Batting practice can be SO much better!
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Batting practice is a real missed opportunity so far for this series. It's cool that you can customize pitch and location, but it would be really cool if the game analyzed your swings and automatically selected pitches you are having problems with. Like, "Okay, I see that you haven't made solid contact on the last 5 sliders down and in. So, the next 5 pitches are going to be down and in sliders. To hit this pitch, it's important to be early with your PCI movement to the inside corner and not be late with your swing."
The default batting practice setting of all pitches and all locations doesn't make any sense unless you're practicing protecting the plate with 2 strikes. Otherwise, batting practice should be about dialing in your timing and then working on specific things once your timing feels good. Having the game automatically guide you through that process would add so much value. If the devs added this functionality as reasonably priced paid extra content, I would pay for it. Also, you should be able to take optional structured batting practice before each game and earn some XP, equipment, or perks based on how well you do.
Those who know, know that batting practice is the funnest part about playing baseball IRL. The fact that this game hasn't capitalized on that at all after all this time is crazy. With AI and machine learning, imagine the possibilities for an AI personal hitting instructor that helps you during batting practice? This game has so much room to be better as a single player experience.
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home run derby is kind of like that, and while you can’t literally use your avatar in it, in standard mode you won’t always get strikes thrown at you, and i’ve always played it with the worst hitters instead of the best. try to time it so you can hit a home run as jose azocar at polo grounds will help you figure out how to time pitches a lot.
