MLB 15 The Show News Post

MLB 15 The Show: Directional Hitting Impressions

12:21 PM - April 1, 2015 by RaychelSnr

This year there is a new hitting mechanic in MLB 15 The Show called Directional Hitting. The idea behind this system is rather simple. It's basically timing hitting with the ability to influence the directions of your hits by pushing the left stick in a certain direction.

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# 1 Heroesandvillains @ 04/01/15 12:40 PM

The way you describe it in the write-up implies that there's a timing element to Directional. If that's the case this is the first time I've heard that.

# 2 Stormyhog @ 04/01/15 12:43 PM

I tried t but I still prefer zone hitting as I like to aim for the ball with the left stick. It feels more natural & realistic for me. Not saying I hate directional it's just not for me. That's what I love about the show they give you lot's of options as everyone has different preferences.

# 3 Ruffy @ 04/01/15 12:48 PM

Well time to switch to zone....I thought i was doing what i always do try and aim for the ball with my left stick.

This explains a bunch of opposite field shots I have hit.

# 4 juegochamp @ 04/01/15 12:48 PM

Here is my question: Are you directing the ball as you hit it? Or "guessing" the left or right before the pitch, which will influence the ball. MVP you used to hold the left stick in the direction as you were hitting to influence it. This appears as if you "guess" before the pitch. Am I wrong?

# 5 Russell_SCEA @ 04/01/15 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heroesandvillains


	The way you describe it in the write-up implies that there's a timing element to Directional. If that's the case this is the first time I've heard that.

Of course there's a timing element, it's not an arcade element where you hold up and your guaranteed a fly ball.

# 6 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juegochamp


	Here is my question: Are you directing the ball as you hit it? Or "guessing" the left or right before the pitch, which will influence the ball. MVP you used to hold the left stick in the direction as you were hitting to influence it. This appears as if you "guess" before the pitch. Am I wrong?

It's like hitting in MVP... you move the stick as you're hitting. And just because the ball is on the outer half of the plate (as a right handed hitter) and you push the stick to the right, that doesn't mean the ball is absolutely going to go to the right, it all depends on timing too. Same with moving the stick up, down and to the corners.

It feels a lot like I remember hitting in MVP... and that's a good thing.

Actually, having just read the review, it seems like the reviewer is doing it different... hold the stick up (or wherever) before the ball is even thrown. I suppose you can do it like that, if you really need a fly ball or something, but if the pitch is down and away, hold up is going to make getting good contact a lot harder.

# 7 RogueHominid @ 04/01/15 01:06 PM

I like the camera shift, but I want to make sure I'm properly understanding how this works in the game.

I thought that if I was looking for an inside FB, I'd push the R-stick left for a RHB, and would thus have a better chance of pulling a ball in that location. Is that how it works?

Or is it like if I want to hit a fly I hold up on the R-stick?

So, is it where you think the pitch is coming that's at issue, or is it the kind of hit you want to make that's at issue?

# 8 juegochamp @ 04/01/15 01:07 PM

My biggest issue was how the plate coverage indicator was often really off in timing. Is the plate coverage indicator still a thing using directional hitting? I can't tell because you do not see it after your swing anymore. I am still trying to figure out if zone or directional is the right choice for me. I like timing, but hated how the PCI was off. I need a better understanding of what is actually happening in directional hitting please!

# 9 juegochamp @ 04/01/15 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusruss


	It's like hitting in MVP... you move the stick as you're hitting. And just because the ball is on the outer half of the plate (as a right handed hitter) and you push the stick to the right, that doesn't mean the ball is absolutely going to go to the right, it all depends on timing too. Same with moving the stick up, down and to the corners. It feels a lot like I remember hitting in MVP... and that's a good thing. Actually, having just read the review, it seems like the reviewer is doing it different... hold the stick up (or wherever) before the ball is even thrown. I suppose you can do it like that, if you really need a fly ball or something, but if the pitch is down and away, hold up is going to make getting good contact a lot harder.

Thanks! But I still feel like you are basically just guessing where the ball is going to be. I feel like I will be heavily penalized for pulling the ball on an outside pitch. Which is probably realistic (to an extent.) But I still feel like its more of a guessing the location of the ball mode rather than directing the ball.

# 10 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juegochamp


	My biggest issue was how the plate coverage indicator was often really off in timing. Is the plate coverage indicator still a thing using directional hitting? I can't tell because you do not see it after your swing anymore. I am still trying to figure out if zone or directional is the right choice for me. I like timing, but hated how the PCI was off. I need a better understanding of what is actually happening in directional hitting please!

Push the stick to where the ball is going to be. So if the pitch is a low and on the outside corner, push down and right (if using a right handed batter) and drive the ball to the opposite field. You could push up and to the left, and still possibly make contact, but just like in real life, trying to pull a ball in the air on a pitch that's down and away isn't going to yield good results very often.

# 11 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juegochamp


	Thanks! But I still feel like you are basically just guessing where the ball is going to be. I feel like I will be heavily penalized for pulling the ball on an outside pitch. Which is probably realistic (to an extent.) But I still feel like its more of a guessing the location of the ball mode rather than directing the ball.

You don't guess anything, just push the stick to where the pitch is going. You can push the stick in a certain direction before the pitch, but unless you get the perfect pitch for where you're guessing, you're gonna have a bad time.

Sometimes on 2-0 or 3-1 counts with power hitters I will hole the stick up and to the left (for RH hitter) and look for a pitch up in the zone to try to hit a HR, but if the pitch isn't up, I don't swing. That's kinda like how it's done in real life for a power hitter... look for that grooved pitch on a good count and knock it out of the park.

# 12 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 01:18 PM

Or you can just not touch the stick at all and it's just like timing hitting was last year.

# 13 juegochamp @ 04/01/15 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusruss


	Or you can just not touch the stick at all and it's just like timing hitting was last year.

Great. So I basically I can guess the influence before the pitch, or just wait until the actual pitch is thrown to influence it? That is awesome. I couldn't tell if you had to influence it before the pitch or not.

# 14 Heroesandvillains @ 04/01/15 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA


	Of course there's a timing element, it's not an arcade element where you hold up and your guaranteed a fly ball.

No Ramone, that's obviously not what I meant.

In the article, he mentions trying to time his directioning in accordance to his swing instead of just pressing a direction at any given time during the at-bat.

# 15 knich @ 04/01/15 01:32 PM

I like how the camera moves to focus on pitch location. I wish there was separate option to just use camera to change focus without it influencing swing. I like to use directional to influence swing just wish it wasn't tied to camera focus. For instance, Montero on Chicago has a low hot zone. I like to use directional to focus only on balls low in strike zone. Problem is I don't want him hitting ground balls. So I can't use the camera focus without influencing a ground ball.

And I find it works well to influence swing. Keep in mind even if you want to hit fly ball, if the pitch is down, then you may still hit on top and create ground ball..just like IRL. Of course, ratings also affect outcomes. They guy who wrote impression doesn't seem to understand this. Likely hasn't played much baseball IRL

# 16 Heroesandvillains @ 04/01/15 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell_SCEA


	Of course there's a timing element, it's not an arcade element where you hold up and your guaranteed a fly ball.

This is the part that I was talking about:

Quote:


	For example, if you want to hit a fly ball to try to get a runner home from third on a sacrifice fly you simply hold the left stick up as the pitch is thrown and time it up with the swing button. If you timed it correctly you should have hit a fly ball.

# 17 RLebron12 @ 04/01/15 01:35 PM

I like the new directional hitting and the camera move that comes along with it. I feel like it helps me stay away from outside pitches if I am trying to pull it and also helps me see the ball better if I am a leftie and going against a leftie. I have gotten some really good hits with directional hitting, both pull and push hits

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 18 Dolenz @ 04/01/15 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heroesandvillains


	This is the part that I was talking about:

That sentence is kind of vague. what "it" is he talking about?
The Swing?
The moving of the left stick?

I think he meant timing the swing to the pitch, but who knows. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what direction hitting actually does and influences.

# 19 DetroitStyle @ 04/01/15 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heroesandvillains


	No Ramone, that's obviously not what I meant. In the article, he mentions trying to time his directioning in accordance to his swing instead of just pressing a direction at any given time during the at-bat.

You need to think of it more from a push/pull perspective. If you have a left handed hitter, hold the left stick to the right during the pitch, AND swing early you should drive it right down the line.

If you time it wrong, and swing late (thinking changeup and get a fastball), then you may not pull that ball like you intended with directional. It may go up the middle or through the right side gap.

Directional influences, but is not be all end all. It just improves the odds of hitting a pitch in that direction depending on timing of your swing and where the ball is thrown. So you won't be popping up a pitch that's thrown too low even if your timing is perfect and your aiming up.

# 20 nemesis04 @ 04/01/15 01:42 PM

Everyone is making this way more complicated than it has to be.

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