Power Pros Forum

Using patterns is good, but like K-Rod, the Fastball-Fastball-Slider-Sit routine gets old quickly. You need to be ready to mix up pitches to the point where it's about as random as a "stupid computer" if needed to keep guys off balance.

It appears your guy is a breaking ball pitcher, try to paint corners and drop pitches into the strike zone, then just a little outside (you'd be surprised how many ground balls you get). Don't be afraid to slam a fastball in there, place it high, as batters may be waiting for the breaking ball to drop and swing anyways.

Your SIFB is probably near the speed of your fastball, and can't compliment it like a change. Compliment your SIFB with a slower pitch with more drop, or use it as a starter pitch inside.

And also don't be afraid to throw your pitches high in the zone. The only effects seem to be the ball going higher in the air, but it isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

Wow... in real baseball, a belt or abs-high changeup (or curveball) over the middle of the plate is asking to get slammed. Here, as long as you don't do it too often, it works pretty well to get whiffs or weak contact, and sometimes they just watch it go by. Thanks. I'm kind of surprised there isn't a hanging penalty (for breaking balls that start in the hitting zone and stay there).

Remember this is a Japanese baseball game and in Japan I always hear about how the pitching is much more advanced compared to hitting and how throwing it high isn't seen as that bad.

Maybe it's more that you don't have lineups where half or more of the guys can take you deep if you serve up an up-in-the-zone pitch... Matsui was a monster over there, and here he's a decent LF.

I've heard that they play more smallball there too, as opposed to playing for the 3-R HR; if people aren't swinging for the fences all the time, perhaps higher pitches aren't so dangerous.