Manage Only Mode -- Pitch Location

[bk7987]

I've started playing some Manage Only Mode this year and I'm loving it so far. I'm playing a Fantasy Draft Franchise and I have a few questions for people more accustomed with the mode.

My pitching staff is fairly mediocre, but by no means terrible. David Price, Neftali Feliz, Matt Moore, Jon Lackey, Jake Westbrook. However, I find myself getting hit around in games so much that I have a 5.50+ ERA after the first month. I just managed a game where I gave up 6 home runs and David Price couldn't get past the 3rd inning after giving up 9 runs.

I'm aware it's a small sample size and some of it is due to a weak bullpen, but I'd like to know if taking a more active role in calling pitch locations in this mode would help. I was under the impression the catcher would call the game and I'd only have to step in when I thought necessary. I'm good at matching up my bullpen with their best hitters, etc...but really it's my starters getting knocked around early that kills me. It seems like the top rated players on the other team are very difficult to get out.

Anyway, if I'm just getting unlucky for the first month of my Franchise I can live with it, I would just like to know if it's something I'm doing wrong or overlooking.

[miamikb2001]

I'd like to know how other people pitch as well.In previous years I had success calling every pitch,but this year I've struggled and I use the Giants a good pitching team.Also id love to know the difference between Pitch to batter and Pitch Agressively.

[Knight165]

Re: Manage Only Mode -- Pitch Location

Here is what I do.
Only with the most dangerous hitters, do I call for certain zones.
With every hitter....my pitcher can get him 0-2 or 1-2....I call for a pitch around(R2-TRIANGLE) until he K's or throws a ball. This helps up my pitchers K count a bit.

I'm really hoping....that one day we get to call individual pitches and locations. Manage only Mode just seems perfect for that.

M.K.
Knight165

[miamikb2001]

Here is what I do.
Only with the most dangerous hitters, do I call for certain zones.
With every hitter....my pitcher can get him 0-2 or 1-2....I call for a pitch around(R2-TRIANGLE) until he K's or throws a ball. This helps up my pitchers K count a bit.

I'm really hoping....that one day we get to call individual pitches and locations. Manage only Mode just seems perfect for that.

M.K.
Knight165

If we could call the pitch and location I would be in Heaven and would rarely play any other game!Oh to dream

[miamikb2001]

Hey Mk do you ever use Pitch to Batter or Pitch Agrressively?Or do you just use Play Ball and pitch around with the occasional use of pitch location?This year so far just playing spring training with the Giants I am struggling mightly

[Knight165]

Re: Manage Only Mode -- Pitch Location

Hey Mk do you ever use Pitch to Batter or Pitch Agrressively?Or do you just use Play Ball and pitch around with the occasional use of pitch location?This year so far just playing spring training with the Giants I am struggling mightly

I do use pitch aggressive .....if it's a "do or die" situation or a lower rated hitter.
Otherwise, mostly play ball.

M.K.
Knight165

[miamikb2001]

Mk what would you say is the difference between pitch to batter and pitch aggressive?To me it seems like the same thing.What do you think Mk?

[Knight165]

Re: Manage Only Mode -- Pitch Location

Mk what would you say is the difference between pitch to batter and pitch aggressive?To me it seems like the same thing.What do you think Mk?

I don't know.
I've never used pitch to batter....but that may be the same as "play ball".

M.K.
Knight165

[miamikb2001]

I don't know.
I've never used pitch to batter....but that may be the same as "play ball".

M.K.
Knight165

That's what I was thinking,Damn I was hoping you would know.

[daveme05]

Re: Manage Only Mode -- Pitch Location

I only use MoM myself and have played around 20ish games using all different teams. I have a franchise going where I own all the teams and manage all the games just playing as the home team each game, with the CPU set to control all the teams transactions, injuries, lineups, etc to keep it sorta realistic.

Anyways I've been playing through the spring training games and I've noticed some things about hitting play ball vs using pitch to batter and pitch aggressive. From what I can tell just hitting play ball is equivalent to just letting your players do there own thing on the field, the pitcher will throw balls and strikes and walk batters possibly because hes choosing to not give hitters good balls to hit. I've also noticed that when using play now occasionally the pitcher will even pitch out and the infield/outfield will automatically adjust to the situation (double play depth, bunt D, etc) (I've even seen a shift for Ryan Howard) However, I have yet to see my pitcher try a pick off by himself when using play ball.

However, when using the pitch to batter option the pitcher seems to have more control of the strike zone (possibly due to him not choosing to pitch around people by himself) I haven't noticed if this also means you will have to call D alignments, I will have to test that.

Using the pitch aggressively seems to lead to the pitcher trying to throw in the zone almost always (and usually low), I've tended to use this when I'm trying to get a double play and it works well for that but beware because some hitters can hit the low ball out of the park.

Pitch around is exactly as it sounds, the pitcher will throw a lot of balls or corner strikes trying to not give the hitter anything good to hit, the few times I've used this a whole at bat its leaded to a 4 or 5 pitch walk. Really good if your pitching against a power hitter that is unprotected with first base open and a guy or 2 on.

[miamikb2001]

I only use MoM myself and have played around 20ish games using all different teams. I have a franchise going where I own all the teams and manage all the games just playing as the home team each game, with the CPU set to control all the teams transactions, injuries, lineups, etc to keep it sorta realistic.

Anyways I've been playing through the spring training games and I've noticed some things about hitting play ball vs using pitch to batter and pitch aggressive. From what I can tell just hitting play ball is equivalent to just letting your players do there own thing on the field, the pitcher will throw balls and strikes and walk batters possibly because hes choosing to not give hitters good balls to hit. I've also noticed that when using play now occasionally the pitcher will even pitch out and the infield/outfield will automatically adjust to the situation (double play depth, bunt D, etc) (I've even seen a shift for Ryan Howard) However, I have yet to see my pitcher try a pick off by himself when using play ball.

However, when using the pitch to batter option the pitcher seems to have more control of the strike zone (possibly due to him not choosing to pitch around people by himself) I haven't noticed if this also means you will have to call D alignments, I will have to test that.

Using the pitch aggressively seems to lead to the pitcher trying to throw in the zone almost always (and usually low), I've tended to use this when I'm trying to get a double play and it works well for that but beware because some hitters can hit the low ball out of the park.

Pitch around is exactly as it sounds, the pitcher will throw a lot of balls or corner strikes trying to not give the hitter anything good to hit, the few times I've used this a whole at bat its leaded to a 4 or 5 pitch walk. Really good if your pitching against a power hitter that is unprotected with first base open and a guy or 2 on.

Thanks for all the insight.I been trying to figure exactly what each does.Im gonna use some of your insight and thoughts into my game tonight

[daveme05]

Re: Manage Only Mode -- Pitch Location

Yea no problem. Let me know what you find out as well I might not be 100% about all that but that's just what I've ubserved. It seems like there are 3 ways to play it: the play ball way which leaves only a few choices for you and let's the cpu players chose a lot, the pitch aggressive, pitch to batter way which gives you some more control of your players and the 3rd way which would be to micromanage everything including pitch location.

[miamikb2001]

Yea no problem. Let me know what you find out as well I might not be 100% about all that but that's just what I've ubserved. It seems like there are 3 ways to play it: the play ball way which leaves only a few choices for you and let's the cpu players chose a lot, the pitch aggressive, pitch to batter way which gives you some more control of your players and the 3rd way which would be to micromanage everything including pitch location.

I'll definitely let you know after testing some more stuff out.

[careLOS]

Re: Manage Only Mode -- Pitch Location

I've played a couple of innings and I absolutely love it. I think might be micromanaging too much and calling the pitch strategies myself too often. I might start a MOM franchise when OSFM comes out. How long do the games normally take?

[miamikb2001]

I've played a couple of innings and I absolutely love it. I think might be micromanaging too much and calling the pitch strategies myself too often. I might start a MOM franchise when OSFM comes out. How long do the games normally take?

For me they usually take an hour to an hour fifteen.If you skip all cut scenes maybe 45-60 min.