Today, I wanted to mess around with “MLB The Show 24” and figure out that whole pickoff thing. It’s always been a bit of a mystery to me, you know? So, I hopped into a game, ready to crack the code.
Getting Started
First things first, I made sure I was playing as the fielding team. Obvious, right? You can’t try to pick someone off if you’re up at bat. Then, I waited until there was a runner on base. That’s when the fun begins.
The Basic Move
I started with the basics. I held down the L2 button – that’s the trigger for pickoffs. While holding it, I pressed the button that corresponds to the base I wanted to throw to. Like, square for second base, triangle for third, and so on. I practiced this a few times just to get the hang of it. The pitcher steps off the mound and fires the ball over to the base. Easy enough, but it didn’t always work. The runners would often get back in time.
Mixing It Up
So, I figured there had to be more to it. I started experimenting with different timings and adding a little bit of deception. Sometimes, I’d pretend to go to one base and then quickly switch to another. Like, I’d tap the button for second base but then quickly press the button for first. This seemed to throw the runners off a bit more.
- Quick Throws: I tried just tapping L2 and the base button really fast. This is your basic, quick throw over there. It works sometimes, but not always.
- Step-Offs: Instead of throwing right away, I’d sometimes just have the pitcher step off the mound without throwing. This made the runner think I was going for a pickoff, and they’d be more cautious. Then, I could nail them with a real throw later.
- Fake Throws: This was my favorite. I’d hold L2, press a base button, but then quickly press R2 to cancel the throw. This fakes out the runner and can make them take a bigger lead, setting them up for a real pickoff attempt.
Practice Makes Perfect
Honestly, it took a lot of trial and error. I probably got thrown out trying to steal more times than I actually picked anyone off, especially at first. But I kept at it, trying different combinations and watching how the runners reacted. Slowly but surely, I started getting the timing down and understanding when to use each move.
Success!
Finally, I started to see some success. I was catching runners leaning too far off the base, especially when they were trying to steal. The feeling of finally picking someone off after all that practice was pretty awesome. It’s like you outsmarted them, you know?
So, yeah, that’s how I went about figuring out pickoffs in “MLB The Show 24.” It’s not just about pressing buttons; it’s about reading the situation, being unpredictable, and practicing until you get that timing just right. It’s a fun little challenge, and it definitely adds another layer to the game.
