How to Fix Pitching.
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Please note: There is a bit of a rant before I get to my suggestions on how to fix pitching.
I have to say, pitching in this game is absolutely driving me nuts right now. It seems that I have two options: miss off the corner, or throw it right down the middle. Um no. Not acceptable. I played a game earlier today in which my opponent was just selling out for a fastball every time. So what did I do? I threw off-speed pitches. Mind you, I was trying to throw these for strikes because I knew he would wave right through them. Lo and behold, the game just wouldn't let me throw them for strikes. Every pitch...low...or just outside. Every time...my opponent was allowed to check swing. So what did I do? I thought...well ok...I'll just aim a little higher if they are going to keep diving out of the zone. Nope...right down the middle. I mean...come on SDS...I identified my opponent's weakness two pitches into the game...and the way the game is programmed wouldn't allow me to take advantage of that weakness. That's not acceptable in what is supposed to be a competitive online experience. At any rate, I digress. Pitching is terrible. I mean...like...I don't even want to pick up the controller and play bad (I'll still play...but the pitching is baaaaad). Now to my suggestions:
- I don't think control needs to be improved (much) because guys like Eckersley can usually hit their spots.
- Reduce check swing success. It's still a problem. It has been for years. Please fix it. If you're fooled to the point that you think a breaking ball is a fastball, you lost...you were fooled...you were beat...let it happen. Stop bailing players out (myself included... I have no problem taking an "L" if I deserve it).
- Reduce the number of foul offs in an at bat. It makes absolutely zero sense that being way under or way over the ball results in 12 foul offs an at bat. No player should have to beat their opponent 12 times in one at bat to record an out. Making this change would also reduce the number of "cookies" that are inevitably served up.
- This might be an unpopular one...but **bring back variable umps. You got rid of variable umps because that's what the community wanted, but ultimately there needs to be a little uncertainty as to whether or not a pitch is a ball or a strike. If it's close, you need to be swinging. That's baseball. And I would honestly prefer having the occasional bad call go against me than this abomination.
The game has gotten to the point that players know they are going to get a pitch down the middle, so they just wait for it (or foul everything off with crappy swings until they get it)...and we are only one week in...it's only going to get worse...and the game is going to become unplayable for most. Baseball is about making adjustments at the plate...not waiting for the AI to serve you up a meatball that you know is coming at some point.
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Yes on everything but #4. I think more calls on the corner should be called, BUT not variable umps. I don't want RNG factoring into deciding balls/strikes
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How to fix pitching? Revert to 17.
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I completely agree I'm actually at the point that if I don't even want to play anymore now that I'm done with the conquest maps. I just don't understand why they had to massively buff the PCI and nerf pitching at the same time it just makes me hate the game which sucks because I absolutely loved 19. I'm actually regretting getting a digital copy of the game because if I could return it or trade it in I would.
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@Ikasnu said in How to Fix Pitching.:
How to fix pitching? Revert to 17.
Yeah...17 pitching was a little too easy...but at least you could attack your opponent in a variety of ways...and it usually felt satisfying.
'17 pitching>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> '20
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@eatyum said in How to Fix Pitching.:
Yes on everything but #4. I think more calls on the corner should be called, BUT not variable umps. I don't want RNG factoring into deciding balls/strikes
I knew this one would get a mixed reception...but it's way too easy to lay off pitches east/west imo. Variable umps could help with that. I wanted variable umps to be removed, but after spending a week with this game (and last year to a lesser degree) I think I'm starting to change my tune. But...yeah...no one wants to lose because of the umps...but I would rather have the umps taking a W from me than the AI forcing my pitches down the middle once every other at bat (sometimes more). At least with a bad call, you and I both know what's actually up.
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@Akhenaten1313 said in How to Fix Pitching.:
@eatyum said in How to Fix Pitching.:
Yes on everything but #4. I think more calls on the corner should be called, BUT not variable umps. I don't want RNG factoring into deciding balls/strikes
I knew this one would get a mixed reception...but it's way too easy to lay off pitches east/west imo. Variable umps could help with that. I wanted variable umps to be removed, but after spending a week with this game (and last year to a lesser degree) I think I'm starting to change my tune. But...yeah...no one wants to lose because of the umps...but I would rather have the umps taking a W from me than the AI forcing my pitches down the middle once every other at bat (sometimes more). At least with a bad call, you and I both know what's actually up.
"..but I would rather have the umps taking a W from me than the AI forcing my pitches down the middle once every other at bat"
The simple solution to that is rewarding good user input when pitching and having variable umps off.
Then the game and the umps don't decide the game, you do. It's not an either/or thing -
@Akhenaten1313 said in How to Fix Pitching.:
@Ikasnu said in How to Fix Pitching.:
How to fix pitching? Revert to 17.
Yeah...17 pitching was a little too easy...but at least you could attack your opponent in a variety of ways...and it usually felt satisfying.
'17 pitching>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> '20
93 Yankee CC Sebathia from Conquest was on my rotation all year. Dude had a sub 3 ERA from day 3 to whenever I quit, best conquest reward given imo.
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@Ikasnu said in How to Fix Pitching.:
@Akhenaten1313 said in How to Fix Pitching.:
@Ikasnu said in How to Fix Pitching.:
How to fix pitching? Revert to 17.
Yeah...17 pitching was a little too easy...but at least you could attack your opponent in a variety of ways...and it usually felt satisfying.
'17 pitching>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> '20
93 Yankee CC Sebathia from Conquest was on my rotation all year. Dude had a sub 3 ERA from day 3 to whenever I quit, best conquest reward given imo.
That 99 Guidry was the best pitcher on the game imo. Once his confidence was up, splitters and sliders were LETHAL. I remember playing Rene in an RS game and held him to 2 runs (he ended up raking in extras when I brought Chapman in haha).
I think he was like 32-5 or something crazy all online with a sub 2 playing against goons like rebel, mcgunski, etc.
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The only thing that needs fixing is control...
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@Ikasnu said in How to Fix Pitching.:
@Akhenaten1313 said in How to Fix Pitching.:
@Ikasnu said in How to Fix Pitching.:
How to fix pitching? Revert to 17.
Yeah...17 pitching was a little too easy...but at least you could attack your opponent in a variety of ways...and it usually felt satisfying.
'17 pitching>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> '20
93 Yankee CC Sebathia from Conquest was on my rotation all year. Dude had a sub 3 ERA from day 3 to whenever I quit, best conquest reward given imo.
I also liked how effective outside pitches were in '17. You either drove it the other way, or you weren't getting a hit...which is how it should be imo...like I mentioned in my original post...adjustments.
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@eatyum said in How to Fix Pitching.:
@Akhenaten1313 said in How to Fix Pitching.:
@eatyum said in How to Fix Pitching.:
Yes on everything but #4. I think more calls on the corner should be called, BUT not variable umps. I don't want RNG factoring into deciding balls/strikes
I knew this one would get a mixed reception...but it's way too easy to lay off pitches east/west imo. Variable umps could help with that. I wanted variable umps to be removed, but after spending a week with this game (and last year to a lesser degree) I think I'm starting to change my tune. But...yeah...no one wants to lose because of the umps...but I would rather have the umps taking a W from me than the AI forcing my pitches down the middle once every other at bat (sometimes more). At least with a bad call, you and I both know what's actually up.
"..but I would rather have the umps taking a W from me than the AI forcing my pitches down the middle once every other at bat"
The simple solution to that is rewarding good user input when pitching and having variable umps off.
Then the game and the umps don't decide the game, you do. It's not an either/or thingAgreed...but that's not happening. I'm consistently getting blinking meters and perfect hoops and still having the pitch end up a ball (barely...but a ball nonetheless). Like I said...it seems my choice is miss off the corner or throw it down the middle.
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