I'd suggest that you stop using the guess pitch feature, unless you find it too fun to stop. If you guess wrong, you get a contact penalty.

I used to think I never, ever would walk, but now I draw two or three walks a game. I've fully embraced the philosophy that if they give me three strikes then I shouldn't feel bad about using all of them. If I let a pitch go down the middle, well crap. Oh well, I still have 2 more strikes. Obviously if its 0-2 or 1-2, you gotta protect the plate until you see an obvious ball.

My strategy now is if I face a good starter, I will try to take 3 pitches the first time through the order (if I'm 0-2, I'll protect the plate), and the first pitch the second time. I'll randomly decide to look for a first-pitch strike to swing at once the first time and twice the second time. (if you always take the first pitch then the computer will start pumping in first-pitch strikes, so you gotta mix it up and let the CPU know that you just might swing at the first pitch) If its 0-1 or 0-2, the odds of a ball are very high (but they still sometimes throw 3 strikes). Sometimes I have to remind myself "ok, don't swing at this dude's crap"

The reason is that if you are facing someone like Sabathia or Verlander, it is very, very important to get them out of the game as quickly as you can. Relief pitchers (other than elite closers) are a hell of a lot easier to hit than good starters. When I'm facing some of Detroit's good pitchers, I try to be annoying as hell, working deep counts and fouling off pitches. Yeah, you may strike me out a lot, but I'll hopefully kill your bullpen in the 7th or 8th.

If I'm facing a bad starter, then I just take the first pitch the first time through.

This may be amusing for some, during the 4th game of my season, Chris Getz got hurt. After the game, I was informed that he broke his leg and would be out 2-3 months. I was like "ok, I guess I'll bring up Gio". The Royals cant really afford an injury, but at 2B we can easily take a hit.

I usually buy MLB2K and I enjoy it like, the first few weeks.

Then I get really bored with it.

I'm a goddamned video game hoarder.

:(

Guru, quit hacking Kraus's account. :cuss:

quick game report: After a loss to the Rays, I started a game against the hated White Sox, who I was tied at the top of the AL Central with. Bruce Chen against a guy they brought up from the minors, figured OK thats interesting, they might score a little on me, but I bet I can get him.

That damned pitcher (forget his name) kept getting out of jams. I had 10 hits by the 8th inning with no runs to show for it. In the 9th I was down 3-zip with Chen having exited in the 7th, I hit 2 doubles and with the score 3-1, they finally pulled their starter after 105+ pitches for the closer. Then, rather than struggle like usual, I got on a roll, he blew the save, we're off to the 10th tied at 3. I used a lot of pitchers but Herrera was fresh and good to go, he shut them down in the 10th, they got out of a 1-out man on 1st and 2nd jam, then in the 11th Herrera rocked and rolled again and with a guy on second, I bunted him over, next guy struck out, so 2 outs with man on 3rd. Routine grounder to pitcher, and he threw it away into right field, I won on a walk-off error.

Throw a Suck It!

And Herrera is awesome to use. Hard for people to catch up to his fastball on the corners.

I think my favorite thing about maybe getting this game is that I can play with the Royals and they won't be full of lousy players. I wonder if sports games suffer in sales in cities that have lousy teams...

I've played about 10 games now without drawing a walk... I'll go 3-0 and then they paint the edges 3+ pitches in a row... ridiculous!

Getting walks usually requires a custom slider set from operation sports forums, otherwise you'll get close and they'll pepper the zone.
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If anyone wants to boost their online playing stats you should try to play me. Man I kind of blow!

you 'kinda blow'?

No way Clay is paying full price for it then.

Are you using modified sliders?

Just started my season after playing a few of the spring games to get a better feel for the game. Pitched 7 shutout innings with Shields and threw 8 k's. Hardest thing for me is advancing individual base runners.

I wasn't, no.

Does anyone have a really good Franchise roster with minor leaguers populated they have found online yet and used?