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In all fairness, I enjoy pitching in the game way more than hitting, and therefore love being able to use pinpoint given its accuracy. That said, I do think pitching in the game is probably too easy? My main evidence is the low amount of walks given on both online and CPU play. Look at your top 5 starters in the year and see how walks they’ve given vs. strikeouts…probably HOF type ratios, right?

One adjustment in the game I think that would add both more command to pitching and, potentially make it more real is adding in an option to select velocity type before making a pitch. That is, before each pitch you could select Slow/Medium/Hard velocity.

Again, this is taken from the old World Series Baseball series, but it’s a great way to have a more realistic approach and control. Ex. Have a guy who is sitting dead red on fastball…you could pepper him with slower versions of your breaking stuff, then hump up with your fastest fastball.

One way to add realism would be a greater energy and accuracy penalties when using your fastest pitches (which is more realistic…it’s harder to spot something at 102 than 98, and takes more out of you). This would force you to be more judicious.

Also, perhaps guys with Outlier would have a 4th tier for velocity, but again, you’d lose more energy.

Just a thought!

I get it.

I’m old. Can’t hit. Fine. Still, really enjoy the game. Even though the hitting engine really needs to be changed but won’t because you can’t satisfy casuals and die hards. I get that.

But… I’m like…tired of the nonsense online. Call me old. Past it. Out of touch.

I just played a guy who had a GREAT eye. Refused to bite on cutters in. Kudos to him.

But 1.5 batters in…after check swinging and getting a ball call on 4 straight pitches…proceeds to call time to…I guess…”flex?” To…you know… rub it in that he had a good eye??

Clearly I’m in complaint mode, but man… It would be good to just be able and play with normal, functioning human beings. Man…

Like…”I’m an adult and just want to play the game mode.” No calling time because you took a pitch. No bunt dancing after a HR. Just…you know… normal…I’m not nuts human behavior…

Mia culpa to start…I skipped buying 23 this year so what I’m sharing relates to 22 but still applicable I think.

After redownloading 22 and having fun again, I quickly started to get back into the ranked rabbit hole doldrums that everyone knows (every team having the same players… “ohh P5 Randy?! What a novel idea!”). So needed to find some new things and found two that have got me excited - at least for this week.

Firstly, I actually never dove into Franchise mode before, and if you haven’t, it can be fun! While loving stats, I felt that I was more someone who if I’m picking up the controller, that I want to actually play a game…not just oversee the team. However, once I got into the weeds of transactions - especially the off-season, found that it can be really fun. Things like fighting over free agents, who to let go to make room for a young star…all very fun. I’m mixing in playing some of the games but it’s more about the big picture. The only thing I wish for would be more in depth feedback in the off-season and more understanding of what inputs lead to gains/decreases in stats both in season and over the years…

The second thing that’s been fun is actually pretty different (and most folks will roll their eyes), but as someone who gets frustrated at hitting (I’m about a .190 hitter in ranked) I needed something in the, “try every PCI/Camera view” mix to finally help me feel more comfortable at the plate and after trying a ton of things have landed on trying the Pitcher Offset camera as a HITTING view.

For those that never played the old Bases Loaded game on Nintendo this may sound weird but hitting from a view behind the pitcher worked really well in that game so I tried it… The results have been pretty friggin’ good! I’ve found that my timing - especially on fastballs - is so much better, and that I feel more aggressive in confident in hitting as opposed to defensive.

The best example of the impact of the view on my hitting is that the thing I can’t stand the most in the game - Hitting based Moments - aren’t actually the annoying cuss-out-the-computer grind they normally are now. …that’s saying something for someone who can’t stand them…

Now it’s not for everyone, and you have to resist peeking at the pitchers throwing hand in his glove as you can see the grip change for some pitchers (this is addition to the catcher adjusting his target) but, if you’re getting frustrated with hitting, don’t take the game too seriously and want a new approach, give it a try. It will take about 2-3 games to get a handle but if you do, could be a fun new way to play offline if you need a change (just keep in mind that you aren’t able to use in online games against people).

Glad that you’re getting into baseball in general and MLB The Show.

Even as a big fan of the sport, I’ve found that playing The Show is a wonderful way to learn about current players on teams that I don’t follow in real life - particularly rookies and prospects. Not sure how much you know about the history of the game as well so I’d figure playing with the legends in the game will help you learn about them as well.

The one thing I’d add on the advice side relates to the aforementioned practice mode.

I am by no means a good hitter in the game so I’m not speaking as an expert, but I think the first skill based dividing line in the game is being able to hit a good fastball up and in and not being intimidated by that.

Therefore, I’d recommend dedicating 2-3 30 minute sessions to doing the following:

• Put the game on Legend difficulty for both batting and pitching.

• Choose a right handed batter (for you to use) and then a right handed pitcher with a great fastball. (Perhaps one of the Legend team pitchers like Nolan Ryan)).

• Narrow the pitches selection to a fastball in the upper and inner quadrant of the strike zone (so strikes - not in the “ball” area).

• Practice hitting those pitches until you can consistently turn on them.

• Then do the same think but choose a pitcher with a sinker with high velocity (98 mph or higher) and do the same thing.

• Now flip to the left side and use a left handed hitter and pitcher.

If you dedicate 1.5 - 2 hours on Legend difficulty doing this you’ll gain the confidence to face the the hardest pitches in the game to hit - and often the first test that people look to take advantage of when facing folks online.

Good luck!

@crimson_monk-_MLBTS said in Proposed pitching feature: Velocity Control:

@QuakesSJQT_PSN said in Proposed pitching feature: Velocity Control:

@SaveFarris_PSN said in Proposed pitching feature: Velocity Control:

@QuakesSJQT_PSN said in Proposed pitching feature: Velocity Control:

My main evidence is the low amount of walks given on both online and CPU play. Look at your top 5 starters in the year and see how walks they’ve given vs. strikeouts…probably HOF type ratios, right?

The main reason there are so few walks is because people tend to be swing-happy. Your average gamer wants to hit bombs, not stare at pitches.

Definitely get that in online play but if you a sec take a look at your CPU play K/BB ratios for your top 5 pitchers this year. If they are like mine then it’s still pretty ridiculous…

Ex. I believe my Wagner card (not the new one) has a K/BB ratio around 22… Now that’s some serious accuracy (!) and obviously the computer doesn’t swing at bad pitches as much as humans.

Let me know if you disagree though!

yeah, but personally I throw more in the zone vs the CPU so they will put the ball and play in an attempt to speed up the game. I may be in the minority there, im sure I throw 90 percent of my pitches in the the zone vs CPU.

Me too. I guess that’s partially my point though…it’s too easy to throw accurately in the game. Unless you’re using classic, and perhaps meter, if you want to throw a strike, you can locate a strike. Regardless of pitcher, fatigue, etc.

Wow. Thank you SDS.

I haven’t played in a couple years so maybe this isn’t new, but I always wanted the ability in batting practice to choose the pitch type mix and location.

Y’all got it done!

Awesome.

@lewisnadasurf1_PSN said in Proposed pitching feature: Velocity Control:

Dont think this would really work. What is the difference in speeds you want exactly?

I would like a 102mph fast ball along with a 50mph fast ball if its free rein!

Ohh haha. Not looking for cartoon ranges for sure.

The speed range would simply be the current range that you see right now for pitchers. Only, as opposed to being random within the pinpoint pitching mechanic s it now is (I am aware that you can control this somewhat in meter), you’d be able to intentionally control this by selecting fast/medium/slow.

Ex. If a pitchers fastball varies now from 93-97 with full energy, when you’d select, “fast” he’d throw it 97/96 vs if you selected slow where the pitch would be 94/93. Again…with full energy and speeds would decrease as his energy wears down (more aggressively if you spammed “fast “ all the time and he didn’t have a perk to maintain his velocity, etc.).

@mwolve87_PSN said in Which hitters for 3HR in 3AB Moment?:

I have been going with Devers, Ortiz, Soto. Have hit 2HRs four times, can't get the third one.

Which hitters have you used to complete this moment?

Took me 4 sittings to complete!

Joc POTM
Ken Griffey Jr
Big Pappi

Took the first pitch, tried to get ahead, then looked heat up.

@Misfits_138_1_PSN said in Zone Off Since Update?:

I am NOT a conspiracy guy.
But I just completed the new Conquest, and it felt like I was using a wiffle bat.
Absolutely tattooing balls off Bronze and Common pitchers, center cut pci placement, and can after can of corn to left and right field.
Hades, the ball even sounded weak off the bat.

Probably just me, but I thought I would ask.
Anyone else?

I will say that today during a ranked game, I had two balls that I didn’t think were gone, but instead I KNEW were gone… Only to have them just go to the warning track for outs. Great (not perfect input) with Soto and Ortiz…

Something felt off on those for sure.

@TossGawd_XBL said in Remove strike zone lines/black:

(Disclaimer) I’m an Xbox player so I didn’t start playing until The Show 20… but it seems like you can put the ball on the line/black whenever you want. There’s no painted strike zone whenever a pitcher is pitching in real life, so I would request removing the lines/black from online play while pitching and hitting. It’s seems ridiculous how often pitchers are able to put the ball right on the lines for a strike every rip. Let players figure out the edges of the strike zone on their own.

Interesting call. I actually play with strikezone off myself to help add realism.

It helps reduce my frustration at all the dots I receive (the post pitch data on a taken pitch doesn’t include the strike zone lines), and forces myself to approach my pitching in a realistic way (which is actually more enjoyable for me).

At times during the year I also remove my PCI for similar reasons.

Maybe you could tie your suggestions into a “sim mode..”

However I doubt it would become the meta game mode though.

Per NPD data, MLB The Show 22 is the 6th best selling video game…ON EARTH this year.

It dropped from 6 to 9 in the monthly rankings in August.

I think this is important to keep in mind as many of the folks who feel passionate about this game - like myself - look for changes.

Schnauzer really nailed it in a recent post - this game is so big that the idea that they would would take such a massive revenue stream to accommodate a niche - albeit passionate - base, doesn’t make sense.

Feel free to call me whatever you want but if your job is to drive revenue for such a HUGE revenue stream (hundreds of millions?) then how else can you attempt to meet your goals but to appeal to the masses? (Read: Pick up the game and hit home runs in 15 minutes?).

@theBlindRhino said in Toxic players:

I hold R2 all day if my opponent is quick pitching like a spaz. If someone is doing this to you start pacing your pitches. If your opponent continues to hold the problem is on him.

Question here: How do you define, “quick pitching,” and what do you think the intent behind your opponent doing that is?

Might sound like a dumb question, but there are times that I think my opponent has used R2 to, “slow me down,” however, my pace isn’t done to try and trick or limit my opponent. Instead, I just work fast. I know what I want to pitch, where I want to pitch it, and go. Why wait?

Obviously, in the game I don’t need to look in and get signs from a catcher, go to a rosin bag, etc. Therefore it’s going to be a quicker pace, right?

Is this what you are referring to or something different?

I’m telling y’all…turn that stuff off. Pitch feedback. Swing feedback. The white dot that pops up after a pitch is thrown….

It will make the game more rewarding and you’ll both be able to focus and enjoy the game more.

Everyone seems to have their own expectations of outcomes based on the feedback data so you’re bound to be disappointed!

For example the, “every perfect swing should result in a HR,” camp (which is flat bonkers to me). For some real life context, in last nights Padres game the three hardest hit balls resulted in the following outcomes:

The hardest hit ball resulted in a groundout. (So literally not even a hit).

The second hardest ball resulted in a double. (Cool)

The third hardest hit ball resulted in a single (Just fine sunglasses emoji).

How’s that for, “RNG?”

If the phrase, “late sided good,” is in your vocabulary, do yourself a favor and turn…feedback…off.

@jonblaze2424_PSN said in You Have an X Button...:

So now the game takes 43 mins instead of 40. Un freakin believable

Yeah…I get that but the question remains - what the heck are people doing?

@Blind_Bleeder said in Enough! Please add “Grown Folks” Mode:

I’m 61 and played beginner and Franchise mode from 2008-2020. Admittedly, from 2008-2016 I only played a couple of hours a month. When I retired, my hours picked up, but I still played beginner and Franchise. Then I jumped in with some guys who taught me how to push myself, be better, and try new aspects of the game, like DD.

To make this long dribble short, try something new. If online play frustrates you, go offline. If the level you are playing is too frustrating, knock it down a level until you get comfortable, and then bump up the difficulty and push yourself.

Frankly, I suck online, but I’m better than I used to be.

Also, see if you can get into a league Discord group with some guys that will help you tune your skills. You can PM me and do what I can to help too.

There are guys in here that say age has nothing to do with how well you play, but I don’t agree with them. I know it does…except for one guy…he’s older than me and plays like he’s 21. You know who you are

Great post, thanks!