You all know that I am biased. However, I have been playing with the Cards the last few days just to mix things up. I've also been winning. I'm playing against fairly experienced RBIers, and I have been winning fairly low scoring games using the straight pitch method. This Cardinal team ain't all that shabby when Morris is subbed for Herr, and Lindeman is brought in for Ford.
I hit 12 dongs in one game with these turds. However, I just lost my last game 9-5 against the Sox. When you use St. Louis, there is always a chance that they won't hit the long ball enough. Plus, Tudor keeps the ball in the park even using straight pitch. This afternoon Tudor went 8 innings for me against Detroit and only gave up 4 runs.
hitting 12 homeruns with the redbirds should be a world record... they have speed, solid pitching and defense... after that they are lacking.
I think teams like Stl and Hou are underrated. These two teams have incredible team speed. I always keep T. Herr in because when he gets on he can steal 2nd everytime. As for Houston, if you pinch hit for walling, ashby and reynolds, then every player except for GDavis has stolen base potential. In low score curve pitch games, speed can be the difference. There's also great pitching on both teams. Ryan and Tudor are studs.
Our style of RBI leaves teams like Hou and Stl by the wayside. They don't have enough power to win games. Twelve homers is a slightly below-average 9 inning total in our games. I do think Stl is a decent team away from the big3 though, they can pull out victories. Houston however is hopeless in straight pitch...
And no offense to you GDavis, but nobody on Houston has stolen base potential if you know how to throw with the catcher. If the pitcher isn't horribly slow, there are only 4 or 5 players in the game who can consistently steal...
Every team has its good areas and bad areas. Like Black_Thing said, they have good speed, pitching, and defense, but only in curve pitch i think. In curve pitch any team has a chance. But i dont know how they cards won in a straight pitch game, straight pitch eliminates pitching right away.
i agree with gantry that stealing bases is no longer an option. in our games, the only guys that can steal bases are coleman and raines... everyone else is usually cut down.
Is there a technique for getting better throws from the catcher? I've never been aware of it.
It's a quick Down-and-A press right when the screen changes. The throw should be basically a grounder, barely skimming over the ground...
Oh, so you're actually throwing to home and it skips its way to 2nd. Very interesting, I can't wait to whip that trick out on my friends.
that is the way i have done it for years gantry, now you have given pines my secret... thanks a lot. the other way to throw it is to wait a split second after receiving the pitch and then push up and a quickly.
thanks gantry, been trying to get that one out of joe for years
i am amazed that it took you guys that long to figure it out. pines is going to kick himself when he realizes how easy it is.
My first post:
I feel ya on the cards bein competitive, i runruled an experienced player one time in like 6 innings scoring like 20+ runs. Part of it might have to do w/ the lefties they have.
Welcome to the forums bluto!
As I found out in my curve games, lefties are still the bomb. In our second game where I was Cali and won 4-2, I don't think I got a single hit with a righty. All Wilfong and Potatoes....
The Cards did beat me in a curve game when I was MN. Vince Coleman went yard and Jim Lindeman hit a game-typing, 2 out, bottom of the 9th dinger off of senor smoke. Terry Pendelton won it on a dinger in the bottom of the 11th. They aren't too bad in curve, at least from what I saw....
as you will learn with more experience in curve style, changings speeds while mixing up location, i.e. inside and outside, is the most effective way to pitch... with brnger, his fastball is good but hitters will tee off if you dont change speeds.
True story about changing speeds. I throw a bunch of BP fastballs, going inside and out. And when you mix in a fastball and a knuckler every once in a while, it can really throw the batters off.
Ahh, all the jibber-jabber about RBI....What a refreshing sign that Ribbie is still being played frequently by true lovers of the game. I do however have a problem with the majority of people on this forum...you are amateurs when it comes to really knowing the greatest Nintendo game of all time. I mean all the talk about straight pitch? Who plays straight pitch? That isn't real baseball...I mean if you ain't willing to play w/ the big dogs, get on the porch w/ the puppies. I can understand if you want to have a quick game of homerun derby...and that is exactly what it is when you play straight pitch. It's not hard to hit a pitch when you know exactly where it's going to be and then fire away on the 'A' button. It's all about having your fun, but you outta try playing the game like it should be played. IE: ever tried playing a 2-player 3-game series where you're forced to use only 1 starter/game? This is actually where a little 'managing' and strategy comes in to play. Everyone knows the pitchers get tired if you continually throw heat, so it forces you to use other means to get outs. We've had some classic games at 'del casa 1614'...a 1-0 no-hitter that went 15-innings...many extra-inning games that ended with a blast over the center field scoreboard because no pitchers were left and the last one was throwing sub-20mph. Anyhoo, enough of my jibber-jabber...try out some of these and you'll learn to love the game even more...RC
russell, the majority of us do play that way... it is just gantry and the dee-nee gang that remain in the straight pitch mode... i agree with you in that the one starter rule greatly enhances the game, adding strategy like a national league game... definately superior baseball.
I believe straight pitch is more amusing. I usally beat the shit out of most people in straight pitch, so there is definitely strategy involved. It isn't as easy as pressing 'A', trust me. I also enjoy a curve pitch match-up, and can hold my own at that as well. I have trouble believing that you are an RBI Jedi if you have games going into the 15th inning on a regular basis with only 3 pitchers. You should be knocking that shit yard well before that point. Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk.
as specified by R Cox, straight pitch is the ONLY way to go.
Ashby will gun down Coleman just about every time. Carter and Ashby both have guns behind the plate. as specified in this thread, it is very tough to steal a bag off an experienced player. the steal function is better utilized in a hit and run or bunt situation.
of course you "AL'ers" playing gorilla-esque straight pitch probably wouldn't be bunting too often.
lead off man on 2nd...bunt?
hell yeah...every time.
anybody have thoughts on the intentional pass while playing RBI? truthfully, I utilize this strategy often (as well as pitching around guys).
the only way to play baseball is to play smart baseball.
a few topics to respond to here....
i have respect for the cardinals...t uses them often, ive used them a few times...and they have alot of grit...ill give em that...they can pitch well and if coleman gets on base its usually a double....so a base hit will score him....however, the biggest problem with st louis and houson for that matter is inconsitency....with the other teams, you'll get an occasional bad game or a dominating pitching performance by the other guy...but for the most part, you can scatter at least 5 runs around....the problem with the cardinals is that they only have 2 real power threats (clark and lindeman) and the speed doesnt come into play if you keep hitting flyballs to second....coleman is fast, but he aint taggin up and taking third like that.....
as far as throwing people out, coleman is the only one who can consistiently steal bases....i get him out about 1 every 5 times....alot of it depends on situation and the pitch....usually, i just gas it down the middle if he's on 1st because that gives you the best chance to make a throw...also, t knows i do this, so he sometimes tries to swing away with ozzie, which works sometimes, but a great deal of the time you can turn 2 (the toughest in the game) or get the force out at 2nd....
I disagree with your sinopsis of the Cardinals power. Clark and Lindeman are the biggest power threats, however, Morris and Pena are pretty damn good. Pena is good for at least one homer a game, and if you put in Morris for Herr, he will hit two or three. Morris is the key sub in this lineup. Pendleton always hits his token dong. He is the most consistent base-hit guy on this squad. I have also noticed that he is deadly with the bases juiced. This team is exponentially better than Houston. I just wish they had Tom Lawless!
St Louis isn't as good as Houston when we play. They really can't hit. Houston, with the insertions of Davey Lopes and Phil Garner, are a better hitting team, with nearly as much speed. If Nolan is pitching, you can write the Cards off. He has their number. Token Homers? Think Ken Dayley. He gives up at least one token homer per inning.
i have mixed feelings about morris...we like to call him "blank" morris...cause we never knew his name...anyways...ill say that he can hit on occaision...he does have alot of pop sometimes....but he, and pena, are very touch and go....you never know which one youre going to get...
cardinals and power is an oxymoron... like oil and water... they don't mix... black_thing, the tony pena in your game must be on the juice like caminiti. morris is good for a couple hard hits, not saying they will result in hits. jack clark(a.k.a. obiwon) rarely clutches up anymore.
Since we've been playing mostly curves and using the 8-sided die to choose teams (a very good technique BTW), I have played more games with Stl in the last week than I have in the previous 6 months. My comments:
1 - Coleman and Ozzie are the keys to this lineup, they have to get on base. Going for the cheapie hit is tough in curves, but that's what I generally do with these guys when the bases are empty.
2 - Jack Clark is the only player in the game that Potsie pitches around since we've started playing curves. He's more afraid of him than potatoes! Needs to cleanup the mess and generally does...
3 - "Blank" Morris is a decent player, but I don't think he's all that and a bag of chips. Much more effective with a runner on first, but I don't see the power. I find him a definite 9-inning sub, but don't expect too much.
4 - Ford is a sack of garbage, one of the worst lefties in the game. All Lindeman in the 7 spot.
5 - John Tudor is a kick-ass starter. I love throwing inside on the righties with him. Seems to tire a bit early for me though. By about the 4th, his speed is still decent, but the ball doesn't cut as well.
6 - I always sub Toly Pena, perhaps I need to keep him in.
7 - I've hit two pinch-hit homers with Jose Oquendo, he's the fucking man!
8 - Steve Lake is a complete sack of crap.
gantry, good call on pitching around jack clark. he'll kill you in clutch situations.
you gotta play small ball with this team, beat out the infield hits, hit and runs, steals, sac bunts, etc. that's what made the real Cardinals during that Whitey Herzog era great.
john tudor is the best pitcher in the game. he has the best stuff coming hard inside to the righties, and painting the corners on the outside. his endurance is solid, and if properly pitched, you can get even murderer's row from the red sox to ground out to third.
to get clark out, mix fastballs in and sliders just off the outside corner... follow this formula and you will have him grounding into double plays rather than driving in runs.
gantry, its good to see you fellas in the dee-nee house playing curve style.
I find the outside corner to be the key when pitching curve. You get it a bit further outside than a straight toss, yet they are still able to get the bat on it. That is how Clemens fared so well for me today. As for Jack Clark, I simply don't give him anything to hit when protecting a lead. Barely strikes or balls. If I walk him, so be it. I'll take my chances against McGee...
Tudor is one heck of a pitcher, but I am not getting the endurance from him. Potsie had to sub him in the bottom of the 4th today. Though I was taking a lot of pitches (probably half a dozen 3-2 counts). Both inside and outside are very solid with him though...
I keep rolling sl alot also. But my dice have ten sides for the all star teams. I'd say out of my last 15 games, sl has been in 10 of them.
who have you been playing against there burnzky? you been beating up on wholesale or felix the cat?
Ive been playing my season, david wont play me.
speaking back a few posts to what gantry said about the cards.....one of our earlier and more heated series....cardnials vs tigers...the cards somehow got up 3-1 on the heels of timely hitting by the cards and a huge series for mr tony pena....then, the tigers won two games in a row to tie it...and it came down to the last of the 9th...two on....tie game for jose oquendo....pinch hitting for ford...he came in and drilled his third pinch hit homerun of the series...to win it...afterwards t signed him to a 10 year, 400 million dollar contract and signed his first of 12 lifetime contracts with the cards...since then, his numbers look a bit like this
1-35....one single.....17 K's....3 balls to the outfield....oquendo is a microcasm of the entire team....good speed....a tough luck loser that you root for....occasional pop...but as reliable as a toilet paper condom...
so you are talking about beating up on the computer... wow, i didnt know that we were playing the season any more... i dont think greg is playing his... the belt is still mine and you are going to have to go through me to get it... and playing the computer is only going to dull your skills.
The last i heard the season was on, and dont be so sure the title is yours, u have everything to lose and i have every thing to gain. But u can keep your little tengen title, im set on the undisputed rbi championship.
you obviously havent talked to greg cause there are some changes to be made... the tengen title is going to be more important than you think...
Things are looking up for the redbirds...
Potsie and I played two best-of-three series of Stl (me) vs SF in straight-pitch. Day before yesterday he won the series and yesterday I took the crown. I scored 23 & 20 runs in the last two games with Stl, some of my personal bests. It really does come down to getting hits with Coleman & Ozzie. Practice that slapper to short - if you can get that hit consistently, your chances of winning are drastically increased.
Terry Pendelton & Lindeman have been incredible for me lately. Go redbirds...
the cardinals have their moments... the thing is if they arent hitting, you had better pitch your ASS off if you want to stay in the game... their pinch hitting corps is crap but i cant see keeping ford and herr in the game... thus, oquendo and lindeman have to play... i used to enjoy playing with the cards...nowadays, everyone knows how to throw to bases and their speed is nullified.
just to prove my point... i just played andrew with the only team more impotent than the red birds, that would be the astros... the game was scoreless until the bottom of the tenth... with a runner on first, phil garner hit a line drive that was sure to be double play... unfortunately, tommy herr made the third error of the game for the cards... leading to a terry puhl infield hit to short as ozzie tossed a moon ball to first... it would have been close it the throw were flat...
You gotta get Tommy Herr out of there and go with Blank Morris. While not stupendous, he's decent and has some pop. He also doesn't tank grounders with the game on the line...
I do the "Lipitz Detroit" thing with regards to Ford/Pena/Lindeman. If Ford is up with a runner on first, I'll keep him in and go Lindeman for Pena. Otherwise I'll put Des Plaines in at the 7 spot and keep Pena in. Ford isn't the greatest, but he really isn't much worse than Pena. He's had quite a few dingers for me lately...
Oquendo got me another pinch hit dinger yesterday, keep him on the bench...
And I am sticking to my statement that Steve Lake is the worst sub in the game....
the prospects of these subs are not good at all.. steve lake is worthless... ford is fast but he sags... pena is slow but has the second best power on the team... its a tough decision usually made on a whim.
I have updated my Saint Louis writeup:
http://dee-nee.com/rbi/stlouis.shtml
Bump
YES!
To quote sucka, savage bump! Man too bad the Pines/Gwynn crew don't stop by much anymore....
For starters I am a Cardinals fan being from the Lou. However I disagree about some of the statements about their players. If you are playing curve Herr is not that bad for a base knock. I always leave Pena in. Jack Clark???? I never know what fucking game he will show up with. Pitch one down the cock to him and don't even bother looking. But he always hits in double plays. Usually he hits a pill to short and bam bam double play. Ya just never know. Coleman makes it to second faster than you can say Jackie Robinson. Lindman is tight off the bench.
Hey by the way Gantry you are from Chicago right? How bout that two game series with the Cards? Cubs got peaced on twice. TIGHT! Those games were great.
Why wouldn't you sub Limdeman in for Herr and Blank Morris in for Curt Flood? With Coleman and Ozzie, I don't feel as compelled to have to have a lefty hitting behind them - I'd rather have someone who can give me the three-run jack.
Tom Herr is a solid bat in a questionable line-up...and Lindeman and Clark are too slow to hit back-to-back.
See, I don't buy into the speed argument about batting Lindeman and Clark back to back. It's kind of a poor man's Evans/Nokes combo from Detroit, if you ask me. Using basic Pettis technique, I can get Coleman and Smith on, and I'll take my chances with either Lindeman or Clark hitting a jack for me.
I played a couple of games against the computer with St. Louis, and I must say that they are a very streaky hitting team - I'll go several innings without a HR, then hit three in one inning (maybe Lindeman, Clark and Pena, for example). I've noticed this several times about the Redbirds - it's feast or famine...
the cards are definitely streaky...that is fo sho
I haven't read all of the replies but...
The entire key to the Cards is getting on base.
Coleman pops up far too much. If you can manage to get Coleman and Smith on base even a decent amount of times...be prepared to win. If not...get ready to score 2 runs a game.
Coleman and Smith getting on are the keys to winning...
QuoteWhy wouldn't you sub Limdeman in for Herr and Blank Morris in for Curt Flood? With Coleman and Ozzie, I don't feel as compelled to have to have a lefty hitting behind them - I'd rather have someone who can give me the three-run jack.
I see where you are coming from but I have the oppsite feeling. Coleman and Ozzie, when on, are typically on first (unless your opponent can't throw out baserunner) so that's perfect for Blank Morris at #3 and the lefty hit. Clark is the big stick but I still prefer no DP situation with him. Morris will get the lefty hit or has the power to go deep...
Standard straight pitch disclaimer...
the red birds debate lingers......in ATG i dont see BOS/DET/CAL having much problems with them, but some lesser offensve teams such as NY/MIN/ and maybe even SF could run into some issues with them.
STL are a pesky team for sure. If you can get 3-4 runs outta STL with Tudor on the mound for a decent 5-6 innings id say they might have a 50/50 chance of beating the lesser teams i listed above.
In ATG (2 pitchers) if you can get 3-4 runs you will almost always be in the game
Quote from: ultimate7 on 10/21/05, 03:06:41 PM
In ATG (2 pitchers) if you can get 3-4 runs you will almost always be in the game
unless your mclane and you get beat 12-5 in the columbutt tourney.
Well, if you're mclane, you've got enough problems as it is. Really we can all be happy we're not mclane (except of course mclane - no offense mclane)
Quote from: TBT on 10/21/05, 03:01:22 PM
the red birds debate lingers......in ATG i dont see BOS/DET/CAL having much problems with them, but some lesser offensve teams such as NY/MIN/ and maybe even SF could run into some issues with them.
STL are a pesky team for sure. If you can get 3-4 runs outta STL with Tudor on the mound for a decent 5-6 innings id say they might have a 50/50 chance of beating the lesser teams i listed above.
There's no way SF has problems against StL....StL might win a few here and there, but for the most part, SF should dominate StL (assuming players are equal).
I'm being made fun of and I don't even know why.
Actually, I was the one who was beat 12-5 in Columbus (by GDavis). Although I did beat fknmclane in our series, which really was the main goal of the whole tournament.
Quote from: fknmclane on 10/21/05, 03:53:32 PM
I'm being made fun of and I don't even know why.
I was hoping it would get Dove back posting again.
yes, the illinois redbirds are much better than anyone thinks
Quote from: Strassy on 10/21/05, 04:37:23 PM
yes, the illinois state redbirds are much better than anyone thinks
man, i feel so ashamed. in related news, god bless ISU
REDBIRDS >>>>>>>>>>>>>> ASTROS
bumpst. whadda good thread. its truely a testament to the greatness of RBI reading all the indepth replies going back as far as 02.
Quote from: SA on 05/28/02, 10:50:27 AM
Ashby will gun down Coleman just about every time. Carter and Ashby both have guns behind the plate.
So, where's the stat in the ROM that determines how hard your catcher throws to 2nd?
there isnt one. its a matter of timing.
yeah, Ashby and Carter have the best timing stat in the game
Quote from: TBT on 06/11/06, 08:43:58 AM
I need to turn my sarcasm detector back on
i posted that cause andy de great isnt very well known in these parts.
i wasnt sure if he was bullshitting or not.
now a regular, id know.
Here's a hint: Check my profile, realize I've had my account for two and a half years, and realize that I've read most of the ROM discussions, and while I don't know as much as Nightwulf does, by any means, I'm also not an idiot when it comes to the site, either ;)
We made a move to exclude Houston in our next 5 man-10 team tourney(1SP-best of 3/set up match-ups and then draft teams)) and replace them with one of the following: SF/MIN/NY/STL.
STL on the other hand stays in the tourney and gets a 1st round bye(as usual).
I now have 8 Ozzie Smith HRs in my career.
Ask GoReds... We played straight-pitch semi-drinking tonight.