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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# 21 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heroesandvillains


	This is the part that I was talking about:

It doesn't even sound like the reviewer knew what he was doing with directional hitting. He seemed perplexed that holding the stick up and in yielded a weak chopper on a pitch that was down and away. He then goes on to say that he doesn't like directional hitting because he was "always taught to hit the ball where it's pitched", which is exactly what directional hitting is.

# 22 Dolenz @ 04/01/15 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemesis04


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

I've been thinking the same thing.

# 23 nemesis04 @ 04/01/15 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heroesandvillains


	This is the part that I was talking about:

That sentence is kind of incomplete while this is a timing hitting mechanic, timing alone does not solely determine the outcome. Pitch location, pitch type and the hitter's attributes along with how well you timed the swing create the result.

# 24 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemesis04


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

I think the confusion might come from past versions of The Show, where you had to pre-load your directional influence. Honestly, the confusion might go away if they were able to name this way of hitting "EA Sports MVP 2005 Hitting Style"

# 25 nypresspass @ 04/01/15 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusruss


	It doesn't even sound like the reviewer knew what he was doing with directional hitting. He seemed perplexed that holding the stick up and in yielded a weak chopper on a pitch that was down and away. He then goes on to say that he doesn't like directional hitting because he was "always taught to hit the ball where it's pitched", which is exactly what directional hitting is.

How is that any different than zone hitting? I don't believe that's the case. With directional, you push the way you hope to hit the ball. The location of the pitch will influence that, but it doesn't meant that you have to absolutely match location with the stick direction. If that were the case, it would just be zone hitting, right?

# 26 RLebron12 @ 04/01/15 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemesis04


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

I completely agree. I only played baseball up to 9th grade and even I understand what the directional hitting is used for.

Runner on first, you want to hit and run so you want to hit it between the 1B and 2B. You are a right handed hitter, before the pitch you would push the left analog to the right to cover the right side of the plate to push the ball that way. If the ball is on the inside of the plate you would either

1) Let the pitch go by and hope your runner steals the base successfully

2) Swing anyway and have a higher risk of a not as good contact swing.

But if the pitch is down the middle or towards the outside of the plate and you time your swing down you should have a higher success rate of hitting it to the right side.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 27 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nypresspass


	How is that any different than zone hitting? I don't believe that's the case. With directional, you push the way you hope to hit the ball. The location of the pitch will influence that, but it doesn't meant that you have to absolutely match location with the stick direction. If that were the case, it would just be zone hitting, right?

No, you don't have to match the stick with the location, but doing so will give you the best results. You can just hold the stick up before the pitch is even delivered and try to hit a fly ball, but if the pitch is low, your success at getting the ball in the air is going to be lower than if the ball was up. Just like in real life... you can try to hit a fly ball on a low pitch, but it's harder to do than with a pitch more up in the zone.

I've never used zone, so I don't know how similar it is.

# 28 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLebron12


	I completely agree. I only played baseball up to 9th grade and even I understand what the directional hitting is used for. Runner on first, you want to hit and run so you want to hit it between the 1B and 2B. You are a right handed hitter, before the pitch you would push the left analog to the right to cover the right side of the plate to push the ball that way. If the ball is on the inside of the plate you would either 1) Let the pitch go by and hope your runner steals the base successfully 2) Swing anyway and have a higher risk of a not as good contact swing. But if the pitch is down the middle or towards the outside of the plate and you time your swing down you should have a higher success rate of hitting it to the right side. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But you don't have to hold the stick in a direction before the pitch is thrown... and that is where some confusion was coming into play in this thread. For your very specific situation of a hit and run, yeah you can do that, but if you're not in a situation where you need to make a certain type of contact, you can just move the stick with the pitch as it's delivered, and "hit the ball where it's pitched". 90% or more of at bats are going to be done that way, at least the way I play.

# 29 raskal67 @ 04/01/15 02:09 PM

My Impression

I like it, it feels natural to push toward Right Felt to try to drive/pus a ball to Right, Left field to try to Drive/push a ball to left. Similarly with fly/ground influences.

As far as MVP 2005 Loved it. This is not the same, similar maybe, but not the same. I could hit HRs at will with up/pull influence all day with Ken Griffey Jr.

# 30 nemesis04 @ 04/01/15 02:12 PM

It is coming to plate with a plan trying to accomplish something. People need to get the zone hitting approach out of their head of trying to move the direction last minute because the pitch is in a different location. For example, a last minute switch from trying to induce a fly and pulling it down just because the ball is low basically takes you out of your desired approach and could cost you by hitting a grounder.

# 31 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raskal67


	My Impression I like it, it feels natural to push toward Right Felt to try to drive/pus a ball to Right, Left field to try to Drive/push a ball to left. Similarly with fly/ground influences. As far as MVP 2005 Loved it. This is not the same, similar maybe, but not the same. I could hit HRs at will with up/pull influence all day with Ken Griffey Jr.

As the person who brought up MVP 2005, I feel I should admit that I haven't played MVP 2005 in 10 years, so my memory of it isn't perfect. But I think it is a good comparison to quickly explain to someone how it works.

# 32 juegochamp @ 04/01/15 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusruss


	I think the confusion might come from past versions of The Show, where you had to pre-load your directional influence. Honestly, the confusion might go away if they were able to name this way of hitting "EA Sports MVP 2005 Hitting Style"

Yes. That is where my confusion came from. Because it still seemed as if it had to be decided before the pitch since the zone lights up and vibrates. It is similar to MVP 05, But certainly has its differences. In MVP I could still pull a high outside pitch for a HR. Obviously this is more realistic. But I feel like it still can be adjusted. It is still to "do or die" for me based on location. Maybe it is just me?

# 33 Heroesandvillains @ 04/01/15 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemesis04


	It is coming to plate with a plan trying to accomplish something. People need to get the zone hitting approach out of their head of trying to move the direction last minute because the pitch is in a different location. For example, a last minute switch from trying to induce a fly and pulling it down just because the ball is low basically takes you out of your desired approach and could cost you by hitting a grounder.

Bingo.

People are confusing this with the PCI.

# 34 RLebron12 @ 04/01/15 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemesis04


	It is coming to plate with a plan trying to accomplish something. People need to get the zone hitting approach out of their head of trying to move the direction last minute because the pitch is in a different location. For example, a last minute switch from trying to induce a fly and pulling it down just because the ball is low basically takes you out of your desired approach and could cost you by hitting a grounder.

Agreed. Which is exactly why they put the camera move with it. It's for you to go up and move before the pitch is thrown to have a better eye as to what pitch you're looking for. If it was intended to use as the pitch was on its way the camera move wouldn't of been implemented. They spoke about this in the stream

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

# 35 nypresspass @ 04/01/15 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusruss


	But you don't have to hold the stick in a direction before the pitch is thrown... and that is where some confusion was coming into play in this thread. For your very specific situation of a hit and run, yeah you can do that, but if you're not in a situation where you need to make a certain type of contact, you can just move the stick with the pitch as it's delivered, and "hit the ball where it's pitched". 90% or more of at bats are going to be done that way, at least the way I play.

Ah yes that makes sense. I'm liking it so far. I've found zone to be too difficult. This seems like a happy medium to give you some more control in certain situations but not make you have to focus on too much at once with every pitch.

# 36 cactusruss @ 04/01/15 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLebron12


	Agreed. Which is exactly why they put the camera move with it. It's for you to go up and move before the pitch is thrown to have a better eye as to what pitch you're looking for. If it was intended to use as the pitch was on its way the camera move wouldn't of been implemented. They spoke about this in the stream Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And if it was intended to just be used before the pitch was thrown, being able to select your "influence" location (or whatever we want to call it) after the pitch was throw wouldn't have been implemented. It works either way. If you really need a fly ball to bring the guy in from third, then you can push up before the pitch. But if you're just trying to get a hit, you'll get the best results by moving it after the pitch is thrown and hitting the ball where it's pitched.

# 37 Dolenz @ 04/01/15 02:32 PM

I said in the other thread, and I still believe it, that the directional controls are more of a device to be used situationally and not for every pitch for every batter. Certainly you can do that if you want but I won't.

If I am up to the plate with nobody on and nobody out. I am almost always leaving it centered and timing my swing to get the best contact I can.

Now If I have a runner on third with less than two outs then I will push up to try and get a sac fly. If I have a runner on second and want to move the runner to third I will use the directional control to try and steer the ball to the right side.

I am just not convinced there are major benefits to be had trying to use it for every batter or every pitch. It definitely seems like people want it to be a more forgiving PCI from zone hitting.

# 38 RLebron12 @ 04/01/15 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusruss


	And if it was intended to just be used before the pitch was thrown, being able to select your "influence" location (or whatever we want to call it) after the pitch was throw wouldn't have been implemented. It works either way. If you really need a fly ball to bring the guy in from third, then you can push up before the pitch. But if you're just trying to get a hit, you'll get the best results by moving it after the pitch is thrown and hitting the ball where it's pitched.

I agree that you definitely can use it after the pitch is thrown (although I don't suggest it) but even Kirby said on the stream that it was intended to use as a situational thing. Come up to the plate with a plan and try to execute it. But to each their own

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# 39 Russell_SCEA @ 04/01/15 02:36 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.

why would he do that it's not zone hitting.

# 40 nemesis04 @ 04/01/15 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusruss


	And if it was intended to just be used before the pitch was thrown, being able to select your "influence" location (or whatever we want to call it) after the pitch was throw wouldn't have been implemented. It works either way. If you really need a fly ball to bring the guy in from third, then you can push up before the pitch. But if you're just trying to get a hit, you'll get the best results by moving it after the pitch is thrown and hitting the ball where it's pitched.

While you can do this approach this is not the intention of the mechanic.

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