Just Noticed Another "Little Thing" that is a "Huge Thing"...
 

High kudos and praises be to the programmer/designer that added this little tidbit of awesomeness, that admittedly I noticed for the first time this weekend, and I do not think has EVER been mentioned.

When batting from a behind-the-batter view, whether it be offset, catcher, wide, etc... pay close attention to the second baseman and the shortstop just as the pitch is being delivered. Wha?? Did I just see the second baseman take a step to his left because he knew the pitcher was throwing something offspeed to my left handed batter??

At first I thought it was just an animation, but then I watched the next pitch, and both the shortstop and the second baseman slid a half step to their right, and the pitch was a fastball on the outside edge.

For the rest of the game, I saw that although they did not move every pitch, more often that not, I could get a sense of what was coming based on their movements.

If a developer wants to state that it was totally coincidental, and indeed just animations that happen to fall into the correct pitches, then please do so, and I won't think any less of your awesome game...

If however someone wants to corroborate this as a fact, and indeed, the fielders will shade a step or two based on them knowing what pitch was being called (like every infielder in the MLB does), then tip your hat, and buy yourself a delicious beverage of your choice. You earned it.

~syf

Re: Just Noticed Another "Little Thing" that is a "Huge Thing"...
 

I have noticed this and try to adjust accordingly. It's a very cool feature, but it doesn't guarantee a successful AB...which adds to the beauty of the nuance.

Re: Just Noticed Another "Little Thing" that is a "Huge Thing"...
 

I thought maybe some of the guys who are having trouble with Guess Pitch might be able to utilize this information as well.

When the blinking lights fail, just read the defense and adjust.

~syf

Re: Just Noticed Another "Little Thing" that is a "Huge Thing"...
 

Oh no. My OCD meter just kicked back to on.

Anyone remember that thread started last year about the umpires constantly adjusting their masks before each pitch? :)

Anyway, cool observation. I'll have to check for it out later on. Nice find.

Re: Just Noticed Another "Little Thing" that is a "Huge Thing"...
 

Just saw this in MLB 12 BTW.

Re: Just Noticed Another "Little Thing" that is a "Huge Thing"...
 

Remember, what you see can't be unseen.

Ah! Ahhhh! My eyes!

Re: Just Noticed Another "Little Thing" that is a "Huge Thing"...
 

Burnett pitching to a right handed hitter. Shortstop took a couple of steps into the hole he threw a curve. Next three fastballs the guy never moved.

Re: Just Noticed Another "Little Thing" that is a "Huge Thing"...
 

This would actually make sense though, as you are positioned for a particular batter, and in the course of the at bat, might cheat a step or two, based on the pitch, but also, very importantly, the location.

If you play a guy to a pull +2 but see the catcher setting up, or call for an offspeed pitch away to a righty, you might as well hold your ground, as there is just as good a chance for the batter to roll over that pitch on the outside half, and not necessarily hit to a pull.

Like I mentioned in the first post, it did not happen all the time, but I also cannot see the location the catcher is calling for, so it may have been those pitches to my left were going to be offspeed and in, and that would make sense that the middle innies would slide to the pull..

Might be total nonsense, but it sure looked like they knew what they were doing...

~syf