Thought I'd post my sliders and settings. I play the game very casually, like a pick up and play game. Basically see the ball hit the ball, yet I am able to get very realistic numbers in spite of the somewhat high degree of difficulty this game has.
First off, when I say realistic numbers, this is roughly what I'm going for:
(MLB averages from the past three years, per game, per team)
4 runs
9 hits
2 2Bs
1 HR
7 Ks
3 BBs
1 E
1 SB ATT (72% success rate)
60 % strikes
140 pitches
21 pitches chased
Relevant Settings:
(for ones not listed just use your personal preference)
Hitting Difficulty- All-Star. Anything lower than All-Star makes it near impossible to get 60% strikes. Don't be intimidated by the difficulty, it just means you'll see a more realistic pitch pattern.
Hitting Interface- Timing. You can probably use another method if you prefer, and still use the sliders I have here without any detriment.
Guess Pitch- Off. I don't think this feature is entirely realistic, and it just gives you another thing to think about. If you leave this on and use one of the options that gives you a boost, you may need to tone down some of the human hitting sliders I have listed below.
Hit View- Custom. I highly recommend making use of the new custom cameras added this year, as they make a world of difference. (see this thread)
Pitching Difficulty- All-Star. Anything below All-Star it becomes way too easy to dominate with the sliders I have set up.
Pitching Interface- Classic. Yet another personal preference, though with this one if you use anything else you may need to adjust either Human Pitch Consistency or Human Pitch Control, or both.
Pitch Ball Marker- On. Shows where you are aiming for the pitch. Really though, with the way I have the sliders set up, you have to think of this as where you are calling for the pitch. So leave this on.
Pitching View- Custom. I always use a custom view based on the broadcast view of whatever stadium I'm playing in. Again, custom cameras are a great addition to this year's game, so make use of them!
Pitch Callout- Simple. This setting shows the result of a pitch after it has crossed the plate. I use simple just so I can get a reference point of where the pitch crossed the plate when I hit, because when this is set to off the pitch zooms by and can be tough to pick up.
Pitch Confidence- On. Pitch confidence if huge, as is simulates and shows how well a pitcher has a feel for a certain pitch. The game does a good job of having guys gain and lose confidence of each pitch over the course of a game. Leave this on.
API- Off. Even if you don't know much about this game of baseball I highly recommend that you call your own pitches.
Strike Zone- Off. For realism. The strike zone is only where the ump calls it.
Hot Zones- Off. I don't think these aren't done very realistically, so I keep them off.
Throw Meter- Off. This will probably save you a lot of grief. I spent a great deal of time trying to get a handle on using the throw meter, but found it way too unforgiving and unrealistic.
Throw Canceling- On. It's a good feature to leave on, in case you want or need to cancel a throw.
Fielding View Defense- Medium. I think it gives you the best view for fielding.
Catch Region Indicator- Off. For realism. One less indicator to look at.
Catch Position Indicator- On. Need to see where the ball lands.
Rob HR Indicator- On. Helps you rob HRs.
Umpire Ball and Strikes- Variable. Umpires will have their own unique strike zones. This is a cool feature. Use it.
Umpire Close Plays- On. Umps miss calls in real life. Leave this on.
Ejections- On. Ejections happen in real life. Leave this on.
The sliders:
Human Contact- 10. Makes it much easier to not only make contact, but also check your swing.
Human Power- 4. Reduces opposite field power a bit.
Human Timing- 10. Gives you a bigger window of opportunity for hitting a pitch.
Human Fouls- 10. Makes it easier to fight off tough pitches.
Human Solid Contact- 10. Makes you square pitches up more often.
Human Starter Stamina- 8. Makes it a bit easier to pitch complete games, which is difficult on default.
Human Relief Stamina- 8. Won't wear out your bullpen during a season so much.
Human Pitch Control- 4. Will give you a realistic number of strikes that the CPU can handle.
Human Pitch Consistency- 0. The only real way to get walks. The pitcher will seem really wild, so as I said above, you have to treat the pitching cursor as the spot your catcher is calling for the pitch and not where you are aiming it.
CPU Hitting Contact- 0. This will lower the CPU hitter discipline and make the CPU hitters chase pitches more realistically. It's the only way to get the CPU close to 21 pitches chased. Do not change this slider, as all the rest hinge on this one.
CPU Hitting Power- 4. Same as human.
CPU Hitting Timing- 10. With contact at zero this needs to be high.
CPU Fouls- 10. Any lower and you will rack up too many Ks.
CPU Solid Hits- 10. This also needs to be high to get the CPU a realistic number of hits.
CPU Starter Stamina- 8. Same as human.
CPU Relief Stamina- 8. Same as human.
CPU Pitch Control- 0. Will give you more pitches out over the plate.
CPU Pitch Consistency- 4. Anything lower and you will start to see too many wild pitches.
CPU Strike Frequency- 0. Helps you get close to 60% strikes. The CPU will still throw a realistic number of first pitch strikes as well.
CPU Hook- 6. CPU managers seem to pull pitchers at the right time.
CPU Pickoffs- 0. Pickoffs work too well so I leave this at zero. To make it fair I also don't take an extra step while leading off, and steal only on realistic counts.
Pitch Speed- 0. Helps you see the ball better.
Fielding Errors- 8. To help get a realistic amount of errors.
Throwing Errors- 8. To help get a realistic amount of errors.
Fielder Speed- 4. Helps hits fall in outfield.
Fielder Reaction- 2. Makes infielders more realistic, and helps grounders make it through the infield.
Fielder Arm- 4. Makes throws more realistic.
Base Runner Speed- 4. To match lowering fielder arm.
Steal Ability- 2. Way too easy to steal on default.
Steal Frequency- 8. CPU doesn't steal enough on default.
Wind- 2. Makes wind more realistic.
Injury- 0. I play with injuries off, just a personal preference.
A few tips:
-wait for good pitches to hit, pitches in the middle of the zone
-use contact swing to battle
-use power swing when you really want to drive the ball with your better hitters
-call a good game when pitching, and expect to be wild at times
-give these or any sliders and settings you use at least a few games before you start changing anything
-have fun
First off, when I say realistic numbers, this is roughly what I'm going for:
(MLB averages from the past three years, per game, per team)
4 runs
9 hits
2 2Bs
1 HR
7 Ks
3 BBs
1 E
1 SB ATT (72% success rate)
60 % strikes
140 pitches
21 pitches chased
Relevant Settings:
(for ones not listed just use your personal preference)
Hitting Difficulty- All-Star. Anything lower than All-Star makes it near impossible to get 60% strikes. Don't be intimidated by the difficulty, it just means you'll see a more realistic pitch pattern.
Hitting Interface- Timing. You can probably use another method if you prefer, and still use the sliders I have here without any detriment.
Guess Pitch- Off. I don't think this feature is entirely realistic, and it just gives you another thing to think about. If you leave this on and use one of the options that gives you a boost, you may need to tone down some of the human hitting sliders I have listed below.
Hit View- Custom. I highly recommend making use of the new custom cameras added this year, as they make a world of difference. (see this thread)
Pitching Difficulty- All-Star. Anything below All-Star it becomes way too easy to dominate with the sliders I have set up.
Pitching Interface- Classic. Yet another personal preference, though with this one if you use anything else you may need to adjust either Human Pitch Consistency or Human Pitch Control, or both.
Pitch Ball Marker- On. Shows where you are aiming for the pitch. Really though, with the way I have the sliders set up, you have to think of this as where you are calling for the pitch. So leave this on.
Pitching View- Custom. I always use a custom view based on the broadcast view of whatever stadium I'm playing in. Again, custom cameras are a great addition to this year's game, so make use of them!
Pitch Callout- Simple. This setting shows the result of a pitch after it has crossed the plate. I use simple just so I can get a reference point of where the pitch crossed the plate when I hit, because when this is set to off the pitch zooms by and can be tough to pick up.
Pitch Confidence- On. Pitch confidence if huge, as is simulates and shows how well a pitcher has a feel for a certain pitch. The game does a good job of having guys gain and lose confidence of each pitch over the course of a game. Leave this on.
API- Off. Even if you don't know much about this game of baseball I highly recommend that you call your own pitches.
Strike Zone- Off. For realism. The strike zone is only where the ump calls it.
Hot Zones- Off. I don't think these aren't done very realistically, so I keep them off.
Throw Meter- Off. This will probably save you a lot of grief. I spent a great deal of time trying to get a handle on using the throw meter, but found it way too unforgiving and unrealistic.
Throw Canceling- On. It's a good feature to leave on, in case you want or need to cancel a throw.
Fielding View Defense- Medium. I think it gives you the best view for fielding.
Catch Region Indicator- Off. For realism. One less indicator to look at.
Catch Position Indicator- On. Need to see where the ball lands.
Rob HR Indicator- On. Helps you rob HRs.
Umpire Ball and Strikes- Variable. Umpires will have their own unique strike zones. This is a cool feature. Use it.
Umpire Close Plays- On. Umps miss calls in real life. Leave this on.
Ejections- On. Ejections happen in real life. Leave this on.
The sliders:
Human Contact- 10. Makes it much easier to not only make contact, but also check your swing.
Human Power- 4. Reduces opposite field power a bit.
Human Timing- 10. Gives you a bigger window of opportunity for hitting a pitch.
Human Fouls- 10. Makes it easier to fight off tough pitches.
Human Solid Contact- 10. Makes you square pitches up more often.
Human Starter Stamina- 8. Makes it a bit easier to pitch complete games, which is difficult on default.
Human Relief Stamina- 8. Won't wear out your bullpen during a season so much.
Human Pitch Control- 4. Will give you a realistic number of strikes that the CPU can handle.
Human Pitch Consistency- 0. The only real way to get walks. The pitcher will seem really wild, so as I said above, you have to treat the pitching cursor as the spot your catcher is calling for the pitch and not where you are aiming it.
CPU Hitting Contact- 0. This will lower the CPU hitter discipline and make the CPU hitters chase pitches more realistically. It's the only way to get the CPU close to 21 pitches chased. Do not change this slider, as all the rest hinge on this one.
CPU Hitting Power- 4. Same as human.
CPU Hitting Timing- 10. With contact at zero this needs to be high.
CPU Fouls- 10. Any lower and you will rack up too many Ks.
CPU Solid Hits- 10. This also needs to be high to get the CPU a realistic number of hits.
CPU Starter Stamina- 8. Same as human.
CPU Relief Stamina- 8. Same as human.
CPU Pitch Control- 0. Will give you more pitches out over the plate.
CPU Pitch Consistency- 4. Anything lower and you will start to see too many wild pitches.
CPU Strike Frequency- 0. Helps you get close to 60% strikes. The CPU will still throw a realistic number of first pitch strikes as well.
CPU Hook- 6. CPU managers seem to pull pitchers at the right time.
CPU Pickoffs- 0. Pickoffs work too well so I leave this at zero. To make it fair I also don't take an extra step while leading off, and steal only on realistic counts.
Pitch Speed- 0. Helps you see the ball better.
Fielding Errors- 8. To help get a realistic amount of errors.
Throwing Errors- 8. To help get a realistic amount of errors.
Fielder Speed- 4. Helps hits fall in outfield.
Fielder Reaction- 2. Makes infielders more realistic, and helps grounders make it through the infield.
Fielder Arm- 4. Makes throws more realistic.
Base Runner Speed- 4. To match lowering fielder arm.
Steal Ability- 2. Way too easy to steal on default.
Steal Frequency- 8. CPU doesn't steal enough on default.
Wind- 2. Makes wind more realistic.
Injury- 0. I play with injuries off, just a personal preference.
A few tips:
-wait for good pitches to hit, pitches in the middle of the zone
-use contact swing to battle
-use power swing when you really want to drive the ball with your better hitters
-call a good game when pitching, and expect to be wild at times
-give these or any sliders and settings you use at least a few games before you start changing anything
-have fun
I close the game out 1-2-3 in the ninth.
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