TWO GLARING ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE PATCHED!!

[itbeme23]

I've been playing this game consistently since I got it at midnight on Tuesday. I've played between 10-15 games, so I think I've developed enough of a sample size in order to make this determination.

With the help of another forum member (Blazzen), I feel that we've come up with a solid base set of sliders in order to get this baseball season started. IMHO, everything seems to be playing realistically, at least for a base set. However, there are two very huge issues that I think need to be patched, whenever 2K decides to do so. One of them has the potential to be a GAME KILLER.

1) CPU Pitcher Fatigue - I had Roy Halladay throw a 149 pitch complete game on me yesterday. Granted, he's arguably the best pitcher in the game today, but in all the research that I've done, the most pitches he's thrown in one game is 130. This caused me to raise the Pitcher Fatigue slider to 70. It helped to a certain extent, but then I saw pitchers getting tired in the 4th inning. So, I finally settled on 65, and I've played my last five games using this setting. At first, I thought it was helping, but as the CPU begins to tire in the 4th and 5th innings after throwing 80-85 pitches, they all of a sudden are rejuvinated in the 6th because their stamina rating jumps! In effect, I've been seeing mediocre pitchers consistently go into the 7th and 8th innings after throwing over 100 pitches. Something has got to give there.

2) USER PITCH COUNTS/A.I. AGGRESSIVENESS AT THE PLATE!!!!
IMO, this is the issue that has the potential to be a game-killer. Again, I've played nearly 15 games using different types of Human Pitching sliders, and NOTHING has helped with this. I even went with the default Legend Pitching sliders, and it still didn't do anything. The last game that I played was Dodgers (ME) vs. Mets. Everything was great in that game as far as scores, hits, and CPU Pitching (except for the previously-mentioned fatigue issue), but I couldn't feel that great about it because of one thing: PITCH COUNT. Through six full innings, Clayton Kershaw threw 59 pitches. To me, that is unacceptable in a baseball sim. I know Kershaw is a great pitcher, and I'm a HUGE Dodger fan, but I also know that he is notorious for his high pitch count, which is why he hasn't usually pitched passed the 5th inning the past couple of years. The CPU doesn't work the count nearly as much as they should, and it's becoming increasingly apparent the more games I play. If I had to estimate, the CPU is seeing between 2-3 pitches per at-bat, which completely goes against the entire "Battle at the Plate" concept that 2K has pushed this whole time. It is a great idea in PRINCIPLE, but you can't have a battle at the plate if the CPU isn't taking pitches or even fouling them off. Period.

The reason I say this is a game killer is because this issue is a carryover from last year's game. I had this very same issue from the moment I bought 2K9 all the way until I traded it in a couple of months later, and that was WITH a patch.

I'm curious to see if anybody else has experience these issues, particualarly the second. I've seen the fatigue issue mentioned in other threads, so hopefully 2K will fix that.

Cheers.

[crumpled_heap]

also you can't make your pinch hitter stay in the game

[Picci]

Quote: Originally Posted by itbeme23

I've been playing this game consistently since I got it at midnight on Tuesday. I've played between 10-15 games, so I think I've developed enough of a sample size in order to make this determination. With the help of another forum member (Blazzen), I feel that we've come up with a solid base set of sliders in order to get this baseball season started. IMHO, everything seems to be playing realistically, at least for a base set. However, there are two very huge issues that I think need to be patched, whenever 2K decides to do so. One of them has the potential to be a GAME KILLER. 1) CPU Pitcher Fatigue - I had Roy Halladay throw a 149 pitch complete game on me yesterday. Granted, he's arguably the best pitcher in the game today, but in all the research that I've done, the most pitches he's thrown in one game is 130. This caused me to raise the Pitcher Fatigue slider to 70. It helped to a certain extent, but then I saw pitchers getting tired in the 4th inning. So, I finally settled on 65, and I've played my last five games using this setting. At first, I thought it was helping, but as the CPU begins to tire in the 4th and 5th innings after throwing 80-85 pitches, they all of a sudden are rejuvinated in the 6th because their stamina rating jumps! In effect, I've been seeing mediocre pitchers consistently go into the 7th and 8th innings after throwing over 100 pitches. Something has got to give there. 2) USER PITCH COUNTS/A.I. AGGRESSIVENESS AT THE PLATE!!!! IMO, this is the issue that has the potential to be a game-killer. Again, I've played nearly 15 games using different types of Human Pitching sliders, and NOTHING has helped with this. I even went with the default Legend Pitching sliders, and it still didn't do anything. The last game that I played was Dodgers (ME) vs. Mets. Everything was great in that game as far as scores, hits, and CPU Pitching (except for the previously-mentioned fatigue issue), but I couldn't feel that great about it because of one thing: PITCH COUNT. Through six full innings, Clayton Kershaw threw 59 pitches. To me, that is unacceptable in a baseball sim. I know Kershaw is a great pitcher, and I'm a HUGE Dodger fan, but I also know that he is notorious for his high pitch count, which is why he hasn't usually pitched passed the 5th inning the past couple of years. The CPU doesn't work the count nearly as much as they should, and it's becoming increasingly apparent the more games I play. If I had to estimate, the CPU is seeing between 2-3 pitches per at-bat, which completely goes against the entire "Battle at the Plate" concept that 2K has pushed this whole time. It is a great idea in PRINCIPLE, but you can't have a battle at the plate if the CPU isn't taking pitches or even fouling them off. Period. The reason I say this is a game killer is because this issue is a carryover from last year's game. I had this very same issue from the moment I bought 2K9 all the way until I traded it in a couple of months later, and that was WITH a patch. I'm curious to see if anybody else has experience these issues, particualarly the second. I've seen the fatigue issue mentioned in other threads, so hopefully 2K will fix that. Cheers.

I agree with you.......I can live with all the other ailments but these 2 issues are serious. You can also add that there isn't also enough errors in the game too. I've seen 1 error in 15 games played so far which is also killing it for me.

[jeffy777]

The first issue is definitely a problem.

The second one, I'm not really seeing it. Check this thread:
http://www.operationsports.com/forum...g-strikes.html

[tril]

on default I haven't noticed this yet.

pitch counts are high for the cpu because Im patient at the plate. teh CPU throws enough balls, and enough pitches are fouled off to keep the numbers honest.

the only time the number drops is when I start hacking at the plate. This usually happens when Im either down by a few runs or when I havent gotten a hit in 3-4 innings.

this is all human nature, not AI logic.

the 4/5 starters have been pulled on average in the 6th inning. 1-3 starters varies alot.

I play on pro and havent adjusted any sliders yet. getting good games so far. Im also playing my exhibition/preseason games now of my franchise.

[Bob Digital]

Quote: Originally Posted by tril

on default I haven't noticed this yet. pitch counts are high for the cpu because Im patient at the plate. teh CPU throws enough balls, and enough pitches are fouled off to keep the numbers honest. the only time the number drops is when I start hacking at the plate. This usually happens when Im either down by a few runs or when I havent gotten a hit in 3-4 innings. this is all human nature, not AI logic.

I don't think he could've been any more clear when he said, " 2) USER PITCH COUNTS/A.I. AGGRESSIVENESS AT THE PLATE!!!! "

He's sayin' the AI batters are too aggressive. You're talkin' about the opposite.

[Blazzen]

I agree on both points.

1) CPU seems to stick with starters a little bit too long, but then again if you put up some runs on them they will pull them. The 140 pitch complete game is really odd. I'm thinking somewhere around 60 will be a good number to use for pitcher fatigue. In the olden days it wasn't uncommon for a pitcher to throw 150 pitches in one game but in today's game most guys are out after 100ish pitches. I did have Johan Santana pitch into the 10th inning on me with a default 50 for pitcher fatigue but I haven't had any issues with cpu pitcher fatigue after raising it to 60 or 65. The only issue now is user pitchers tiring too quickly. I think 60 will end up being a happy medium setting for pitcher fatigue.

2) The user pitch count is a problem. I think more CPU foul balls would help to be honest. The user can run up the CPU pitch count by using defensive swing and fouling pitches off but I haven't seen the CPU do this very often.

The way a user pitches will effect this too. If you find the cpu is swinging a lot early in the count, DONT THROW STRIKES. You will not only increase your pitch count but you will be more successful when they swing at junk. Sliders and coding changes can only help this so much. If you are throwing a lot of stirkes or a lot of first pitch fastballs for strikes (I had to break this habit myself) then you will have this issue.

I did have a game last night with Tommy Hanson where I walked 5 batters in 4 innings and threw about 95 pitches with Hanson. 2 of those walks were non-intentional, intentional walks where I pitched around the 8th slot hitter, but several other walks were not intentional and I even walked in a run when the friggin pitcher was batting. If you need help making yourself have to nibble a bit more, raise the CPU contact/power sliders to make them better hitters and you'll find yourself keeping away from the plate more often.

[GOBLUE_08]

The ai agressivness at the plate is the same issue from last year where 2k screwed up the inside edge and gave everybody like a D walk rating. I haven't payed much attention to inside edge yet this year but that could be the issue. What I have noticed though is if your not mixing up your pitches and throwing balls the the cpu is gonna hack. I'm playing on pc and I have definitely noticed the cpu taking plenty of walks.