The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

[Troopershorty51]

I don't have any actual statistics from my games, so flame away, those who think everything is perfect.

I cannot for the life of me get the AI to swing on borderline pitches. I mix speeds, locations, start batters with breaking balls for strikes, throw heat, then back to the breaking ball out of the zone, throw fastballs to set up breaking balls. I just can't get them to chase... Even after fouling off 2-3 pitches they still have a perfect eye and won't swing at a very close ball. The only pitch I can consistently strike batters out on is an up and in fastball. I've tried playing on Vet and All-star with different slider sets and it's never really changed it.

This is extremely frustrating when you're pitching with someone like Barry Zito for example, who has a filthy 12-6, and you can't get anyone to chase it out of the zone.

I was also just pitching with R.A. Dickey and had his knuckleball dancing all around the zone but if it was even on the line (usually called a ball) or half a ball out of the zone they wouldn't chase it which made it very hard to pitch.

Does anyone have any tips, tricks, or slider changes to get the AI to chase more close pitches?

[HustlinOwl]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

Search

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...sses-tips.html

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...h-8th-9th.html

[Troopershorty51]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

Search

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...sses-tips.html

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...h-8th-9th.html

I've already seen those threads and I searched the forums for 'chase pitches' and nothing recent came up. I didn't see anything in those threads about the AI not chasing close balls.

[HustlinOwl]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

I've already seen those threads and I searched the forums for 'chase pitches' and nothing recent came up. I didn't see anything in those threads about the AI not chasing close balls.

never chase lmao, you are obviously not setting up your hitters correct read again

[Troopershorty51]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

never chase lmao, you are obviously not setting up your hitters correct read again

Like I said, I've read the tips for mixing up your pitches and how to approach batters and to vary what you are throwing in what counts, and how you shouldn't get stuck in a routine. That doesn't matter though because for the life of me I can't get them to swing at borderline pitches and I know I'm not the only one having this issue.

With 2 strikes I've tried starting the curveball middle of the zone so it stays in the zone after the break, no luck. I've tried starting it low in the zone so it breaks out but not too much, no luck. I've tried starting it on the bottom line of the zone as some have suggested and I still can't get batters to chase.

I have no problem striking batters out with fastballs, it's primarily breaking balls that I can't use. A fastball up and in, fastball up out of the zone, or a 2-seam/RFB inside breaking toward the zone or outside breaking away all work fairly regularly like they should.

[stealyerface]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

Not only can you get them to chase close ones, if you are setting up the pitches with in/out up and down, and utilize your pitching smarts, they will chase balls in the dirt, and pitches that are not even close.

Think like a pitcher, and use your repertoire to lull them into a routine, and once you realize how to get them off balance, the game will open up for you.

Do yourself a favor and check where you have pitched a player using the pitch feedback screen.

You will soon start to see that your first pitch is a fastball down and away. Second pitch fastball down and in. Curveball away, fastball in again... Guess what, the batter knows what you are doing too.

So maybe when you see A-Rod the third time you bust off a change up in on his hands for the first pitch. Now looks at the feedback. Hmm... Way early and his PCI was out over the plate when you threw the ball inside. Guess what A-Rod? Here comes another off speed pitch, and this one is going inside again. This time he flails at it with that wacky inside out swing, and the feedback says he was late on that one... Hmm... He was looking offspeed again. Now we waste another curveball way inside. He takes it. Now we go ballzout with the 4seamer on the black, and watch him swing and miss it...

As bad as the interaction between baserunner/leadoffs and stealing is, the batter/pitcher interface is quite rewarding when you pitch smart and use your head, and will punish your mightily if you get lazy or predictable...

Keep at it, and use your head.

~syf

[HustlinOwl]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/mlb-show-sliders/

Lower CPU contact

[Troopershorty51]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

Not only can you get them to chase close ones, if you are setting up the pitches with in/out up and down, and utilize your pitching smarts, they will chase balls in the dirt, and pitches that are not even close.

Think like a pitcher, and use your repertoire to lull them into a routine, and once you realize how to get them off balance, the game will open up for you.

Do yourself a favor and check where you have pitched a player using the pitch feedback screen.

You will soon start to see that your first pitch is a fastball down and away. Second pitch fastball down and in. Curveball away, fastball in again... Guess what, the batter knows what you are doing too.

So maybe when you see A-Rod the third time you bust off a change up in on his hands for the first pitch. Now looks at the feedback. Hmm... Way early and his PCI was out over the plate when you threw the ball inside. Guess what A-Rod? Here comes another off speed pitch, and this one is going inside again. This time he flails at it with that wacky inside out swing, and the feedback says he was late on that one... Hmm... He was looking offspeed again. Now we waste another curveball way inside. He takes it. Now we go ballzout with the 4seamer on the black, and watch him swing and miss it...

As bad as the interaction between baserunner/leadoffs and stealing is, the batter/pitcher interface is quite rewarding when you pitch smart and use your head, and will punish your mightily if you get lazy or predictable...

Keep at it, and use your head.

~syf

Thank you for your quick response and your very helpful nature and tips. I try my best to not fall into the same routine but I may need to start monitoring this more closely just to make sure I'm not getting sucked in to any patterns.

Once again, thanks for the response/tips!

[Troopershorty51]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/mlb-show-sliders/

Lower CPU contact

Currently CPU contact is at 4 since I am following authentic's sliders and the CPU is scoring a fairly realistic amount so I'd rather not lower that even more and ruin the sliders. Thanks for assuming I don't use sliders though and linking me that page.

[C_Bailey24]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

I understand your frustration because it its rare but it can be done. I will admit that i'm usually a little shocked when I do get them to chase. I had an at bat last night facing Tulo with two men on. I really don't remember the first, say, five pitches of the bat but I got strike two on a high outside changeup (mistake pitch, I use classic pitching) that I thought sure was gonna get parked in the left field seats. Then instead of throwing a fastball I threw a slider which also went outside and high. To my surprise Tulo swings weakly and misses..strike three and i'm out of the inning. Just keep at it.

[stealyerface]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

Thank you for your quick response and your very helpful nature and tips. I try my best to not fall into the same routine but I may need to start monitoring this more closely just to make sure I'm not getting sucked in to any patterns.

Once again, thanks for the response/tips!

It was not until I actually went into the screen that breaks down each at bat, and where the pitches were and what you threw to the batters, that I realized I was starting off everyone with a fastball low and away. I mean, everyone. When I cycled through the batters and their at bats, I realized that I was falling into a trap, even though I felt like I was doing a good job of mixing it up.

I allow myself one peek at the batter's hot/cold zones their first time up, and then I either write down numbers 1-9 representing where I want to pitch them, and also their pull/slap tendencies to know how the defense needs to be set up.

I have the fielders set so slow to make up for the ground they cover on the default settings, and their arms turned down as far as strength goes, I NEED to have the guys in the right positions, and when they are positioned correctly, and the ball gets to them, the plays are made as they should.

One of the things I love about this game is if you sit down and tell yourself you are going to play it like you would manage a real game ie. Check the ratings, check the matchups, move your defense, locate your pitches away from the hot zones, pitch inside if you want a guy to hit into the shift, keep the ball down with guys on base, learn to mix pitches, take pitches and work the count to hitter's advantages, use the Power Swing when you have a hitter's count and know a fastball is coming, don't let your pitcher's stamina meter get down lower than half way or just under, forget the individual player's stats and play to win the game, and actually dig in and pay total attention to what you are doing, you will be amazed at how many games you win.... Handily.

When you turn the game on and are just playing for fun, not using the defense, and not thinking about every aspect of the game... You are going to lose.

Just try one game when you play it by the book. Yeah, it'll take you another 20 minutes to finish the game, but just play it like you were a manager.

You will be amazed.

~syf

[bcruise]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

Not only can you get them to chase close ones, if you are setting up the pitches with in/out up and down, and utilize your pitching smarts, they will chase balls in the dirt, and pitches that are not even close.

Think like a pitcher, and use your repertoire to lull them into a routine, and once you realize how to get them off balance, the game will open up for you.

Do yourself a favor and check where you have pitched a player using the pitch feedback screen.

You will soon start to see that your first pitch is a fastball down and away. Second pitch fastball down and in. Curveball away, fastball in again... Guess what, the batter knows what you are doing too.

So maybe when you see A-Rod the third time you bust off a change up in on his hands for the first pitch. Now looks at the feedback. Hmm... Way early and his PCI was out over the plate when you threw the ball inside. Guess what A-Rod? Here comes another off speed pitch, and this one is going inside again. This time he flails at it with that wacky inside out swing, and the feedback says he was late on that one... Hmm... He was looking offspeed again. Now we waste another curveball way inside. He takes it. Now we go ballzout with the 4seamer on the black, and watch him swing and miss it...

As bad as the interaction between baserunner/leadoffs and stealing is, the batter/pitcher interface is quite rewarding when you pitch smart and use your head, and will punish your mightily if you get lazy or predictable...

Keep at it, and use your head.

~syf

Of all the things I enjoy about the Show, and have over the years, this has to be number one - the fact that approaches like this DO in fact work. And the ability to see where and how early/late the AI is swinging has augmented it.

[seanjeezy]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

Player ratings matter as well. Have you tried any of the roster sets with rerates to see if the problem is alleviated somewhat?

Edit:

syf, why do you limit yourself to one peek? In the majors, teams have the book on every single one of the opponents' hitters, advanced scouting is a crucial part of the game. I say look as many times as you want, much better than taking the time to write it down lol

[Troopershorty51]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

Player ratings matter as well. Have you tried any of the roster sets with rerates to see if the problem is alleviated somewhat?

Yeah I'm using thirddegree's v4 rating tweaks roster. I still get strikeouts at a decent-good rate, it's just so frustrating the the AI is very hard to get to chase pitches that fall just out of the zone. Most my K's are generated off of fastballs.

[stealyerface]

Re: The AI will NEVER chase close pitches

Yeah I'm using thirddegree's v4 rating tweaks roster. I still get strikeouts at a decent-good rate, it's just so frustrating the the AI is very hard to get to chase pitches that fall just out of the zone. Most my K's are generated off of fastballs.

Troop, what pitching interface are you using?

I will give you my own conspiracy theory as to why I use Pure Analog as my pitching mode if you are using something different.

~syf