MLB The Show 18
MLB The Show 18: What Is and Isn't Working With Gameplay
Baseball is finally back, and with it comes another solid entry in the MLB The Show series. All is well with the world. Here’s what is working and not working from a strictly gameplay perspective thus far.
GOOD: TAGGING SYSTEM
Boy, SDS really delivered here. One of the main reasons I eventually had to quit MLB The Show 17 was the inexplicably bad tagging. I would gun guys out at the plate by a mile only to have the catcher fly around like a child on a trampoline and somehow miss tagging the runner. Would-be base stealers got the same treatment as the throw from my catcher would hit the second baseman’s glove with plenty of time to tag the baserunner with a speed rating of 63 speed, only to find that the defender would momentarily not only forget where he was, but forget why he was holding the ball in the first place and tag the runner only after the runner was already safe. But in MLB The Show 18? Tags are instantaneous. I tried stealing with Dale Murphy and his 73 speed only to get gunned by Matt Wieters and a professional-grade tag from Daniel Murphy. I really wanted that stolen base to complete Dale Murphy’s Conquest mission (spoiler alert), but I will happily sacrifice it for a season of blissful and frustration-free tagging.
GOOD: HITTING
I wrote about it at length during this week’s roundtable, so I’ll keep it short. Hitting is the best it has been in a long time. Hits are extremely varied, the Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) works marvelously and allows players to meaningfully go after outside pitches that would have been easy outs in ’17. It takes a bit to familiarize yourself, but utilizing the PCI and timing pitches perfectly will result in a variety of outcomes that truly reflect your player’s attributes. It is a triumph this year, especially when punishments for early count aggressive hitting are reduced.
GOOD: CATCHERS BLOCKING THE PLATE
How many of your low pitches somehow sailed by your elite defensive catcher all the way to the backstop in ’17? It felt like an epidemic, leaving players in expletive-laden disbelief as the occasional game-winning run came to the plate on a strategic slider that purposefully missed the outside corner by two inches. I have experienced only one (!) passed ball due to me completely missing the accuracy button press in my pitching interface. However, it did not yield the game-winning run, and I was reminded of how gratifying it is that the passed ball epidemic is more of an antiquated illness than scary doom virus at this juncture. This is particularly important as the outside of the zone is paramount to pitching strategies, and MLB The Show 18 feels like a much more realistic reflection of real-life catcher performance.
GOOD: GAMES FEEL FASTER
A very small note but a very appreciated one. My game is always set to Fast Play to get me as much baseball as possible. And, simply, the in-game experience feels faster than ’17 (unless you’re hitting against, say, Daniel Mengden).
BAD: SO. MANY. ERRORS.
For all of the unadulterated joy from hitting and baserunning, The Show 18 sure does a good job deflating its own balloon with what we can only imagine is a soon-to-be-patched vast array of unnecessary fielding errors. Wide throws on easy ground balls are dangerously too frequent (from excellent fielders too), and just about every player on my Diamond Dynasty squad has dropped a ball they should not have. These ill-timed drops are often partnered with comically slow recovery times as well, allowing the baserunner to make it to the base safely amid nonexistent effort from the offending defender. While anyone can appreciate the higher frequency of errors to make the game feel more fluid and lifelike, they simply occur way too frequently at times when they should not be occurring, such as a cut-off throw routinely sailing past its target when there is no play to be made.
BAD: BATTED BALLS CONTINUE TO SLAM INTO PITCHERS
And I mean slam. I ripped a ball with (spoiler alert) Breakout Chris Carter that had an exit velocity of 106 MPH that hit the pitcher square in the head. He crumbled to the ground and digital Matt Vasgersian made it sound dire. But no trainers came out. No one looked concerned or even checked on the poor hurler. To make matters worse, he was up and pitching again to the next batter as if his best-case scenario concussion was merely a gentle sneeze. Batted balls still strike the pitcher, though less often, but the fact that quite literally nothing happens after a scenario that derails careers unfolds is something that needs to be fixed.
Issue
Player Lock and RTTS fielders are not involved in plays. Your selected position fielder is often over looked on key plays as if he does not exist on the field! Present since MLB 15, MLB 16, MLB 17 and MLB 18. Also the game tends to lock your selected fielder in these situations.
Video
In this case my player locked fielder is by passed as if he does not exist on the field as a cut off man! You can see the result play ends with the CPU runner crossing the plate
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forme95
Are you saying that when I bunt and it shoots all the way to the 1st basemen or 3rd basemen. It's stuck that way for those of us who play offline?
Are you saying that when I bunt and it shoots all the way to the 1st basemen or 3rd basemen. It's stuck that way for those of us who play offline?
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Also please please please don’t mess with hitting like u did last year. It’s so good right now. Please don’t touch it.
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The fielding errors I'm sure can be addressed in a patch. I'm seeing this as well.
Its absolutely terrible. Its kind of a staple in baseball being able to bunt esp with NL teams.
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Yeah well they don't work. Last I checked this is supposed to be a baseball game and bunting is a part of baseball. I could care less what it does to online play, I bought this to play baseball. Far as I concerned its broken.
Firstly, whenever the pitcher gets hit by a ball the pitcher does not react accordingly. It is totally mind boggling to me because in reality if a pitcher gets hit by a ball depending on the region, they behave or react differently. So far my experience with the game, 5 out of 5 scenarios the pitcher was never pulled out of the game for medical; instead, they continued to pitch in the game as if it has never happened:splat:.
Second, the sliding animations may need to be improved. I remember in the previous MLB the Show games, they had several sliding animations. I could utilize all angles on the right thumb stick such as up for head on slide, down for feet on slide, left for slide to the left, right for slide to the right, up/ left for head on slide with a slight hook to the left, up/ right for head on slide with a slight hook to the right, down/ left for feet on slide with a slight hook to the left and down/ right for feet on slide with a slight hook the right.
Lastly, I feel like the outfielders do not move like they do in real life. They have no weight and momentum regarding their movements. Furthermore, I feel like they only function in diagonal movements rather than 360' movements. For instance, in NBA 2K or FIFA they all move naturally but in MLB the Show they function very oddly.
Overall, this game is fantastic; however, it just needs a small adjustment. I hope these issues can be resolved in the future because this game is nearly perfect regarding gameplay.
Turning the double play with the second baseman, sometimes the power on the throw is non existent. Even when the runner isn't near you to break up the play, the 2nd baseman will not get enough power on the throw to get the second out.
Shortstop doesn't have that issue, it's really just the second baseman lobbing the ball to first.
Also, pitchers covering first on a grounder. I can understand Billy Hamilton flying down the line and beating a pitcher. But I had Yadier Molina beat Jacob DeGrom down the line because the pitcher never made a move to first.
They're too slow off the mound to cover the bag, and you need to hope your 1st baseman can make it back. Considering this is the most basic thing they teach pitchers with fielding, it's annoying to see in the game.
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It's the CPU. Rocket bunt every time down the first base line. I try every type of pitch in the world when I know it's a bunt situation for the CPU, but nothing works.
I love EVERYTHING about this years version, but this......no. I'm using my house rule that I only take the out at first instead of (usually) and easy double play. Shouldn't have to do that.
I've actually NOT sent a rocket bunt down the line, but it's completely shocked me when I did. If there's a solution to this. Been playing the game for a decade and this shouldn't be this frustrating. As I said before, the CPU does it every single at bat when bunting.
I don't really have an issue with this. I agree its silly to see a pitcher get hit hard and stay in the game but it seems pitchers get hit with a batted ball far too often in the game compared to real life. Plus there are so many variables IRL like did the pitcher get a glove on the ball, how hard it was hit and where it hit the pitcher. There are plenty of examples of pitchers IRL getting hit and staying in. I just think trying to fine tune it to everyone's liking will be nearly impossible. So I like that they just stay in. Who wants to lose their starting pitcher to that all the time?
I also think its dumb how often the pitcher takes a liner off his body and still makes the out. Again, does this happen some IRL? Yes!! but not this much
I love EVERYTHING about this years version, but this......no. I'm using my house rule that I only take the out at first instead of (usually) and easy double play. Shouldn't have to do that.
I know we talked about it in other threads but it's disappointing that they feel this bunt fix to combat online issues is acceptable. When they explain their reasoning on the fix strategy they always talk about the importance of keeping game balance. This fix is the total opposite of what they say is important, game balance.
Agreed! After the extreme drought in the throwing error department last year, it's refreshing to see. Is it overdone? Maybe, but I just hope they don't revert it to being nonexistent again, particularly CPU throwing errors.
And balls hitting the pitcher? I've had it happen 3 times. Twice of the cleats/insole, on of them hard. On the hard one the trainer popped out of the dugout, but the pitcher immediately waved him off and appeared fine.
The third time my pitcher got drilled in the calf. He had to leave the game with a bruise, and was listed as inured for 3 days. I did have the option to leave him in, and I also got to play him while he was injured (he pitched on day 2 of the injury for an inning).
Still have that legacy issue with relievers coming in with energy missing even when they were full (and no, I'm not warming them up too long), and I've still seen the unnecessary crow hop, though far less then last year (thank goodness). Overall though, easily the best on the field game the Show has made. I wish I could say the same for off the field...
CPU runners are also a bit too aggressive. Catchers can now block pitches in the dirt better, but the base runners still think the ball is at the backstop. This means the CPU will try to advance bases on blocked pitches in the dirt, which result them in being thrown out too often.
sure they do. Some come off the bat a little too quick, but they get the job done , moving the runner over.
Are you saying that when I bunt and it shoots all the way to the 1st basemen or 3rd basemen. It's stuck that way for those of us who play offline?
The real question is: why don't they look at the inherent problem that something else must be broken then? Wouldn't the MLB just cheese real life if it were that simple to win a division and championship?
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And balls hitting the pitcher? I've had it happen 3 times. Twice of the cleats/insole, on of them hard. On the hard one the trainer popped out of the dugout, but the pitcher immediately waved him off and appeared fine.
The third time my pitcher got drilled in the calf. He had to leave the game with a bruise, and was listed as inured for 3 days. I did have the option to leave him in, and I also got to play him while he was injured (he pitched on day 2 of the injury for an inning).
Still have that legacy issue with relievers coming in with energy missing even when they were full (and no, I'm not warming them up too long), and I've still seen the unnecessary crow hop, though far less then last year (thank goodness). Overall though, easily the best on the field game the Show has made. I wish I could say the same for off the field...
Same here. I'm seeing a good balance as it is now, so I really hope they don't change much of anything.
I asked this a couple of years ago. Posters said that even if the screen says that upon warming up, he will enter the game fully ready to go.
Turning the double play with the second baseman, sometimes the power on the throw is non existent. Even when the runner isn't near you to break up the play, the 2nd baseman will not get enough power on the throw to get the second out.
Shortstop doesn't have that issue, it's really just the second baseman lobbing the ball to first.
Also, pitchers covering first on a grounder. I can understand Billy Hamilton flying down the line and beating a pitcher. But I had Yadier Molina beat Jacob DeGrom down the line because the pitcher never made a move to first.
They're too slow off the mound to cover the bag, and you need to hope your 1st baseman can make it back. Considering this is the most basic thing they teach pitchers with fielding, it's annoying to see in the game.
I’ve also seen an issue pop up twice now with a man on 1st the SS fields a ball going toward second and instead of throwing or stepping on 2b he holds onto the ball until both runners have reached base, then he throws or runs toward 2b.
I’m seeing an issue where in the majority of my games my pitcher falls apart in the 6th inning no matter how well he’s done in prior innings.
however once i got used to the PCI wow what a difference in regards to directional.
- the hits that strike pitchers are far too often. I have like 2-3 a game. Off arms, heads, backs
Its bad
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Obviously SDS agrees that the frequency with which pitchers are hit by balls is too high because they've decided to treat the symptom (Pitchers not being taken out of the game when hit) rather than the problem.
This needs to be one of their top animation/AI focuses for MLB the Show 19 as it's been a problem for too long.
Except for Brooks Robinson...and overall adjustments could harm the best glove EVER at 3B.
I normally let the AI handle the defense for me, so if I should be doing something in that situation, I'm not sure what. I button mashed each time but nothing made the catcher throw to first. Anyone else run into this? Or is it me, being a newbie and missing something obvious?
The only two problems are: 1) they are on the most routine of plays (and I know that happens, but I'm just not convinced the game has anything in there that determines the play's difficulty as a part of the reason for the error is all); 2) not all of them are scored as errors, and a lot of them are undeserved hits... I'd much rather take the error as it should be.
Still had 263 in 23 years. I see your point 100%. What's your sample size? In the end, it's still a video game. I feel like there isn't really a reason for the errors in the game, they just happen. I'll gladly take what we have now with sliders mattering, than years past where everyone was akin to Mr. Robinson...
I also think its dumb how often the pitcher takes a liner off his body and still makes the out. Again, does this happen some IRL? Yes!! but not this much
Well, honestly it should really depend which part of the region the pitcher gets hit by the ball. If a pitcher gets hit by a ball in the face "IRL" he/she will exit the game. No player can take a liner to the face and still pitch in the game lol.
If a pitcher is hit by a ball other than their face then it would make sense for them to stay in the game but of course depending on which part of the region. Like you have mentioned Wareagle I would like to see the pitcher behave differently. "IRL" it would be very difficult for a pitcher to take a liner and still make a play.
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Also, the scoring is pretty bad on errors. Im seeing a lot off fielding errors in the infield that are being scored hits.
Also, the scoring is pretty bad on errors. Im seeing a lot off fielding errors in the infield that are being scored hits.
Yeah first couple games I saw a lot of horrific throws.
And too bad that errors-scored-as-hits is still a thing :(
Only because they choose a terrible solution, one that doesn't even make sense in the context of their own game and engine.
Players have bunt ratings - if they are trash, the bunts should miss/go foul a lot. That would take the risk/reward out of it as you're more likely to throw away PAs than you are to get a cheesy hit.
Then the players that it makes sense to bunt with - the guys with decent bunt ratings, have decent or better chances at the good ones...and these are guys you might bring corners in to guard bunt against...the baseball version of a "natural counter".
All from just respecting the ratings they already have in the game...then you have your video game balance without ruining the actual baseball. Why they didn't do that, I'd love to know...
Players have bunt ratings - if they are trash, the bunts should miss/go foul a lot. That would take the risk/reward out of it as you're more likely to throw away PAs than you are to get a cheesy hit.
Then the players that it makes sense to bunt with - the guys with decent bunt ratings, have decent or better chances at the good ones...and these are guys you might bring corners in to guard bunt against...the baseball version of a "natural counter".
All from just respecting the ratings they already have in the game...then you have your video game balance without ruining the actual baseball. Why they didn't do that, I'd love to know...
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Now, my issue with fielding is on balls your infielder dives for and you dont have time to change directions before it auto switches to your outfielder. Your outfielder get stuck running in the direction you were holding for your infielder even after letting go of the stick and runs by the ball.
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Players have bunt ratings - if they are trash, the bunts should miss/go foul a lot. That would take the risk/reward out of it as you're more likely to throw away PAs than you are to get a cheesy hit.
Then the players that it makes sense to bunt with - the guys with decent bunt ratings, have decent or better chances at the good ones...and these are guys you might bring corners in to guard bunt against...the baseball version of a "natural counter".
All from just respecting the ratings they already have in the game...then you have your video game balance without ruining the actual baseball. Why they didn't do that, I'd love to know...
I like this idea as well.
To further expand on this discussion, what would you think about bunting being done in a completely analog way similar to how PCI/zone hitting is?? For example, let's say that L2 becomes the initial bunt command. The L/R sticks would control your bat position in the zone (actually putting bat to ball) and the other would be to aim and control speed (deaden a bunt down the third base line or push one between the P/1B). The ratings could really influence how well the hitter moves the bat in the zone and how well they can control the ball off the bat, as well as put some skill in execution onto the user.
All balls this year are hit with what seems to be extreme backspin. They removed the top spin hits that were implemented last year. Don't know why.
To further expand on this discussion, what would you think about bunting being done in a completely analog way similar to how PCI/zone hitting is?? For example, let's say that L2 becomes the initial bunt command. The L/R sticks would control your bat position in the zone (actually putting bat to ball) and the other would be to aim and control speed (deaden a bunt down the third base line or push one between the P/1B). The ratings could really influence how well the hitter moves the bat in the zone and how well they can control the ball off the bat, as well as put some skill in execution onto the user.
That actually sounds really badass.
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Well that’s good to hear, that means it’s right in line with real baseball. The third time through the lineup is a killer for most starting pitchers.
Baseball is changing And you should be happy you’re starting pitcher gave you six good innings. Everything is about the bullpen now, guys that pitch 200 innings a season will soon be extinct. Don’t even remember the last 20 game winner. Kind of sucks but what are you gonna do?
Personally I don’t understand why some are insisting on treating the problem with bunting as dire or serious enough to complain and act like it is ruining the game. All you should be trying to do is move the runner over. If the ball being hit too hard results in a double play, then you have to adjust and make the runner steal while Bunting. And if you miss the bunt and get thrown out stealing, maybe it’s time you come over to the American League and quit with all that nonsense bunting tomfoolery.
Trust me, I’m an Astros fan that reluctantly had to switch after being in the National League all my life. I did not want them to go and never liked the designated hitter. Trust me, there is no way I would ever want to go back to watching the pitcher take at bats away from players that are actually paid to bat. Just thinking about them standing there like they’ve never held a bat before. I should not know a player is a picture just by watching them stand in the box LOL
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This happens on fly balls, balls over my outfielder's head and ground balls to the gap. Very frustrating.
This happens on fly balls, balls over my outfielder's head and ground balls to the gap. Very frustrating.
This happens when I get a ground ball to first and the first baseman fields it. He starts towards the base. It then slowly jogs/walks like diagonally opposite from it. I've tried four different controllers so it's not my controller either.
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I've played 4 whole games and the CPU has attempted 2 against me. Just 2 minutes ago, it attempted one in the bottom of the 9th with 1 out and down by 1.
I dont know whats going on.
I dont know whats going on.
Out of curiosity, who attempted the bunt?
Khris Davis on the A's.
Just curious as to see if maybe this year the CPU is only attempting suicide squeezes with players with higher bunt ratings.
I dont know whats going on.
I don't know I have heard a lot people say this was a issues for the last like 5 years and I played all those games out side of 17 and never had any issue at all with this.
I dont know whats going on.
The CPU manager has been quite cookie cutter in its strategy and it often uses bunt (sacrifice & suicide squeeze) in a close game (tie or 1-run game) in late innings, regardless of the batter at the plate (even with the power guy).
Bunting is embarrassingly dumb, but absolutely no change/improvement for the past few years.
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I dont know whats going on.
This drives me absolutely nuts, I supplied so many video examples of this and sent them to SDS, especially the back to back attempts. For a good 3 years this has been a problem, I gave up.
The bunting AI is absolutely embarrassing in this series.
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This happens on fly balls, balls over my outfielder's head and ground balls to the gap. Very frustrating.
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This happens on fly balls, balls over my outfielder's head and ground balls to the gap. Very frustrating.
Oh man this drives me nuts. Given up quite few runs because of this. And no urgency with throws or it takes to long to go into the throw animation even when you've pre loaded the throw.
Not a huge bug but it needs to be fixed.
I play All-star, franchise, all sliders set at default - does anybody believe the hitting is toned down more with this release? I use directional when hitting and when I got a high fastball I usually parked this pitch. It seems like they have adjusted that aspect so that now it generates pop ups.
Well, athletes do wear protective cups... maybe it served its job just as a helmet or elbow guard does a hitter.
Still, at the very least I would be left lookin' like :crazy:.
It would be informative if people who are responding state what mode they are playng and whether you are on a PS3, PS4 or PS4 Pro.
Just curious.
I play All-star, franchise, all sliders set at default - does anybody believe the hitting is toned down more with this release? I use directional when hitting and when I got a high fastball I usually parked this pitch. It seems like they have adjusted that aspect so that now it generates pop ups.
The PCI mechanics have changed so this might be what you're seeing. If your batter was too much under the pitch, you get a popup more likely now.
The batted ball type is influenced a lot by where the PCI is in relation to the ball.
https://youtu.be/kSsJFN_qcRo
It would be informative if people who are responding state what mode they are playng and whether you are on a PS3, PS4 or PS4 Pro.
Just curious.
PS4 Pro here
https://youtu.be/kSsJFN_qcRo
Wow. What mode is this? The 10' relay was awesome. Since I have always played Season and/or Franchise - I've never seen the game kick the slomo in like it did here.
The batted ball type is influenced a lot by where the PCI is in relation to the ball.
Thanks for the feedback. It's definitely changed. To the game's improvement they have fixed the following issues in what I believe makes the game more realistic:
1. The L2 steal. More runners are getting thrown out and the CPU is quicker to pick up tendencies. Opponent's are pitching out on 1-1 counts more often.
2. As I mentioned before - the directional hitting along with the guess pitch - not seeing as many high strikes in the zone and when I do I'm seeing more pop-ups instead HR's.
3. The hitting mechanics are lot better. Seeing more popup hits and more hits with 2 outs and the runner on 2nd scores more often. I felt in in 17 and other versions there was way too many outs at the plate.
4. Throws to home are for sure reduced. I play the Rays and Keirmaier led the league in the PO's at home with 24 - this has been toned done considerably now.
5. I still see the CPU get extremely favorable base running boosts. One game had Holt and Bradley on 3rd and 2nd respectively - hitter lines a base hit - Bradly scores it what appeared to be 3 ' behind Holt when he scored. This meant to me that Bradly was stealing 3rd and Holt was standing there? Balls move by Cora.
6. I still can't throw very many base runners out. Opponent's are getting way too good of jumps. It's probably more on me requiring me to stay more focused on the runner but once they break and I usually release the throw in the green - the runner is usually safe due to the great jump.
7. Pickoffs - I see very few pickoffs. When I do it's always the runner breaking too soon and the 1st baseman throws him out at 2nd.
As mentioned before I play Franchise, All-Star level, all sliders at 5, guess pitch ON, directional hitting. I ca add more settings if anybody is interested.
All in all the improvements are great for the game.
The only things I wish were back or added are:
1. The ability to mash a button and get the weather displayed.
2. Bring back the details when you select fast forward. As of now the fast forward is quicker but who needed that? The details that were provided before I felt still gave to a feeling of being manager mode and the ability to stop the fast forward based on the results. You can still stop it but all in all the previous versions code for fast forward was better.
That's it for now.