<![CDATA[The game is ruined by the new strike zone]]>It makes being a patient hitter much more difficult. It's far too easy for nearly every pitch to dot. And the frustration level is through the roof when the laces of the ball touch the zone and it's called a strike, every single time, without fail. And, there is no option in '26 (at least, I couldn't find it) like there was in '25 to remove the strike zone box. I'd rather not see how a perfectly literal interpretation of the strike zone has turned a pitch that has been a ball for decades into a strike. SDS, can you please add that option back into the game?

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/topic/82473/the-game-is-ruined-by-the-new-strike-zoneRSS for NodeWed, 13 May 2026 06:40:14 GMTSun, 03 May 2026 04:02:25 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Mon, 04 May 2026 14:57:24 GMT]]>

@Gamerskilledboy_PSN said:

@PriorFir4383355_XBL Its definitely made the game less fun and more infuriating when pitches fall a millimeter on the corner or the sides. Bases loaded and thats instantly a strike out. Which can ruin the game.

Do you hate real baseball the same way? Bases loaded situations end all the time on a called strike three for the third out.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753302https://forums.theshow.com/post/753302Mon, 04 May 2026 14:57:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Mon, 04 May 2026 12:31:41 GMT]]>@Teak2112_MLBTS I'm not doubting you - but Im gonna guess that's a graphics issue and that pitch in that exact location is just always a strike.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753268https://forums.theshow.com/post/753268Mon, 04 May 2026 12:31:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Mon, 04 May 2026 12:25:21 GMT]]>Umps still miss calls. I got punched out on a ball with very slight visible space between it and the box.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753266https://forums.theshow.com/post/753266Mon, 04 May 2026 12:25:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Mon, 04 May 2026 12:07:30 GMT]]>The game plays way differently - you're on a different planet if you think its the same and just a "visual change." You have to protect a lot more at the plate now, because there's no chance the pitch on the edge will be a ball.

I like the change, but would like to see the umpires "miss calls" every now and then (not that often, just in line with how often real umps miss). The box could go away as soon as pitcher starts wind-up, and you could challenge. That would be super fun, and feel more real than this 100% perfect zone

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753259https://forums.theshow.com/post/753259Mon, 04 May 2026 12:07:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Mon, 04 May 2026 08:00:26 GMT]]>@PriorFir4383355_XBL Its definitely made the game less fun and more infuriating when pitches fall a millimeter on the corner or the sides. Bases loaded and thats instantly a strike out. Which can ruin the game.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753247https://forums.theshow.com/post/753247Mon, 04 May 2026 08:00:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 21:59:02 GMT]]>The strike zone is exactly the same..all they did was do a visual shrinkage of the box so that it accurately represents what the game calls a strike. The strike zone hasn't changed at all they didn't re code anything

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753177https://forums.theshow.com/post/753177Sun, 03 May 2026 21:59:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 21:24:28 GMT]]>I don’t like the new strike zone. The pitching was already too much for me. Now it’s ridiculous. I’m 51 and a former WS player. Went 12-0 once. Maybe it’s just time for me to find something else to do.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753174https://forums.theshow.com/post/753174Sun, 03 May 2026 21:24:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 19:43:05 GMT]]>@priorfir4383355_xbl Well, if it's new, complainers will always find a way to criticize the new update. Classic. Now excuse those complainers as I get absolutely destroyed in ranked.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753164https://forums.theshow.com/post/753164Sun, 03 May 2026 19:43:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 18:35:49 GMT]]>I really like the change, the only thing that could be better is if they add the actual ABS challenge system from rtts and make the umps imperfect like they used to be. Then the skill gap is slightly added but the satisfaction of it playing as is for the real MLB is also there.

It did force me to adjust where I aim my PCI and pitch because I used to use the line but now need to extend it further so it’s slightly more challenging that way but overall just a lot more fun to hit a sliver than 51% of the ball and get the call. This made a huge difference against the CPU. Just being half a ball inside from where I normal pitch had them hitting a lot more often.

An option to choose between this and how it was doesn’t seem overly complicated if it truly is “how it was”

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753149https://forums.theshow.com/post/753149Sun, 03 May 2026 18:35:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 17:28:09 GMT]]>@ThaGhettoBlasta_PSN pretty much but I’m also on hof/legend I can throw a perfect fastball with miz and his par still takes up a quarter of the strikezone.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753119https://forums.theshow.com/post/753119Sun, 03 May 2026 17:28:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 17:14:20 GMT]]>This is an overreaction. SDS actually did something positive here. GIven their overall performance, it is hard for me to write that, but I have to be honest about things. They reformed their strike zone to conform with the rules that have been in the MLB rulebook for over 100 years.

They did this by shrinking the dimensions of their depicted zone slightly, so that any ball that nips any portion of the zone is a strike. The same pitch that was a borderline strike before the change remains a borderline strike now. It's a minor change and certainly not capable of "ruining the game."

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753110https://forums.theshow.com/post/753110Sun, 03 May 2026 17:14:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 16:48:43 GMT]]>Do you throw perfect releases every single pitch

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753103https://forums.theshow.com/post/753103Sun, 03 May 2026 16:48:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 16:45:36 GMT]]>@ThaGhettoBlasta_PSN I’m a pinpoint pitcher and this is just not true. We may have a advantage but definitely not some super control.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753101https://forums.theshow.com/post/753101Sun, 03 May 2026 16:45:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 16:44:14 GMT]]>This all gives the pinpoint pitchers a 100% edge in every game because they can kiss the back end of any direction of the strike zone with any pitcher regardless of control numbers. Game is now worthless.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753099https://forums.theshow.com/post/753099Sun, 03 May 2026 16:44:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 14:17:40 GMT]]>Well that probably explains it cause backfoot sliders are the bane of my existence regardless of how the strikezone looks lol.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753067https://forums.theshow.com/post/753067Sun, 03 May 2026 14:17:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 13:56:44 GMT]]>Man, if you barely noticed, you must not be playing much. Its a pretty different experience right now. Back foot slider city out there, cause you just gotta clip that inside corner

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753064https://forums.theshow.com/post/753064Sun, 03 May 2026 13:56:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 13:39:41 GMT]]>Played two event games and barely noticed it.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753059https://forums.theshow.com/post/753059Sun, 03 May 2026 13:39:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 13:33:24 GMT]]>@AppleLemon560_MLBTS I didn’t say ever pitch outside the zone just the high inside ones. Low pitches and pitches right outside of the zone going opposite sure. But a high inside sinker that highest the side of the top corner will not be a hit yet to see one.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753058https://forums.theshow.com/post/753058Sun, 03 May 2026 13:33:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 12:44:51 GMT]]>Hated it at first once u get used to it it’s so much better. Pitching matters now and is on par with hitting as before hitting was much more op. I’m more of a pitch first guy on this game anyway aslong as my offence can do enough I’ll have a fighting chance.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753044https://forums.theshow.com/post/753044Sun, 03 May 2026 12:44:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 12:33:56 GMT]]>@LIONED-33_XBL check swings have been so generous for a while - you used to get bailed out a lot. Not sure that's realistic wrist strength, lol

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753039https://forums.theshow.com/post/753039Sun, 03 May 2026 12:33:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 12:27:15 GMT]]>I love the new strike zone. That said it’s not something they should implement mid cycle. There were way more important things to fix. This just seems like a move for you to forget they lied to us about PCI shrinkage and quadrupled down on it. The 2 seem fast ball and check swing issues are far more important issues

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753038https://forums.theshow.com/post/753038Sun, 03 May 2026 12:27:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 11:49:48 GMT]]>@ApolloZ_99_MLBTS not sure what you mean that they "will not be hits" - you can get hits there, it's just harder. you can get hits on pitches well outside of the zone - in fact, I feel like a bunch of people lately have been lining super low pitches for singles and doubles.

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753033https://forums.theshow.com/post/753033Sun, 03 May 2026 11:49:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 11:25:05 GMT]]>I still they should not make it just like real life cuz some of these pitches that barely clip the zone will not be hits. They will not give you hits on anything that barely clips the zone high inside

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753026https://forums.theshow.com/post/753026Sun, 03 May 2026 11:25:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The game is ruined by the new strike zone on Sun, 03 May 2026 08:59:39 GMT]]>Hated it at first, but it actually has helped me to lock in more.
Still rips my guts out to get called out on strikes, but it has made me an even better pitcher now. Oh, happy day. 20K starts are back! 🤪

]]>https://forums.theshow.com/post/753018https://forums.theshow.com/post/753018Sun, 03 May 2026 08:59:39 GMT