Bringing in the Fireman: A Hilarious Guide to Subbing Pitchers in MLB the Show 22
Ah, the art of the pitching change. In real life, it's a ballet of strategy and sweaty palms. In MLB the Show 22, it can feel like fumbling for your phone while your house is on fire. Fear not, fellow baseball enthusiast, for I am here to guide you through the glorious (and sometimes slightly confusing) world of subbing pitchers!
Step 1: Recognizing When Your Starter Needs a Vacation
Is your once-dominant fastball now resembling a confused butterfly? Are you pretty sure the batter could hit a beach ball with this curveball? These are all signs (besides the giant red bar under your pitcher's stamina) that it's time to yank him from the mound faster than you can say "blown save."
Step 2: The D-pad Dance (or How to Avoid the Manager's Stare of Death)
There are two ways to access your bullpen, and neither involve interpretive dance (although that might be entertaining for the crowd). Here's your choice:
- The Pause Menu Polka: Hit that pause button like it owes you money. Navigate to the mystical land of "Manage," then "Bullpen." This is the scenic route, perfect for those who enjoy pondering the existential dread of a bad pitching performance.
- The D-pad Shuffle: Feeling fancy? During a pitching pre-play (before the pitch), tap that D-pad up. This brings up the bullpen menu with lightning speed, ideal for impressing everyone (including yourself) with your managerial prowess.
Step 3: Choosing Your Champion
Now comes the real fun! Here's a cheat sheet for picking your reliever:
- Facing a Lefty: Go righty! It's like playing whack-a-mole, but way cooler (and less likely to involve a giant mallet).
- Need a Strikeout Machine? Look for that pitcher with a K/9 that reads like a phone number you wouldn't want your grandma to see.
- The Closer Conundrum: This guy's for those nail-biting ninth innings. But unless you're facing the ghost of Babe Ruth, save him for when you truly need him.
Bonus Tip: The Art of the Warm-Up
Don't just throw your poor reliever into the fire like a burnt marshmallow. Use the "Warm Up" option to get them ready for the next inning. Think of it as mentally preparing them for the task at hand, which might involve dodging angry line drives and the existential dread mentioned earlier.
Remember: There's no shame in subbing early. A fresh arm is a happy arm, and a happy arm is less likely to throw a wild pitch that ends up in the third deck (don't ask me how I know).
So there you have it! With these tips, you'll be subbing pitchers like a pro in no time. Now go forth and dominate the mound (or at least avoid a complete meltdown)! Just remember, if all else fails, you can always blame the controller for "drifting." The AI will never know
