Help! Pitch, Pitch Around, PTC

Baseballman2K5 · 07-31-2018, 02:30 PM

My team, pitching rather...ALWAYS leads the majors in HRs allowed. I often play my games out and usually use just the "Pitch" button. God it's so frustrating when I give up bombs.

I've been playing since version 4 and always just use Pitch, except the occasional pitch around of a big hitter or for an unintentional walk. It appears the strategies of this have changed in recent versions. Sometimes I will use pitch to contact if I want to enduce a DP...otherwise I never use that.

In OOTP19 I play with the auto-shift feature (I do not control my team's shifts). I guess my question is, how can I minimize HRs? I've done many franchises throughout the last years and it always seems I lead the league in HRs allowed. (However I still sometimes produce playoff teams).

I have always avoided flyball pitchers and try to build a rotation around groundballers, so I know about that. Pitchers I sign in FA always set their season record for HRs allowed once on my team.

I am controlling an expansion team that came into the league in 2019 (current year 2028)...and I do not see any stadium factors that are different to others. In fact in year 1 I editted my stadium fence distances to somewhat mimic other MLB stadiums. I tried for an average stadium as far as hitting/pitching favorite.

Any advice is appreciated. My pitchers shouldn't be giving up so many homers

Elendil · 07-31-2018, 02:33 PM

My experience with Pitch to Contact has been horrible. I never use it unless I'm up by lots of runs with just an inning or two to go.

Pitch Around I use fairly often with a base open.

battists · 07-31-2018, 02:34 PM

Well, this isn't my wheelhouse, but a few thoughts:

1. When editing ballparks, the fence distances are just cosmetic. It's the ballpark factors that affect home runs. So, you could set the fences to 10 feet and it wouldn't increase the number of HR allowed. Not very intuitive, but IIRC, the park factors have existed forever. The distances were added later when PbP and customization of ballparks came into the game.

2. I'm sure you've looked at this before, but Movement is the one rating that most directly affects HR allowed. In your case, you should be looking for pitchers with as high a movement rating as possible.

Beyond that, I'm not sure what advice to give.

BIG17EASY · 07-31-2018, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elendil

My experience with Pitch to Contact has been horrible. I never use it unless I'm up by lots of runs with just an inning or two to go.

Pitch Around I use fairly often with a base open.

That's because you should only use Pitch to Contact in that situation. It's exactly what it sounds like -- you're pitching in a way that increases the chances of the hitter making contact. That means you're increasing the chance of allowing a hit. The only time this strategy makes sense is when you have a big lead and you want your pitcher to go after hitters and reduce the risk of walks. It's most effective against the bottom of the lineup or hitters who have a low contact rating or a low batting average.

Baseballman2K5 · 07-31-2018, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by battists

2. I'm sure you've looked at this before, but Movement is the one rating that most directly affects HR allowed. In your case, you should be looking for pitchers with as high a movement rating as possible.

Beyond that, I'm not sure what advice to give.

Thanks, movement has been one rating I kinda overlook, so this might be it.

BBGiovanni · 07-31-2018, 04:04 PM

I rarely use it, usually when I'm stuck using a bad/tired pitcher and have a decent lead, hope for the best and avoid walks

nutt · 07-31-2018, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elendil

My experience with Pitch to Contact has been horrible. I never use it unless I'm up by lots of runs with just an inning or two to go.

Pitch Around I use fairly often with a base open.

My experience with Pitch to Contact: any pitcher batting is hitting .700 against me (when I try and just get them to groundout, they single/double off me).

Baseballman2K5 · 07-31-2018, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutt

My experience with Pitch to Contact: any pitcher batting is hitting .700 against me (when I try and just get them to groundout, they single/double off me).

Yes I've started to notice PTC is quite the gamble. With a runner on first and a groundballer on the mound...when I use PTC I'd say its 1 in 4 i get the DP. 2 out of 4 is at least a single, and ill leave the last for miscellaneous.

BIG17EASY · 08-01-2018, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baseballman2K5

Yes I've started to notice PTC is quite the gamble. With a runner on first and a groundballer on the mound...when I use PTC I'd say its 1 in 4 i get the DP. 2 out of 4 is at least a single, and ill leave the last for miscellaneous.

Because that's not what pitch to contact is for. If you have a groundballer on the mound, let him do his thing when you need a double play.

Pitch to contact means the pitcher is going to favor the middle of the strike zone to avoid walks. Favoring the middle of the strike zone leads to more hits. It's a strategy that should only be used with a big lead.

dpd376 · 08-02-2018, 05:10 PM

The only time I ever used PTC somewhat successfully was with a great stuff and movement pitcher on the mound facing a bad batter when the bases are loaded. It only sometimes works, but at least I don't curse about bases loaded walks.

Jerseyguy · 06-13-2021, 03:57 AM

I use pitch around very frequently.

If their All-Star slugger is up and the bases are loaded, I’ll pitch around him. Yes, it increases the chances of a walk. Tryouts might walk a guy in. But, I know Nelson Cruz isn’t going to hit a granny.

First base is open? Pitch around.

There’s a runner in scoring position? Pitch around.

It’s remarkable how often I get that strikeout when I need it using pitch around.

07-31-2018, 02:30 PM	#1
Baseballman2K5 Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Phoenix Posts: 414	Help! Pitch, Pitch Around, PTC My team, pitching rather...ALWAYS leads the majors in HRs allowed. I often play my games out and usually use just the "Pitch" button. God it's so frustrating when I give up bombs. I've been playing since version 4 and always just use Pitch, except the occasional pitch around of a big hitter or for an unintentional walk. It appears the strategies of this have changed in recent versions. Sometimes I will use pitch to contact if I want to enduce a DP...otherwise I never use that. In OOTP19 I play with the auto-shift feature (I do not control my team's shifts). I guess my question is, how can I minimize HRs? I've done many franchises throughout the last years and it always seems I lead the league in HRs allowed. (However I still sometimes produce playoff teams). I have always avoided flyball pitchers and try to build a rotation around groundballers, so I know about that. Pitchers I sign in FA always set their season record for HRs allowed once on my team. I am controlling an expansion team that came into the league in 2019 (current year 2028)...and I do not see any stadium factors that are different to others. In fact in year 1 I editted my stadium fence distances to somewhat mimic other MLB stadiums. I tried for an average stadium as far as hitting/pitching favorite. Any advice is appreciated. My pitchers shouldn't be giving up so many homers

07-31-2018, 02:33 PM	#2
Elendil Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the dynasty forum Posts: 2,318	My experience with Pitch to Contact has been horrible. I never use it unless I'm up by lots of runs with just an inning or two to go. Pitch Around I use fairly often with a base open. __________________ Heaven is kicking back with a double Talisker and a churchwarden stuffed with latakia.

07-31-2018, 02:34 PM	#3
battists Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 18,506 Blog Entries: 7	Well, this isn't my wheelhouse, but a few thoughts: 1. When editing ballparks, the fence distances are just cosmetic. It's the ballpark factors that affect home runs. So, you could set the fences to 10 feet and it wouldn't increase the number of HR allowed. Not very intuitive, but IIRC, the park factors have existed forever. The distances were added later when PbP and customization of ballparks came into the game. 2. I'm sure you've looked at this before, but Movement is the one rating that most directly affects HR allowed. In your case, you should be looking for pitchers with as high a movement rating as possible. Beyond that, I'm not sure what advice to give. __________________ Come check out my dynasty report, Funky Times!

07-31-2018, 04:04 PM	#6
BBGiovanni All Star Starter Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Republic of California Posts: 1,854	I rarely use it, usually when I'm stuck using a bad/tired pitcher and have a decent lead, hope for the best and avoid walks __________________ Let's Go (San Jose) Giants, Let's Go Mets! Current Project: WBAT/AABBA: Organized Base Ball And the "New Normal" World Baseball Aid Tournament 2023 trophy round underway!

08-02-2018, 05:10 PM	#10
dpd376 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 104	The only time I ever used PTC somewhat successfully was with a great stuff and movement pitcher on the mound facing a bad batter when the bases are loaded. It only sometimes works, but at least I don't curse about bases loaded walks. __________________ "I hate astroturf, but I love the game astroturf produces." Bill James

06-13-2021, 03:57 AM	#11
Jerseyguy Bat Boy Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 4	I use pitch around very frequently. If their All-Star slugger is up and the bases are loaded, I’ll pitch around him. Yes, it increases the chances of a walk. Tryouts might walk a guy in. But, I know Nelson Cruz isn’t going to hit a granny. First base is open? Pitch around. There’s a runner in scoring position? Pitch around. It’s remarkable how often I get that strikeout when I need it using pitch around.