Useful Live Cards

[RevanFan]

I've seen many, many people say to avoid using live cards in PT, other than in some tournaments like Bronze and Iron, so I have to ask: Are there any 2021 live cards that are actually useful for how they play and not just for completing missions? Personally I've had very little success with most of them, and my team is only in a Silver league right now. I imagine if I haven't had success with most by this point, they'll just continue to get worse as I move up. So yeah... are any 2021 live cards actually worth keeping rather than selling if they're not locked?

[kq76]

Not really, no. Well, there's a few batters like Trout, Acuna, Tatis that may last you awhile. But most live cards are just too volatile or they just don't live up to our expectations due to how we view the real players (e.g., Ohtani). As for pitchers, I was most psyched when I pulled a deGrom, but even he doesn't perform that well for me.

Another problem with live cards is people often forget about them and once their ratings change people don't re-evaluate them. Look at enough tournament teams and you'll notice players that were once rated *9 overall are still in their lineup, or worse, their ratings have gotten so much better that they're no longer eligible to be on the roster and the person hasn't replaced them.

[Magus978]

Originally Posted by RevanFan

I've seen many, many people say to avoid using live cards in PT, other than in some tournaments like Bronze and Iron, so I have to ask: Are there any 2021 live cards that are actually useful for how they play and not just for completing missions? Personally I've had very little success with most of them, and my team is only in a Silver league right now. I imagine if I haven't had success with most by this point, they'll just continue to get worse as I move up. So yeah... are any 2021 live cards actually worth keeping rather than selling if they're not locked?

Live trash are a means to an end. Nothing more, nothing less.

[professor ape]

Live cards are only useful in certain tournaments. They just can’t compete with the historical cards, even in the middle levels. If you think about it, that makes sense since the Live cards are reflecting players’ performance in the here and now. Those cards are trying to compete with cards which often represent Peak performance levels for all-time greats. Also remember that as a card game, those historical cards are generally beefed up another level. Effectively the game feeds PEDs to historical cards.

[catholic]

Im only in Iron League but I notice that live pitcher cards are good. Makes sense since pitchers in this baseball age are better than anytime in the history of baseball as there is increased speed on pitches with movement.

[professor ape]

Originally Posted by catholic

Im only in Iron League but I notice that live pitcher cards are good. Makes sense since pitchers in this baseball age are better than anytime in the history of baseball as there is increased speed on pitches with movement.

I expect that there are a fair number of playable Live cards at Iron. Keep in mind that the Overall rating is misleading when comparing Live and Historical cards. In general, Historical cards will be stronger than Live cards with the same Overall rating, usually significantly better.

[frankbama]

Originally Posted by catholic

Im only in Iron League but I notice that live pitcher cards are good. Makes sense since pitchers in this baseball age are better than anytime in the history of baseball as there is increased speed on pitches with movement.

If you see the individual ratings on cards, pitchers generally have much lower movement than control and stuff. This leads to a lot more HRs allowed which is basically how it deflates live pitcher usefulness. Lower levels your guys will still strike out the weaker batters but as you go up the better hitters are going to start crushing even DeGrom. I wish the live elites would fit in with historicals but that's not how it works now. Avoidks generally lower for hitters as well.

[frankbama]

Originally Posted by RevanFan

I've seen many, many people say to avoid using live cards in PT, other than in some tournaments like Bronze and Iron, so I have to ask: Are there any 2021 live cards that are actually useful for how they play and not just for completing missions? Personally I've had very little success with most of them, and my team is only in a Silver league right now. I imagine if I haven't had success with most by this point, they'll just continue to get worse as I move up. So yeah... are any 2021 live cards actually worth keeping rather than selling if they're not locked?

If you haven't acquired good catching yet the Hedges, Sanchez and Mathis cards can help as backup catchers. They won't hit $#@! but their defense will help your pitchers if you have no other options.

[Orcin]

I got good results with Acuna as a fourth outfielder in my early years in diamond. That said, we didn't have many of the good pitching options yet so he might not be playable these days. I can't think of anyone else that should be on a diamond level roster.

[catholic]

thank you!

[Hertston]

Originally Posted by professor ape

In general, Historical cards will be stronger than Live cards with the same Overall rating, usually significantly better.

With a strong proviso on when in the game cycle the cards were released. Initially, there was little difference between them, but the discrepancy soared as subsequent releases beefed the stats of historical cards. Even then most rosters are packed with mission reward rather than drop historicals as the latter now consists of mostly 'now underpowered and unplayable', a few 'uber and largely unaffordable' with very little in between.

[professor ape]

Originally Posted by Hertston

With a strong proviso on when in the game cycle the cards were released. Initially, there was little difference between them, but the discrepancy soared as subsequent releases beefed the stats of historical cards. Even then most rosters are packed with mission reward rather than drop historicals as the latter now consists of mostly 'now underpowered and unplayable', a few 'uber and largely unaffordable' with very little in between.

The rewards from the Franchise Heroes mission track do dominate the rosters at the higher levels although there are a fair number of top tier cards that are available in packs only. The Bill Dickey card is one I’ve been wishing to pull. The odds are long, but it could happen. Again, I’m F2P and I have been able to complete all available missions so it can be done.

[daves]

I actually made theme team of live cards only. Doing great in Rookie, but we will see how far live players can advance? In PT19, you could win a perfect title with live players. The later versions not so much.