Slumps

[bxphenom7]

Slumps really annoy me in the game because you can see them coming, yet no matter how good a pitch or how bad a pitcher is, you won't break out of it for a good while. It just feels like they're scripted. The Show really needs players to have a consistency rating to determine how often a player fall in slumps and how long it takes to break out of one. Anyone have this problem? Despite having 90+ contact and vision, I'm hitting a ridiculous .230.

[countryboy]

I have players go into slumps/hot streaks over the course of the season, but I don't feel like they are scripted.

Baseball is a funny game when it comes to slumps and hot streaks. We can be in a slump and smack the ball on the nose only to see it land in someone's glove. Or you can be on such a hot streak that no matter how weakly you hit a ball, it will find a hole or space and end up a hit.

Only thing you can do when in a slump is swing your way out.

[nomo17k]

Quote: Originally Posted by countryboy

... Only thing you can do when in a slump is swing your way out.

I actually find it more helpful to "unswing" my way out of a hitting funk.

When I'm in a slump, more often than not I tend to put in play pitches that I should just let go. Just becoming a tad more aggressive at the plate makes you swing at bad pitches. So when I'm in a funk, I consciously take more pitches, and only swing at a single pitch, usually a fastball at a specific location, till I get my discipline back.

[countryboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by nomo17k

I actually find it more helpful to "unswing" my way out of a hitting funk. When I'm in a slump, more often than not I tend to put in play pitches that I should just let go. Just becoming a tad more aggressive at the plate makes you swing at bad pitches. So when I'm in a funk, I consciously take more pitches, and only swing at a single pitch, usually a fastball at a specific location, till I get my discipline back.

That comment was meant to be lighthearted in nature which is why I put the behind it.

Your approach is best when in a slump. Take pitches and see as many as you can in order to get an "eye" for hitting again. Far too often, those in slumps will swing freely hoping to get out of the slump quickly.

[thatzacdavis]

My secret to getting out of a slump is getting a walk. It seems to get the hitter's confidence right back.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Anyone heard of a slumpbuster? That might work also. You can look it up...

[bxphenom7]

Well, now I'm completely convinced slumps are scripted or at least forced on you.

[KBLover]

Quote: Originally Posted by bxphenom7

Well, now I'm completely convinced slumps are scripted or at least forced on you.

They aren't, imo, but what happens is your player goes cold, which can/does modify his performance negatively (especially if they are more average/borderline players or at least in weaker/borderline skills), which then makes it more likely for the player to struggle, which keeps him cold, and so on.

Of course, the reverse is true for hot. A hot player that's also talented can be near unstoppable. Still remember the year Wil Myers was having before I switched - 37-game hitting streak, batting over .400 into May with power - totally insane. Same with Longoria the year before - hit like .360 with 40+ HR.

That might lend to a scripted feel, but a few games of bad luck can send the player spiraling down for a while - just like smacking 2 HR and going 7-for-12 in a series can fire him right up.

I do think they are more volatile this year. Last year, it seems more regulated on the "last 10 games". This year, I've seen more game-by-game changes than I remember seeing last year.