

So, the strike frequency is for overall strikes? I just thought it was an earlier in the count thing...

Sometimes it seems to impact the whole count though the text always says early in the count.

So it's really hard to tell. The higher up I go in difficulty, there's PAs where the CPU is like "nope, not pitching to you", especially on Legend.

I prefer to keep Strike Frequency low and Control/Consistency low-ish so that when the CPU wants a strike, it doesn't always "get a strike at will", especially on All-Star and above where the CPU will be more inclined to try to work the edges.

That way, either way strike frequency works, the CPU can still hit the edges at times (good stuff, good day, good ratings, etc.) but it's no guarantee and sometimes you can get 4-5 pitch walks as well as those 3-2 counts.

I think Zone % is key for walks. That's the rate pitches actually are physically strikes. This also is good sign to see if the CPU is trying to fool you enough with chases at close pitches. To find this, take the strikes the pitcher got, subtract any chases, and then divide that number by the pitches the pitcher threw.

For example, last game I played, CPU got 76 strikes as a team out of 131 pitches. 15 of those strikes were me chasing. So (76-15) / 131 = .466 or 46.6% of pitches were thrown in the zone, just about MLB average (45 and change).

For K's, timing and foul frequency can have a significant impact on the User, especially depending on your interface. Both can impact the "fudge factor" hitters get on contact. Ratings also matter, especially the lower that "fudge factor" is in general. Guys with the higher Vision ratings can start to differentiate themselves in this area.

[wisdom less13]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

Sometimes it seems to impact the whole count though the text always says early in the count.

So it's really hard to tell. The higher up I go in difficulty, there's PAs where the CPU is like "nope, not pitching to you", especially on Legend.

I prefer to keep Strike Frequency low and Control/Consistency low-ish so that when the CPU wants a strike, it doesn't always "get a strike at will", especially on All-Star and above where the CPU will be more inclined to try to work the edges.

That way, either way strike frequency works, the CPU can still hit the edges at times (good stuff, good day, good ratings, etc.) but it's no guarantee and sometimes you can get 4-5 pitch walks as well as those 3-2 counts.

I think Zone % is key for walks. That's the rate pitches actually are physically strikes. This also is good sign to see if the CPU is trying to fool you enough with chases at close pitches. To find this, take the strikes the pitcher got, subtract any chases, and then divide that number by the pitches the pitcher threw.

For example, last game I played, CPU got 76 strikes as a team out of 131 pitches. 15 of those strikes were me chasing. So (76-15) / 131 = .466 or 46.6% of pitches were thrown in the zone, just about MLB average (45 and change).

For K's, timing and foul frequency can have a significant impact on the User, especially depending on your interface. Both can impact the "fudge factor" hitters get on contact. Ratings also matter, especially the lower that "fudge factor" is in general. Guys with the higher Vision ratings can start to differentiate themselves in this area.

Thanks for the in depth look into it, I appreciate it. The slider always scared me. Early on I tested 4, 4, 5 with the AI and I got more walks, which I was looking for. I just felt like the balls were all over the joint. I only tried a couple of games with the 6, 4 and I was getting pounded in the zone too much for my liking. This was on HOF.

I mostly use directional due to less moving parts, but just moving timing down one does make a noticeable difference on quality swings. Sliders seem to have more of an effect with just one click this year. There's barely any adjusting needed this year. Aprreciate the help, again...

[TheWarmWind]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

I play with QC and I find that the count starts at 1-1 like 90% of the time. It may start at 3-0 like twice a game. I try to work the count but it seems like the CPU pitcher throws the ball right down the strike zone all the time. They don't throw a lot of balls or nibble on the edge of the strike zone. Maybe that's my problem? Is there a slider to fix that?

Most playtesters agree that quick counts mess up slider settings. Armor's sliders were built without quick counts, and won't work as intended with quick counts on.

The slider you are looking for to fix the specific issue you speak of is CPU strike frequency. CPU strike frequency determines the ratio that a pitcher aims for a corner as opposed to "just getting a strike". The CPU does tend to be way to aggressively in the zone, even without quick counts. I hear Quick counts is worse.

[No.27]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

Most playtesters agree that quick counts mess up slider settings. Armor's sliders were built without quick counts, and won't work as intended with quick counts on.

The slider you are looking for to fix the specific issue you speak of is CPU strike frequency. CPU strike frequency determines the ratio that a pitcher aims for a corner as opposed to "just getting a strike". The CPU does tend to be way to aggressively in the zone, even without quick counts. I hear Quick counts is worse.

Hey WW, I know it’s heresy but I’ve been playing all year with QC on (lifestyle choice!) and have gotten good results with Default sliders and of late Armors set. BYU 14 has a quick count slider set that is fairly close to Armors and has his strike frequency set at zero but says it is not applicable. I’ve tested it all the way from zero to Default and it doesn’t seem to make any difference. I think a good way to approach the walk/strikeout issue is that all the rules of a good at bat still apply whether you are starting at 0-0 without QC, 1-1, 2-1 with QC etc. For me patience is the key this year even when using QC.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

Hey WW, I know it’s heresy but I’ve been playing all year with QC on (lifestyle choice!) and have gotten good results with Default sliders and of late Armors set. BYU 14 has a quick count slider set that is fairly close to Armors and has his strike frequency set at zero but says it is not applicable. I’ve tested it all the way from zero to Default and it doesn’t seem to make any difference. I think a good way to approach the walk/strikeout issue is that all the rules of a good at bat still apply whether you are starting at 0-0 without QC, 1-1, 2-1 with QC etc. For me patience is the key this year even when using QC.

Good to know.

As for playing quick counts, I totally get it and hey, you do you. The only thing that really bothers me is that sometimes players really do swing at the first pitch and get a hit or an out. Maybe if there were a chance for 0-0 counts (or is there? I haven't played quick counts since they first came out.) I'd consider using them. I mean, not for my carry over. Never for my carry over. But maybe for a minor league game in my carry over.

[No.27]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

Good to know.

As for playing quick counts, I totally get it and hey, you do you. The only thing that really bothers me is that sometimes players really do swing at the first pitch and get a hit or an out. Maybe if there were a chance for 0-0 counts (or is there? I haven't played quick counts since they first came out.) I'd consider using them. I mean, not for my carry over. Never for my carry over. But maybe for a minor league game in my carry over.

There are a few guys using QC on OS and the consensus is that the logic is much improved but you are right you will never get a zero count. So I miss out on Mookie hitting the first ball of the game for a home run and I haven’t really bunted all year. The benefit for me is you get to pitch and bat in lots of different counts quickly so I am getting and giving away plenty of walks and strikeouts. Had Chris Sale issue 7 walks the other night which is unheard of for me and it is like playing a different game with that many men on base.

[Torontotoon]

Re: How do I strike out more and get more walks?

Has anyone ever tweaked the pitcher k/9 attributes to affect strikeouts instead of working on sliders and getting slideritis?

A couple of years ago I took advice from someone on this forum to lower my user player Power attributes as the homeruns were way too high and this worked great and I have been using that ever since.

I now find that all of my stats are perfectly in line with real life and I don't want to change sliders in fear of losing this but the one area that is way off is that I strike out the cpu at an average of 11 or 12/game.....way too high.

My question is has anyone ever altered the k/9 attributes on pitchers and seen an effect on the effectiveness of user pitchers being able to strikeout the cpu?