The pickoff move

[shoes23]

Truth be told, I'm a rabid baseball fan. Beofre I started collecting everything that I could get my hands on, baseball games filled my shelves. The funny thing is that every aspect of baseball has been tweaked, re-tweaked, and new features are annually being added.

The one thing I don't understand however, is the pickoff move. For those who aren't knowledgable in the workings of a baseball game, a pickoff move is when the pitcher throws the ball from the pitching mound to first base in order to catch a runner too far off of the baseball bag, where the first baseman tags him for an out. If everything works as planned and with a little luck the pitcher can throw the runner out.

However, NEVER once in a game of baseball has this moved ever proved fruitfull for me. I try to pickoff the runner and he immediatly retreats and is safe everytime. Besides the newest EA MVP 2005 (which when you throw a pickoff attempt only serves to hold the runner back an extra step on the next pitch), it never works! Why continue to put in a useless move?

Anyone ever get one of these to work. Every generation (except possibly Atari 2600 baseball games and earlier) have added this feature. Anyone every pull it off?

[Humanoid]

Hmm, thats a really good point. Can't say I've ever pulled it off either. Maybe they should make it a little more interactive, like a minigame inside whole game.

[shoes23]

Hmm, thats a really good point. Can't say I've ever pulled it off either. Maybe they should make it a little more interactive, like a minigame inside whole game.

Actually that would be a fantastic idea...if nothing else the could tweak a system that could be similar to the way some basketball games handle free throws.

[norkusa]

Yeah, I know what you mean. The only time a pickoff worked for me (with the exception of MVP 2005) was in a 2-player mode. I always assumed it only worked for that.

[shai hulud]

i see it as more of a 2 player add on to prevent your foe from turning every trip to first into a double.

pickoffs arent really that succesful in real life anyway, i would thin about 1 out of 100 results in an out (i understand that just throwing over may alter the lead or show the runner something new to keep him "honest")

[SKVermin]

I've pulled it off in MVP Baseball 2005, though they do come pretty few and far between. Generally, it would appear that you can only get it with somebody who may be planning to steal. What I mean is that if the CPU hasn't already decided he's going to make an attempt, you won't get him.

Here's some tips:
- look for the runner to have a big enough leadoff that your first baseman isn't visible in the picture-in-picture view.
- it's much more likely in a close game (especially if in the late innings and the CPU is down by one).
- Look for the speed icon (shoe) in the baserunner's window.
- Best chance seems to be on a 3-0, 0-2, or 0-0 count.

Hope those help. Like I said, it doesn't happen too often, but when you do get it, it feels great!

[scooterb23]

I had it work ONCE against the computer, on Baseball Stars for the NES. 15 years ago...

Mind you, on MVP 2005 I still use it, because in my head I really believe that extra step will be important of double play attempts, but yeah, obviously the computer "knows" what's coming, and can "react" in a suitable manner...

[Simply Dave]

I've pulled it off a number of times on High Heat 2004 and have had it pulled on me many times by the CPU.

[shoes23]

I've pulled it off in MVP Baseball 2005, though they do come pretty few and far between. Generally, it would appear that you can only get it with somebody who may be planning to steal. What I mean is that if the CPU hasn't already decided he's going to make an attempt, you won't get him.

Here's some tips:
- look for the runner to have a big enough leadoff that your first baseman isn't visible in the picture-in-picture view.
- it's much more likely in a close game (especially if in the late innings and the CPU is down by one).
- Look for the speed icon (shoe) in the baserunner's window.
- Best chance seems to be on a 3-0, 0-2, or 0-0 count.

Hope those help. Like I said, it doesn't happen too often, but when you do get it, it feels great!

What difficulty setting are you playing the game on?

[SKVermin]

I've pulled it off in MVP Baseball 2005, though they do come pretty few and far between. Generally, it would appear that you can only get it with somebody who may be planning to steal. What I mean is that if the CPU hasn't already decided he's going to make an attempt, you won't get him.

Here's some tips:
- look for the runner to have a big enough leadoff that your first baseman isn't visible in the picture-in-picture view.
- it's much more likely in a close game (especially if in the late innings and the CPU is down by one).
- Look for the speed icon (shoe) in the baserunner's window.
- Best chance seems to be on a 3-0, 0-2, or 0-0 count.

Hope those help. Like I said, it doesn't happen too often, but when you do get it, it feels great!

What difficulty setting are you playing the game on?

That's playing on All-Star using a slight variation on Pared's sliders. The baserunning sliders are kept the same, the only thing I changed was some adjustments to CPU and User pitch control to increase the number of walks.

Pared's sliders can be found at gamefaqs here: http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/mvp_baseball_2005_sliders.txt

[Lothars]

I've never been able to pull it off on MVP Baseball 2005 but i bet you would be able to, it's rare of course but yeah like someone else said liek 1 - 100 or so.

[junglehunter]

I've done it many times in various Baseball games. I used to think that was a move for die-hard fans and wasn't actually useful in the game itself.

I did it again, after a few tries, in Major League Baseball feat. Ken Griffey Jr. (SNES) just last week or so.

It's definitely not going to happen every time, but the odd time it'll work. Well what do you know, it's just like REAL Baseball! LOL

[Dr. Morbis]

I've always seen it as more of a two player option. When I play the CPU, I usually don't bother because it just drags out the game. But when you're playing against an evenly matched friend, that move becomes an important aspect of the game.

[Nez]

I've done it many times in various Baseball games. I used to think that was a move for die-hard fans and wasn't actually useful in the game itself.

I did it again, after a few tries, in Major League Baseball feat. Ken Griffey Jr. (SNES) just last week or so.

It's definitely not going to happen every time, but the odd time it'll work. Well what do you know, it's just like REAL Baseball! LOL

I could pick off player in Ken Griffy JR winning run. It didn't happen too much like once every other game but it did happen.

[chadtower]

pickoffs arent really that succesful in real life anyway, i would thin about 1 out of 100 results in an out (i understand that just throwing over may alter the lead or show the runner something new to keep him "honest")

When I played, up through high school, I used to pick off an average of more than 1 runner a game when I was on the mound. When done well it is an art form. It's more psychology than physical.

[doubledownon11]

It only seems to work when playing against a human opponent who is set to steal. When you throw to first the runner will take off for second and then you have to worry about the horrible game aspects of a rundown. In which 9 out of 10 times your player with the ball delays the throw and the runner ineviteably steals the bag.

8-) Twins Rule All 8-)

:angry: Death to the White Sox :angry:

[chadtower]

In which 9 out of 10 times your player with the ball delays the throw and the runner ineviteably steals the bag.

That's not much different than RL, you know. Rundowns are that hard to do.

[doubledownon11]

In which 9 out of 10 times your player with the ball delays the throw and the runner ineviteably steals the bag.

That's not much different than RL, you know. Rundowns are that hard to do.

I agree. The hardest part of the rundown is the decision when to throw the ball, taking for granted that your throw will be on line and the receiver will catch the ball. I'm saying that when I press the damn button for my player to throw the damn ball, I'd like him to throw the damn ball.

[chadtower]

I agree. The hardest part of the rundown is the decision when to throw the ball, taking for granted that your throw will be on line and the receiver will catch the ball. I'm saying that when I press the damn button for my player to throw the damn ball, I'd like him to throw the damn ball.

Having been in more of them than I remember, I can tell you the hardest part is having four players close enough that have been properly coached in how to execute it. A properly executed rundown is impossible to escape, but few coaches ever teach how to do it while still keeping an eye on any other baserunners.