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Frustrating pickoffs


hefalumps

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Okay, I'm hoping someone can tell me what I'm missing here. I'm getting picked off base A LOT. The last straw happened just a minute ago, when I had runners on first and second with no one out. Just before the first pitch, I tapped up on my right analog stick twice to increase the leads of both runners.

Now, usually anytime I see the pitcher make a move, I immideately hit the "all runners retreat" button, sometimes several times, to make the runner get back. However, sometimes it's as if the runner completely ignores my command and just stands there - dumbfounded. This happened to my runner on 2nd. One out.

Okay so now I only have a runner on 1st. The pitcher throws over there, but I tap "retreat all" and the runner gets back fine. Another throw over to 1st - oh guess what - now this runner is frozen "deer in the headlights" style as well - and now he's picked off. 2 outs, no one on.

So can anyone please explain to me how taking leads and returning to base on pickoff moves work. Is there a setting somewhere that makes runners just occasionally "freeze up" at random, beyond the user's control? When I tell my runners to take a bigger lead, how long does that last? It seems to last through the entire at bat (i.e. after every pitch or pickoff attempt, the runner goes back to that same size lead) but I am uncertain. Is there something I'm doing wrong when trying to get my runners to return to base? If I don't get a bigger lead, my guys have no chance at stealing a base - so not increasing my lead is not an option. But I'm tired of getting picked off cuz my runners don't react in time to my retreat button pressing.

Hope anyone can help. Thanks!

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On my controller I press the analog button downward to send my runners back. It happens they get picked off ocassionally either because the pitcher threw faster than I could get back, or the umpire blew the call (just like it happens in real life). However I am thinking you are tapping the shoulder button to retreat your runners when you should be tapping the same button you use to lead them off with downward. (south) (if I am wrong, sorry)

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yep, turn off the auto-retreat runners option.

Hm... I always had auto-retreat on as a safety in case I was unable to tell my runners to get back in time - like those occasions when as soon as it shifts to the pitching/batting screen, the pitcher fires over to first base before any human could possibly react. I'll have to try disabling that and see if it keeps the "deer in the headlights" stuff from happening, even if it is at the expense of the occasional "lightning reflex" pickoff.

Thanks.

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I have mine set ON...I do very little when it comes to baserunning. I generally increase the lead one or two steps, and control the steals, but they almost always get back fine for me without me doing anything...I think I've been caughtmaybe 5 times in an entire season.

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I have a question that is kind of the opposite. I can't pick off anyone on the other teams. Is there something in the sliders or gameplay options i need to change?

I've been trying to mess with the datafile to increase the number of pickoffs as well. I think I've managed 2 in about 180 games...

I was able to increase the speed with which the pitcher throws the ball to first. It's set at 75MPH (IIRC), and I upped it to 100MPH just to see what happens. Well, the pitcher fires the ball over there at 100MPH, but it seemed to make no difference to the pickoffs, the runner still got back easily every time :?

Still working on it.

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I have a question that is kind of the opposite. I can't pick off anyone on the other teams. Is there something in the sliders or gameplay options i need to change?

Yeah... on top of getting picked off way too much myself, I have never even come CLOSE to picking off the CPU. Maybe, like everything else in this game, it's all about the split-second timing.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've been trying to mess with the datafile to increase the number of pickoffs as well. I think I've managed 2 in about 180 games...

I was able to increase the speed with which the pitcher throws the ball to first. It's set at 75MPH (IIRC), and I upped it to 100MPH just to see what happens. Well, the pitcher fires the ball over there at 100MPH, but it seemed to make no difference to the pickoffs, the runner still got back easily every time :?

Still working on it.

spitoon, have you made any progress in increasing the CPU pickoffs? In over 200 games, I haven't picked off a single runner and it's really starting to bug me. :x

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spitoon, have you made any progress in increasing the CPU pickoffs? In over 200 games, I haven't picked off a single runner and it's really starting to bug me. :x

No, I gave up... :(

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I haven't picked off any runners, but I've thrown 50% of CPU base stealers.

The best way to avoid getting picked off is tapping up on the right stick, then tapping up just before delivery; it has reduced the amount of pickoff attempts and now I rarely get picked off and I'm able to reduce pitchouts which has helped my stolen base total.

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