Power Pros Forum

Hey guys. I'm currently making a closer in success mode, and so far he has a level one two-seam fastball, and a level one knuckleball (gambling for level two as I type), and I was wondering what your thoughts were on the right fastball speed with a knuckleball. Should I still go for that 105 mph fastball even though a knuckleball (in my opinion) is more effective when it's slower?

A good knuckleball is when it does not just sit there, around 90mph is good, with a slow curve or drop curve as the 3rd pitch.

So... I SHOULD still go for a high fastball?

I don't think it matters very much. My Terminator closer has 105 tspd and a level 7 knuckleball, he's dominant. What does matter more is how high the third pitch is. If the third pitch is only a 1 or 2, then the AI will always guess knuckleball, and they hit it sometimes. If the third pitch is a 6 or 7 then the AI will have a tougher time figuring out what the pitcher is going to throw.

also, a pitch with speed somewhere between a slider and a splitter is great, that's what makes david wrong so dominant (his slider breaks across 2/3rds of the strike zone on a normal day.)

In real life and I believe in the game, you can throw a 200 mile fast ball and you'd still throw a 60 mile knuckler, it's the way you throw it, not the strength you put into it. That's why I find that my closer Flame Thrower (Lame name, I know) is so effective. One minute your throwing a level 7 knuckler and next minute a 105 mile fast ball with plenty of movement blows by you. Throw in a 2-seamer (though I have level 3, I find level 1 works better as there is such a small difference from it and a fastball and the drop is much more unexpected). He has a few other pitches that he mixes in when he spot-starts or ends up pitching 3+ innings, but normally he sticks with those.

You get strike outs galore with this combination.

No, there's a variation from 49 mph up to 75-76ish mph for the knuckler. Terminator, who has a 105 mph fastball, throws a knuckleball 75 mph, which is about as fast as Tim Wakefield's fastball, and you can get the knuckleball to go at 49 mph if you edit a pitcher to 49mph top speed.

same w/ david wrong.
a gyroball 100mph to a LV 7 knuckler kills.
the 2-seamer works wonders, and his slider (also level 7, orig. rising) is insane, also a good middle-speed pitch to catch them off guard, especially if they're looking for a KN.

It's all difficulty settign and how you use it. Definitley go for speed. You can't go wrong with a little extra heat.

Really, that's a shame. I go for speed too. I don't like the Gyroball, it doesn't feel natrual and it's not fun to pitch with one for me, despite being effective (though not nearly as effective against computers as it is against a human player). I find that if your going for a girl plot line, go for Intimidator and Strikeout King or whatever the strike out ability is called.

It's Dr. K.

from what ive seen in the 2008 version is the knuckleball is still one of the best pitches but not as effective as in the 2007 version, i think having a second low pitch is always good, such as a splitter that comes twice as fast when you have someone who pitches up in the triple digits

I agree, that seems to work well.

Yes, my closer has the same, a slow swooping maxed pitch, but I can't remember the name.

Terminator has a level 3 V-SLD to back up his knuckleball.