Itbeme23 Sliders - Vet Hitting/A.S. Classic Pitching Emphasis on Accurate Strike %
Hey Everybody,
It's that time of year again.....SHOW TIME!
For those of you that have used my sets in the past, you can expect the same from me this year, so while I'll TRY not to get novel-writer in this post, I make no promises. Ha.
As in years past, my sliders will always START with obtaining accurate FIRST PITCH & OVERALL STRIKE PERCENTAGES. Once I find the slider sweet spot for those percentages, then I start working on my hitting sliders. I will say that I've been pretty fortunate when it comes to Veteran hitting and accurate strike percentages for the past couple of years. I was able to find the right slider combination relatively quickly, and I am encouraged by the results. This has allowed me to hone in the hitting sliders, as well as observing different things like infielder reaction/outfielder speed, etc.
These sliders will be using the Veteran Timing Hitting and All-Star Classic Pitching interfaces. Simply put, these are the interfaces that allow for player ratings to have the most affect on the game. I've been a Classic Pitching convert for a few years now, and I can't imagine playing the game any other way.
Slider Key:
Green: SLIDER CONSIDERED FINAL. WILL NOT BE CHANGED UNLESS STATS DICTATE OTHERWISE. Red: Slider still a work in progress. Blue: No definitive observations/not actively testing. Black: Default/No changes needed.
User Settings:
Batting & Baserunning
Hitting Difficulty: Veteran
Hitting Interface: Directional (Formerly Timing)
Input Type: Buttons
PCI: Off
Hitting View: Catcher (User Preference)
In-Play View Offense: Broadcast (User Preference)
Guess Pitch: Off
Baserunning Decisions: Auto (User Preference)
Baserunning Interface: Default
Sliding Decisions: On (User Preference)
Runner Windows: On (User Preference)
Throwing Interface: Pure Analog (User Preference)
Throwing Meter: Off (This allows for the fielder ratings to determine the outcome of the play.)
Fielding Decision: Auto (User Preference)
Throwing Decision: Off
In-Play View Defense: Broadcast
Throw Canceling: On
One Button Dive/Jump: Off
Catch Position Indicator: Off
Defensive Shift: Auto
General:
Strike Zone: Off
Hot Zones: Off
Warm Up Pitchers: On
Tutorial Tips: Off
Post Game Auto Save: Off
Scorebar Display: On
Pitch Select Display: On
Swing/Pitch Info: On
Balks: On
Umpire Balls and Strikes: Variable
Umpire Close Plays: On
Check Swing Appeals: On
Injuries: On
Ejections: On
Vibration: On
Game Log Order: Default
ORIGINAL SET - 3.30.2015
Spoiler
ORIGINAL SET - 3.30.2015
Sliders:
Human:
Contact: 3
- This slider mainly controls user hit totals, and just as importantly, user strikeouts. This slider was lowered to achieve realistic user strikeout totals per game. The results will vary based on personal skill and plate discipline, but you should see between 6-10 strikeouts on AVERAGE. Personally, I average 6-7 strikeouts per game, and I consider myself to be an above-average hitter with good plate discipline. Normally, I would consider raising the Solid Hits slider in order to compensate for the drop in contact, but up to this point, I do not feel it has been warranted based on my testing.
- Simply put, pitchers were staying in the game too long, and not tiring at a realistic rate. This was an issue in last year’s game as well. It only takes one and two clicks to solve the issue for starters and relievers, respectively. Starters will normally begin to tire around 90 pitches, with aces being able to stretch out a bit further, and lower-tier starters beginning to tire at around 85 pitches. Relievers will be allowed to go 2 innings if needed (around 30 pitches), and if they’re on a roll with their confidence high, they may be left in longer.
Pitcher Control: 2
Pitcher Consistency: 2
- I used this slider combination last season, and I haven’t found a reason to deviate from it again this year. For the first few test games, I was using Control and Consistency at 5/5 & 4/4; however, I was seeing unrealistic overall and first pitch strike percentages, as well as a lack of walks being issued. At 2/2, I feel like I’m getting the challenge that I want, as well as realistic pitching stats, particularly walks. I was also getting decent stats with these sliders set at 3/3, but I wasn’t overly happy with the walk totals. Feel free to use that combo if you feel 2/2 is too difficult or not for you.
CPU:
Contact: 3
- Due to the low control and consistency settings for Human pitchers, the CPU is overly aggressive at the plate (similar issue last year). Lowering the CPU contact prevents the frequency of 1 or 2 pitch outs, as it allows the CPU to work the count more often, which also results in more realistic Human pitch counts. Just like the Human side, this slider also directly affects CPU strikeout totals, which have been the same or slightly higher than the user, based on my testing up to this point.
Power: 5
Timing: 5
Foul Frequency: 6
- This slider was raised in order to compensate for the drop in CPU Contact. This keeps the CPU strikeouts at a realistic clip, as it allows for more battles at the plate (occasional 10 pitch at-bat), instead of the CPU always swinging and missing. This also has an affect on user pitch counts, as the CPU is able to work the count and get deeper into the at-bat, which will keep user pitch counts at a realistic rate.
Solid Hits: 7
- This slider was also raised to compensate for the drop in CPU Contact. In my opinion, this is the main slider that affects hitting and batting average, not Contact. This is the slider that will affect the CPU’s ability to hit, and it also allows for hit VARIETY. While Contact will inevitably affect the amount of hits per game over a period of time, finding the sweet spot for Solid Hits is what will provide the most realistic hitting results in the short-term (per game basis) and long-term (franchise mode).
- This is always my starting point when I create a slider set. All of the rest of my sliders circle around one thing….strike percentages. These are the same settings that I’ve used for the last two seasons, and I still haven’t found a reason to deviate from them. While these settings might be head-scratchers for any other difficulty level in the game, they are about as close to perfect as it gets when it comes to Veteran level….at least that’s been MY experience. I will post stats/boxscores of my test games to show the results of what I’ve been seeing. I have absolutely NO plans to change these settings at all.
Manager Hook: 4
- I noticed in a few of my games the manager pulling starters a little earlier than I felt that they should. Even at 4, the CPU will occasionally make a bone-headed managerial decision, but it looks to be improved from default. More testing will be needed to confirm.
Pickoffs: 5
- I haven’t tested this extensively just yet, but just based off of early observations, it seems like the CPU attempts pickoffs nearly EVERY TIME you take a one step lead. It doesn’t seem to matter who’s running the bases, they always seem to throw over. I feel like this will need to be lowered, but more testing will be needed to confirm.
- I realize this is a big deal for a lot of people. I’ve read through several threads over the years about CPU outfielders getting to EVERYTHING. Based on my observations, the CPU outfielder speed was definitely tuned down at default….almost to a fault (no pun intended). I watched several replays where the outfielder literally looked like he was running through quicksand, and it just led to some really ugly animations. I’ve raised the slider by one click, and it seems like it’s led to some improvement. Outfielders make the plays that they should, without making “superman” plays. Extra base hits still seem to be happening at a realistic clip. However, I think the animation issues may need to be addressed in a patch.
Fielder Reaction: 6
- Personally, I didn’t feel like the infielders were reacting the way they should be. Most routine plays looked good, but there were those occasional “in-between” plays….not the routine plays, and not the extraordinary plays, but the plays were you say, “Oh yeah, that’s a tough play but Tulo or Andrelton Simmons would make that play”. I just felt like there were several plays that you would expect big league infielders to make that weren’t being made. I saw too many balls going through holes that would/should normally be outs, hence the change.
Fielder Arm Strength Infield: 4
- I’ve seen some really funky throwing animations on a few plays throughout my test games up to this point, so I decided to lower it by one click. Routine plays are still being made, and I haven’t seen a reason to change it from this setting yet. More testing needed.
Fielder Arm Strength Outfield: 4
- I’ve definitely seem some “rocket arm” cases in this year’s game. Case in point, I’ve seen right fielders throw out baserunners going to 2nd, not once, but THREE TIMES. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in a real-life MLB game…at least not to my immediate recollection. I know Puig has a cannon for an arm, but the fact that I was able to throw out two base runners at 2nd twice in the same game, just felt kind of cheap. More testing needed.
Baserunner Speed: 5
- I haven’t decided on this yet, but there appears to be a weird running animation happening, especially when hitters are running to first base. It’s almost like the runner gets stuck in between steps and glides towards first base. I don’t know if this is a slider issue, or something that will need to be addressed in a patch. Definitely something to keep an eye on for sure.
Baserunner Steal Ability: 5
Baserunner Steal Frequency: 5
Wind: 5 (Seriously, does this slider even work?)
Injury Frequency: 8
- I set this at 7 right out of the box, and even now that I’ve bumped it up to 8, I still have yet to see an injury. More testing needed.
Re: Itbeme23 Sliders - Vet Hitting/A.S. Classic Pitching Emphasis on Accurate Strike
STATS FROM TESTING PHASE
Guys,
These stats will be broken down in three different categories: Offense, Pitching, and Fielding. Keep in mind, the focus of these stats will be mostly on offense and pitching (especially strike percentages), with Errors being the main stat in the fielding category.
Thanks again for all your help with testing and feedback. I can't say enough how much all of your input has meant to this set.
All of the stats posted are based on a 24 game sample unless otherwise noted.
Here we go.....
Offense:
IN-GAME vs. DODGERS 2014 vs. MLB 2014
Runs - User:
Total Runs Scored = 95
Average Runs Per Game = 3.96
Average Runs per Game - DODGERS 2014 = 4.43
Average Runs Per Game - MLB 2014 = 4.06
Runs - CPU: Total Runs Scored = 99
Average Runs Per Game = 4.13
Average Runs Scored - MLB 2014 = 4.06
Hits - User:
Total Hits = 205
Average Hits Per Game = 8.54
Average Hits Per Game - DODGERS 2014 = 9.10
Average Hits Per Game - MLB 2014 = 8.56
Hits - CPU:
Total Hits = 200
Average Hits Per Game = 8.33
Average Hits Per Game - MLB 2014 = 8.56
At-Bats - User:
Total At-Bats (22 Game Sample) = 748
Average At-Bats Per Game = 34
Average At-Bats Per Game - DODGERS 2014 = 34.32
Average At - Bats Per Game - MLB 2014 = 34.07
At-Bats - CPU:
Total At-Bats (22 Game Sample) = 733
Average At-Bats Per Game = 33.32
Average At - Bats Per Game - MLB 2014 = 34.07
Strikeouts - User
Total Strikeouts = 175
Average Strikeouts Per Game = 7.29
Average Strikeouts Per Game - DODGERS 2014 = 7.69
Average Strikeouts Per Game - MLB 2014 = 7.70
Strikeouts - CPU
Total Strikeouts = 195
Average Strikeouts Per Game = 8.13
Average Strikeouts Per Game - MLB 2014 = 7.70
Walks - User:
Total Walks = 50
Average Walks Per Game = 2.08
Average Walks Per Game - DODGERS 2014 = 3.20
Average Walks Per Game - MLB 2014 = 2.88
Walks - CPU
Total Walks = 45
Average Walks Per Game = 1.88
Average Walks Per Game - MLB 2014 = 2.88
Doubles - User:
Total 2B: 45
Average 2B Per Game: 1.88
Average 2B Per Game - DODGERS 2014 = 1.86
Average 2B Per Game - MLB 2014 = 1.67
Doubles - CPU:
Total 2B: 37
Average 2B Per Game: 1.54
Average 2B Per Game - MLB 2014 = 1.67
Triples - User:
Total 3B = 3
Average 3B Per Game = 0.13
Average 3B Per Game - DODGERS 2014 = 0.23
Average 3B Per Game - MLB 2014 = 0.17
Triples - CPU:
Total 3B = 4
Average 3B Per Game = 0.17
Average 3B Per Game - MLB 2014 = 0.17
Home Runs - User:
Total Home Runs = 18
Average Home Runs Per Game = 0.75
Average Home Runs Per Game - DODGERS 2014 = 0.83
Average Home Runs Per Game - MLB 2014 = 0.86
Home Runs - CPU:
Total Home Runs = 26
Average Home Runs Per Game = 1.08
Average Home Runs Per Game - MLB 2014 = 0.86
Batting Average - User (22 Game Sample):
186 Hits/748 At-Bats = .249
Batting Average - DODGERS 2014 =.265
Batting Average - MLB 2014 = .251
Batting Average - CPU (22 Game Sample):
187 Hits/733 At-Bats = .255
Batting Average Against - DODGERS 2014 = .242
Batting Average - MLB 2014 = .251
Re: Itbeme23 Sliders - Vet Hitting/A.S. Classic Pitching Emphasis on Accurate Strike
I will post my stats from the last six games, as those have been the games that I've used the roughly the same sliders as what is being used in the test set (give or take a couple clicks here and there).
Game 1
ANA: 5 10 0
LAD: 7 12 1
Win: P. Rodriguez
Loss: H. Street
Starting Pitching:
M. Shoemaker: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 92 Pitches, 64 Strikes, 28 Balls, 70% Overall Strikes, 58% First Pitch Strikes
B. McCarthy: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 85 Pitches, 62 Strikes, 23 Balls, 73% Overall Strikes, 77% First Pitch Strikes
03-30-2015, 02:25 PM
