Community Forum

...I want to watch the ball fly...I don't need to see my batter watch the ball fly...he doesn't need to see it...as he's not even real.

1. bran flakes (or any other cereal)
2. rice
3. peanut butter (or peanuts will work too)
4. macaroni
5. noodles (if you can find them)
6. toilet paper

I have played this game pretty much to "completion" (every card in the game) for the past several years. Here is why I quit before Memorial Day (and am done for the year): I COULDN'T KEEP UP. Everything felt like a time crunch. Always stressing to finish this or finish that. The thought of then completing that grind and repeating that stress through multiple seasons led me to look at this game as more of a job than a release...and I would prefer for my downtime to be spent decompressing rather than stressing. Add to this the fact that the best cards are locked behind packs and expensive on the open market and I realized quite quickly that I wasn't going to "complete" this game...so I quit. I think the game play is fine for the most part, but SDS has succeeded in creating a job that you don't get paid for and can never complete. No thanks!

When advertising the collection for Ohtani, it specifically states "two way all-star Shohei Ohtani." I think that seems like a good thing to talk about. For what it's worth, I have the cards for Shohei but haven't locked them in and have no intention of doing so until I see if Ohtani is needed for a collection down the road. Judging by early reviews, it seems likely that the community just dropped 500k (or more) on a trophy piece that will sit in their inventories. The HRD Ohtani is actually significantly more valuable...you know...because you can actually use him. Very disappointing.

For a game that is supposed to simulate baseball, it doesn't do a very good job of simulating baseball. When you're "very early" on a low and outside pitch, you "reached" for a "pitchers pitch" and should hit a weak grounder to one of the infielders. Instead, this game allows you to foul off pitch after pitch after pitch. Chance after chance after chance.
It's incredibly frustrating to have to make 8+ pitches an at bat when your opponent should have been out on the first one (and the second, and the third, ...).

Well...here are my thoughts. I have all 30 jolt cards (Spring Break grind). That took planning and a whole lot of conquest, mini seasons and DQ to do. I do feel a bit cheated in that sense. On the other hand, getting this new round of cards is much easier since having the jolt card allows you to really fast track the progress (because you can skip the pitching missions). I will easily have all 30 finest vouchers as well. With that said, hopefully this is the last TA...or at least the last TA tied to the vouchers. It's OK to make people earn things. If we all have the same cards (which has been a problem for years) then what's the point of the mode?

1. Pinpoint is broken. Please address.

2. My buddy bought this game for the first time, but already quit because he can't learn to hit when he never sees a strike.

3. Making cards only available to some is the worst decision ever...and shows a total lack of understanding of who your hard-core base is. You do realize that a lot of people play this game with the GOAL of acquiring EVERY card. Please tell me you realize that? Apparently not...because that incentive has already been removed...two weeks after release. Bad business.

Pitching is a little better after the patch...although a few players still feel broken (I'm looking at you Eric Gagne). With that said, pitching would be "ok" if they would let you strike out guys who deserve to strike out. It's hard to have to make 9 good pitches every at bat. Curiously enough...its always the same type of opponent that gets the benefit of these unlimited chances. Honestly it's the biggest thing in this game that needs to be changed. That's where the real "rng" is at. It's not the late hits or very early hits...its the excessive, and unbalanced, amount of extra chances that are given to bad players.

@sbchamps17_NSW

Sorry...must have missed that. Regardless...it's kind of stupid don't you think? The entire design of this game this year is geared towards pushing players towards multi-player. How does this decision promote that goal? So we are basically playing a game in which you can use the best cards for about a week until the season expires. But...never fear...if you want to use those cards online moving forward, there's wildcards...but those don't count towards progress in the current season. So now you have to spend additional time grinding out those cards (for a collection you can maybe use for a week until December). But...don't worry...we will make sure to nerf your xp so when you're grinding against the cpu you won't be making progress towards this season's program...but it doesn't really matter because you can only use those cards for a week as well.

Does any of this sound ok? I actually kind of like the idea of wildcards and the lineup diversity it creates...but I dont want half of my stat progress to not matter. Am I wrong?

TRUST:

Trea Turner
Teoscar Hernandez
Derek Jeter
Ryan Jeffers
Salvador Perez
Honus
Pete Alonzo
Marcel Ozuna

DONT TRUST:

Willie Mays
Adrian Beltre

This is an intersting topic. Willie Mays has been terrible for years...and there are other right handed hitters (like Mike Schmidt) that are garbage as well. I really wish SDS would address this issue (since it's been constant). Tweak their swings and give them "pull" or "extreme pull" tendencies for all I care...but please...can we get some of these cards to play like the beasts that they were?

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:

1. I don't think control needs to be improved (much) because guys like Eckersley can usually hit their spots.
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. 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.

It's incredibly annoying. I posted about this around a week ago. I am 100% in favor of randomly changing the timing for pinpoint so you can't just get into "auto mode" which I think might be one of the goals here. By all means, make it harder...and force me to concentrate. But...c'mon SDS what you SHOW me to draw before starting my input NEEDS to be what I'm supposed to input. I don't want to guess...and I don't have time to figure it out because relievers are generally brought in during high leverage situations. I have my suspicions this is a clever way to force more meatballs to opponents who will just be gifted ten additional swings an at bat anyways when they inevitably miss that aforementioned meatball. This isn't clever...and it isn't fun...and it needs to be addressed.

A few things:

1. S2:C1 is pretty easy to complete (just been mindlessly grinding vs cpu...and almost done)

2. Wild cards should absolutely count towards season 2 stats. Last year, S1 cards counted towards S2 stats...this year we can't even get the wild card stats? Silly. If a card is ELIGIBLE for season 2 (ie: a WILD card) then it necessarily is season 2 ELIGIBLE...this seems simple to me.

3. Last thing: For those opposed to allowing wild card stats to count, provide a definition of a wild card. Actually...I'd like to hear someone from SDS answer that as well.

What's a wild card?

Put em in your lineup and find out. The worst that could happen is you spend 15-20 minutes grinding for nothing...which shouldn't be an issue since we are all spending 80-90 days doing that...only to do it again.

Can we get a juiced 99 of this guy? Maybe in a Christmas Pack like that Mcmahon was/is for Thanksgiving?

I just unlocked Manny and am noticing that when he's batting there is a stutter in the pitcher's throwing motion. Is anyone else seeing this? This doesn't happen with any other cards that I've used.

The more I play...the more I notice that it impacts more than just Manny. This game runs horribly compared to last years version...it's not smooth at all. IDK...I would probably start by taking out the dirt animations...which seems as good a suspect as any.

I agree it definitely needs to be corrected. McCutcheon, Jose Ramirez, and Elly lag as well. And I'm sure there are others. Game is otherwise good...but needless to say it kind of sucks having some of the best hitters ruined.

Has anyone else noticed this has been terrible the last few days? It's not just tied to the dred players either...it's happening more often than not...

Like what are you even talking about? The cards in the All Star collection are incredible...and the only way you can get them is to have all 30 vouchers. That collection is a big win for grinders. They gave us a repeatable conquest that allows you to unlock a juiced SS....or just sell the cards and buy the ones you are complaining you can't afford. Some cards are difficult to obtain...the majority are not. Every player who plays this game shouldn't have every card...a few cards (and it is just a few) need to be special. At any rate, the ASG collection is the best of the year so far...it rewards the grind. Yet...here you are complaining...think about that for a minute.