Community Forum

I agree it’s kind of a [censored] move by SDS but it wasn’t too bad. I personally dislike showdowns a lot but this one you get to load your lineup with 99 diamond hitters, the best diamond hitting perks, and just have to score 6 runs with 20 outs against Sale and then Skubal. I was able to complete it without too much hassle with double digit outs to spare against both of them. Hopefully this helps put some of you at ease so you can give it a try with relative confidence. Best of luck to everyone. You got this.

Yes, for the most part it’s still fun and relatively easy but sometimes it just makes me shake my head. The gold glove defense, Maddux like dotting and nibbling just off the plate, Gwynn like plate discipline, and random no doubt home run by a guy with 40 power on a decently placed pitch are all just plain weird. Consistently inconsistent is the best way I can sum up the overall gameplay.

Does anyone else think the amount of super dotting, taking pitches just off the plate, diving catches, line outs, and double plays while playing against the CPU even on lower difficulties is just a tad bit crazy? I’m not in any way saying it’s hard, just that when looking to get in a quick game after a long day of work and mash, it can feel extremely “tedious”. AI is always a [censored] shoot but the way this game plays at times can feel really exhausting and unrewarding.

@jake98833_PSN

Bingo.

@RAisEdByGoAt_XBL

Look at the prices on the BR rewards Semien and Kershaw. That tells you all you need to know in regards to how many people are playing BR. Both of those cards are mediocre at best and selling at 900K plus due to such short supply on the market.

Jeter is the best all around hitter/fielder, Thomas is pure power with solid contact, and Gibson is a top 3-5 starter in the game. So just depends on what you want or need most on your squad.

For anybody struggling the best advice I can give is draft all lefty bats and a couple speed guys. All the pitchers you face are righties so this will give you the matchup advantage. If you hit a single with a player under 80 speed then pinch run a speed guy and steal second base to stay out of double plays and get your runner into scoring position. String together a few hits and HRs and it should be relatively easy compared to most showdowns.

Agreed that showdowns being mandatory is garbage. There are lots of fake tough guys here that will tear you down and say showdowns are easy. Just ignore or block them as they are clowns that enjoy being jerks. Showdowns wouldn’t be so bad if they allowed you to continue from a fail point and if they didn’t play completely differently from every other game mode. It’s painfully obvious the defensive sliders and pitcher stamina and confidence are juiced up to increase the challenge. Showdowns are by far my least favorite game mode because it plays unnaturally and just feels “off” even when you succeed. Good luck if you choose to keep trying and if not and SDS doesn’t offer any alternative options to complete the program just move on. This year SDS has made a ton of mistakes along the way and have actually managed to make 23 look organized in comparison.

After restarting my PS5 the packs appeared in my inventory. About gave me a heart attack but it’s all handled now thankfully.

Finished my 2nd mini seasons and didn’t get credit for it. Submitted a help ticket and really hoping it gets handled as it was the final 21 points I needed to get Acuna. He is my son’s favorite player and he really wanted to use that card. Super bummed right now and if this doesn’t get resolved I think I’m done for good as this will be the final straw for me. Hopefully this hasn’t happened to anyone else and if it has please let me know. Thanks.

@MileHiSportsGuy_XBL

That’s exactly what I’ve seen. It’s almost as bad as it was around launch time. I don’t want to sit around all day either walking or getting into full counts with every batter when I’m trying to grind thru programs. Hunting your pitch while playing head to head I kinda understand the strategy but against the CPU it’s more than tedious.

Did something change? Playing on AS and suddenly the CPU won’t throw strikes. The difference since this time last week is extremely noticeable in the handful of games I’ve played. Anyone else experiencing something similar?

The CPU bunting to break up the no hitter is flat out filthy. If that happens in real life baseball the next guy is getting thrown at for sure. This in no way adds to gameplay or strategy involved. Why they programmed this moment that way isn’t making it more difficult, it’s making it dirty.

@GixxerRyder750_PSN

The fielders move way too fast in this game which is why there aren’t more doubles and triples in the gap. Also fly balls hang up in the air allowing them to casually just jog over and make the play. The fielding mechanics are way off but likely can’t be fixed without a complete overhaul.

Yes, dashboarding helps, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are super annoying, require very little skill, and due to the massive amount of RNG they are basically pure luck time sinks.

Nearly full game pitching moments are awful. Bloop hits, your pitcher can’t locate, and the programming is made to lose just before you get that last out or strikeout. The degrom, kershaw, and ottavino moments in the extreme program are all RNG bs.

That is not why batting averages are down. I love how your opinion is fact in your mind. The reason batting averages are down is because relievers are throwing harder than ever with insane movement and hitters have to face 3 or 4 different pitchers on any given day. We are all entitled to our opinion and yours is as flawed as anybody else’s so get off your high horse.

Between the endless foul tips, fluky bloop hits, countless diving catches, warping fielding animations, and precise dotting of the strike zone playing the CPU can be ridiculous. Oftentimes the CPU pitches can directly overlap each other, which is almost impossible for a human player to pull off. I get no game is perfect but this type of stuff happening over and over again makes for a pretty miserable playing experience. I do give SDS credit for creating multiple paths to achieve the rewards in the extreme program but the gameplay is still inconsistent and painful at times.

@PriorFir4383355_XBL

Regardless of the results there are far too many diving plays in this game, period. The fielders cover way too much ground, even the slow low rated guys, and it’s clearly a flawed game mechanic to cut down the already elevated hitting stats.

@capardo_XBL

CPU pitching and hitting in moments is obnoxious. Fielding can be ridiculous too. They definitely tend to feel more like work than fun. The only plus of moments is that they allow you to test drive new cards but otherwise they are just a nuisance.