Realistic sliders and settings for more casual play, and for those who are struggling

[spit_bubble]

Thought I'd post my sliders and settings. I play the game very casually, like a pick up and play game. Basically see the ball hit the ball, yet I am able to get very realistic numbers in spite of the somewhat high degree of difficulty this game has.

First off, when I say realistic numbers, this is roughly what I'm going for:

(MLB averages from the past three years, per game, per team)

4 runs
9 hits
2 2Bs
1 HR
7 Ks
3 BBs
1 E
1 SB ATT (72% success rate)
60 % strikes
140 pitches
21 pitches chased

Relevant Settings:

(for ones not listed just use your personal preference)

Hitting Difficulty- All-Star. Anything lower than All-Star makes it near impossible to get 60% strikes. Don't be intimidated by the difficulty, it just means you'll see a more realistic pitch pattern.

Hitting Interface- Timing. You can probably use another method if you prefer, and still use the sliders I have here without any detriment.

Guess Pitch- Off. I don't think this feature is entirely realistic, and it just gives you another thing to think about. If you leave this on and use one of the options that gives you a boost, you may need to tone down some of the human hitting sliders I have listed below.

Hit View- Custom. I highly recommend making use of the new custom cameras added this year, as they make a world of difference. (see this thread)

Pitching Difficulty- All-Star. Anything below All-Star it becomes way too easy to dominate with the sliders I have set up.

Pitching Interface- Classic. Yet another personal preference, though with this one if you use anything else you may need to adjust either Human Pitch Consistency or Human Pitch Control, or both.

Pitch Ball Marker- On. Shows where you are aiming for the pitch. Really though, with the way I have the sliders set up, you have to think of this as where you are calling for the pitch. So leave this on.

Pitching View- Custom. I always use a custom view based on the broadcast view of whatever stadium I'm playing in. Again, custom cameras are a great addition to this year's game, so make use of them!

Pitch Callout- Simple. This setting shows the result of a pitch after it has crossed the plate. I use simple just so I can get a reference point of where the pitch crossed the plate when I hit, because when this is set to off the pitch zooms by and can be tough to pick up.

Pitch Confidence- On. Pitch confidence if huge, as is simulates and shows how well a pitcher has a feel for a certain pitch. The game does a good job of having guys gain and lose confidence of each pitch over the course of a game. Leave this on.

API- Off. Even if you don't know much about this game of baseball I highly recommend that you call your own pitches.

Strike Zone- Off. For realism. The strike zone is only where the ump calls it.

Hot Zones- Off. I don't think these aren't done very realistically, so I keep them off.

Throw Meter- Off. This will probably save you a lot of grief. I spent a great deal of time trying to get a handle on using the throw meter, but found it way too unforgiving and unrealistic.

Throw Canceling- On. It's a good feature to leave on, in case you want or need to cancel a throw.

Fielding View Defense- Medium. I think it gives you the best view for fielding.

Catch Region Indicator- Off. For realism. One less indicator to look at.

Catch Position Indicator- On. Need to see where the ball lands.

Rob HR Indicator- On. Helps you rob HRs.

Umpire Ball and Strikes- Variable. Umpires will have their own unique strike zones. This is a cool feature. Use it.

Umpire Close Plays- On. Umps miss calls in real life. Leave this on.

Ejections- On. Ejections happen in real life. Leave this on.

The sliders:

Human Contact- 10. Makes it much easier to not only make contact, but also check your swing.

Human Power- 4. Reduces opposite field power a bit.

Human Timing- 10. Gives you a bigger window of opportunity for hitting a pitch.

Human Fouls- 10. Makes it easier to fight off tough pitches.

Human Solid Contact- 10. Makes you square pitches up more often.

Human Starter Stamina- 8. Makes it a bit easier to pitch complete games, which is difficult on default.

Human Relief Stamina- 8. Won't wear out your bullpen during a season so much.

Human Pitch Control- 4. Will give you a realistic number of strikes that the CPU can handle.

Human Pitch Consistency- 0. The only real way to get walks. The pitcher will seem really wild, so as I said above, you have to treat the pitching cursor as the spot your catcher is calling for the pitch and not where you are aiming it.

CPU Hitting Contact- 0. This will lower the CPU hitter discipline and make the CPU hitters chase pitches more realistically. It's the only way to get the CPU close to 21 pitches chased. Do not change this slider, as all the rest hinge on this one.

CPU Hitting Power- 4. Same as human.

CPU Hitting Timing- 10. With contact at zero this needs to be high.

CPU Fouls- 10. Any lower and you will rack up too many Ks.

CPU Solid Hits- 10. This also needs to be high to get the CPU a realistic number of hits.

CPU Starter Stamina- 8. Same as human.

CPU Relief Stamina- 8. Same as human.

CPU Pitch Control- 0. Will give you more pitches out over the plate.

CPU Pitch Consistency- 4. Anything lower and you will start to see too many wild pitches.

CPU Strike Frequency- 0. Helps you get close to 60% strikes. The CPU will still throw a realistic number of first pitch strikes as well.

CPU Hook- 6. CPU managers seem to pull pitchers at the right time.

CPU Pickoffs- 0. Pickoffs work too well so I leave this at zero. To make it fair I also don't take an extra step while leading off, and steal only on realistic counts.

Pitch Speed- 0. Helps you see the ball better.

Fielding Errors- 8. To help get a realistic amount of errors.

Throwing Errors- 8. To help get a realistic amount of errors.

Fielder Speed- 4. Helps hits fall in outfield.

Fielder Reaction- 2. Makes infielders more realistic, and helps grounders make it through the infield.

Fielder Arm- 4. Makes throws more realistic.

Base Runner Speed- 4. To match lowering fielder arm.

Steal Ability- 2. Way too easy to steal on default.

Steal Frequency- 8. CPU doesn't steal enough on default.

Wind- 2. Makes wind more realistic.

Injury- 0. I play with injuries off, just a personal preference.

A few tips:

-wait for good pitches to hit, pitches in the middle of the zone
-use contact swing to battle
-use power swing when you really want to drive the ball with your better hitters
-call a good game when pitching, and expect to be wild at times
-give these or any sliders and settings you use at least a few games before you start changing anything
-have fun

[COMMISSIONERHBK9]

IM Trying urs our on my franchise with the yankees. bad part is i started it against knuckle ball throwing tim wakefield who right now in the 5 inning is throwing a no hitter against us.

[spit_bubble]

Quote: Originally Posted by COMMISSIONERHBK9

IM Trying urs our on my franchise with the yankees. bad part is i started it against knuckle ball throwing tim wakefield who right now in the 5 inning is throwing a no hitter against us.

Probably not the best way to test these out. Still, same approach applies: wait for a pitch out over the plate, and just try to time it right.

[crques]

Quote: Originally Posted by spit_bubble

Probably not the best way to test these out. Still, same approach applies: wait for a pitch out over the plate, and just try to time it right.

Do you care to post a few of your game results with these sliders, such as hits, runs, homeruns, walks, and strikeouts for you and cpu? Thanks.

[spit_bubble]

Quote: Originally Posted by crques

Do you care to post a few of your game results with these sliders, such as hits, runs, homeruns, walks, and strikeouts for you and cpu? Thanks.

The games have been pretty varied for the most part. The only thing I can really say is that there have been no aberrations during the first month of a season using these. I did a fantasy draft and have the sixth best overall team, and am leading my division by a game. My pitching staff has been pretty dominant, but I have five solid starters with Lincecum leading the way, and my pitching is rated 4th overall.

Like I say though, I'm seeing a lot of variety. In fact Lincecum only has one win, and has had a few no decisions where he got knocked around a bit. My hitting has probably been under performing, but my last game I scored 11 runs on 18 hits in a blowout, including 4 HRs which were all season highs.

I don't think these sliders are perfect, but as long as I'm getting close to those MLB averages and it feels okay during a game, then I'm content with that.

[crques]

Quote: Originally Posted by spit_bubble

The games have been pretty varied for the most part. The only thing I can really say is that there have been no aberrations during the first month of a season using these. I did a fantasy draft and have the sixth best overall team, and am leading my division by a game. My pitching staff has been pretty dominant, but I have five solid starters with Lincecum leading the way, and my pitching is rated 4th overall. Like I say though, I'm seeing a lot of variety. In fact Lincecum only has one win, and has had a few no decisions where he got knocked around a bit. My hitting has probably been under performing, but my last game I scored 11 runs on 18 hits in a blowout, including 4 HRs which were all season highs. I don't think these sliders are perfect, but as long as I'm getting close to those MLB averages and it feels okay during a game, then I'm content with that.

I understand what you're saying. I'm convinced that no slider combinations out there are perfect because we all play differently and use different teams. You're always going to question this or that or find something wrong with a game or two here and there. Trust me, I've spent countless hours testing sliders on numerous games for the past 5 or 6 years, so finding a set that I'm content with takes time for me. I was just curious how stats were on a game to game basis. I was considering giving these a try, or at least some variation of them.

[spit_bubble]

I'll try to remember to post my stats from my next few games.

[spit_bubble]

Latest game:

A pitcher's duel into the 8th, Volquez (me) vs CJ Wilson (cpu) in my fanstasy draft season. I'm down 1-0 but start to rally, eventually loading the bases with 1 out. I'm going for a sac fly with McGehee but end up hitting a grand slam into the first row in left center. I go to the top of the ninth trying to close out an easy save, but end up giving up a 3-run HR to Infante tie it, to pretty much the exact same spot where I hit mine. Bottom of the ninth I load the bases again, this time with two outs, and hit a little dribbler with McGehee up the middle to win.

Needless to say, McGehee was player of the game.

Stats:

human/cpu

runs- 5/4
hits- 10/6
2Bs- 1/3
HRs- 1/1

Ks thrown- 9/7
BBs given up- 3/4

Errors- 0/1
SB att- 1/0

Strike%- 60/60
pitches thrown- 149/167
pitches chased by hitters- 24/13

That last number, pitches chased, is usually 20-30 by me and only 10-20 by the cpu. I think that's mainly because I do in fact play the game very casually and don't want to invest a lot of concentration, and so I have a tendency to chase pitches.

Also, when you're not using guess pitch and just relying on see the ball hit the ball it can be kind of tough to pick up pitches, so that probably contributes to my high number of pitches chased as well.