shifts

jdolecek49 · 03-16-2021, 01:44 AM

when and how is the best tie, the way to use outfield shifts.....I have seen the chicago hope guys use them but not sure the best way to use them and how they would benefit from using them...they are obviously an option for a reason

Bobbyraz49 · 03-16-2021, 11:25 AM

I have had good luck having the computer make those moves for me. Somewhere there is a button to have these moves made for you.

ptFri217 · 03-18-2021, 08:45 AM

I have it set to “AI Manager” every time I play (everything else is set to me). But in my baseball experience, I would make shifts for our outfield as the CF in hs, and most of it is shift left/right for pull hitters. Shallow is only if the winning run is on 3rd with less than 2 outs, and he would score on anything deep anyway. There were a couple of opposing players we’d play deep against. With bases empty we’d play “no doubles” which basically keeps the ball in front and limits the damage if they do get a base hit in the gap. But that’s pretty much it. Again, it’d be straight up or shift for pull hitters about 3/4 the time if I had to guess.

I’ve never paid much attention, but you could play out some games with your AI “bench coach” doing the shifts, and see what situations they call certain shifts in as a baseline for your own strategy. I actually love talking shifts and especially OF strategy! Just never really done it in the game cause I’m lazy and usually drained from the day when I play.

ptFri217 · 03-18-2021, 09:03 AM

A little off topic but a fun story about OF shifts...

The craziest shift we ever played way back was against this monster of a lefty who went on to play college ball. Dead pull hitter down the right field line, and would regularly hit the scoreboard out there. So, we put our 6’5” RF literally in falling distance of the warning track. Coach said that when he hits it to you, to just jump hahaha. Our LF took my spot in deep right centerfield. I then played shallow right/right centerfield in case he missed his moonshot over the fence and hit a rope. Short story long, first pitch got blasted well over my head: the moonshot. I start tracking back and glance at our RF. He’s completely camped, glove already up, and waiting, waiting, waiting... I was almost able to make the catch by the time it finally landed in my teammates glove that had been stationary for who knows how long. If he did have to take an initial step to get into position, I didn’t see it! It was the most precise shift possible, and its quirkiness/beauty likely won’t ever be matched!

Dorfmann · 03-18-2021, 09:54 AM

I check the batter's type for flyballs. You actually have to check their full profile for this, I believe. If he's a pull hitter, I shift accordingly. All the other outfield options are highly situational.

oldfatbaldguy · 03-21-2021, 07:21 PM

I always click the button on the game preview screen that lets you have the AI (or maybe it says the bench coach) initially set the defense. Then you can overrule it if you like. AI has a tendency to bring the infield in too often, imo, but I trust it on shifts.

I like these fail-safes that keep you from forgetting to do things, because irl you would have an actual staff reminding you of stuff. Another good example of this is the button to "auto-sit" relievers in the bullpen.

03-16-2021, 01:44 AM	#1
jdolecek49 Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 495	shifts when and how is the best tie, the way to use outfield shifts.....I have seen the chicago hope guys use them but not sure the best way to use them and how they would benefit from using them...they are obviously an option for a reason __________________ Baseball brings me back to a time when the game was filled with heros and dreams.

03-16-2021, 11:25 AM	#2
Bobbyraz49 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 926	I have had good luck having the computer make those moves for me. Somewhere there is a button to have these moves made for you.

03-18-2021, 08:45 AM	#3
ptFri217 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Rounding 3rd Posts: 81	I have it set to “AI Manager” every time I play (everything else is set to me). But in my baseball experience, I would make shifts for our outfield as the CF in hs, and most of it is shift left/right for pull hitters. Shallow is only if the winning run is on 3rd with less than 2 outs, and he would score on anything deep anyway. There were a couple of opposing players we’d play deep against. With bases empty we’d play “no doubles” which basically keeps the ball in front and limits the damage if they do get a base hit in the gap. But that’s pretty much it. Again, it’d be straight up or shift for pull hitters about 3/4 the time if I had to guess. I’ve never paid much attention, but you could play out some games with your AI “bench coach” doing the shifts, and see what situations they call certain shifts in as a baseline for your own strategy. I actually love talking shifts and especially OF strategy! Just never really done it in the game cause I’m lazy and usually drained from the day when I play.

03-18-2021, 09:03 AM	#4
ptFri217 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Rounding 3rd Posts: 81	A little off topic but a fun story about OF shifts... The craziest shift we ever played way back was against this monster of a lefty who went on to play college ball. Dead pull hitter down the right field line, and would regularly hit the scoreboard out there. So, we put our 6’5” RF literally in falling distance of the warning track. Coach said that when he hits it to you, to just jump hahaha. Our LF took my spot in deep right centerfield. I then played shallow right/right centerfield in case he missed his moonshot over the fence and hit a rope. Short story long, first pitch got blasted well over my head: the moonshot. I start tracking back and glance at our RF. He’s completely camped, glove already up, and waiting, waiting, waiting... I was almost able to make the catch by the time it finally landed in my teammates glove that had been stationary for who knows how long. If he did have to take an initial step to get into position, I didn’t see it! It was the most precise shift possible, and its quirkiness/beauty likely won’t ever be matched!

03-18-2021, 09:54 AM	#5
Dorfmann Minors (Double A) Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 137	I check the batter's type for flyballs. You actually have to check their full profile for this, I believe. If he's a pull hitter, I shift accordingly. All the other outfield options are highly situational.

03-21-2021, 07:21 PM	#6
oldfatbaldguy Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 390	I always click the button on the game preview screen that lets you have the AI (or maybe it says the bench coach) initially set the defense. Then you can overrule it if you like. AI has a tendency to bring the infield in too often, imo, but I trust it on shifts. I like these fail-safes that keep you from forgetting to do things, because irl you would have an actual staff reminding you of stuff. Another good example of this is the button to "auto-sit" relievers in the bullpen.