Starting Pitcher Manual

[Buzz42marrow]

...or How to succeed on Horror Level as a Starting Pitcher.

Create character
Step 1
Set your birthday to late October. That way you can change your training routine at the end of the season when your flexibility/strength number changes. If you set your birthday during April you'll lose a season so it's better to start later in my opinion.

Intelligence gets set at 2, Dexterity 1, and Constitution is 5. Pick High School since the player you should create is all about development anyway. As for personality class, I'm not sure that it matters much, but Team Captain seems to be the safest bet.

Step 2
Stuff and Control stay at 1 point; Velocity 3, Poise 9, Endurance 10, Defense 6, and Hitting 3. Then select 4 pitches. Whatever your flavor. You will end up with 2 extra skill points. The only way, I believe, to use the extra points is to go back to step 1 and change an RPG rating. If you do that remember to reset your constitution to 5 cos this is what it's all about in making a Pitcher who will last way past 40.

Step 3
Initial Inventory isn't a big deal. Maybe choosing defensive shoes over speed is the only important thing, but no big concern what you do. You can sell your bat and batting gloves for around 35k the first year for some spending money.

The Draft
Take a walk unless you really care about all the other players. If you get drafted it will be in the 10th round by one of the last 5 teams. Hopefully you won't get drafted. If this happens, hit x at the top and when prompted to quit click no.

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Here's where it all starts. Your relationship number will be 1.6 when you begin.

Try this workout plan

Sunday: Extra Running Plus, Leg Press, Lower Flex Plus
Monday: Pitch Plus, Seated Long Row, Upper Flex Plus
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: External Rotation, Pitch Session, Upward Rotation, Arm Flex Plus
Thursday: Field Drills Plus, Wheel Drill, Dot Drill, Leg Flex Plus
Friday: Pitching Sessions Plus
Saturday: Reverse Fly, Internal Rotation, Wrist Twist, Arm Flex Plus

Energy Level 60, Strength/Flexibility 1.6

Feel free to edit to your situation. If you don't plan on being in the NL, swap out Wrist Twist for another Reverse Fly.

[Buzz42marrow]

Your Home

Go home and click on your gym bag, right click your items and your ready to start the season

Your Ratings

Your ratings will be very low at this point but they will climb pretty quickly except for velocity, since your strength is 0 I'm assuming.

Fiddlers

After every game you pitch, you will experience some drastic dives in your mood. The best way to combat this is at the bar. Depending on your body weight, a Tequila Sunrise is your best bet to increase your mood without getting drunk. Pitch 2/3 of an inning and give up 9 ER? Take one a day until your mood is topped out.

You have 0 charisma, so people really don't like you. None the less, you may be able to increase your ratings and/or receive money but I wouldn't bother unless you want to. I was able to win 405 games without the help at the bar, except for increasing my mood.

Ball Park
I really never go to the Park while in the minor leagues, or for that matter at all. I have no tips for pitching during the game but maybe I'll explore it later.

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First season
Don't expect much the first year in the way of increases to your potential ratings. Expect less if you've gone undrafted.

Free Agent
If you are un-drafted you will have a chance to get signed as a Free Agent. I would suggest demanding league minimum. Then contact every team with that demand. Believe it or not, most teams will start fighting for your services. Wait until day 30 and sign with the offer you like best. I once signed with Minnesota 3yr/$379k at this point. This will be good for buying books (Pitching Mind or learn a new pitch). Poise ratings never decline so if you wait to long these books are useless.

2nd Season
Four times I have created a Starting Pitcher and I always began in AA. Never have I pitched A ball. You should expect the same. Another point you may consider is selling your Bat, and batting gloves during the minor years. They're useless.

At the end of the 2nd season you will need to adjust your workout. Replace Wheel Drill with Turn and Run and remove one Reverse Fly. (1.50)

[Buzz42marrow]

3rd Season
By this time you will have increased to Stuff and Control for sure. Also, if your endurance level isn't rising fast enough, add Long Toss or another Extra Running exercise. You should be able to have endurance up to 100 by your 4th or 5th season and than I doubt you'll need Endurance drills until your 39. Endurance never fell below 55 for me, even at age 48.

2006-2007
Expect more increases to your potential ratings. There is a chance you may get released again but don't worry. It just means another paycheck in the free agent market. Your ratings can increase when you're out of work.

2008-2010
By 2010 you should be getting some work in the Majors. Don't get your hopes up too high though. Depending on your team, you might get stuck in AAA for awhile.

Injuries
Even though you have a constitution of 5, injuries can and probably will happen. Probably not long term but don't be surprised if you lose 8 weeks to an injury.

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By this time you should be in the Majors more often. Again, it depends on your situation. Once you become a regular starter it's best if you relax your Pitching Sessions on the days you start. Sometimes even the general exercises. Your fitness does bounce back rather fast but having full fitness on your days to start is ideal for obvious reasons. If you get to the Post Season you'll want to relax all your general exercises since your days off will be short.

At the end of 2012 another workout adjustment will be necessary. Change Leg Press to Cowboy Squats and remove Dot Drill. Strength/Flexibility 1.40

2013 Season
Hopefully you now have a decent salary through arbritration. It's probably a good time to learn a new pitch or two, if you haven't already. Poise should be at 90

2014-end
Enjoy your career from here on out. Around age 39, depending on injuries, you'll need to become a book worm. Make sure you learn the Knuckle Ball by age 40 since your velocity will drop fast. You also will have to make a few more adjustments to your workout, but by now, you should have a good idea how to do that.

Good Luck

[Buzz42marrow]

I. For some reason I neglected to consider this but you might want to not have 4 pitches. I haven't played out a full career doing it this way but I did notice that starting with 2 or 3 pitches helps development much quicker. I'll post down the road to see if it makes a differnce.

II. I'm assuming body weight is totally random. Even with 0 strength I have just created a new pitcher that's 220 lbs. He can drink a screwdriver without being drunk.

III. Also I have never had less than 369 wins using this thread on Horror Level, I'm considering running a career on Pathetic to see if I can hit 500 wins. Should be interesting.

IV. I tried developing a pitcher starting with 2 pitches and one with 3 pitches. I didn't get any increases for 4 seasons so I gave up. I guess starting with 4 pitches is the way to go.

V. I have never made my SP right handed. Always left handed.

VI. The team you play for seems to have an impact on your development. Both times I was drafted by the Yankees, my first season had 2 increases in stuff rating.

VII. I've been pretty happy pitching in the NL, seems that facing a couple of pitchers each game helps the ERA.

VIII. I see no reason to have high defensive ratings. Drop the 1 point for dexterity for intelligence and boost the poise rating to 100. It's worth it.

IX. Pitching Sessions may be useless when your potential is maxed. Consider using the Pitch Sessions only when you're trying to reach your potential.

X. Fiddler's with 0 charisma, if you go to the bar everyday you may get 3 increases and if you're lucky a big bonus.

[jaxmagicman]

Hey, thanks for this. I will take this and try it tonight.

[jaxmagicman]

I must have done something wrong, I can't seem to produce the same results.

[Buzz42marrow]

My latest pitcher gained increases quicker with this workout in the beginning:

Sunday: Extra Running Plus, Leg Press, Lower Flex Plus
Monday: Incline Press, Pitch Plus, Back Extension, Upper Flex Plus
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: External Rotation, Pitch Session, Upward Rotation, Arm Flex Plus
Thursday: Field Drills Plus, Wheel Drill, Dot Drill, Leg Flex Plus
Friday: Pitching Sessions Plus
Saturday: Reverse Fly, Internal Rotation, Wrist Twist, Arm Flex Plus

I also removed my Pitching Sessions Plus during the season and added them only during the off-season.

[Wig]

I cannot seem to get any good results until I am in my early 30s. However, in a few years I get Velocity +20, control +30, Stuff +30. So I can get to Stuff 100, Control 100, Vel 30 (from 10) and Poise 80.

It works best when your ratio needs to be 1.3. It is a modified "greatest hitter workout".

Sunday Pushups, N/A, Back Ext, Arm Flx +
Monday Lower Flex +, N/A, Pitch Session +,
Tuesday Dumbell Squats, N/A, Split Squads, Upper Flex +
Wednesday N/A
Thursday upward rotation, N/A, External Rot, Leg Flex Plus
Friday Pitch Session +, N/A
Saturday Internal Rot, N/A, Reverse Fly, Arm Flex +

I had Str 1, Intel 2, Dex 4, Con 5, Char 0, luck 0.

I pitched for 22 years, just retired, finishing with 788 GS, 383W-217L, 5718 IP, 3980 K, 170 CG, 48 SHO, 1.12 WHIP. I was an ALL-Star 11 times, 4 times outstanding pitcher, 1 GG, and 4 WS rings.

Card worth 3.046.63. By far my best pitching career.

EDIT: I also read books to get my Poise up faster and I read other pitch books to learn them ASAP. I feel having higher poise got me into the Show faster, and once there I read the other pitch books when possible. I was in A in `63 and was in the bigs to stay in `67.

[streetballer67]

I think I will give this a try tonight...I'll let you know how it works.

[Buzz42marrow]

My lastest pitcher using this system:
Rumple Stillskin, Left Handed, Intel=3, Constitution=5, 6'0", 195, Team Captain.
Drafted by LA, 10th round, 27th pick
Pitches:Fastball, Curveball, Change Up, and Sinker (learned the rest of the pitches later)

Regular Season
GP GS W L ERA IP HA ER BB K CG SO WHIP
903 901 448 224 3.13 6249.2 5996 2175 1263 4851 159 40 1.16
Post Season
GS W L ERA IP HA ER BB K CG SO WHIP
54 25 15 3.15 380.1 368 133 72 291 13 3 1.16

Rookie Card: $4,127.67
All Star Selections: 13
Outstanding Pitcher Award: 7
Championship Rings: 4

Maximum Ratings: Stuff 100, Control 90, Velocity 70, Defense 36, Hitting 46.

[Buzz42marrow]

1.5
Sunday-Fielding Drills Plus, Leg Press, Lower Flex Plus
Monday-Incline Press, Batting Practice Plus, Back Extension, Upper Flex Plus
Tuesday-rest
Wednesday-External Rotation, Pitch Session, Upward Rotation, Arm Flex Plus
Thursday-Fielding Drills Plus, A Skip, Dot Drill, Leg Flex Plus
Friday- Batting Practice Plus
Saturday-Reverse Fly, Internal Rotation, Wrist Extension, Arm Flex Plus

1.4
Sunday-Fielding Drills Plus, Leg Press, Lower Flex Plus
Monday-Incline Press, Batting Practice Plus, Back Extension, Upper Flex Plus
Tuesday-rest
Wednesday-External Rotation, Pitch Session, Upward Rotation, Arm Flex Plus
Thursday-Fielding Drills Plus, Quicks, Dot Drill, Leg Flex Plus
Friday- Batting Practice Plus
Saturday-Internal Rotation, Wrist Extension, Arm Flex Plus

1.3
Sunday-Fielding Drills Plus, Leg Press, Lower Flex Plus
Monday-Batting Practice Plus, Back Extension, Upper Flex Plus
Tuesday-rest
Wednesday-External Rotation, Pitch Session, Upward Rotation, Arm Flex Plus
Thursday-Fielding Drills Plus, Quicks, Leg Flex Plus
Friday- rest
Saturday-Batting Practice Plus, Internal Rotation, Arm Flex Plus

1.1
Sunday-Fielding Drills Plus, Cowboy Squats, Lower Flex Plus
Monday-Batting Practice Plus, Back Extension, Upper Flex Plus
Tuesday-rest
Wednesday-External Rotation, Pitch Session, Upward Rotation, Arm Flex Plus
Thursday-Fielding Drills Plus, Quicks, Leg Flex Plus
Friday- rest
Saturday-Batting Practice Plus, Internal Rotation, Arm Flex Plus