Guess Pitch

[kehlis]

I have a question regarding everyone's opinion on guess pitch:

Having played baseball through college there were many situations where I would "guess the pitch and location" depending on the situation.

Over the last couple years of the show I have played with guess pitch both on and off because I realize that even if it is turned off, I can still zero in on one location and pitch.

My question is, do you feel there should be a reward for guessing right? My personal opinion is that whenever I was looking for a certain pitch in a certain spot, i generally was more prepared for it (creating better results).

I know the decision is my own, but I am just curious to hear what you, the masses have to say.

Sorry, I am sure this has been discussed before, I ran a search and couldn't find this specific topic.

[ty5oke]

My Opinion: I can't really comment on it being overly done in the game as I never used it enough to draw any conclusions. I still get an advantage for guessing the right pitch because I won't miss it if its in the zone I'm looking for.

In real life they don't get stronger or have better eye-hand coordination because they guess the right pitch location. They simply hit the ball harder because they don't have to react to anything more than see ball, hit ball.

[cowboype2000]

Yeah, I think there should be a reward for it. I do feel that using the "No Feedback" option for guess pitch is the only way to play with guess pitch on without being cheap. The game tells you whether you guessed right or wrong before the pitch. So, even if you guess wrong on pitch type, you are told too much information about the pitch because you know it's not Pitch X. If you guessed the pitcher's primary fastball and you know it's not it, then you know to look for something softer and even if you're looking for a breaking ball or changeup, a 2-seamer isn't going to blow you away. Just guessing location isn't as broken as guessing pitch type though. Anyone that played online knows that playing with guess pitch on is a completely different game than playing with guess pitch off, and you couldn't play guess pitch on with no feedback online last year, maybe not this year either.

[kehlis]

Quote: Originally Posted by cowboype2000

The game tells you whether you guessed right or wrong before the pitch. So, even if you guess wrong on pitch type, you are told too much information about the pitch because you know it's not Pitch X. If you guessed the pitcher's primary fastball and you know it's not it, then you know to look for something softer and even if you're looking for a breaking ball or changeup, a 2-seamer isn't going to blow you away.

I'm glad you mentioned this. To me, this is the most realistic part about it and it is the one reason I am against using it. If you are facing a pitcher with 5 pitches, it's not that big a deal. But when you get to the bullpen and you are facing guys that have 2-3 pitches, it is a huge advantage.

[kehlis]

Quote: Originally Posted by ty5oke

In real life they don't get stronger or have better eye-hand coordination because they guess the right pitch location. They simply hit the ball harder because they don't have to react to anything more than see ball, hit ball.

You are 100% correct with your logic IMO.

But my difference in opinion with you would be this. In my opinion, it is much more of an advantage to be able to simply react to what you are already expecting, as opposed to read and then react.

[vinny_b]

is there any difference between using "guess pitch" with zero feeback. Or, simply choosing to NOT use "guess pitch" all together ??

personally, i don't like to use it. From my view, it interferes with the "feeling" of the game. However, i wonder if this has any limitations on the game and it's skill level, as intended by the developers/SCEA.


anyone?

[bcruise]

Over the years my opinion has wavered back and forth on this. I used to never touch guess pitch because as many have said, it's not really fair to know what's not coming when you guess wrong unless there's a large enough penalty to guessing wrong. But things have happened that make me feel differently - specifically, I have a much easier time working the count and even drawing walks with GP on. I could still draw some in '08, but with the way it was so difficult to identify pitches, I would swing at garbage far more often than I should.

But something else apparently figures into this,and it's something I didn't realize before. It's shown in the screen shot below - among other things, the difficulty level affects the bonus and penalties for using it. Theoretically, that could mean that if you're playing on Legend and guess wrong, you're probably better off not swinging at all since you wouldn't hit the broadside of a barn. At some point even when you guess wrong, the difficulty level is going to counteract the mental bonus you'd get of knowing where the pitch is not headed.

Anyway, I don't really have a preference on it anymore - I can play it either way. And maybe this year with pitches that can be identified easier, GP won't be quite as important to me (in terms of getting realistic results)

[rudyjuly2]

Quote: Originally Posted by kehlis

I'm glad you mentioned this. To me, this is the most realistic part about it and it is the one reason I am against using it. If you are facing a pitcher with 5 pitches, it's not that big a deal. But when you get to the bullpen and you are facing guys that have 2-3 pitches, it is a huge advantage.

I completely agree. Some guys only have a good fastball, change up combo and using guess pitch ruins that. I don't like using it the way the default scheme is set up because no batter would ever know 100% what pitch is coming. And the fact the success rate of the guess pitch is the same no matter who the batter or pitcher are makes it even more unrealistic imo.

But it's a video game. If people want to use it I don't have a problem with it. I just don't use it myself.

Edit: Bcruise - that's an interesting pic. If they make the penalty worse when you are wrong, it makes this thing less cheap imo.

[countryboy]

I use guess pitch. I can't play the game without it.

I have a hard time picking up the pitches out of the pitchers hand, so I use guess pitch to help me compensate for that. Also, its not like using it provides me with an "unfair" advantage. Sure, I know whats coming before it arrives, but I still have to time the swing, pick up its exact location(using default) and the bonuses aren't over the top.

Plus, if I choose the wrong pitch, even though I know it may be an offspeed pitch, I am penalized for the incorrect guess. My timing window is shortened, and its tougher to make solid contact. GP is extremely balanced to the point of not being a cheat.

My .02

[mgoblue]

Quote: Originally Posted by countryboy

I use guess pitch. I can't play the game without it. I have a hard time picking up the pitches out of the pitchers hand, so I use guess pitch to help me compensate for that. Also, its not like using it provides me with an "unfair" advantage. Sure, I know whats coming before it arrives, but I still have to time the swing, pick up its exact location(using default) and the bonuses aren't over the top. Plus, if I choose the wrong pitch, even though I know it may be an offspeed pitch, I am penalized for the incorrect guess. My timing window is shortened, and its tougher to make solid contact. GP is extremely balanced to the point of not being a cheat. My .02

This is what I think, nicely said. I just don't have the vision to pick up the pitch out of the hand, so I'm at a disadvantage unless I use this, you know? It's fun for me, and I haven't had a problem with it, but I understand where everyone else is coming from too.