Batting

[compmaniac]

I'm good with pitching...I always let up very few runs.

But I have no offense...

How come I'm so bad at batting?

Is the only way to get better to practice, or are there any secrets to reading the pitches? (I always chase pitches out of the zone, and my sluggers have hit either 0 or 1 home run through 6 games.)

[SESbb30]

you just gotta recognice the pitch movement early. if you play enough games, you will know where what pitch is exaclty going every time. play a ton of exhibition games and just look at the movement on the pitches and the trajectory, and time them right, youll be smackin homers out in no time.

[DoubleD]

I also try to guess where the pitch will be going, which I've been able to do from picking up what the computer will normally do in the given situation. So if I think the ball will be outside, I'll already be looking to go the other way before the pitch even comes in, and pull it if I think it'll be inside.

It is pretty difficult to tell just how far balls will break in the game though. What I do, since it's so easy to check swing in the game, is every pitch I look to hit it. When it comes in and I'm within hitting range, I start hitting the swing key, and if the ball breaks out of the zone, I just check swing. If it doesn't break out of the zone or breaks into the zone, then I'll hit the key all the way. Takes a lot of concentration, and being able to check when you want to and swing when you want to takes practice.

As far as homeruns go, you can just hold the up key the entire time and you'll hit like 6 as a team per game but won't get many normal hits. What I do now is, I look to see if it's a 4seam fastball. If it's inside or over the middle of the plate, I'll go for the homerun. If's it's high and outside, I'll try and go yard to the opposite field. If it's low I'll just try and get a normal hit the other way. This puts up pretty realistic HR numbers for me. Only problem is that sometimes I'll get to gitty when seeing what I think is a 4seamer coming and decide to go for a home run before I look to see if there is a break on the ball (Or if the pitcher throws 100 MPH+ and there isn't enough time to check), and then it ends up being a cutter/2seamer...hate it when that happens. ;P

[compmaniac]

I also try to guess where the pitch will be going, which I've been able to do from picking up what the computer will normally do in the given situation. So if I think the ball will be outside, I'll already be looking to go the other way before the pitch even comes in, and pull it if I think it'll be inside.

It is pretty difficult to tell just how far balls will break in the game though. What I do, since it's so easy to check swing in the game, is every pitch I look to hit it. When it comes in and I'm within hitting range, I start hitting the swing key, and if the ball breaks out of the zone, I just check swing. If it doesn't break out of the zone or breaks into the zone, then I'll hit the key all the way. Takes a lot of concentration, and being able to check when you want to and swing when you want to takes practice.

As far as homeruns go, you can just hold the up key the entire time and you'll hit like 6 as a team per game but won't get many normal hits. What I do now is, I look to see if it's a 4seam fastball. If it's inside or over the middle of the plate, I'll go for the homerun. If's it's high and outside, I'll try and go yard to the opposite field. If it's low I'll just try and get a normal hit the other way. This puts up pretty realistic HR numbers for me. Only problem is that sometimes I'll get to gitty when seeing what I think is a 4seamer coming and decide to go for a home run before I look to see if there is a break on the ball (Or if the pitcher throws 100 MPH+ and there isn't enough time to check), and then it ends up being a cutter/2seamer...hate it when that happens. ;P

It sounds easy and is easy for a lot of people, but I haven't played it much, so I need to recognize pitches better.

Also, the opposing pitcher rarely ever throws the ball over the middle of the plate (maybe because I keep swinging at balls out of the zone), so it's really hard to hit home runs.

I just need to practice, I guess.

[Cash #25]

You can change the difficulty level. The problem with that is your pitching will be too easy.

Adjust sliders. Up your contact. Slow down the pitch so you learn what's going on with the different pitches. Adjust the CPU pitcher to throw less pitches outside the zone. You won't walk much, but you won't get fooled as often either. When you get better at it, adjust the sliders to make it more difficult and challenging.

The rest of it is like real hitting. What's the pitcher trying to do to you? Is he working you in and out? Have you given him reason to believe you can't hit a high fastball? Have an idea up there, as they say.

Also like real hitting: batting practice. The hitting mini-game is good practice and also fun.

When you face an excellent pitcher who is "on" that day, you won't hit. You're not supposed to. That's baseball.

[carter]

Try playing the mini games and keep practicing.

[rulegm]

I usually pre-aim the stick to the part of the field I'm trying to hit to. Its really a toss-up, but I don't lose many games. Sometimes I experiment. If I aim to hit the ball opposite field, and it hasn't worked in say the first two at-bats, I'll aim to pull on the third at-bat. I usually only do that with my average hitters. My sluggers, I will almost always stay in one aim direction. Sometimes I think the CPU can sense that I'm trying to pull and will throw the ball outside so I can ground/pop out. DAMN! Just a conspiracy on my end :)

[compmaniac]

This is weird.

I just finished reading these posts (I didn't practice at all though), and the game I just played, I won, 9-0, with me hitting four home runs.

Hopefully I can keep that up.

By the way, if I want to bunt for a hit, it's really hard. Is there any way to angle the bat? Or do I have to time it?

[kgbaseball]

You have to time it right. It helps to have a good bunter batting.

[drbeep97]

you need to time the bunt...

that takes alot of practice (at least for me i did)

you also need to find i team that has a 3B with a less than stellar arm and bunt with guys who are fast (80+)

[kgbaseball]

I try and bunt for a hit only with lefties. A lot of the time you can bunt it to no man's land between the pitcher and 2b.

[drbeep97]

I try and bunt for a hit only with lefties. A lot of the time you can bunt it to no man's land between the pitcher and 2b.

really? i normally do it w/ a righty because they can put it right on that 3B line and beat out a throw... or not get a throw at all... it's a lot easier for me

i've learned to bunt w/ lefties on MVP 06... but that game is way too easy to bunt for a hit so i normally only bunt when i need to move a runner somewhere... or when i desperately need some runs

[compmaniac]

really? i normally do it w/ a righty because they can put it right on that 3B line and beat out a throw... or not get a throw at all... it's a lot easier for me

i've learned to bunt w/ lefties on MVP 06... but that game is way too easy to bunt for a hit so i normally only bunt when i need to move a runner somewhere... or when i desperately need some runs

I find it easier to bunt with a righty as well.

Also, why is it easy to bunt w/ lefties on MVP 06?

[kgbaseball]

It's easier for me because I am way better hitting with lefties in general. I don't know if that's because I'm a lefty in real life, but I still haven't figured out how to hit for an average with a righty in the game yet.

[compmaniac]

It's easier for me because I am way better hitting with lefties in general. I don't know if that's because I'm a lefty in real life, but I still haven't figured out how to hit for an average with a righty in the game yet.

I'm righty in real life, and I find hitting with lefties in the game a lot easier (when they're not bunting)

[compmaniac]

How do you guys hit the ball depending on where the ball is in the strike zone?

For example, if it's in the center of the strike zone, try to hit a home run

What about inner upper corner? Outer lower corner? etc?

Also, sometimes I hit without specifying if it'll be a pull swing or a home run swing, etc...is that good?

Thanks.

[kgbaseball]

Usually I try to pull the ball, and I'll push the analog up for power hitters and down for slap hitters. Sometimes I'll leave the analog alone and usually the ball gets hit right back up the middle.

[compmaniac]

Usually I try to pull the ball, and I'll push the analog up for power hitters and down for slap hitters. Sometimes I'll leave the analog alone and usually the ball gets hit right back up the middle.

Isn't down for ground balls?

Also, what about pushing the analog right and left?

[compmaniac]

What about stealing bases? When do you determine when to steal a base?

[compmaniac]

Please help? I get caught stealing more often than I successfully steal a base.

[ronmexico]

I steal with only people above an 80 speed, and usually have a 2 step lead.

[compmaniac]

I steal with only people above an 80 speed, and usually have a 2 step lead.

Yeah, but when do you decide to run? I always get thrown out at second.

Is there a specific pitch count I should go at?

[ronmexico]

No counts in this game, just think about whether it's a throwing down count I suppose, so they don't pitch out. You can still sneak in sometimes.

[compmaniac]

No counts in this game, just think about whether it's a throwing down count I suppose, so they don't pitch out. You can still sneak in sometimes.

Well, when do you steal? I always get caught. My stealing percentage is only around 50%

[ronmexico]

Rarely get caught, steal all the time, all innings, basically all counts with basically any amount of outs. Don't know what to say besides make sure you're always pressing the steal button, so that way you get a good jump.