Nothing is sweeter to me in video game baseball than making the CPU look the fool on a strikeout. The pop of the glove, the desperation on Billy Butler's face as he chews the homeplate umpire's ear off after a taken third strike, and the bravado to my pitcher's swagger as the ball gets hurled around the horn. To me, moments like this are why I stay up way too late and stumble to work on five and a half hours sleep everyday. This year, the refinements made to CPU plate discipline are hands down my favorite improvement. Though some refinements would be welcomed by me moving forward with open arms, I have very few complaints about the varied results I'm seeing regarding this topic in 12. Utlimately, the reason my favorite The Show accomplishment is the gargantuan strikeout performance is simple: Because this game is hard!
Prior to last night, my highest in the history of this series has been 10 K with one pitcher in a single game. I did that twice last year with Tim Lincecum and once this year with CC Sabathia (though I've accomplished 9 K multiple times in this year's Franchise already). But yesterday, The Yankees' Ivan Nova (2-3 in 8 starts, averaging less than 5 K's per appearance) went bonkers, striking out 11 Kansas City Royals over 8 innings. I'm still smirking because of it...Yeah, I know it was The Royals! But still! Don't judge me...
The reason I find big games like this so rewarding this year is because of how difficult a feat like this can actually be. Time in and time out, Ivan Nova - who generally gets beat up with me - hits the bump, manages a barely serviceable 5.1 IP, strikeouts out 4, and hits the showers with the decision being left to the bullpen. But then there are special nights like these, where every pitch is exactly where he wants it, that function as a little pay-off - if you will - for time served being mildly terrible. And Nova definitely served his time; almost all the way back to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
So how about you? What's your best? With whom and how did you get them (8 of them actually were of the 'caught looking' variety last night, which made it even cooler...and it doesn't matter how much you complain Billy Butler. Big blue cannot and will not change his mind!)?
Prior to last night, my highest in the history of this series has been 10 K with one pitcher in a single game. I did that twice last year with Tim Lincecum and once this year with CC Sabathia (though I've accomplished 9 K multiple times in this year's Franchise already). But yesterday, The Yankees' Ivan Nova (2-3 in 8 starts, averaging less than 5 K's per appearance) went bonkers, striking out 11 Kansas City Royals over 8 innings. I'm still smirking because of it...Yeah, I know it was The Royals! But still! Don't judge me...
The reason I find big games like this so rewarding this year is because of how difficult a feat like this can actually be. Time in and time out, Ivan Nova - who generally gets beat up with me - hits the bump, manages a barely serviceable 5.1 IP, strikeouts out 4, and hits the showers with the decision being left to the bullpen. But then there are special nights like these, where every pitch is exactly where he wants it, that function as a little pay-off - if you will - for time served being mildly terrible. And Nova definitely served his time; almost all the way back to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
So how about you? What's your best? With whom and how did you get them (8 of them actually were of the 'caught looking' variety last night, which made it even cooler...and it doesn't matter how much you complain Billy Butler. Big blue cannot and will not change his mind!)?
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