This might be well-known, but I haven't seen it mentioned, so I figure it's worth posting.

One issue which I have had in the past while using analog pitching was stick drift on the way up, particularly when using pitchers who have long deliveries. Recently, I found a solution to this issue which doesn't necessitate using the thumb and another finger to steady the stick.

Starting the delivery requires only the slightest movement downward, and the delivery will continue as long as the stick isn't moved upward until the desired release point. It took a little while to break the habit of bringing the stick all the way down and then sending it up to pitch, but making the change has been very helpful, increasing my accuracy a great deal by negating the occasional pitch which sails off-target due to stick drift on the way up.

@JoeTheGamePlayer said in Final Big Sale of 2020:

Somebody's got way too much time on his hands

Indeed.

I'm a disabled combat veteran who can't stand up straight and who has a sleep schedule shredded by PTSD. On that latter bit, mundane tasks help me relax, like a sort of meditation.

Also as I've mentioned, if I've got sports on one television, I'll often be active on the PS4 on the other TV.

I'm not sure which game you're playing, but if you're talking about MLB The Show 20 I couldn't possibly disagree with you more. This year's game is brilliant!

From what I have seen in the Community Market, there are thousands of active players at any one moment. It's not evidence, just an impression, but everything this year seems so much more active and busy than last year...

...although, sadly that increase in activity is also reflected in the absolute downpour of players who feel entitled to success, etc. To those people, I would say simply that perhaps you should stop playing. The aggravation with which you're dealing is negatively impacting your life, but not just your life, the enjoyment of others is tarnished by those who must wade through the seas of bile in the forums in order to reach delightful archipelagos of adult discussion.

This is really starting to get quite ridiculous.

When does Fall begin in San Diego?

The World Series starts tonight, yet somehow we're still not in the Fall stage for Team Affinity?

I got matched up with a player in Ranked Seasons who came in with a record of something like 11-65. I decided to pitch to contact to give this person a chance to hit.

I threw meatball after meatball, and this person struck out time after time, including multiple times on flat fastballs right down the pipe.

Eventually, they hit a long home run and I triggered the replay. I took the lead with a 4-spot in the 4th or 5th, and I continued to throw strikes on every pitch, the only very rare exceptions being when I missed the zone by a few inches. In other words, I was basically being as nice as I could be throughout the game. There was zero chance of me losing, so why not? Why not in any case, really... although it's rare that "nice" translates into 70 down-the-middle fastballs in a game.

Anyway, whoever this person is responded by beaning four or five of my players, calling time with the home plate umpire as often as possible, and just generally being as obnoxious as they could.

I've been online for far, far too long for any kind of behavior to surprise me anymore, but it's still amazing to see someone acting like a [censored] for no reason, let alone in the face of generosity.

This year's version of The Show is fantastic so far - no surprise there. Having said that, particularly as someone who spends an inordinate amount of time creating content for myself and others to use, I'd like to request some modifications to the game, changes which would greatly enhance the immersion factor of The Show. Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say.

1. Increase available number fonts - the game has at least 40 fonts which the system uses to render player jersey numbers, yet we have access to only 10 of those when modifying uniforms. Let us use the other 30, please.

2. Increase available lettering fonts - having access to all fonts in the game would be a simple yet major improvement.

3. Alternate Uniform Set(s) - please let us create at least one Alternate set in addition to the Home and Away sets we are currently able to set up for our teams. I believe that having as many as five sets available for any one game would add to the immersion level in a big way, thereby increasing enjoyment of the game(s). Just take a look at the vault(s) for insight on how much many of us enjoy creating content for ourselves and others, while also noting how many images are downloaded dozens if not hundreds of times.

4. More uniform flexibility overall - it would be fantastic if we could set sleeve logos, special edition logos (franchise anniversary, that sort of thing).

5. Stance Socks - let us customize these, please... at least with the colors. For example, the St. Patrick's Day Stance socks are quite valuable, but many players won't use them for the simple fact that they look absurd in conjunction with nearly every uniform combination in the game.

6. Sleeve Edges - in many instances, the uniform shirt sleeve gets blended in where it overlaps an undershirt, performance sleeve, etc. Please try to fix this one, as it just looks odd when it happens and is a stark immersion breaker in my opinion. Perhaps it's something as simple as having the uniform shirt be an object which is itself overlaid as the top layer on the player's torso?

7. Female Players - particularly in RTTS, the ability to add female players would be a MAJOR enhancement to this game. It's a matter of time before various female athletes make their ways into professional sports. In baseball, I suspect that the most likely positions for the first batch of women to make the majors will be 2nd basemen and knuckleball pitchers. I will be very surprised if women don't make up at least 5% of MLB rosters by 2050. Considering a separate angle, imagine how many young girls out there are big baseball fans (I've raised two of them) but who cannot get the same kind of enjoyment as their brothers, male friends, etc from The Show.

8. Tattoos - I'm honestly surprised that an option to add tattoos doesn't exist already.

I have a number of other suggestions, but I think that this list is quite long enough for a start. Thank you very much for the time, effort, and passion you put into creating this game, SDS.

All the best to you and yours.

I just played a guy with something like 1500 results, record of something like 650-850, I can't remember the exact numbers.

Anyway, it seems like he's been using the same lineup for a very long time as all of the batters he sent to the plate had many hundreds of at-bats. I might not have noticed this had I not initially noticed that most of his batters had AVG and OBP numbers that were nearly identical. This made me curious so I checked and found that only one player on his entire roster had more than ten walks, Trout who had 11 over something like 700 plate appearances. Amazing, especially considering that said opponent had a pretty good eye, rarely swinging at junk.

Anyway, all of the above may go some way toward the fact that I managed to throw a perfect game with Zac Gallen. Only 9 strikeouts, but no walks, no HBP, no errors.

Great game with lots of tension as my opponent pitched very well himself, giving up only 1 run on 4 hits.

In case anyone's curious about it, I can tell you that the game doesn't do anything in particular to recognize a no-no or perfect game, apart from the presentation of the catcher lifting the pitcher up, etc. There aren't extra awards of any kind, which is fine by me.

9th inning. Larry Walker pinch hit for Josh Hader in the bottom of the 8th.

I hit the wrong button and exit out of the automatic suggestion to change pitchers due to there being a position player on the mound.

Walker is forced to face three batters before being replaced. Fortunately he goes 1-2-3, but that's beside the point.

If no pitches have been thrown, we should still be able to bring in an actual pitcher.

Sometimes I wonder if there will ever be a version of any game which plays in such a way that people learn to accept responsibility for their own results instead of blaming the game, the developers, the positions of the planets, etc.

On the subject of replays in online games, that yet another thing about which to be annoyed has been created out of thin air is utterly baffling to me. Are so many people who are playing online games so emotionally weak that they find it abhorrent for an opponent to enjoy a moment of success? Seriously? I mean, come ON...

Personally, when an opponent takes one of my pitchers deep, I remove any worry or doubt when it comes to whether or not it's "okay" to view the replay by hitting L2 myself, every single time. Seriously, what is the harm in letting your opponent enjoy the replay? You never know, if you allow for the possibility that it's okay for others to enjoy themselves - even when you're their opponent - you just might find that you're enjoying yourself more at some point along the way.

Surely they code ground rules into the game, for example at Tampa's dump.

What would you think about an option to play at the Polo Grounds per 1930 NL rules? The National League introduced the ground rule double in 1931.

There are countless videos out there of players hitting 475' doubles at the park. I hit one myself a few minutes ago, though I think that it was closer to 490' as it bounced in the right field corner.

I also hit three flyball outs that each flew about 450', but that's just part of the game and in large part a result of smart positioning by my opponent, who kept his outfield deep and threw a ton of fastballs. PSA, by the way... check where the auto-shift has your outfielders in this park. After Juan Soto hit a long triple which my 99 Speed outfielders got nowhere near, I checked and found that the outfield depth was auto-set to shallow... in the Polo Grounds. Ha!

@Red_Ted_is_back said in Manny Machado - Overrated?:

@Onyx_Hokie_2 said in Manny Machado - Overrated?:

Has anyone else noticed that the various members of the crowd all shout variations of the same criticism - "O-ver-RA-ted!" - at Machado when he's at the plate?

Most of the time, the crowd tends to choose from a variety of jeers, but when Machado is up, it's always that he's overrated.

Maybe someone at SAN DIEGO Studio wasn't too thrilled about the Padres signing the tempestuous lad? Too funny.

Side note: search with your voice for "Manny Machado overrated". The result is amusingly harsh.

Search on what? Now I really want to know!

Siri, Cortana, Alexa, Chrome Web Voice search, etc.

As for the "overrated" jeer, it's not that other players get it mixed in, it's that it's the ONLY jeer I've heard for Machado, every time he steps to the plate.

I don't think the term cheating applies though, even if you refer to it as "light"

Cheating would mean there is a rule against it, or that it is actively discouraged. Neither of which is true, it's actually encouraged and highly valued.

Attempting to gain an advantage by deceiving the official is cheating whether it's spelled out specifically or not.

C/f flopping in basketball, diving in football, etc.

@IIJACKINTHBOXII said in Pitch Framing Idea:

@Onyx_Hokie_2 said in Pitch Framing Idea:

@IIJACKINTHBOXII said in Pitch Framing Idea:

@Onyx_Hokie_2 said in Pitch Framing Idea:

@themadhatter711 said in Pitch Framing Idea:

I know people have talked about pitch framing on this site, and maybe someone has already put this idea forth, but I think the attribute should slightly affect the size of the strike zone. A catcher with 99 framing would show a larger strike zone and a catcher with low pitch framing would show a smaller one. Nothing drastic, and maybe it’s offset by a combo of vision / discipline. It would certainly make defensive catchers more valuable.

Thoughts?

I would hate it if The Show in any way validated pitch framing as legitimate strategy as opposed to the light cheating it is in fact. I would love to see a ridiculous framing attempt answered with an ejection of the catcher

I suppose sliding to avoid the tag is also cheating?

Are you being serious?

Pitch framing is an attempt to trick the umpire into making an incorrect call. To even attempt equating such an action with sliding is just baffling, either in the lack of knowledge or veracity on display.

No it was a joke because your opinion sux

Ah. Well then, bravo. Well done, indeed. An excellent contribution.

Has anyone else noticed that the various members of the crowd all shout variations of the same criticism - "O-ver-RA-ted!" - at Machado when he's at the plate?

Most of the time, the crowd tends to choose from a variety of jeers, but when Machado is up, it's always that he's overrated.

Maybe someone at SAN DIEGO Studio wasn't too thrilled about the Padres signing the tempestuous lad? Too funny.

Side note: search with your voice for "Manny Machado overrated". The result is amusingly harsh.

@IIJACKINTHBOXII said in Pitch Framing Idea:

@Onyx_Hokie_2 said in Pitch Framing Idea:

@themadhatter711 said in Pitch Framing Idea:

I know people have talked about pitch framing on this site, and maybe someone has already put this idea forth, but I think the attribute should slightly affect the size of the strike zone. A catcher with 99 framing would show a larger strike zone and a catcher with low pitch framing would show a smaller one. Nothing drastic, and maybe it’s offset by a combo of vision / discipline. It would certainly make defensive catchers more valuable.

Thoughts?

I would hate it if The Show in any way validated pitch framing as legitimate strategy as opposed to the light cheating it is in fact. I would love to see a ridiculous framing attempt answered with an ejection of the catcher

I suppose sliding to avoid the tag is also cheating?

Are you being serious?

Pitch framing is an attempt to trick the umpire into making an incorrect call. To even attempt equating such an action with sliding is just baffling, either in the lack of knowledge or veracity on display.

@dingers4days14 said in SDS are you Serious no PS5 Disc Version?:

@Onyx_Hokie_2 said in SDS are you Serious no PS5 Disc Version?:

@dingers4days14 said in SDS are you Serious no PS5 Disc Version?:

@Onyx_Hokie_2 said in SDS are you Serious no PS5 Disc Version?:

@Leddbedder said in SDS are you Serious no PS5 Disc Version?:

With my ps4 I saved everything to an external hard drive. I know it can be risky if the drive crashes but it saves me a tonne of room

Same here. I picked up a 5 TB drive in a sale on Amazon for about $125 and moved all of my games to it. My entire library - about 200 games - is on there now. If there's an apocalypse after which I'm alive and have electricity, between my Kindle Oasis and my PS4/5, I won't be bored.

Yeah hard drives are solid, but they take so much longer to load games, especially compared to an ssd, but the problem is that you can get a 1tb ssd for the price of a 5 tb hard drive

It's a 5 TB SSD.

I just looked on Amazon. They have a 5 tb hard drive and a 1 tb ssd. It just isn't possible to get a 5tb ssd for $125, even in you got a 50% off sale. I just looked on newegg and found a 2 tb ssd for $240. I'm not sure if you know what the difference is between the two, because ssd is drastically more expensive than a hard drive, and there's no way you got a 5tb ssd, especially because the biggest ssd I could find was 3.84 tb also on newegg for $1200

I'll double-check my purchase history on Amazon. If it's not solid state, it's the quietest, smallest external plate-spinner that I've ever seen.

Edit: you're right, of course. This is the drive, bought on 11 July for $104:

"Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black"

Obviously that would have to be an HDD, as you say, because SSD tech is still overpriced by a large margin.

I need to check my vaporizer to see if someone spiked my fluid, because otherwise I just had a brainfart of epic proportions.

In any case, it's fast and quiet. I love having it.

It's legitimately an issue which affects whether or not I decide to play.

FREE WINS!!!! Quit complaining, instead message the person and thank them

I'm not complaining about the quitting aspect of disconnecting before the ball lands, as should have been obvious. I dislike quitting in general, but I get it and have done it myself on rare occasions.

I'm discussing what some here refer to as 'dashboarding', the disconnection by an opponent before the end of a play, thereby eliminating any statistics earned during said final play.

If you don't believe this to be a problem, there's not much I can say or do to help you. One thing which has fascinated me for many years online is the behavior of someone who feels it necessary to join a discussion merely to say that they aren't interested in the topic.

@dingers4days14 said in SDS are you Serious no PS5 Disc Version?:

@Onyx_Hokie_2 said in SDS are you Serious no PS5 Disc Version?:

@Leddbedder said in SDS are you Serious no PS5 Disc Version?:

With my ps4 I saved everything to an external hard drive. I know it can be risky if the drive crashes but it saves me a tonne of room

Same here. I picked up a 5 TB drive in a sale on Amazon for about $125 and moved all of my games to it. My entire library - about 200 games - is on there now. If there's an apocalypse after which I'm alive and have electricity, between my Kindle Oasis and my PS4/5, I won't be bored.

Yeah hard drives are solid, but they take so much longer to load games, especially compared to an ssd, but the problem is that you can get a 1tb ssd for the price of a 5 tb hard drive

It's a 5 TB SSD.