the retreat

[Wilfong]

This may be a question for Gantry, but I'd welcome input from anyone who uses the retreat. I've been using it with success lately, but was wondering how often you use it and with what style of hitters? I've noticed that I seem to hit an inordinate amount of popups with it, is that because I'm doing it wrong or using the wrong hitters? Lately, I've been using it with the guys like Hernandez, Spilman, etc... and not with weak guys (although mookie has gone yard with it sevearl times), speed guys or the true power guys. Any thoughts?

[Gantry]

I use it for absolute everyone, but it might take awhile to get the timing down.  I only use it for straight pitch, too hard to time in curve unless the pitcher is super slow...

Adopted the JoeDirt/Riley Columbus Tettleton Technique in curve.  I win most of my games with that, but we all suck at curve...

[fightonusc]

See, playing curve, I'm a big believer in getting as close to the front of the plate as possible. I want to cut down on the angle of a curve pitch as much as possible. Plus, it seems like I get more lift if I'm at the front of the box versus the back.

[Gantry]

Good point at cutting down on the angle...  For a curve newbit like me, I prefer to hit the back of the box.  Since I swing at too many balls, I like that extra split second to see where the ball is going.  I tend to lay off more pitches that way...

[Wilfong]

With curve, I stick to the back of the box as well, although I occasionally bust out the retreat if I'm feeling lucky.

Gantry - do you get more popups with guys like coleman, etc... with the retreat? or am I doing it wrong with him? I think I get a couple bombs a game out of it (we play straight pitch 95% of the time), but I also think I popup a lot more because of it too. I've tried crowding the plate w/fast lefties and then, as the pitch is coming, backing off the plate, trying to pull it through the first and second basemen. It's works ok, I think it gets me some hits with the likes of mookie and dykstra, who had been useless. Sometimes, it will even help people like Lopes yank one down the line.

[fknmclane]

I've dabbled with the retreat but my stance has continued to be and will always be at the top of the box.  In my experience, and it probably has something to do with my shitty timing, I foul off too many balls from back in the box.  Sure, there is a split-second longer arrival time, but it almost seems like you have to swing earlier in order to hit it fair.  That's just my take.

[Gantry]

Once you have the retreat timing down, I don't really hit more fouls with certain players.  Though as a whole we (specifically Lipitz) do foul it off quite a bit.  The retreat gives you more leeway to swing early and that's where the fouls come.  Early swing = foul and late swing = a poorly hit ball to the wrong part of the field.  So we're kind of bred to swing earlier rather than later...

With fast lefties, it's in your best interest to master the Pettis.  It's a total issue of timing but once you get it down, you'll have 2-3 extra hits out of Coleman/Smith a game.  When doing the Pettis I bat lower in the box, no retreat and in the Tettleton stance...

[One Flap Down]

Wilfong,

I can most definitely attest to more pop ups by using the retreat. For me, the retreat is usually an all or nothing type of at bat (especially for those that have power). Using this style, the ball is either going out of the park or is a pop up. Not a whole lot of in between. For more average hitting players (like coleman), I wouldn't recommend it too much. I've experienced too many pop ups.

Not sure if this has been discussed, but try what I call "The Charge". Opposite cousin of the retreat, you start at the back of the box and charge forward. Sure enough, leads to many (hard hit) ground balls with average players and a few bombs from the juicers. It is also an effective move against curve pitching with your bros because you are in the front of the box by the time the ball arrives (vice in the back) where he thought you were. Solid late game strategy. (Ooops, I'm giving some of my tactics away that I may try to use against you guys in online play!!)

Anyway, thats my take.

One Flap Down, over and out.

[Flood]

For me, the retreat is usually an all or nothing type of at bat (especially for those that have power). Using this style, the ball is either going out of the park or is a pop up. Not a whole lot of in between. For more average hitting players (like coleman), I wouldn't recommend it too much. I've experienced too many pop ups.

I agree whole-heartedly

[JoeDirt]

Adopted the JoeDirt/Riley Columbus Tettleton Technique in curve.  I win most of my games with that, but we all suck at curve...

Ah, I am beaming with pride!

I could not mention the tettleton from the time I found our beloved dee-nee.com 'til the COTUT, but since I was extremely curious if others used it (turns out very few do), I monitored the "tettleton" talk very closely.  I think outside of Riley and me, only DoveRBI claimed to use it the majority of the time...

As far as up/down in the box for curve, I think it's all relative to what you're used to, and thus, how your timing is set.  no more, no less...

[Wilfong]

Joe Dirt - I used to use the Tettleton when I was younger. I've just now discovered that other people use it and that it's called the tettleton. I think it was a superstition back then - I haven't used it much, if it all, lately. I may give it a shot because I had some major offensive woes last night. I worked on the retreat and the charge, nothing seemed to be going right and I'd say 75-85% of my outs were popups/short flies. The few that were hit hard were generally right at someone.
So I think my refined techniques will be "the charge" with the real power hitters (Jackson, etc...), the retreat with your Spilmans and Wilfongs and I'll see where the Tettleton fits in. I'm in as big of a slump as the Brewers are in right now and with people coming over for drinking RBI tomorrow, I need to snap out of it.
Suggestions are welcomed.

[JoeDirt]

I am a huge fan of the Tettleton, but I think it generally takes a long time for a new Tettleton user to get the timing down...perhaps you won't have that issue, since you used to play that way...good luck!

[Gantry]

Most of the techniques in straight pitch take absolute timing to really get down.  It's all about getting the bat on the ball at the same exact time with every batter.  The more precise you are, the further the ball goes.  It's tough to break out of slumps...

I have to say that though I love the Tettleton in curve, I wouldn't use it full time in straight pitch.  Though I have no scientific proof, I think you do suffer a small power loss as opposed to a full swing.  I do tettleton once or twice a game in straight though depending on the batter....

Interesting question - does the tettleton sacrifice some power for more timing at the plate?  

[Wilfong]

My timing has to be way off. Ever since I bragged about beating BO with NY (without a hit from Straw) I've been drilled - including games were I had the better team. I'm more than a little embarrassed to admit this, but I had 3 hits with BO las night, all bombs, but it had me wanting to throw the controller through the tv. On top of that, I gave up 7 first inning runs to NY and 5 to MN (all coming with 2 outs).
I'm contemplating retirement, perhaps the game has passed me by?

[JoeDirt]

Interesting question - does the tettleton sacrifice some power for more timing at the plate?  

I'm probably the foremost authority on the Tettleton, and I unequivocally say that it does not result in a power reduction.  That's the beauty of the Tettleton--you get the full effect of a full swing with the 1/2 second longer to initiate said swing.

[SmokedUBad13]

My primary reason for not using the Tettleton... it makes the game seem less realistic for me.  I strive for maximum realism in RBI.  

Beales
www.rbibaseballcotut.com - The R.B.I. Baseball COTUT

[BDawk]

Yes, I agree. RBI is just like the real thing.
Especially when the pitcher gets caught in between the mound and home plate.

[JoeDirt]

Not realistic?

There are a ton of hitters in the majors that cock their bats.  Eric the Red did it; George "BA champion in 4 different decades" did it; Donnie Baseball did it; "Self proclaimed greatest of all time" Henderson did it...