MVP: Is low-and-away pitch this year's lefty bug?

[webdanzer]

Gridiron, the green zone is clearly smaller with the meter difficulty set to -50. And TRI, I'm not buying the 'meter reversed' theory without some hard evidence, especially in light of the OBVIOUS shrinkage of the sweet spot on -50.

Plus, his getting hit harder after making his pitching easier would make slumber Bizarro or something.

Oh, waitaminute...

[Slumberland]

Ha... that would explain a lot.

Some random person at OS told me I should "go back to DSP" when I was complaining about something an admin said, and I was wondering how the hell he knew about my double life.

[dbdynsty25]

Ha... that would explain a lot.

Some random person at OS told me I should "go back to DSP" when I was complaining about something an admin said, and I was wondering how the hell he knew about my double life.

That's funny sh*t...that place is so ridiculous. The only time I ever go there is if DSP is on the fritz, which has been a lot recently.

[webdanzer]

Ha... that would explain a lot.

Some random person at OS told me I should "go back to DSP" when I was complaining about something an admin said, and I was wondering how the hell he knew about my double life.

I didn't give you up, but I saw the thread. Kinda crazy the things people will do and the places people will go when DSP goes down at the height of baseball videogame season, innit?

[Leebo33]

Kinda crazy the things people will do and the places people will go when DSP goes down at the height of baseball videogame season, innit?

Yeah, like the time I went to the MLB 2k5 ESPN Videogames forum while DSP was down. I won't name any names, but I saw someone else from here while I was lurking.

[Slumberland]

Yeah, like the time I went to the MLB 2k5 ESPN Videogames forum while DSP was down. I won't name any names, but I saw someone else from here while I was lurking.

I admit it, it was me. It was the height of the passed ball thing with MLB 2K5, and I felt like I had to shout from the rooftops in every venue I could find.

I'm not proud.

[bkrich83]

Ha... that would explain a lot.

Some random person at OS told me I should "go back to DSP" when I was complaining about something an admin said, and I was wondering how the hell he knew about my double life.

I saw that and had to chuckle. I don't even know who that person was. Just ignore it.

At OS the noise to signal ratio is always high, during basbeall release season it seems to get worse every year.

Which is why most of my baseball game posts are actually here.

[JRod]

Back to the topid at hand...

I am playing on MVP level. Ya you heard me right, MVP level. Although its not default MVP level. I played a game with default and gave up a thousand runs in one game.

I am playing on default Hum/CPU batting for both contact and power. The only thing I changed was the swing frequency. So far, I can attest that the CPU Swing Frequency Slider is not the culprit to the lack of runs. I'm in a very tight race with the Cubbies as the Cards. I had 6 games on them going into a home series. The swept me, 4/4 and pulled within 2. Not only that but I was about ready to give up on my sliders when in my first game out of four with the Cubbies, I was up 4-0 going into the 9th. Morris pitched a gem, he's also like 12-4 for the year so he's doing great. I put in Isringhausen who has been a freaking rock all season, and he gives up 6 in the 9th. I lost by two. F-n unreal.

I was about ready to change my sliders again then I play teams like the Pirates and start an important series against Houston. I am hitting lights out. I have Pujols on a slight hot streak. He has been hitting everything hard. Not a lot of HRs but if you pitch up to him, its a gapper.

I want to say this about MVP level. I think the CPU chooses better location for its better pitchers. I don't know, I could be seeing that however.

I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion on how to get more human walks. I rarely give up 1 a game. I have it set a -25. Is everyone playing on -50, -50??

[bkrich83]

Back to the topid at hand...

I am playing on MVP level. Ya you heard me right, MVP level. Although its not default MVP level. I played a game with default and gave up a thousand runs in one game.

Thousand runs? Your ERA must suck.

[MizzouRah]

Will do. Now that I sort of know what's going on in career mode, I am about to start a new career.

I am really getting in to my MVP dynasty. I Am playing basically the last game of every series and simming the first couple of games. But not quick simming. So I actually am going and selecting my lineups, and then simming the game. That way I still have a handle on game usage and such.

Had so much fun, I even startetd a dynasty site.

http://www.dynastymanager.com/dynasty.cgi?u=bkrich83

I do the same now in my MVP franchise. Sim a few, play a few.. play a minor league game, etc... If the CPU lineups weren't so whacky every now and then, this game would be right there with HH 2000-02.

I like the manage mode in MVP instead of fully simming my games.

Take care,

Todd

[bkrich83]

Will do. Now that I sort of know what's going on in career mode, I am about to start a new career.

I am really getting in to my MVP dynasty. I Am playing basically the last game of every series and simming the first couple of games. But not quick simming. So I actually am going and selecting my lineups, and then simming the game. That way I still have a handle on game usage and such.

Had so much fun, I even startetd a dynasty site.

http://www.dynastymanager.com/dynasty.cgi?u=bkrich83

I do the same now in my MVP franchise. Sim a few, play a few.. play a minor league game, etc... If the CPU lineups weren't so whacky every now and then, this game would be right there with HH 2000-02.

I like the manage mode in MVP instead of fully simming my games.

Take care,

Todd

I manage a few games with the Manage mode also.

Did you know when you are at the pre-game lineup screen, you can actually adjust the CPU's lineup? I adjusted the Reds yesterday before my game to put LaRue in the lineup. Wouldn't you know it, he hits a bomb on me in a tight ball game.

[pk500]

BK:

Getting any work done during the day these days, man?

Take care,
PK

[dbdynsty25]

Did you know when you are at the pre-game lineup screen, you can actually adjust the CPU's lineup? I adjusted the Reds yesterday before my game to put LaRue in the lineup. Wouldn't you know it, he hits a bomb on me in a tight ball game.

I love the fact that you can do that. Every once in a while I notice the CPU will pitch their 6th of 7th pitcher as the starter. It usually only happens when the 5th starter is supposed to pitch so it's not a big deal, but I seriously love the fact that you can edit the lineups before a game, even in a franchise.

[bkrich83]

BK:

Getting any work done during the day these days, man?

Take care,
PK

LOL,
Between my baseball game addiction, WoW, and CMR 05, no, not really. I should be fired any day.

[Brando70]

Did you know when you are at the pre-game lineup screen, you can actually adjust the CPU's lineup? I adjusted the Reds yesterday before my game to put LaRue in the lineup. Wouldn't you know it, he hits a bomb on me in a tight ball game.

I love the fact that you can do that. Every once in a while I notice the CPU will pitch their 6th of 7th pitcher as the starter. It usually only happens when the 5th starter is supposed to pitch so it's not a big deal, but I seriously love the fact that you can edit the lineups before a game, even in a franchise.

I never even thought to check that. I have noticed the fifth starter being skipped on occasion, too. Now I can fix it.

As for sliders, I think the main culprit in all of this is some combo of User Meter, User Pitch Accuracy, and maybe foul ball sliders. I have had the CPU Swing pretty low since day one, and literally only seems to affect how often they take pitches. I am going to go back to 0 for all pitching and foul balls and see what happens. I am concerned about the foul balls slider, but I honestly don't think it affects tips and fouls to the backstop. I still saw those on default levels. It seems to create more foul pops than anything.

I also suspect that the User Meter slider doesn't cause problems, either, since all that seems to do is shrink the gold and green spots.

[Danimal]

In an effort to test the low and away theory even further I did an experiment last night.

I had my wife stand in the garage, and told her I was going to throw her nothing but low and away fastballs and to see if she could hit them (my wife is a good hitter, lifetime .329).

Unfortunately I haven't thrown a ball in 4 years, so my first pitch plunked her square in the back

I started to race over to see if she was ok, but halted in my tracks as I saw her charging the oil slick I was using as a mound.

Today, I sit her at work with a bruised rib and have decided to cancel all further tests on this problem.

[MizzouRah]

Will do. Now that I sort of know what's going on in career mode, I am about to start a new career.

I am really getting in to my MVP dynasty. I Am playing basically the last game of every series and simming the first couple of games. But not quick simming. So I actually am going and selecting my lineups, and then simming the game. That way I still have a handle on game usage and such.

Had so much fun, I even startetd a dynasty site.

http://www.dynastymanager.com/dynasty.cgi?u=bkrich83

I do the same now in my MVP franchise. Sim a few, play a few.. play a minor league game, etc... If the CPU lineups weren't so whacky every now and then, this game would be right there with HH 2000-02.

I like the manage mode in MVP instead of fully simming my games.

Take care,

Todd

I manage a few games with the Manage mode also.

Did you know when you are at the pre-game lineup screen, you can actually adjust the CPU's lineup? I adjusted the Reds yesterday before my game to put LaRue in the lineup. Wouldn't you know it, he hits a bomb on me in a tight ball game.

I knew you could change the starting pitcher.. I selected on for the CPU team by mistake (remember my post about the guy who started instead of Glendon Rusch?). I didn't know you could adjust the lineup, thanks for that tidbit!


Todd

[Leebo33]

Today, I sit her at work with a bruised rib and have decided to cancel all further tests on this problem.

That's nothing. I was goofing around last night with my family playing catch in my living room with a nerf ball. Unfortunately, I was using the default MLB 2006 injury slider and three of us needed trips to the hospital.

[dbdynsty25]

In an effort to test the low and away theory even further I did an experiment last night.

I had my wife stand in the garage, and told her I was going to throw her nothing but low and away fastballs and to see if she could hit them (my wife is a good hitter, lifetime .329).

Unfortunately I haven't thrown a ball in 4 years, so my first pitch plunked her square in the back

I started to race over to see if she was ok, but halted in my tracks as I saw her charging the oil slick I was using as a mound.

Today, I sit her at work with a bruised rib and have decided to cancel all further tests on this problem.

Where's the drum roll and high hat .wav file when you need it?

[MizzouRah]

In an effort to test the low and away theory even further I did an experiment last night.

I had my wife stand in the garage, and told her I was going to throw her nothing but low and away fastballs and to see if she could hit them (my wife is a good hitter, lifetime .329).

Unfortunately I haven't thrown a ball in 4 years, so my first pitch plunked her square in the back

I started to race over to see if she was ok, but halted in my tracks as I saw her charging the oil slick I was using as a mound.

Today, I sit her at work with a bruised rib and have decided to cancel all further tests on this problem.

ROTFLMAO!! Good Stuff Danimal!!!

Todd

[Gangrel]

This reminds me of work today. We were making jokes about each other, using computer terms. We found it hilarious, but if someone went by and didn't know any computer programming, they'd think we were geeks!

Oh, wait a second..........



To be sorta on topic, I noticed with the foul ball slider jacked that i had wayyyyy too many pop foul outs. So now, I leave it at 0, and all is fine.

I've given up on pitch counts, and instead have lowered my pitcher fatigue sliders to -8 i think, so the pitchers are more tired.....

[brendanrfoley]

After listening to some of you, I went back to the drawing board with MVP (in terms of sliders). I had messed with a whole bunch of sliders and couldn't hit a lick, so I reset everything.

Then, I put Pitch Meter Difficulty and Human pPitcher Control at -50.... what a game I had!

I've discovered the foul ball slider really messes up gameplay.

Yellow balls (pitch/swing analysis) are poor contact and green is good contact. With foul balls cranked up, the CPU and user will foul off more pitches, and put less yellow contact balls in play. This reduces offense, as major leaguers often get hits on poorly hit, or weakly hit balls.

With foul balls set to zero, two things happened. First my offense "exploded" for 5 runs off Mark Mulder and Jason Isringhausen. It may not seem like much, but I had been struggling to plate 2 runs a game. I had hit only 4 homeruns with my slider settings (15 games or so) and hit two on defaults.

Two, the computer offense did the same. Since it was not fouling as many pitches, the quality of tis contact was strong. It made me nervous pitching to Walker, Pujols, Rolen, and Edmonds. I was more careful, threw more junk.

At the end of the day, I lost 7-5.

Schilling... 7.1IP, 8K, 4BB, 3ER... 105 pitches
Arroyo... 1.2IP, 1K, 1BB, 2ER

Mulder... 8IP, 7K, 2BB, 4ER... 98 pitches
Isringhausen... 1IP, 1K, 0BB, 1ER

I managed two walks against a pitcher who doesn't walk too many hitters, on defaults (All Star). Not only did slider tweaking nearly ruin the game for my offense, but it squelched the CPU as well.

Now I know I can hit, so I'm more patient and driving up CPU pitch counts. And I have a greater fear of CPU hitters now that they don't foul everything off, which means I'm pitching far more carefully to them.

Great stuff!

[Gangrel]

I've given up on pitch counts, and instead have lowered my pitcher fatigue sliders to -8 i think, so the pitchers are more tired.....

Sorry, I'm on crack. I have my pitcher fatigue set to 15 for both.....!!!!


Now, does anyone know what the CPU Catch Effort does? I'm assuming it controls how much they dive for balls? Which way would tone it down? I'm assuming less slider?

[pk500]

I noodled around with various tweaks suggested in here and with a slider set from OS, and I'm convinced that this game plays best with default sliders and DB's minor tweaks to fielder and baserunner speed.

I played at Pro level last night -- yeah, I suck! -- with everything as default except for DB's speed tweaks and lost, 5-3. I had 13 hits, the CPU had nine, and I drew two walks while walking one or two myself. I could have drawn at least two more walks if I was a patient hitter.

Default is going to be the ticket for me. I'm not touching a hitter or pitching slider.

Take care,
PK

[MizzouRah]

I think most agree PK (I'm on AS default) that MVP plays great out of the box.

You also have to take in effect the size of the ballpark you are playing in. Playing KC at Kauffman stadium is VERY different than playing at say, Great American Ballpark.

One other note, friggin Mets have one hell of a lineup. Damn them!!


Todd