MLB 2K11 Developer Diary #3 - Pitching and Hitting

[Blzer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Scottdau

I hope not. I want him free swinging. When you try to change someone they usually do bad. I want him to be swinging. I really think the divorce was the key factor in his bad year. This year Sandoval will be the Panda again.

I know we've talked about this over and over before, and I've noticed you still haven't changed your mind on the matter.

There's a difference between being a free swinger and going to the plate with zero mentality. Sandoval showed much of the latter last year.

[Scottdau]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blzer

I know we've talked about this over and over before, and I've noticed you still haven't changed your mind on the matter. There's a difference between being a free swinger and going to the plate with zero mentality. Sandoval showed much of the latter last year.

Not the place, but you are wrong. This game is going to be really good. I have faith in 2k.

[rudyjuly2]

I'm largely incapable of changing my approach at the plate based on different batters. With sluggers I'm probably less patient but overall I find it hard to change. I did love the slower pitch speed in 2K10 which allowed me to work pitchers (batting angle helped a lot too). I normally had the cpu pitcher's working 15+ pitches per inning.

[jfsolo]

Given the last few years, as a 360 only owner, I had pretty much written off playing a baseball game during this generation of systems. The info we've gotten over the last few days has rekindled a fire that has been essentially extinguished since High Heat bought the farm. I will wait until the OS brethren play the game for a week or two, but this is looking promising.

As to the specific topic at hand, I always turn every hitter into a super patient, work the count batter, as I am obsessed with trying to get every opposing starting pitcher over 100 pitches by the fifth or sixth inning, or forcing any reliever to throw 15+ pitches in a inning.

[utahman19]

I do have one concern about the variable strike zone. I hope that it is consistent throughout the game, i.e. the ump consistently gives the outside corner of a right handed batter, calls it tight inside, etc. I want to be able to figure out the strike zone of the umpire for each game, not have to deal with a zone that changes pitch-to-pitch or AB to AB. A strike zone that is not by-the-book is fine, just as long as it is consistent throughout the game and I can adjust to it both as a batter and pitcher.

[jeffy777]

Quote: Originally Posted by utahman19

I do have one concern about the variable strike zone. I hope that it is consistent throughout the game, i.e. the ump consistently gives the outside corner of a right handed batter, calls it tight inside, etc. I want to be able to figure out the strike zone of the umpire for each game, not have to deal with a zone that changes pitch-to-pitch or AB to AB. A strike zone that is not by-the-book is fine, just as long as it is consistent throughout the game and I can adjust to it both as a batter and pitcher.

Thing is though MLB umpires aren't always consistent from AB to AB.

[utahman19]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffy777

Thing is though MLB umpires aren't always consistent from AB to AB.

I understand that, but they are close enough. If an ump has been giving the pitcher the outside corner, he will still give the outside corner but might tighten it up a bit. I don't want to go from a very tight outside corner to a very loose outside corner between at-bats. Or from having the low fastball called a ball and a high fastball a strike, to the low ball a strike and high a ball. Or a small overall strike zone one inning to a large zone the next. Give the "ump" his strike zone for the day, and stick close to it.

I like the idea, I just hope that it will not vary much throughout a game. Changes from game to game is great, but within each game it should be consistent and you can figure out of what the zone is. Adapt and adjust to what the "ump" is calling for the day, just like in real baseball.

[AmazingMets]

Quote: Originally Posted by utahman19

I understand that, but they are close enough. If an ump has been giving the pitcher the outside corner, he will still give the outside corner but might tighten it up a bit. I don't want to go from a very tight outside corner to a very loose outside corner between at-bats. Or from having the low fastball called a ball and a high fastball a strike, to the low ball a strike and high a ball. Or a small overall strike zone one inning to a large zone the next. Give the "ump" his strike zone for the day, and stick close to it. I like the idea, I just hope that it will not vary much throughout a game. Changes from game to game is great, but within each game it should be consistent and you can figure out of what the zone is. Adapt and adjust to what the "ump" is calling for the day, just like in real baseball.

this comment still is a good rebuttal to your wish.

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffy777

Thing is though MLB umpires aren't always consistent from AB to AB.