Aggressive vs Patient Hitting

[MBMavs20]

Since I have always had the tendency to be over aggressive at the plate, I strikeout WAY to often. However, after the first game of my franchise with the Yankees, I can see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

Historically, I have major trouble with the other teams Ace pitcher. I try and stay patient at the plate, work the count, but I usually find myself in an 0-2 hole. I use normal swing most of the time because when I use the power button, I tend to swing at everything.

First game of the season I face the Tigers and Justin Verlander. In 09 and 10, I could never beat him. I get 2 early runs on 5 singles and lead 2-0. Sabathia gives up 2 in the 6th to tie the game. Then it happened.

I noticed Verlander was throwing his fastball on the first pitch to get ahead, meanwhile I was taking the first pitch almost everytime. A-Rod was leading off so I decided to use the power button and sit on the fastball. Sure enough, he throws the fastball and I hit a homer over the 399 mark in left center.

Next batter is Cano. First pitch is a curveball. I thought this was awesome because Verlander just threw a first pitch fastball and got burned. Just like real life in my opinion. After Cano grounded out, Swisher came up. I figured, what the hell, I put my finger on the power button and looked fastball first pitch. Verlander threw a fastball and Swisher crushed it over the right centerfield fence. I added 2 runs in the 8th on 2 wild pitches and won 6-3.

This was probably one of my most satisfying wins ever. This game seems to come closer and closer to the real game of baseball every year.

How does everyone else hit? Are you more aggressive at the plate or do you try and work the count? I know when I face Josh Beckett, I have no choice but to stay patient and work the count because he screws up my timing so much I can't beat him unless I get into the Sox bullpen.

I am also pleased so far with the pitch edits I did. Give them a try and let me know what you think.

[nomo17k]

With so many threads on hitting approach not sure this one will survive the moderation, but anyways...

Pitchers approach also depends on the difficulty level.

I'm definitely on the aggressive side and still strike out quite a bit (every 4 - 5 AB on average), but the batting average has been okay so I'm not really sure being more patient would make me a better hitter overall...

One thing is some people make mistake of equating being patient with taking pitches all the way (like you seemed to do before). Pitchers do want to get ahead, so they have to throw strikes at some point, earlier the better for them. And some of them become hittable. You have to sit on that pitch and lay off others. That's the good patience. Still working on it myself...

[37]

Quote: Originally Posted by MBMavs20

Since I have always had the tendency to be over aggressive at the plate, I strikeout WAY to often. However, after the first game of my franchise with the Yankees, I can see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Historically, I have major trouble with the other teams Ace pitcher. I try and stay patient at the plate, work the count, but I usually find myself in an 0-2 hole. I use normal swing most of the time because when I use the power button, I tend to swing at everything. First game of the season I face the Tigers and Justin Verlander. In 09 and 10, I could never beat him. I get 2 early runs on 5 singles and lead 2-0. Sabathia gives up 2 in the 6th to tie the game. Then it happened. I noticed Verlander was throwing his fastball on the first pitch to get ahead, meanwhile I was taking the first pitch almost everytime. A-Rod was leading off so I decided to use the power button and sit on the fastball. Sure enough, he throws the fastball and I hit a homer over the 399 mark in left center. Next batter is Cano. First pitch is a curveball. I thought this was awesome because Verlander just threw a first pitch fastball and got burned. Just like real life in my opinion. After Cano grounded out, Swisher came up. I figured, what the hell, I put my finger on the power button and looked fastball first pitch. Verlander threw a fastball and Swisher crushed it over the right centerfield fence. I added 2 runs in the 8th on 2 wild pitches and won 6-3. This was probably one of my most satisfying wins ever. This game seems to come closer and closer to the real game of baseball every year. How does everyone else hit? Are you more aggressive at the plate or do you try and work the count? I know when I face Josh Beckett, I have no choice but to stay patient and work the count because he screws up my timing so much I can't beat him unless I get into the Sox bullpen. I am also pleased so far with the pitch edits I did. Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Personally, I tend to be aggressive at the plate especially if i have a fastball-pitcher on the mound, I'm counting on the first few pitches to be fastballs so i dont want to let the probably the best pitch of the at-bat, go...Also, the cpu doesnt throw many balls anyway (just what i been noticing), so i don't see a point in being patient if ur gunna end up strikin out....As far as which swing to use, I use contact swing for my contact hitters ie. my lead-off guy, sometimes my #2 hitter, and the usually the #7,8, and 9 guys in my line-up (i'm playing with the pirates and the latter-third of the lineups in the NL are weaker then AL).....i also use contact swing with my power hitters when they get to 2 strikes because at that point, im just lookin to make contact and find an open hole somewhere.....

[MBMavs20]

Yeah, I would agree that the CPU does not throw a lot of balls. However, since I did some pitch edits and posted them, I am hoping to draw more walks.

Justin Verlander in my first game threw 98 pitches his first start, 30 of them for balls. Justin Thomas relieved him and threw 2 wild pitchs and walked a batter.

[37]

Quote: Originally Posted by MBMavs20

Yeah, I would agree that the CPU does not throw a lot of balls. However, since I did some pitch edits and posted them, I am hoping to draw more walks. Justin Verlander in my first game threw 98 pitches his first start, 30 of them for balls. Justin Thomas relieved him and threw 2 wild pitchs and walked a batter.

obviously verlander is a stud so u wuddnt expect him to be wild...u can be a lil more patient with lesser pitchers...also it depends where u are in the game, if ur leading or trailing

[Geronimo22]

I think the key is to be aggressive when the pitch is in the sweet part of the zone. You have to train yourself to get to that point. But the best players are aggressive when the pitch is in a location that can do something with (for example some guys like it on the inside half, some it has to be down the middle)

It's not as cookie cutter as be aggressive on a certain count or situation. The only exception I'd say is try to kill the ball when the count is 3-1 if you have runners on base.

[nomo17k]

Quote: Originally Posted by Geronimo22

I think the key is to be aggressive when the pitch is in the sweet part of the zone. You have to train yourself to get to that point. But the best players are aggressive when the pitch is in a location that can do something with (for example some guys like it on the inside half, some it has to be down the middle)

I like to see this way as well. If you are aggressive type, the key is taming your aggressiveness. Swinging at everything, you often feel you swing at too many bad pitches. Taking the first couple pitches all the way all the time, you start seeing some pitches you just totally miss that you feel you shouldn't have. Finding the middle ground and staying there consistently appears to be the most successful approach (at least for me).

[SoxBrewersMarlins]

im so patient that ive been told by friends im too patient, its like irl, im a ss and i literally never swing 1st pitch unless its uber fat. ill work counts until i get my pitch, dont throw my pitch, ill wait til im forced to swing with 2 strikes, i dont mind swinging with 2 strikes in game or irl so this works for me, but if you dont like 2 strike counts then its porbly not your route to take. i used to be over aggressive on the show and it led to either hr or strikeout lol.