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Originally Posted by theu715 |
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My issue isn't so much that a runner beats out a play, it's that runners do not beat out routine plays in real life unless the fielder is being lazy. In most cases, runners don't even run full speed when they hit a hard ball to an infielder, especially a second baseman. Can't tell you how many times I've seen guys beat out balls to second in 16. As far as the pitcher covering, the issue is that the pitchers in the game, like fielders in many cases, have no urgency or reaction. IRL if a ball is hit to the right side of the field, especially towards first, pitchers are taught to break towards first, then stop if called off by a first or second baseman, pending the play type. In game pitchers don't seem to break to first until far too late. The same thing seems to happen for pitchers covering home on past balls. I've seen numerous occasions in game where they don't even come home in game till the runner is sliding in. These things kill the game, not whether the dugout phones get more details, cups in the dugout, or if a section of seats are blue instead of red. I'm a Rays fan and they haven't put the CF opening where people can watch from in the game for two cycles, but who cares? It's a game to be played and in game issues take away from gameplay. That's my biggest issue.
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https://youtu.be/b2D7SfO5Bgk?t=179
I believe in the previous blog Russell addressed your concern about fielders taking too much time. I saved the video at the appropriate place. I disagree with you assertion runners never beat out "routine" ground balls IRL. As I stated in a previous post I watched Lou Brock for many years and he was a line drive hitter but one way he got to 3,000 hits was by bouncing the ball to the shortstop and if the ball bounced twice Brock was safe. The pressure he put on infielders with his speed generated hits by forcing the fielder out of his normal routine. Any bobble or failure to perfectly transfer the ball from glove to throwing hand = base hit for Brock. I believe they have cleaned up the "lazy" fielding animation which is good but fast hitters do get infield hits on "routine" plays because the pressure on the infielder generates mistakes. My preference would be for ground ball to infielder not 100% of the time result in an out. It's nearly impossible in a video game to replicate the pressure speed can put on the defense. Once the speedster gets on base sometimes the pitcher gets distracted. For example in 1971 Torre won the mvp - a big reason was Brock on base distracting the pitcher which resulted in the pitcher paying more attention to Brock than Torre. I don't know how they would ever program that dynamic into a video game but IRL it is a very real dynamic.
Pitcher covering first was in the video. I believe the main problem remaining is the relay throw from second base on a 3-6-1 double play and from memory I think the devs discussed this last year. The problem is the fielder doesn't throw the ball until the pitcher is close to the bag. I'm confident they will clean up this problem but as with the "routine" ground balls IRL there are miscues with the pitcher covering first base. People in St Louis can tell you about a world series which hinged on such a play.
Regarding pitchers not covering home plate on passed balls or wild pitches I completely agree. That needs to be cleaned up. It's sometimes as if neither the catcher or pitcher realize there is a runner on third base. As a manage mode player I'm aware of issues with runners making very poor base running decisions and being out by 30 feet. Both of those issues could use some work.