MLB 12 The Show - All Hitting Tips

[DirkDiggler12]

When batting with RISP I try to wait for a specific pitch in a zone, if I get to 0-2 I'll fight some stuff off, I find that once the pitcher is ahead 0-2 the next couple balls are usually off speed in the dirt or running away.

[drsonoma]

After years of frustration I think I may finally be on to something...

Historically, I have done okay forcing the pitcher to throw a minimum of 15 plus pitches per inning. However, this "skill" had not really translated into more hits, runs, walks or fewer strikeouts. But with the start of the new season, I started watching games extra close and paying attention to pitch counts. I now realize that I wasn't being anywhere close to being as patient as necessary.

Watch an MLB game and notice how often the battle between batter/pitcher gets to two strikes. It happens WAY more than I originally realized. In fact, it now appears to me that more often than not the at-bat doesn't even really begin until there is a 3-2 count. Even when a pitcher starts out 0-2 or a batter 2-0, the majority of the time the count still get 3-2 (after an 0-2 start) or to 2 strikes (after a 2-0 start).

My frustration has been that when it gets to 2-0 I want that fastball down the middle. At the same time I also want the pitcher to throw the 4-5 pitch walk. Well, you can't have both and more often than not you will end up with neither. Yes, it happens. But not nearly as often as I was wanting/hoping/expecting.

So, my committment over the past several games has been to relax when I get to two strikes (even 0-2) and recognize that THIS IS BASEBALL. Once I get to 2 strikes I then convert over to contact swing almost exclusively. I MIGHT use the standard swing on 3-2 but that is a very situational decision.

Before using the above approach, I averaged 9 strikeouts per game and 1-2 walks per game MAX. My teams have always been last in walks, last in on base percentage and near the bottom (if not THE bottom) in striking out . Over the past several games, however, I am averaging 6 strikeouts per game AND am averaging 4 plus walks PER GAME. In fact, I just had 8 walks in my most recent game (Tigers vs. White Sox). Trust me, that is a record for me. In addition, I have managed to run pitch counts WAY up.

Yes, my power is down a bit. But I think that is more a result of suddenly becoming too patient and not attacking when the moment is right. Nonetheless, it is so encouraging to know that the walks are really there and that hitting in this game, even with all of its frustrations, really does model the actual sport.

So my "tip" is to watch games, pay attention to pitch counts and see what you learn. Relax when you get to two strikes...you aren't alone. It happens. Use your contact swing more often than not (yes, you can still get hits and some power) and be okay with fouling off a TON of pitches.

Also, I now realize that most of my strikeouts come from swinging too early on 2 strike counts. So, being patient also means on waiting on pitches through the zone so you can foul them off as necessary. You might be too late on the occasional fastball but that is a trade off I'm willing to make.

Hope this helps.

[AUTiger1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mercury53

Wow, I don't feel so bad now knowing I'm not alone. I do become more aggressive with runners on. I don't know why because it's not something I say to myself I should do, it just happens. I chase more sliders in the dirt and so on. That being said, when I do make contact, it's never that good.

I have to just sit the controller down that way I don't swing when I don't want to. Then once I get in a good count then I start playing again.

[N51_rob]

I would also suggest that you guys fool around with a custom batting camera. I have used one where I used catcher classic. I lowered it and zoomed it in, so that now the middle of my TV is basically the strike zone and I can read pitches out side of that both high and low. The corners are still tough to tell, but through 12 games of my O's franchise my team BA is .291, highest starter is hitting .377 and the lowest is .211. When its not 3 am I will do a capture and show it here.

Edit: Here are two screens of it, it looks much better on my TV but basically any ball in the middle of my screen is a strike. Not that I swing at them all.

[AUTiger1]

Will I definitely don't use the default camera. I use the classic camera. I don't have a problem judging pitches. I just can't swing soon enough to hit the fastball.

[Tyrant8RDFL]

Quote: Originally Posted by N51_rob

I would also suggest that you guys fool around with a custom batting camera. I have used one where I used catcher classic. I lowered it and zoomed it in, so that now the middle of my TV is basically the strike zone and I can read pitches out side of that both high and low. The corners are still tough to tell, but through 12 games of my O's franchise my team BA is .291, highest starter is hitting .377 and the lowest is .211. When its not 3 am I will do a capture and show it here. Edit: Here are two screens of it, it looks much better on my TV but basically any ball in the middle of my screen is a strike. Not that I swing at them all.

I did the same. I took a camera and then edited it to my liking. I took the catcher high camera then tilted it down so I can judge the lower pitches better, and this setup has done wonders for me.

Camera can make a huge difference.

[Tyrant8RDFL]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mercury53

Wow, I don't feel so bad now knowing I'm not alone. I do become more aggressive with runners on. I don't know why because it's not something I say to myself I should do, it just happens. I chase more sliders in the dirt and so on. That being said, when I do make contact, it's never that good.

Quote: Originally Posted by Chappy

Having the same issue

Quote: Originally Posted by curly fries

Me too! My overall BA is .270 as a team but my team BA with runners in scoring position is .220! I'm going to do training with hitting coaches to see if that will help.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mercury53

Having issues getting hits with runners on. Does anybody have any tips for hitting with RISP.

When RISP you need a different mind set than when you approaching a normal at bat.

This is what I do. I jump on the first meaty pitch I see. Whether the count is 0-0 or 3-0. Once I see that very hittable ptich I jump on it. Letting the first pitch go may be the last meaty pitch you will see at that at abat.

Now you still need to have a good eye, but don't let the first pitch the pitcher throws at that at bat when it is a meat ball right down the middle go. Make it count and smack the ball. That may be the best chance you will have at hitting a meatball within that at bat.

I also use contact swing once the count is in the ptichers favor. This has helped me to foul some ptiches, or sometimes get a decent hit, or get the count back to my favor. Don't just stay on regular contact when your behind in the count. Adjust your swing.

Hope this helps

[Geronimo22]

Quote: Originally Posted by AUTiger1

What sucks about the hitting on this game is that I have the pitch speed all the way down to 0 and still I'm either always late on the fastball or way out in front of the off-speed stuff. Everytime I make up my mind that a fastball is coming and gear up for it and swing early it's always an off-speed pitch and I look stupid. And it doesn't matter if I do it on pitch 1, 2, 3 I'm always wrong. The same goes for when I'm expecting off-speed and try to sit back on it then I end up being late on the fastball and what makes it even worst is when it's fastballs that I could hammer if I timed them right.

Don't turn pitch speed down. Just keep it on default. With your swing timing everything is relevant even on slower speeds.

[AUTiger1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Geronimo22

Don't turn pitch speed down. Just keep it on default. With your swing timing everything is relevant even on slower speeds.

Here is my problem. I just realized the reason I can't hit the fastball is because I don't start my stride soon enough. On those very rare occasions that I do start my stride soon enough I don't hit a hittable fastball and I can't keep myself from swinging at pitches I don't want to swing at. I just lost a game 3-2 because the whole game all I focused on was trying to hit a fastball and as a result my hitting sucked. Only 2 runs on 6 hits. I wouldn't have gotten the runs had I not gotten an error to help my cause.

I'm just going to have to go back to my old approach of taking until I get 2 strikes and then hopefully I'll get a hanging curveball or changeup to hit. I don't know what else to do except do down to timing hitting and I don't really want to do that.

[Geronimo22]

Quote: Originally Posted by AUTiger1

Here is my problem. I just realized the reason I can't hit the fastball is because I don't start my stride soon enough. On those very rare occasions that I do start my stride soon enough I don't hit a hittable fastball and I can't keep myself from swinging at pitches I don't want to swing at. I just lost a game 3-2 because the whole game all I focused on was trying to hit a fastball and as a result my hitting sucked. Only 2 runs on 6 hits. I wouldn't have gotten the runs had I not gotten an error to help my cause. I'm just going to have to go back to my old approach of taking until I get 2 strikes and then hopefully I'll get a hanging curveball or changeup to hit. I don't know what else to do except do down to timing hitting and I don't really want to do that.

If realism is what you're going for...play on timing hitting and don't use your old approach of taking till 2 strikes.

The analog stick feels great but I've learned it doesn't really mimic a real swing. In a real swing it's easy to keep your hands back on breaking balls. With the analog stick its a lot harder to slow down or change your timing once you start your stride.