Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

[WaitTilNextYear]

I didn't see a thread for anything like this, so I thought I'd start a thread up.

The reason why I started thinking about this is I've been judging pitchers I might acquire in a trade by their repertoire mostly. Meaning, there is a certain set of pitches that I am most comfortable throwing using total control pitching, and I want all of my pitchers to feature them (without making unrealistic edits).

So, here's the question...what is your favorite pitch (or least favorite pitch) to throw in 2K using total control pitching? And do you have any tips for "stickwork" to toss a better certain kind of pitch that you'd like to share?

For me, I'd say 4-seamer is the easiest. I am also solid with throwing the changeup, 2-seamer, sinker, and curve.

I am pretty bad at the 12-6 curve and the splitter (lots of "bad gestures"). I won't acquire pitchers who feature those.

Interestingly, I can throw a mean slider with a righty, but I am terrible throwing sliders with lefty pitchers. Weird, huh?

Probably most of you have figured this out too, but I'll share anyway since I think this is a good spot to include pitching tips/insights. I find you get a better quality pitch by undershooting the pitching power meter, and a worse pitch by "overthrowing." You also get more velo by going to say 75% than overthrowing, which might be counter-intuitive. So, make sure to stop the power part of the meter before you get a full circle of power.

[morningrise85]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

Favorite by far is the two-seam fastball. Just love starting it outside and it coming back in for a strike.

I HATE the sinker. A good percent of the time I seem to always throw a wild pitch with it.

[philliesfan136]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

I love a good curveball. My favorite pitch in the MLB.

And I have to use the classic pitching instead of total control, I suck with the latter lol.

[illjl_90]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

I think the Sinker is hardest I have Marquis on my staff and I throw wild pitches like crazy with his sinker. my favorite is a pitcher with a good 4 seam fastball, slider, and changeup those are the 3 pitches I look for in a trade. Also 12/6 curveballs can be tough but when you get them down in a game it's hard for anyone to hit them because they drop so much.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

I think the Sinker is hardest I have Marquis on my staff and I throw wild pitches like crazy with his sinker. my favorite is a pitcher with a good 4 seam fastball, slider, and changeup those are the 3 pitches I look for in a trade. Also 12/6 curveballs can be tough but when you get them down in a game it's hard for anyone to hit them because they drop so much.

Weird, the sinker is one of my better pitches. I think it's because you don't have to slide your finger at all, it's just a straight up and down like the fastball.

I agree it's one of the riskier pitches as a bad gesture almost always turns it into a wild pitch.

[ProbieByKO]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

The knuckleball is my least favorite. I'm using the Blue Jays so I'm still getting used to Dickey.

I'm getting lots of "bad gestures"

[Das Christov]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

I would have to say that my favorite pitch is dependent upon whether I am using a LHP or a RHP. For a LHP, I love using the 2-seam fastball. It's a great pitch. And for a RHP, I love using both a slider and a sinker. I recently figured out how to throw a sinker with good consistency, and it's a REALLY effective pitch. The sinker is a great set-up pitch, when thrown low-and-away; afterward, using a fastball up-and-in often makes the batters head back to the bench shaking their heads.

[morningrise85]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

I recently figured out how to throw a sinker with good consistency, and it's a REALLY effective pitch.

Not Fair! haha!

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

The knuckleball is my least favorite. I'm using the Blue Jays so I'm still getting used to Dickey.

I'm getting lots of "bad gestures"

I have yet to try a knuckleball. I bet the stick pattern is crazy like turn at a 60 degree angle and do 3 rotations one way, then be perfectly still or something, lol.

I would have to say that my favorite pitch is dependent upon whether I am using a LHP or a RHP. For a LHP, I love using the 2-seam fastball. It's a great pitch. And for a RHP, I love using both a slider and a sinker. I recently figured out how to throw a sinker with good consistency, and it's a REALLY effective pitch. The sinker is a great set-up pitch, when thrown low-and-away; afterward, using a fastball up-and-in often makes the batters head back to the bench shaking their heads.

Yeah, it's interesting--the difference between throwing the same pitch with a different-handed pitcher. To me, it's interesting that my coordination can be pretty good using the stick motion one way, but like a drunken sailor rotating around the other way.

[Das Christov]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

Not Fair! haha!

I know the feeling! I have a franchise with my beloved Rays, and I spent what seemed like forever trying to figure out how to pitch with Jeremy Hellickson. It takes time! Don't give up on it just yet.

[WesternStateWR]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

I love throwing a 2-seam fastball.. Seems like the 1 pitch that i can really get a decent amount of swings and a miss with.

I have a love/hate with the circle change.. Again it is a pitch that generates a lot of misses, but i HATE when they call for it first pitch of an AB or Inside on a power hitter... My Circle Change on a 1st pitch AB is probably hit at a 40-50% clip and majority of my HR allowed are due to Circle Change on the inner half.

(I play where i have to throw the pitch called in the location.. just a way for me to keep things honest and competitive)

[daltros]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

I'm inconsistent with the 2-seamer, but the splitter is the pitch that I fail at throwing effectively most of the time.

[FreeOJSimpson]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

The hardest pitch to locate is the splitter. Easily my least favorite pitch. With Samardzija it is his best pitch; I'll aim it all the way at the top of the zone and it will still be a ball around the batters knees. Favorite pitch is 12-6. Best payoff pitch around. I like 4 seam 2 seam 12-6 changeup and maybe a slider as my five.

[daltros]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

I agree, the splitter is the hardest pitch for me to locate. What makes it even tougher to throw is that every pitcher in the game, for the most part, has a different break to their pitches (also dependent on the pitch's rating, of course). The splitter has dramatic movement and it's so hard to adjust to each pitcher who throws a splitter.

[pitchleague]

Re: Favorite/Least Favorite Pitches to Throw?

I'm in the minority, but I hate the 2-seam fastball. This is mostly due to my controller registering the first gesture (up) just fine but the swing of the stick to the right or left doesn't register half the time resulting in a bad gesture. Sometimes, I push the stick up and it registers a bad gesture before I even try the 2nd move. Ticks me off a lot, especially on a 3-ball count and I need a strike.