Something I have observed in Showdown

Been grinding more showdown than ever and have noticed this enough that for me at least it’s not a one or two time thing.

If your doing a mission that is for pitchers only but still are forced to bat it’s now magically easy to get hits and runs. Bronze fielders are acting as such. Taking bad routes, bad jumps, over running or bobbling more balls. The cpu pitchers are not constantly painting corners and throw more meat that normal.

I know you can just bunt through it and get back on the mound but if you want to hit watch how different the animations are. There’s no 99 fielding highlight grabs and elite pitchers.

I think showdown would be a really fun mode if at least fielders actually played their stats. I’m fine with the pitching as long as if I get a good gap hit isn’t dove and caught by a bad defender or a guy with 72 arm suddenly is Mays.

I've also noticed tons of bobbling or flat out missing the ball. The first basemen drops a lot of easy routine catches.

Funny you never see those drops in hitting missions

One thing I like doing, if I have the "heart" perk( contact boost while losing) and there is no win the game or don't give up x runs, I pitch down the middle till they take the lead so I can have the boost while hitting.

There is 2 in the 5th inning one, 2xbh in 3innings and a 3r in 3 innings, easier to complete with the boost.

Lately all I have been doing is hitting into double plays. Usually right to the middle infielders. If I get called safe at first, don't worry the next batter will hit into a double play.

It’s so consistent it’s got to be coded. I intentionally wait for a high pitch and many times it’s a hard one hop liner to SS or 2b. I’ve started to steal no matter who if I have a 3-1 or 3-2 count and it’s helped the dp problem a lot.

Also it’s funny with runners in scoring position I start hitting pop ups. I had a good/good pop up and the ball was almost in the center. I just don’t understand why I’m popping up all the time when my pci is basically where SDS showed it should be for hitting homers.

Bottom line if I start 0-15 or 7-15 it comes down to the last 5 outs. I either lose 14-15 or win

I always found it funny that events is mostly rookie of veteren skill level but the CPU defense plays like the all gold glove squad.