Mike Lowe MLB Show '16 Sliders

[Mike Lowe]

Version 7.7 (2-28-17)

Welcome
Thanks for checking out my sliders for MLB The Show 16! This is my second season working on sliders for this game, with last year being the first year I finished a full 162 game season.

Goals of this set (approximates, and won't be every single game):
Backup/Sim/Resim to limit AI complete games and shutouts
60% first pitch strikes
62% ball:strike ratio, but 65-68% for higher-end pitchers
15% foul balls per total pitches
21% swings and misses per total number of swings (misses plus strikeouts)
HBP should fall in-line with simulated games
Depending on repertoire, varied flyball to groundball ratios
The rest of your statistical accuracy will come from these. Simple.

*****I stream nearly every game of my franchise, and you can see my results, box scores, etc at the end of each game. The link can be found in my signature.*****

I've been playing the show since the game first came out, and I'd say I'm a good player, having once been ranked in the Top 100 in Diamond Dynasty (no longer play that mode). Most importantly, I love baseball and am always looking for ways to make The Show as realistic as possible, even if that means I don't win the division every year. I hope you find some value in these sliders and if not, be sure and check out some of the others on OS.

***Lastly, make sure you spend more time playing the game than exploring the sliders forum!***

Nutshell Version
This set is based on accurate first pitch strikes, ball to strike ratios, foul ball %, swinging miss %, and groundball to flyball ratios. This is also the only slider I set I've seen that will give you accurate HBP totals for played games.

Detailed Version
These sliders are designed for folks who've found they're in need of a more challenging set when compared to the more popular slider sets out there for MLB The Show. I was using some of those sliders before myself, but they became far too easy to dominate and win.

Regardless of which slider set you choose, it's important for you the gamer to take ownership of YOUR sliders and move beyond slider dependency/slideritis, and learn how to comfortably tweak them without feeling as though the sky is falling.

Dymanic difficult is a brilliant idea, but it's too simplified--instead, take up the challenge to dynamically adjust your OWN difficult (sliders/settings) as you go. I'm not a fan of "final" or "locked" sliders because you should always be evaluating and tweaking to adjust to your improved gameplay during the season; you're going to be better on game 162 than you are in game 1, period.

At the same time, this game is clean and balanced enough that you don't need to restart over and over just because you bumped a few sliders up or down. Just play and continually check yourself against the league stats and rankings.

The game plays great out of the box, and variety AND oddities are a part of baseball; over the course of 162 games, it will level itself out just fine, and the cream will rise to the top. Don't worry if you're not the cream every season.

Use these sliders as a base and tweak, because we ALL play differently and have our own unique skill set. You don't need to wait to start a franchise to use these sliders, you don't need to start anything over, and you can tweak during your season as you won't be seeing anything out of the realm of possibility, and certainly nothing that won't stand the test of time over 162 games.

*****Staying locked into a bad slider set for 162 games is the only thing that will skew your results one way or another, so don't do that!*****

GAMEPLAY OPTIONS
If you'd like, share your box scores here

BATTING & BASERUNNING
Hitting Difficulty - Hall of Fame
Hitting Interface - Directional or Zone
Input Type - Buttons
Plate Coverage Indicator - Off
PCI Appearance - Wedge (for Zone)
Camera Shift - Off
Hitting View – The Show 15 (gives most realistic 66' 6" view from mound)
In-Play View Offense - Dynamic
Ball Trail - Off
Guess Pitch - Off
Baserunning Decisions - Assist
Baserunning Interface - Default
Sliding Decisions - Assist
Runner Windows - On or Off

PITCHING
Pitching Difficulty - Hall of Fame
Pitching Interface - Meter (classic and pulse will work fine as well, so long as you're evaluating your performance)
Pitching View – Outfield
Pitching Ball Marker - *Off*
Pitch Confidence - On
Pitch Delay - Normal
API - Default

FIELDING
Throwing Interface - Buttons
Throwing Meter - Off
Throwing Difficulty - Hall of Fame (ignored, but just in case!)
Fielding Decision - Auto or Assist (manual fielding)
Throwing Decision - On or Off (manual fielding)
In-Play View Defense - Dynamic
Throw Cancelling - On
One Button Dive/Jump - Off
Catch Position Indicator - On
Defensive Shift - Manual

GENERAL
Strike Zone - Off
Hot Zones - Preview
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 Accuracy - Personalized
Umpire Close Plays - Off (to simulate instant replay)
Check Swing Appeals - On
Injuries - On
Ejections - On
Vibration - Off
Game Log Order - Default

Presentation, Audio, & Mode-Specific Options
All user choice

HOUSE RULES (Optional)
*Don't feel you must use 30 team control. Live with the fact that the league lives, breathes on its own. If you think the trades are strange, go and review previous MLB regular seasons transactions.
*Manager contracts - On
*Do not activate any sponsors--the AI teams do not have this advantage.
*If you want the artist rendition bio pictures, start your franchise with a fantasy draft, then back out of it before the first selection is made. Rosters will still be intact.
*Do not "visit mound" at the very start of an inning.
*No going back to the bag on a steal attempt.
*Assume the AI teams only want to deal primarily from their trade block. Don't abuse the shop player feature.
*No changing of staff until the offseason unless AI team doesso first.

SLIDERS
Dynamic Difficulty Sensitivity - 5 (ignored)
Human Contact - 5
Human Power - 5 (3 zone)
Human Timing - 6 (3 zone)
Human Foul Frequency - 3 (5 zone)
Human Solid Hits - 5 (6 zone)
Human Starter Stamina - 5 (sim at 0 or 1)
Human Reliever Stamina - 5 (sim at 0)
Human Pitch Control - 4
Human Pitcher Consistency - 0
CPU Contact - 4
CPU Power - 5
CPU Timing - 0
CPU Foul Frequency - 0
CPU Solid Hits - 6
CPU Starter Stamina - 5 (sim at 0 or 1)
CPU Reliever Stamina - 5 (sim at 0)
CPU Pitcher Control - 5
CPU Pitcher Consistency - 1
CPU Strike Frequency - 5
CPU Manager Hook - 8
CPU Pickoffs - 9
Fastball Pitch Speed - 5 (accurate pull hitters)
Offspeed Pitch Speed - 5 (accurate pull hitters)
Fielding Errors Infield - 6
Fielding Errors Outfield - 3
Throwing Errors Infield - 4
Throwing Errors Outfield - 4
Fielder Run Speed – 4
Fielder Reaction - 8
Fielder Arm Strength Infield - 3
Fielder Arm Strength Outfield - 3
Baserunner Speed - 3
Baserunner Steal Ability - 5
Baserunner Steal Frequency - 5
Wind - 5
Injury Frequency - 8 (based off MLB % comparison)
Trade Frequency - 5 (see post 2 below)

[Mike Lowe]

Here is a quick intro video to my franchise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7NtgZkq-Zw

Regardless of whether you use 30 team control, I'd recommend setting the trade slider to:

1 for April
3 for May
4 for June
5 for July 1-29
10 for July 30-31
5 for non-waiver trades set (past July 31)
4 for offseason

[GWPump23]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

*****Work in progress***** Test Season Feedback: Trades (default sliders) There are a total of 44 trades: April had 4 May had 12 June had 10 July had 16 August had 2 (non-waiver) Between July 30 and 31st, there was only one trade. Regardless of whether you use 30 team control, I'd recommend setting the trade slider to: 1 for April 3 for May 4 for June 5 for July 1-29 10 for July 20-31 5 for non-waiver trades set (past July 31) 4 for offseason

Slider set 4-5 days before release, nice!

Looking forward to following your progress, box scores & live streaming

-GW-

[Mike Lowe]

Thanks, man. Pitch speed is definitely slower this year. Injuries slightly less in the test sims I've done.

I made adjustments for those already.

Trade slider, see post 2.

We're going to still have issues w too many complete games and shutouts--no combination I tried made much of a difference.

We should see about 10 or so pitchers who've thrown 3 or more complete games in a season, but test sims are showing between 30-40 no matter the slider combination. Same as last year.

This has me worried for in-game bullpen AI, but I'll reserve judgment for now.

[2019]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

Thanks, man. Pitch speed is definitely slower this year. Injuries slightly less in the test sims I've done. I made adjustments for those already. Trade slider, see post 2. We're going to still have issues w too many complete games and shutouts--no combination I tried made much of a difference. We should see about 10 or so pitchers who've thrown 3 or more complete games in a season, but test sims are showing between 30-40 no matter the slider combination. Same as last year. This has me worried for in-game bullpen AI, but I'll reserve judgment for now.

great work so far. to prevent CG/SHO issues, we need to enter each game game and sim to the 9th inning and remove SP as needed.

[Mike Lowe]

Quote: Originally Posted by 2019

great work so far. to prevent CG/SHO issues, we need to enter each game game and sim to the 9th inning and remove SP as needed.

Man, not even I care that much haha

[RyanLaFalce]

I'm gonna test these sliders out on All-Star first, and I always turn pitch speed all the way up.

I'm gonna start with a D-Backs postseason mode.

Edit: Also, are these in the vault?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mike Lowe]

Vault is not live yet.