MLB 15 The Show: Working the Count as a Hitter

Feature Article

Submitted on: 04/13/2015 by Robert Kollars

There is a heavy importance attached to the ability to work the count in MLB 15 The Show, especially if you are playing on higher difficulties. Once you graduate to All-Star and above you will notice that no longer will the pitcher groove strikes down the pipe. What you will see is a pitcher who will utilize the corners and the paint, in an effort to either strike you out, or at worst, force you to put the ball in play with less than desirable results. Not only will opposing pitchers be more selective on where they place the ball, they have no issue working outside of the strike zone in hopes you will accommodate their decision with an eager approach at the plate.

Being judicious at the plate is almost always warranted, especially if you are facing a high velocity pitcher with an excellent curve ball or off-speed pitch. The combination of the two can be terminal for an offense, and requires one to be very selective at the plate. It's easier said than done, but a must if you intend to knock the pitch out of the park.

Having a plan against hard-throwing pitchers like San Diego's Andrew Cashner or Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole, is a must. Try to understand the pitchers' mindset on the mound, and make the conscious effort to be patient and wait for your pitch. Always assume a fastball is coming, because it's easier to adjust to anything off-speed. And always know what your goal is at the plate. Are the bases loaded with one out? Is there a runner on second with no outs? Do what's best for your team, not for the box score. Be patient.

This all sounds so simple. It's Batting 101. But for some reason, it's tough to master patience in The Show. Hitting has taken a positive step towards realism in MLB 15, but that also means the difficulty has risen. We have to be patient, smart and work the hell out of that pitcher. Bring on the bullpen.

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Member Comments

# 1 BSchwartz07 @ 04/13/15 08:02 PM

I try to wait on a specific pitch in a specific spot until I get behind in the count. Either way I strike out way too much. I use pure analog, and checking your swing is impossible, also hate when you guess the correct pitch and location then the pitch is 4 feet over your head...

# 2 tril @ 04/13/15 10:12 PM

this is a perfect example of the beauty and cumbersomeness of MLB the SHOW. its easy to be patient at first, but eventually youll give in and hack away just to speed up a game or try to come back.
it usually takes me to sit ins to get in a complete 9 inning game.

# 3 tril @ 04/13/15 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tril


	this is a perfect example of the beauty and cumbersomeness of MLB the SHOW. its easy to be patient at first, but eventually youll give in and hack away just to speed up a game or try to come back. it usually takes me to sit ins to get in a complete 9 inning game.

meant to say two sit ins to get in a complete 9 inning game

# 4 Jgainsey @ 04/13/15 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSchwartz07


	I try to wait on a specific pitch in a specific spot until I get behind in the count. Either way I strike out way too much. I use pure analog, and checking your swing is impossible, also hate when you guess the correct pitch and location then the pitch is 4 feet over your head...

The checks swings with the new pure analog aren't nearly as good as they were when we were able to stride, but I've been able to adjust. I still get called for more swings than I did before, but it works good enough for me now after some practice. The entire hitting mechanic still feels like crap compared to what we had before, but whatever... I've moved on.

And while I haven't tried using any kind of guess pitch since MLB '08 or '09, I do remember that I really improved my patience and approach at the plate once I stopped using guess pitch.

Once I made the move to abandon guess pitch and rely solely on my own pitch recognition, I made huge improvements at the plate. Once the pitch recognition is there, all you need is a somewhat patient approach and the offense really opens up at the higher difficulty levels.

It all comes back to pitch recognition for me though. You have to be able pick up and lay off of borderline pitches, especially when you're ahead in the count. And it's just as important to be able to spit on breaking balls and off speed pitches that start off too low.

It takes a little extra focus, but as long as I force myself to lock in on the pitcher's motion and release point, I usually give myself a chance to have good ABs. It never fails, actually... Almost every time I catch myself flailing for an extended period of time in a game, I realize that I was getting lazy and not picking up the baseball as early as possible.

# 5 Senator Palmer @ 04/14/15 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jgainsey


	It takes a little extra focus, but as long as I force myself to lock in on the pitcher's motion and release point, I usually give myself a chance to have good ABs. It never fails, actually... Almost every time I catch myself flailing for an extended period of time in a game, I realize that I was getting lazy and not picking up the baseball as early as possible.

What's your technique for picking up the ball out of the pitcher's hand? Where are you looking before the pitch?

# 6 mlblover15 @ 04/14/15 02:31 AM

i personally just try to relax my eyes and focus on the area of his belt and just watch him twist and turn and release... i find that also with no one base or when the 2nd base umpire is behind him you can sort of focus on him as well and have a good look... but that is just me..

# 7 Battman @ 04/14/15 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jgainsey


	The checks swings with the new pure analog aren't nearly as good as they were when we were able to stride, but I've been able to adjust. I still get called for more swings than I did before, but it works good enough for me now after some practice. The entire hitting mechanic still feels like crap compared to what we had before, but whatever... I've moved on. And while I haven't tried using any kind of guess pitch since MLB '08 or '09, I do remember that I really improved my patience and approach at the plate once I stopped using guess pitch. Once I made the move to abandon guess pitch and rely solely on my own pitch recognition, I made huge improvements at the plate. Once the pitch recognition is there, all you need is a somewhat patient approach and the offense really opens up at the higher difficulty levels. It all comes back to pitch recognition for me though. You have to be able pick up and lay off of borderline pitches, especially when you're ahead in the count. And it's just as important to be able to spit on breaking balls and off speed pitches that start off too low. It takes a little extra focus, but as long as I force myself to lock in on the pitcher's motion and release point, I usually give myself a chance to have good ABs. It never fails, actually... Almost every time I catch myself flailing for an extended period of time in a game, I realize that I was getting lazy and not picking up the baseball as early as possible.

That is exactly my approach to hitting, with the same mental flaws you described

# 8 Battman @ 04/14/15 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senator Palmer


	What's your technique for picking up the ball out of the pitcher's hand? Where are you looking before the pitch?

I try to follow the ball from the beginning of the pitcher's motion til the release (and forth). If I concentrate on that (which sounds easier than it is as I tend to lose my focus, especially if I do not make enough hits) I see the brake and especially pitches outside the strike zone much better.

# 9 Jgainsey @ 04/14/15 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battman


	I try to follow the ball from the beginning of the pitcher's motion til the release (and forth). If I concentrate on that (which sounds easier than it is as I tend to lose my focus, especially if I do not make enough hits) I see the brake and especially pitches outside the strike zone much better.

Same here.

You will lose the ball behind the pitcher's head/back for a moment, but I almost always pick up the ball better that way. If I don't focus on the wind up as closely and pick up the ball for the first time next to the pitcher's head(just before release), that's when I start to get into trouble.

I find myself taking a good number of first pitches in an at bat, which is a good strategy in and of itself, but it also helps me to reset. If I know that I'm 100% not going to swing, that gives me an opportunity to fully concentrate on timing the pitcher's wind up, as well as picking up on the baseball as early as possible.

# 10 BSUFAN @ 04/14/15 08:26 AM

I am a hacker but I have walked more this year than I ever have before and I been playing the show since 2011. Either my eye seems to be better or lucky or something else but it is different to me .The pitches seem to have more movement thus more out of the strike zone at times not sure but I will take the walks. JMHO

# 11 DeJohn11 @ 04/14/15 11:27 AM

I had a wonderful at bat last night against Cueto. I play on legend with the pitch speed all the way up. Full count on Josh Harrison and kept fouling off and spoiling tough pitches. 11th pitch of the at bat drilled a run scoring double into the right center gap. Pretty good feeling. Went on to beat the Reds 6-1 for the opening day victory.

# 12 dubplate @ 04/14/15 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go Yankees


	I read a post on here a few years back, it said the best spot to look at to pick up the ball is the pitchers head, also if yoou are striking out to much or just not hitting in general, remember to not use power swing and USE CONTACT SWING WITH TWO STRIKES, that is very important if you dont want to strike out a boat load every game.

I have cut down on my strikeouts by focusing on the pitchers head as it helps me pick up the ball quicker. Now if I could only figure out how to properly time my swing this year which is becoming a real struggle.

# 13 jcar0725 @ 04/14/15 12:04 PM

It's probably all in my head, but lately with a left handed hitter I have no problem, a right handed hitter I struggle.

# 14 N51_rob @ 04/14/15 12:06 PM

Down 0-2, 1-2 in the count, you can expect a change below your knees or a slider, curve outside. Another thing is don't be afraid to go down looking. Especially on 2-2, 3-2 counts. In the long run it will give you a better understanding of the strike zone.

# 15 RogueHominid @ 04/14/15 12:31 PM

In very practical terms, I would say to be cautious in 1-1 counts. I have been overly aggressive in that count but have recently started taking the majority of 1-1 offerings, and I'm getting into much better situations as a result.

I think the CPU will often not give in unless it has to, and in this count, the CPU can give you sliders, changes, and moving FBs at the edges of the zone. I rarely see the CPU groove one on 1-1.

# 16 jcar0725 @ 04/14/15 02:34 PM

The CPU seems to adjust to what you're doing. If you swing and miss at pitches out of the zone on a 1-1 count often, they'll keep giving you junk on that 1-1 count.

And for goodness sake that "contact" swing is your friend, as I have learned, especially when you have 2 strikes.

# 17 HypoLuxa13 @ 04/14/15 02:48 PM

I think the tweaks to the pitch breaks this year make it easier to pick up breaking pitches. Especially inside/outside and high.

Low, not so much. I'm struggling mightily against pitchers who have a great over the top curveball. Not just 12-6 curves, but regular curves that have sharp downward movement. And sure, Clayton Kershaw's curve can make me feel silly, but lesser-rated pitchers are giving me trouble too if they can bury them below the knees consistentyl. I can't even count how many curves look like they are going to catch the bottom of the zone, only to end up bouncing in the dirt. Still trying to figure that out.

Hanging curves, however, are MUCH easier for me to pick up this year. If a pitcher leaves one up in the happy zone, I'm able to sit back on it and put a good swing on it.

# 18 BelfourThibault @ 04/14/15 06:03 PM

I never guess pitch or location unless I'm up 2-0 or 3-1 in the count, and then I'll sit on the pitch/location that I've guessed. If it isn't there, I'll take a strike. For me, guessing the pitch and location screws me up when it isn't there. It's just one more thing to take into account when you already have a very small window of time to make a decision to swing or look at a pitch. I kinda feel like you're taking the bat out of your own hands when you overuse that feature. But that's just me...if it works for you, great!

Side note about working the count. I don't understand the way that the point system works in RTTS. One example, out of many, comes from my last game played. In one at-bat, I hit a first pitch fastball hard into the gap for a double...12 points for an 'OK at-bat'. Next time to the plate, I had a 10-pitch at-bat which resulted in me grounding into a double play...30 points for a 'Great at-bat'. I understand the advantages of working the count and making the pitcher work, but that didn't make sense to me. If you get a hanging curve or a grooved fastball on the first pitch and make them pay for it, that should be worth more than a 10-pitch GIDP.

# 19 mosdef328 @ 04/15/15 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go Yankees


	I read a post on here a few years back, it said the best spot to look at to pick up the ball is the pitchers head, also if yoou are striking out to much or just not hitting in general, remember to not use power swing and USE CONTACT SWING WITH TWO STRIKES, that is very important if you dont want to strike out a boat load every game.

OMG I read this today at work, the part about focusing on the pitchers head... GAME CHANGER!!!! I feel so much more comfortable batting now. Thanks for mentioning this.

# 20 bravo1914 @ 04/15/15 02:11 PM

With the show you have to go up to the plate liek you are hitting in real life. THIS IS FOR ZONE HITTING First what I do is

1.I turn off guess pitch (This will not help your pure hitting skills)
2. Make sure you pick the camera for you. Not your friend camera but pick the camera that you can see the ball leave the pitcher hand the best. I use catcher classic.
3. I always take the first pitch. I just put the control down when the first pitch comes. Most of the time it will be a ball. If its wild pitch I take the second one as well. If you get a strike so be it. The only time I will take the first pitch if the pitcher is tired. You can kill the pitcher by doing this.
4. What I do is change the PCI to outline or classic. I know you guys think I am crazy but what this does this blocks your view of the strike zone. It forces you to look at the ball leave the pitcher's hand. I think the worst thing you can do is focus on the strike zone itself. In real life you dont focus on the strike zone you focus on the ball leaving the pitchers hand.

Doing all of these steps will allow you to work the count and become a better hitter.

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