Does anyone here refuse to go easy, even on RBI beginners? Would it be better to really go easy on someone the first times they play...or just go all out in the hopes it will get them better faster?
I don't change much but since we play straight pitch it's pretty easy for new players to be competitive after a few games. If somebody's new, I usually am not very aggressive on the basepaths and don't change speeds as much on pitches.
If you're playing someone new, I'd say be down with the fact the newbie's ass is grass. It's best to just pitch the ball down the middle and show 'em how to get a legit hit.
I always dominate newbies. I don't give a shit.
I find that if you want the "newbie" to play a second game, you got to give them a slight taste of success...like a ground out to first or a foul ball. Other than that, AN ENEMY DESERVES NO MERCY!
That's very true. Most newbies refuse to play after an initial beatdown. You gotta let them get at least one hit.
I think straight pitch is why we've been able to introduce so many new people to RBI. Newbies still get destroyed but it seems like they are able to become competitive in a relatively short amount of time. I've dropped my share of 30 point games on newbies but now we have probably 15-20 people in Portsmouth who play RBI on a regular basis.
You gotta take it easy on the newbie, at lesat for a little while. If they haven't played the game in years (or at all), they are simply going to get crushed. It's probably worse in curve, but in straight it takes them at least a few games to field and not swing late at every pitch. I usually do Houston with no subs and give them Detroit or Boston. They still won't be able to win but they at least have a chance...
But then again, we don't get too many newbies anymore....
Score as much as you want, but just give them a few runs to let them think they're still in it
I concur with Gantry. If I'm playing with a newbie, I give them a choice of the best teams and I choose a team that I suck with (Ho or NY). I bat with the order given to me and only pinch hit for the pitcher. You gotta take it easy on the newbies in order for them to want to play again.