Mike Lowe MLB The Show '18 Sliders

[Mike Lowe]

Version 1.45 (5-6-18)
Patch 1.12
The official sliders for OSFM rosters
The top-rated slider set for franchise mode

FAQs

• Yes, I believe these will work fine on other difficult levels and whatever hitting/pitching/fielding settings you prefer.
• Yes, these are up in the vault. Search for OSFM Mike Lowe.
• I use zone hitting on Legend, but with the cursor off. Just try it
• I do move my cursor around, but also keep a simple gameplan in place for each at bat/situation, and try not to over-complicate my ABs.
• I pitch on Legend, and pitch for the edges to look to get the AI to chase, so walks and Ks will happen.
• I try to not throw wild pitches with runners on base as the catchers in this game still aren't great at blocking.
• Yes, the AI will throw some beanballs, but your HBP will be in-line with the rest of the simulated games.
• I use auto-fielding for the added animations (and better defensive plays) that you simply will not see on manual fielding.

Important

• You will get accurate sim stats too IF you follow the suggestions below, AND IF you revert after a save/sim anytime you see your league totals for complete games going above a total of 10 per month (about 60 total for the entire season)
• Before simming any AI games, scroll through the other teams to ensure they do not have any pitcher in their LRP role. Only a day-to-day injured player not on the DL should appear here.

Introduction

Thanks for checking out my sliders for MLB The Show '18! This is my fourth season working on sliders for this game, which includes two of those seasons being a full 162 games where all games and all pitches were played.

I've been involved in game development as a freelance hobby, most recently as a beta tester for Out of the Park Baseball, and I'm heavily focused on details and accuracy of simulation, striving to have a slider set that matches modern MLB output, but also across the simulated game spectrum.

Goals of this Set (approximates, and won't be every single game)

• 60% first pitch strikes
• 62% ball:strike ratio, but 65-68% for higher-end pitchers
• .300 team BABIP (BABIP calculator)
• 15-18% foul balls per total pitches
• 21% swings and misses per total number of swings (misses plus strikeouts)
• HRs right around 1 per game, per team, maybe a tick above. (1.1-1.2)
• 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 this output.

*****I stream some games from my franchise, and you can see my results, box scores, etc during those streams. MikeLowe47 on YouTube*****

I've been playing the show since the game first came out, and I'd say I'm a pretty good player. 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 Explanation

This set is based on accurate first pitch strikes, ball to strike ratios, BABIP, foul ball %, swinging miss %, HR ratios, 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 Explanation

These sliders are designed for folks who've found they're in need of a more challenging and realistic set for MLB The Show.

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, and keep sample size in mind.

The game plays well 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 sets. 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 - Legend

Hitting Interface - Zone

Input Type - Buttons

Plate Coverage Indicator - Off

PCI Appearance - Wedge

Camera Shift - Off

Hitting View – The Show 15 (gives most realistic 60' 6" view from mound)

In-Play View Offense - Broadcast

Ball Trail - Off

Guess Pitch - Off

Baserunning Decisions - Assist

Baserunning Interface - Default

Sliding Decisions - Assist

Runner Windows - On

PITCHING

Pitching Difficulty - Legend

Pitching Interface - Meter

Pitch Feedback - On

Pitching View – Broadcast or Outfield

Pitching Ball Marker - Off

Pitch Confidence - On

Pitch Delay - Normal

API - Default

FIELDING

Throwing Interface - Buttons

Throwing Meter - No Feedback

Throwing Difficulty - Legend

Fielding Decision - Auto or Assist (assist is manual fielding)

Throwing Decision - On (or off for manual fielding)

In-Play View Defense - Broadcast (or Medium for manual fielding)

Throw Cancelling - On

One Button Dive/Jump - Off

Catch Position Indicator - On (it's hidden on Auto Fielding)

Defensive Shift - Auto (but adjust yourself too if need be. Auto just helps save time.)

GENERAL

Strike Zone - Off

Hot Zones - Always Preview

Warm Up Pitchers - On or Off

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)

• I would turn the strike ratio down to 0 when facing a knuckleballer.
• *Manager contracts - On
• Do not activate any sponsors--the AI teams still do not have this advantage.
• If you want the artist-rendition bio pictures, start your franchise with a fantasy draft, and 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. (wish they would block this in DD)
• Assume the AI teams only want to deal primarily from their trade block, and don't abuse the shop player feature.
• No changing of staff until the offseason unless AI team does so first.

SLIDERS

Dynamic Difficulty - 5 (ignored)

Human Contact - 5

Human Power - 5

Human Timing - 2 (+1)

Human Foul Frequency - 3

Human Solid Hits - 3

Human Starter Stamina - 5

Human Reliever Stamina - 5

Human Pitch Control - 2 (+2)

Human Pitcher Consistency - 1

CPU Contact - 4

CPU Power - 5

CPU Timing - 0

CPU Foul Frequency - 0

CPU Solid Hits - 1 (-1)

CPU Starter Stamina - 5 (sim at 9)

CPU Reliever Stamina - 5 (sim at 0)

CPU Pitcher Control - 5

CPU Pitcher Consistency - 6

CPU Strike Frequency - 4

CPU Manager Hook - 2 (once AI goes to bullpen, change to 9, and sim at 7)

CPU Pickoffs - 8

Fastball Pitch Speed - 5

Offspeed Pitch Speed - 5

Fielding Errors Infield - 8

Fielding Errors Outfield - 6

Throwing Errors Infield - 5 (-1)

Throwing Errors Outfield - 5 (-1)

Fielder Run Speed – 2

Fielder Reaction - 2

Fielder Arm Strength Infield - 5

Fielder Arm Strength Outfield - 4

Baserunner Speed - 4

Baserunner Steal Ability - 5

Baserunner Steal Frequency - 5

Wind - 5

Injury Frequency - 8

Trade Frequency - (5 for Spring Training, 1 for April, 3 for May and June, 4 for July 1-29th, 10 for July 30-31st, 1 for August, 5 for offseason)

[Mike Lowe]

Below is an overview of this slider set. I hope this is helpful for folks.



And here are some assorted slider demo videos and images from my Marlins carryover save.

https://youtu.be/RebKwFLfH3Y

https://youtu.be/8pc71EYDkCw

https://youtu.be/_F2GvOxn0Xc

[jcas007]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike Lowe

Reserved space for video that's being uploaded...

Thought it might be an April fool's joke

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

[Mega0862]

Between these sliders and osfm rosters dropping today now, my franchise can begin. Thanks, Mike!


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[agentlaw13]

So glad to see this thread. Looking forward to another great year of video game baseball thanks to these sliders! Glad you changed your mind and bought 18, Mike. Appreciate the work and insight that goes into this set.

OSFM and these sliders dropping today...now it is officially baseball season for me. Play ball!

[Mike Lowe]

Quote: Originally Posted by jcas007

Thought it might be an April fool's joke Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app

Ha, I did think about it...lol

[Mike Lowe]

2nd post updated with an overview video.

[RogueHominid]

Mike, what's your take on the idea that there are too few solid gap shots and too many great jumps by OF?