OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Pitcher and Catcher Intelligence and chemisty

potatoman · 06-14-2003, 07:41 PM

I always felt that the sucess of a pitcher is not his control or how hard he throws. I think that the best pitchers to every pitch in the league are the ones who are smart. Sure control and velocity plays an important role in their pitching but sometimes when the batter is guessing fastball and the pitcher throws a heater straight down the middle, its gonna get crushed no matter what. Maddux and Zito are good examples. Maddux and Zito are both VERY smart pitchers. They can throw hard and have good control but their pitch decision, i feel, generates success for them. If they have bad pitch selection, they would not be as dominant as they are now. Also, a major factor is the catcher. The catcher must be good at calling pitches for the pitcher to suceed also. I also feel that the catchers range should be determined by the chemistry between the pitcher. If the catcher knows where the balls going, hes gonna catch it.

In ootp, the game does not take these factors in account. Pitchers pitch the same way to all cathers and theres no difference if you change cathers. In real life, sometimes the manager has to switch cathers because some pitchers like working with only one catcher.

What im trying to say is...

1.) Pitchers should have a intelligence rating (pitch selection rating) which will also help determine greatly on how they perform in pitching. In ootp6, MARKUS has stated that he will take away the ratings for avoiding 2b,3b,hr. The selection of the pitch could replace that. If a pitcher throws a smart pitch and the batter makes contact, it probably won't go for extra bases.

2.) Catchers should have an intelligence rating. This will be another factor to influence the pitchers ratings, when the pitcher is pitching, if the catchers make bad calls, he will get hammered. Maybe not all the time but a lot of times.

3.)Catchers should have chemisty levels with all pitchers. There should be a whole new player card page that states all the pitchers the catcher has caught for. The more games that they play together, the more chemistry they will develop. When the catcher knows the pitcher inside and out, he will know what the pitchers strong pitches are and what his weak pitches are therefore making him call even better plays depending on the pitcher. Since spring training games may be added, there could be a function where the catcher and pitcher can work together.

4.) Pitchers need strong pitchers. As of now, in OOTP5, all pitches the pitchers pitch have the same chance of being hit. In real life, this is not true. Almost every pitcher has a strong pitch. EX. randy johnson and his slided, kerry woods slide, zitos slider. These are pitches the pitcher can goto when hes in a jam and know that it will work out. Pitchers should have some pitchers that they master and have an effect in the game.

Im not sure if this is all clear but i had very little time. What do you guys think of this? or is it too complex thinking? anyone agree?

06-14-2003, 07:41 PM	#1
potatoman Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,410 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Pitcher and Catcher Intelligence and chemisty I always felt that the sucess of a pitcher is not his control or how hard he throws. I think that the best pitchers to every pitch in the league are the ones who are smart. Sure control and velocity plays an important role in their pitching but sometimes when the batter is guessing fastball and the pitcher throws a heater straight down the middle, its gonna get crushed no matter what. Maddux and Zito are good examples. Maddux and Zito are both VERY smart pitchers. They can throw hard and have good control but their pitch decision, i feel, generates success for them. If they have bad pitch selection, they would not be as dominant as they are now. Also, a major factor is the catcher. The catcher must be good at calling pitches for the pitcher to suceed also. I also feel that the catchers range should be determined by the chemistry between the pitcher. If the catcher knows where the balls going, hes gonna catch it. In ootp, the game does not take these factors in account. Pitchers pitch the same way to all cathers and theres no difference if you change cathers. In real life, sometimes the manager has to switch cathers because some pitchers like working with only one catcher. What im trying to say is... 1.) Pitchers should have a intelligence rating (pitch selection rating) which will also help determine greatly on how they perform in pitching. In ootp6, MARKUS has stated that he will take away the ratings for avoiding 2b,3b,hr. The selection of the pitch could replace that. If a pitcher throws a smart pitch and the batter makes contact, it probably won't go for extra bases. 2.) Catchers should have an intelligence rating. This will be another factor to influence the pitchers ratings, when the pitcher is pitching, if the catchers make bad calls, he will get hammered. Maybe not all the time but a lot of times. 3.)Catchers should have chemisty levels with all pitchers. There should be a whole new player card page that states all the pitchers the catcher has caught for. The more games that they play together, the more chemistry they will develop. When the catcher knows the pitcher inside and out, he will know what the pitchers strong pitches are and what his weak pitches are therefore making him call even better plays depending on the pitcher. Since spring training games may be added, there could be a function where the catcher and pitcher can work together. 4.) Pitchers need strong pitchers. As of now, in OOTP5, all pitches the pitchers pitch have the same chance of being hit. In real life, this is not true. Almost every pitcher has a strong pitch. EX. randy johnson and his slided, kerry woods slide, zitos slider. These are pitches the pitcher can goto when hes in a jam and know that it will work out. Pitchers should have some pitchers that they master and have an effect in the game. Im not sure if this is all clear but i had very little time. What do you guys think of this? or is it too complex thinking? anyone agree?