I was chatting with a guy that is really, really good at RBI. We play a lot of 1 player, but he can score tons of runs. I asked what his secret was, and he said, "You just have to learn how to manipulate the pitcher."
Anybody know what this means? Is there a way to get the pitch you want when you want it?
In 1 player? This just sounds stupid. Wait for strikes in the middle 2/3rds of the plate. Hit them.
It's true, Ultimate. Just last night I was manipulating the pitcher. This morning too.
Quote from: Gerlost on 08/12/08, 08:59:33 AM
manipulating the pitcher
I think this is what rdub was doing in college
Well played....
He probably just means taking and fouling off a lot of pitches.
Also known as "douching the pitcher"
Does the pitcher change mound position based on where you line up? Probably not but I thought I'd throw out a guess...
Believe me, my wife loves it when I "manipulate her pitcher."
I honestly am not sure what he meant. I countered with, "Yeah, I will wear the pitcher down by fouling off pitches and working counts, then get the starter into the fourth inning when his fastball tops out at 40 mph." But from his reply he implied that he was talking about something else. And I can't really get the answer from him because, well, he doesn't want me to break his record.
using strategy against the computer is horrible strategy
playing the computer is a horrible strategy. I have come to the conclusion that it only makes me worse against humans. Which is why I hadn't played for a few months and still put down some whoopins in STL. Vince Coleman Grand Slams are the best.
Watch game drinking is fun. Try it sometime. GoReds and I can PM you the rules.
so deadly.
Quote from: Briznock on 08/12/08, 03:26:41 PM
playing the computer is a horrible strategy. I have come to the conclusion that it only makes me worse against humans. Which is why I hadn't played for a few months and still put down some whoopins in STL. Vince Coleman Grand Slams are the best.
Watch game drinking is fun. Try it sometime. GoReds and I can PM you the rules.
Screw that. This deserves a thread!
Quote from: Briznock on 08/12/08, 03:26:41 PM
playing the computer is a horrible strategy. I have come to the conclusion that it only makes me worse against humans.
Some of us have no friends to play RBI against :(
Some of us hear about online play, but can never get anybody to commit to playing :(
It is very true, however, that playing against the computer makes you worse against humans. My brother was in town recently and he hadn't played since the early '90s. He struck me out a humiliating number of times. I beat him each time, but it was tough against another person.
Vince Coleman Grand Slams?
I've got more Vince Coleman bunt inside the park grand slams than out of the park ones against the computer...
2 is more than 1, right?
When I play against the computer, I always straight-pitch to it without varying speeds with my worst pitcher, also without substitutions. This can actually make the game quite competitive. As such, it is necessary to try to actually strategize against the CPU. I don't know about "manipulating" the pitcher, that is directly controlling him, but my strategy is to wait until the opposing pitcher has moved himself to an extreme side of the mound. Usually, this will result in a pitch on the inside corner, or way way off the plate outside. You can set up expecting the inside pitch, crushing it if that's what you get. But if it's the outside pitch, you can see it immediately and take.
It's very tempting to abuse the abysmal AI in RBI, but if you can restrain yourself from it, it can actually be a competitive challenge (not just easy pitching, but not throwing out CPU baserunners that shouldn't have gone, not taking extra bases based on predictable CPU behavior, etc.)
The catcher will set up in a particular spot before each pitch, both for the CPU and for the human. I have no theories as to whether and to what extent this affects the ability of the batter to hit the ball on any given pitch.