Help please with MLB 10 The Show

[nino1]

Hi all, I am new to Baseball, and have just had MLB the Show PS3 posted to me from a friend in the USA, as in Australia we cannot get Baseball games.

The game looks great and I really want to enjoy to play it, however I am struggling big time.
I cannot hit a ball, well not a good hit.
Can someone please give me some simple tips on how to hit the ball.
Do you use Left stick for direction ?, do you aim direction just befor the pitch, then let it go, and just hit X at the point of impact, or do you need to use X together with the left stick ?
I really struggle to hit a pitch, and its frustrating, that I cannot enjoy this great game.

Any tips, simple please, to enjoy this game will be so much appreciatted.
I am new to Baseball, but love watching MLB on TV, its a great game, not like boring cricket which is what Australians love.
Thanks kindly for any advice.
Nino

[Jdurg]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

Take a look at the tips/suggestions thread here on these forums, or do a search for the tutorials thread which has been posted. I'm sure Knight or Pared or one of the other guys around here will respond and be able to direct you to the threads if you can't find them.

Welcome to the forums and enjoy The Show! It's the best baseball game out there.

[Potvin63]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

It took me a while to get used to hitting in this game and even more time to make solid contact and generate hits. I don't use the left stick once the pitch has been thrown as I just guess a pitch and location and then try and pick up the ball out of the pitchers hand.

The most basic tip that I always use is I never swing at the first pitch, ever. If it's a ball that increases your odds of getting a good pitch later in the count and in all likelihood a first pitch ball will mean a fastball on one of the next two pitches. Also, if you guess the right pitch you need to make sure you don't swing too soon or else you will hit it foul or hit a weak grounder. So get into the batting practice and get used to the right timing on your swing.

Another good tip that has helped me is to look for pitches in the middle or low part of the strike zone. High pitches are difficult to hit and when you do make contact you'll just pop it up. If it comes in looking high and ISN'T a curveball, try not to swing.

Last tip, by taking the first pitch and working the count as best you can you can do a few things. Run up the opposing pitch count and get the pitcher out of the game sooner. Also the more you see a pitcher and the pitches he throws the better you can get a read on what is coming and what his pitches do. Do they break, slide, rise?

Hope this helps.

[nino1]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

Thanks so much, makes more sense to me now.
So you really can't adjust the way you hit right ?
Also sorry, but I still don't get it with guessing the pitch.
Is this just a potluck thing ? what benifit do you get by guessing the pitch ?

Thanks again for your kind advice, it will make me enjoy this great game more.

It took me a while to get used to hitting in this game and even more time to make solid contact and generate hits. I don't use the left stick once the pitch has been thrown as I just guess a pitch and location and then try and pick up the ball out of the pitchers hand.

The most basic tip that I always use is I never swing at the first pitch, ever. If it's a ball that increases your odds of getting a good pitch later in the count and in all likelihood a first pitch ball will mean a fastball on one of the next two pitches. Also, if you guess the right pitch you need to make sure you don't swing too soon or else you will hit it foul or hit a weak grounder. So get into the batting practice and get used to the right timing on your swing.

Another good tip that has helped me is to look for pitches in the middle or low part of the strike zone. High pitches are difficult to hit and when you do make contact you'll just pop it up. If it comes in looking high and ISN'T a curveball, try not to swing.

Last tip, by taking the first pitch and working the count as best you can you can do a few things. Run up the opposing pitch count and get the pitcher out of the game sooner. Also the more you see a pitcher and the pitches he throws the better you can get a read on what is coming and what his pitches do. Do they break, slide, rise?

Hope this helps.

[Woodweaver]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

You can guess the pitch type AND location. I can't remember which does which right now, but I think guessing type gives you a bonus to contact and location gives you a bonus to power. I may have those reversed. If you guess incorrectly, you will receive penalties. Of course, you do not have to use the guess pitch if you don't want to...

[joesaysso]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

You'll get mostly the same tips no matter where you go. Take more pitches, be patient, wait for a good pitch...blah, blah, blah. It doesn't seem to matter. This year's game has been ever frustrating due to the amount of balls the fielder's eat up. I am constantly amazed at how many balls that I have great timing, great contact, or both and they end up being weak ground balls, line drivers right at infielders, ropes right at outfielders, or towering fly balls that stay up long enough for outfielders to run 2 miles to go get.

Good luck is all the advice I have for you. I've tried hitting on 3 different difficulty levels with hitting sliders all the way up. I should almost get more hits accidently then I actually get in the game. I even got no-hit by the marlins in spring training on veteran mode. I'm not sure if its more embarrassing for me or the absurdity of this game. My starters could not get a single hit off of a platoon of Marlins spring training pitchers and I've been playing The Show since '08.

There are people who claim that they can hit the ball on this forum. Perhaps they have mastered a skill that I have not. I will say that every person that I have actually met in real life also cannot hit the ball in this game. Good luck, again. You are in for a long and difficult journey.

[nino1]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

Thanks again, but I have to be honest, its all still very unclear to me, when I see the pitch, they all look the same to me at the release point, I guess I don't come from the Baseball world, as its not popular here, these Aussies don't know what they are missing.
I suppose this game is like real baseball, as you don't see batters hitting every ball sweet.
Its a little frustrating to not be able to enjoy the game as much.
Anyway as you all said I will keep practicing.
Cheers.

You'll get mostly the same tips no matter where you go. Take more pitches, be patient, wait for a good pitch...blah, blah, blah. It doesn't seem to matter. This year's game has been ever frustrating due to the amount of balls the fielder's eat up. I am constantly amazed at how many balls that I have great timing, great contact, or both and they end up being weak ground balls, line drivers right at infielders, ropes ri pointght at outfielders, or towering fly balls that stay up long enough for outfielders to run 2 miles to go get.

Good luck is all the advice I have for you. I've tried hitting on 3 different difficulty levels with hitting sliders all the way up. I should almost get more hits accidently then I actually get in the game. I even got no-hit by the marlins in spring training on veteran mode. I'm not sure if its more embarrassing for me or the absurdity of this game. My starters could not get a single hit off of a platoon of Marlins spring training pitchers and I've been playing The Show since '08.

There are people who claim that they can hit the ball on this forum. Perhaps they have mastered a skill that I have not. I will say that every person that I have actually met in real life also cannot hit the ball in this game. Good luck, again. You are in for a long and difficult journey.

[Bullit]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

Welcome to the Show! Don't get discouraged many many people have had alot of trouble getting the hang of this game.

The key to everything is patience I cannot stress that enough. Play an exhibition game with you favorite team. DONT swing at anything. Watch every pitch see the release the break watch replays see where it crosses the plate. Do this over and over until you can start to pick out pitches.

Watch real games online if you can. The will help you with strategy and running a game.

The same goes with pitching . Go into practice pick a pitch throw it 100 times. See how it breaks where the release is etc.

Be Patient really really really patient it all comes in time

Remember we are talking about Practice here, really we are talking about practice right. I mean we are talking about practice

[ttinker]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

Are you playing on rookie? It's definitely the place to start as all you have to worry about is timing. I always sit on fastball and react to offspeed pitches, unless the pitcher has a 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball and either a slider or change-up. In that instance I sit on the offspeed pitch and if I guess right, I know it's offspeed, and if I don't guess right, I know it's a fastball.

Having never played an MLB The Show game, it's going to be frustrating to start, but just keep at it and soon you'll be getting hits. Shoot, even going from '08 to '09 was a big change for me, hitting-wise. I'm thankful that the '09 to '10 transition didn't include a drastic change in hitting.

[Cane_Mutiny]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

I would definitely start on the easiest level (Rookie) and work up from there. On Rookie, you don't need to use the L-stick at all, it's all based on the timing of when you hit X, which is really helpful. Even on the higher levels, I never use the L-stick, as it only complicates things for me. If you can master the L-stick, you'll get better results, but I'm doing great on All-Star just timing the pitches and hitting X.

Another good tip that's helpful for me is to use Guess Pitch. Try it against a pitcher that features a Fastball and two types of Off-Speed pitches (for example, a pitcher with a 4-Seam Fastball, a Change-up, and a Slider). Always guess Fastball, and if you get it right, you'll know that you're getting a pitch in the 90 MPH range (and you'll get the hang pretty quickly of how fast you have to swing for that speed). If you guess wrong, you'll know it's either a change-up or slider, which are slower pitches, so you'll know to wait a little more before swinging.

It all comes with practice and just try to put the difficulty down and put up the hitting sliders at first, and slowly move em down as you get more comfortable. Also, make sure to move up the "Timing" slider, as it will give you more of a window to make your swing. And moving down the "Pitch Speed" slider will help too, as it gives you more time to see the pitches and react.

The hitting in this game still frustrates me pretty often, but that's just like real baseball! Just remember that pitching ALWAYS wins in this sport, and try your hardest to time pitches, string together hits, and score runs. You'll get the hang of it!

[emath]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

I am having a hard time understanding how people are having such a hard time hitting. This is the first time have ever played the show and I crush the ball, even with the sliders turned down. Turn off guess pitch, and the option to use the right stick. Be patient, and practice your timing.

[nino1]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

Thanks guys, this makes me feel better, yes I will PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.
Just one last question, can you aim the direction you want to hit your shot, left or right or straight down the middle ? Thanks again, much appreciated

I am having a hard time understanding how people are having such a hard time hitting. This is the first time have ever played the show and I crush the ball, even with the sliders turned down. Turn off guess pitch, and the option to use the right stick. Be patient, and practice your timing.

[joesaysso]

Re: Help please with MLB 10 The Show

Thanks again, but I have to be honest, its all still very unclear to me, when I see the pitch, they all look the same to me at the release point, I guess I don't come from the Baseball world, as its not popular here, these Aussies don't know what they are missing.
I suppose this game is like real baseball, as you don't see batters hitting every ball sweet.
Its a little frustrating to not be able to enjoy the game as much.
Anyway as you all said I will keep practicing.
Cheers.

I can definitly promise that you will get better at seeing pitches. Don't get me wrong all of the advice is good. Be patient and all that stuff helps. But up until yesterday, I thought the game was pretty unforgiving on the offensive side of the ball. Then I played a game where I ditched the "guess pitch" feature. I even turned the hitting difficulty UP and I hit the ball all over the yard.

I can't believe that its just a coincidence that a game that I struggled on rookie and veteran all of the sudden got easy on all-star. It may have been a fluke but I'm thinking that the penalties for guessing a pitch wrong are for more severe than the "bonus" you get for guessing right. I'm about to play a couple more games to find out but for now I suggest turning the guess pitch feature off and see if your numbers go up.