Good morning!!

Man, I’m seeing a lot of posts about showdowns, so I figure I would share my strategy that allowed me to do 2nd and 3rd inning first run and complete all the stage 2 showdowns with about an 80% completion rate (failed twice on sinker ballers)

This strategy is for the average to above average player. This also will not work online, so don’t try it, or you will be sad.

Drafts — power > contact. You will probably be using contact boost perks so grab as many high powered guys you can. If u have a 30 contact 90 power guy, once u get that contact boost you are working with someone who can do damage. Draft 1 silver SP and 1 silver RP. The rest are hitters. Keep 1-2 speed guys on your bench.

You will probably have a few guys that will need to play “out of position” during your run. Safest spots are catcher and 2nd base.

If u get the 7th pitch perfect bronze perk, that is your HR ball to use in the actual showdowns, I can’t tell you how many times this has helped me win a close battle. Also the “contact boost after 7 innings” perk is great during your run as many of the later challenges are late inning comebacks.

Ok, onto the showdowns. When playing a showdown on veteran, what I do is move the pci slightly up so that the 2 diamonds(or altitude) buttons split the dirt on the pitchers mound and sit. (Some of the longer strike zone guys you move it up higher) I have my thumb off the actual stick and instead apply pressure underneath it. That way as a pitch comes I don’t overreact and move it out of the zone. On all star you move it even further up. The goal is that the top of your PCI hits the top of the strike zone.

Outside of sinker ballers, you just sit right there and wait. U get 1-2 meatballs an at bat. Just don’t miss it. Don’t swing at anything that isn’t in your zone. If you have a base runner on 1st, do not swing at any pitch below where you put that PCI, ever. A strike out is better then a DP. Once u get 2 strikes then swing normally at pitches, but nothing in the bottom 3rd of the zone.

Sinkerballers, similar strategy, except tilt it slightly down, you actually get more right down the middle but if your PCI is slightly up then it becomes a ground out/DP. So if you have it slightly tilted down and wait then you should be ok. Check your swing feedback. The top of the inner circle should be right at the top or bottom of the zone based on who is pitching.

Don’t force runs, don’t stretch doubles into triples. Dont tag up on fly outs with slow runners. Play super conservative.

Most importantly you have to be patient. If u find u have gotten 3-4 outs in a row pause the game and walk around for a few minutes and reset. Don’t waste outs if u get frustrated. Just trust the process. Once u get that confidence meter below 50% then u get more and more meatballs to punish and the RNG starts giving you better results.

Hope this helps, I’ve been crushing showdowns this week. Again I go into the final showdown with 7-12 runs, so it’s not perfect, but it works for me and I’d figure I would share.

If anyone has additional questions or wants additional advice let me know.

I did buy 2 headliners. That was a fun waste of money.... ugh

@Nanthrax_1 said in Highly rated players you struggle with?:

Where to start.,.
93 Didi, 95 Correa, 94 Chipper somehow, 92 Piazza..

Cards I'll never use again.. really bummed about Chipper.. no idea why I struggled with them. All were given about a 30 AB sample

I would give each 100 AB before u quit. Many times you start presssing with those players because u want a hit so bad. Just treat them like u would any other player.

For example I started off terribly with both trout and biggio. But I struggle righty on righty anyways. However once I started being more patient I saw both their BA rise. Trout leads my team in HRs

I always put my fastest bench player on that last run. Could be a 60 overall with 98 speed and I could be pulling Mickey mantle out to do it, but once that winning run hits second I pinch run to avoid any of that

Man, some people are sore losers... man, 2 games in a row I get up by some and then I’m getting pegged multiple times until “griefing” gets called or people time out. Just take the L and move forward and take a breath.....

Pulled a few diamonds that got me close to 280k, sold everything else I could to bring be to 330k. Put in a buy order last night and here he is this morning. Now I’m broke, but atleast I have a gatekeeper and someone I should be able to roll with most of the year.

If it’s David justice, I will be purchasing this card. Favorite player growing up.

That is correct

Throw a cutter inside to a batter so that it cuts further inside. Most batters see its slower and swing at it. U can also try to dot the outside line with it by setting it up just outside the strike zone and it will cut into a strike. Don’t throw it low or up or in the middle of the strike zone, or bye bye

@notoriousHEB said in I hate to admit it:

@ImDFC said in I hate to admit it:

I really hate to admit it, every single fiber of my being is seething in rage at this admission. But that Jones card is nice. It's arguably the best 3B card in the game right now.

Big time hitter, switch too. If i didn't love Josh Jung I'd consider him.

Brian Roberts is fantastic too. Only other 2B near him is Ryno if you pick him, or FS Brujan if you do Tampa affinity.

I’m a huge Braves fan. I also have jung who I’m hitting the best with so far out of the new rising stars.... so this will be tricky.

I really have been having fun with Clemente since I got him. Here is mine

C — realmuto/schwarb
1B — Ortiz/Alonso platoon — although fielder has been getting more PT. I don’t have vlad, but hoping at the end of the month those pack odds are in my favor, or he drops to like 100-150k. Then I’ll buy him.
2B — wander (for parallel purposes, jackie is still better
SS — CAP, although I’m debating making my CAP a C and putting Anderson here as I do so well with cards.
3rd — chipper
LF — acuna now
CF — jasson still.
RF — Clemente

This event has been super fun. What’s the complaint? I’m like 20-6 so far

Dash-boarding actually takes longer then just quitting to get into another game. It’s 100% a FU to whomever they are quitting on and some kids are legit just skilled at doing it. They can dashboard just as the no doubt animation starts. That’s a gift.

Had this happen twice today. Once on a HR by Mitch Moreland, which was unfortunate. Other was a double with Eddie. Just reload and wish ill will against them

@thongypu_psn said in What’s your OF setup?:

I feel in love with Justice in left and frankly the defense hasn't hurt me yet. Jasson in center, and acuna in right. I'm happy with my current alignment but miss having trout out there.

Same. Trout/justice are platooning atm. I know Trout good righty/righty splits. But my lineup is so right hand heavy with realmuto/Alonso/acuna joining the team, someone needed to get moved to the bench.

@hikes83_psn said in My Rankings of Team Affinity Season 3:

@stryder_28_psn said in My Rankings of Team Affinity Season 3:

That realmuto card is legit. I am sad I have to bench Carlos Santana, but I think I’m going to have Kyle start and platoon JT against a lefty and as a D replacement for late game.

This is extremely poor logic. You want to platoon JT against his worst splits? Not to mention Kyle’s numbers vs lefties are better than JTs.

If you want to platoon a catcher vs lefties, why wouldn’t you go with Perez or Zunino? Both are maxed out vs lefties

You are right. JT gets the nod

That realmuto card is legit. I am sad I have to bench Carlos Santana, but I think I’m going to have Kyle start and platoon JT against a lefty and as a D replacement for late game.

That is correct

Yea bought more then enough for exchanges this morning for the NL East and West(kicking myself for not doing more) but Sold my “over flow” plus space packs, etc. I made 150k and already have 8 shiny new cards to play with

@drewshbag420_psn said in Given Up on Event Games:

@stryder_28_psn said in Given Up on Event Games:

40 wins by Thursday seems like a lot for that final card.

They said that there are 2 more All star events and the rewards and wins carry over

Oh, wow… really? I missed that. You are my hero.