I don't know how to prove this, but many (many) years of RBI playing seems to bear it out. It's similar to how a pinch hitter has more contact power for the first pitch or two.
It seems that the first pitch by a relief pitcher is, more often than not, hammered into the bleachers for a HR by all but the most incompetent oppenent.
It's gotten to the point that we call that pitch "The Greeter". In our league, when bringing a reliever in, the first pitch is now almost ALWAYS thrown far far outside, where it can't be hit. After that, everything seems to calm down. If "The Greeter" is anywhere near the plate, it seems destined to get out of the stadium quickly.
Anyone else seen this behavior? Or is it just me <grin>.
Thanks!
There is a Pinch hitter bonus and before this was proven people hypothesized that there was a power boost for pinch hitter or during a pitching change (I think the COTUT website suggested this). I'm not certain whether or not this has been disproven.
I've noticed this phenomenon too, although I kind of doubt it's for real. Someone who's played with the debugger in an emulator needs to check this out, pronto.
By the way, "The Greeter" is a great name for that.
Quote from: BeefMaster on 02/22/08, 04:10:36 PM
By the way, "The Greeter" is a great name for that.
Mike Myers was a pro at this when he pitched for the DBacks.
i just think its that most relievers dont have as much motion and people will try to just toss a hot one and hope that the batter doesnt get around on it
Quote from: fknmclane on 02/22/08, 05:24:00 PM
Quote from: BeefMaster on 02/22/08, 04:10:36 PM
By the way, "The Greeter" is a great name for that.
Mike Myers was a pro at this when he pitched for the DBacks.
Javier Vasquez was as well, at least during the postseason with the Yanks, at least twice his first pitch (always a flat fastball) was hammered into the left field bleachers.
Plus, his chain always pissed me off.
Donnie Moore's greeter rating is twice the norm. And 5 times the norm when the game is on the line.
Calvin Schiraldi tends to do this also.
Playing against the computer, I've noticed that it will almost always groove a fastball right down the middle of the plate for the first pitch when a reliever comes in.
Quote from: broiler on 02/22/08, 06:33:10 PM
i just think its that most relievers dont have as much motion and people will try to just toss a hot one and hope that the batter doesnt get around on it
I cant say i've noticed this phenominon, but if so this could be a plausible explanation. A tiring starter throing in the 70's leads you to believe that you can blow one by a batter with a fresh arm.
On the level, most relievers dont have the same stuff the starters do(with a few exceptions).
Quote from: Todd Blythe Time on 02/23/08, 10:20:32 AM
Quote from: broiler on 02/22/08, 06:33:10 PM
i just think its that most relievers dont have as much motion and people will try to just toss a hot one and hope that the batter doesnt get around on it
I cant say i've noticed this phenominon, but if so this could be a plausible explanation.
Keep in mind that this is the guy who believes in the early throw bop.
Quote from: Attezzobal on 02/23/08, 01:22:44 PM
Keep in mind that this is the guy who believes in life after love. i can feel something inside me say, i really dont think you're strong enough now
what if like way back in 2002 kirk rueter gave up a greeter to jeter?
while throwing a heater?
after scratching his peter?
Grin. Loving the talk of "The Greeter", a term that's been used with much hilarity by us for many years of RBI'ing.
And yes, I've seen many real world "Greeters" over the years. You can almost hear it coming when they trot a reliever in from the dugout. The RBI theme plays in my head, and you know what's coming next.
Would love to see if the debugger bears this out as truth. Would explain a lot. As well as proving whether or not I need to waste a pitch every time to avoid "The Greeter".
At least I've contributed a new RBI phrase you can use now <ROTFL>!!!
i got through that entire post before seeing "ROTFL" and then realizing it wasn't gantry. greeter, please change your avatar picture to another team. although i do share your love for the california angels, only gantry uses that pic and it's very confusing when someone else uses that one.
nonetheless, you are welcome here and we look forward to more of your input.
Will find a more unique avatar. Thanks. Glad to be among friends.
Quote from: The Greeter on 02/23/08, 07:23:15 PM
At least I've contributed a new RBI phrase you can use now <ROTFL>!!!
Now you've contributed two.
Also, TBG, don't be a jerk!
Welcome "The Greeter" - great initial contribution to the forums!
I'd check the emulator and see if this is true, but to be honest I'm lazy and my debugging setup is now on another PC. Would take me awhile to get my tools setup and to remember all the memory locations, so I'm hoping nightwulf will take the plunge...
I also think that it's likely an issue with relievers throwing meatballs on their first pitch, but it should be proven but someone more enterprising than myself.
The Greeter is indeed a great name, a glossary update perhaps?
I'm absolutely done trying to solve any "RBI mysteries" after the last fiasco. I've got a text file with RAM locations, but that's all the help I'll be.
I also don't recall seeing anything unusual in pitcher data on their first appearance.
Lovely theory, this is something I have noticed myself. Although I'm inclined to attribute the instinct of the pitching player to throw a first-pitch strike past the batter, and the corresponding instinct of the batting player to drill said first pitch fastball for a longball, to an attempt at breaking out a "secret weapon,", it's probably no coincidence that Schiraldi and Moore have already been referenced in this thread. Of course the natural strategy is to have the relief pitcher do something the previous pitcher couldn't do (namely to throw a 96mph heater), but I think the human opponent is always one step ahead and ready for this tactic. Since dearest Nightwulf is in goosechase retirement, I suppose the best way to test would be playing against the CPU (both offensively and defensely) and trying to track a trend... Tho my money is still on the predictability of the "surprise" (as I would not expect a similar phenomenon to be noticed against the likes of Stanley or Robinson, for example).
Quote from: nightwulf on 02/24/08, 06:48:00 PM
I'm absolutely done trying to solve any "RBI mysteries" after the last fiasco. I've got a text file with RAM locations, but that's all the help I'll be.
I also don't recall seeing anything unusual in pitcher data on their first appearance.
What was the last fiasco?
is he talking about the early-throw bop investigation? That's the only thing I can think of. Although I'm not exactly sure what went on with that either.
I'm going to set up my PC today to run a test as mentioned above. I (think) I can save a version of the game so that it starts just after a reliever is brought on, and then see what happens. No guarantees on debugging this way from me, clearly not an expert here as many of you clearly are. But if I get any reasonable feedback, I'll let you know.
BTW - The proper use of the term is after the pitch is launched and is clearly heading into the outer atmosphere. That's when you yell "The Greeter"!
I am excited to see the results.
Although I never really noticed that more home runs were hit when a reliever is first brought in, in college we would always yell, "Welcome to the game, bitch!", whenever this phenomenon would happen.
Keep in mind, we played mostly str8 pitch, so there was a lot of swearing.
nice, geeter. i see you're a trathlete too. another poster here "prettiest mclane" and i also dabble in the tri.
attezz, who's the jerk now?
actually attez, your aviator change was a nice jab. touche
Quote from: Big Hath on 02/25/08, 09:26:46 AM
is he talking about the early-throw bop investigation? That's the only thing I can think of. Although I'm not exactly sure what went on with that either.
the investigation is still under way. with some serious developments and whatnot
Quote from: broiler on 02/25/08, 10:46:41 AM
Quote from: Big Hath on 02/25/08, 09:26:46 AM
is he talking about the early-throw bop investigation? That's the only thing I can think of. Although I'm not exactly sure what went on with that either.
the investigation is still under way. with some serious developments and whatnot
I just don't understand how a short throw could affect the results from the RNG that leads to a bop.
It's best that you keep quiet Stock, don't provoke him...
Per the earlier post, yes I'm a triathlete, two years into the sport. Middle-packer at best, currently. Hey, you can't play RBI 24/7, right?
This weekend I'm in the LA Marathon, my first full marathon. I'll be so far behind the Kenyan's you can't believe it.
Quote from: Stock on 02/25/08, 11:09:55 AM
Quote from: broiler on 02/25/08, 10:46:41 AM
Quote from: Big Hath on 02/25/08, 09:26:46 AM
is he talking about the early-throw bop investigation? That's the only thing I can think of. Although I'm not exactly sure what went on with that either.
the investigation is still under way. with some serious developments and whatnot
I just don't understand how a short throw could affect the results from the RNG that leads to a bop.
Haywire
Quote from: The Greeter on 02/25/08, 12:50:27 PM
Per the earlier post, yes I'm a triathlete, two years into the sport. Middle-packer at best, currently. Hey, you can't play RBI 24/7, right?
This weekend I'm in the LA Marathon, my first full marathon. I'll be so far behind the Kenyan's you can't believe it.
wrong.
See RBI marathon thread.
I have started getting back into Super Mega Baseball since the baseball season started, and during a game over my lunch break I hit a homer on the first pitch from a new reliever and yelled "The Greeter!" out loud to my empty house.
Quote from: BeefMaster on 04/18/19, 03:49:18 PM
I have started getting back into Super Mega Baseball since the baseball season started, and during a game over my lunch break I hit a homer on the first pitch from a new reliever and yelled "The Greeter!" out loud to my empty house.
BUMP - did this again today
OMG I love this.
"One of us.....one of us....one of us..............................."
Quote from: BeefMaster on 04/18/19, 03:49:18 PM
I have started getting back into Super Mega Baseball since the baseball season started, and during a game over my lunch break I hit a homer on the first pitch from a new reliever and yelled "The Greeter!" out loud to my empty house.
I love how Pennant Race is available for play with the Nintendo Switch demo. been playing with some of my free time in the evenings.