Power Pros Forum

Has anyone made a successful closer? I've played year 3 Chumpion Rings for 20 games straight now and I can't beat them. My pitcher is in there for maybe 3 innings because he's a closer (no stamina) and my scout's eval is next to nothing because of it.

Got any strategies for beating this Cheation Rings?

The best bet is to become captain year three, and let Alvin start the game. His bat with the others should be enough to beat the Cheating Rings at least 2 out of 10.

Closers are easy as you can skimp on the Stamina, which saves a lot of year one practice for other stuff, like control. A good closer could have a B control, and a decent fastball, say 92-95. And maybe one or two breaking pitches in the range of 4-7. If you can get your control up by the end of year one, or half way through year two, you can spend the rest of the game pumping points into a great changeup and maybe something like a cutter.

Year two isn't so bad. Your closer will start year two games, but you will be able to pitch with men on base, so you can assure that no runs score for maybe the first 2 or 3 innings. Then Alvin comes in and picks up the slack. And if all else fails Toby is serviceable in short stretches. You may have to reload a few times because the offense will suck somewhat, but it won't be too bad.

Of course, because you won't have to inflate too many stats to make a good closer, you will have copious points left usually to buy abilities, and then dating and work always bring more.

Closer's should at least be able to go 3 innings. - C stamina

As Marvin Card said, making high-level closers is easier because of the low stamina. My best pitchers have all been relievers - with 105 top speeds, B control, and 3 maxed-out pitches. If you're captain, just make sure you can hit. Most of the time it should be within 3 runs, so get some runs, and save your player for last - Alvin/Robin should start.

I agree with this. Especially if you go Gambling Ring, and get into the Shadow Program that odawali wrote up... the sky is the limit with what you could do. The C Stamina for a closer is a great idea too.

This makes me think too that if you put together a Middle Relief guy with a 92 FB, maybe a couple of pitches 3-5, and C stamina & control you could shuffle points into hitting and make him useful for something other than just a couple of innings every other night.

Yeah I'm not a Gambling Ring type player -- I like to churn out a good player every 3-4 hours, not some arduous affair of reloading a Surprise Bag. I did get a Gambling Ring from Sarah after picking the same package twice, but it did little to help at that point (Valentines year 3)

If I can't win in 5 more games I am going to delete him and start over.

You want me to make a closer for you as well?

I just might I'll give it some thought though, since I've never successfully made a closer, I think I just screwed up with this one.

It might be just my wii, but every time I try to get a secrets of pitching out of the surprise bag I get a gambling ring. I got 7 rings compared to 6 secrets of pitching. It only takes me half an hour max to get a ring.

Yeah.

On my most recent player a catcher, I got a surprise from Annie on the last christmas. I got 3 gambling rings and dozens of other stuff, including 1 secrets of pitching, and 2 legends of baseball, before finally getting the secrets of hitting.

And yet, on the other side of things, the first time, i got a few secrets books before the gambling ring - although it was still quicker because the other stuff was less frequent.

Someone take this dude to vegas!

Surprise bags always get me garbage, maybe a shuffle whistle, but almost always garbage.

But you're not a big save/loader are you?

Keep in mind that half an hour is equal to about 50 reloads. If you just do it as quick as possible.

Have you seen my Bruce Sutter over in the password exchange forum?

Are you captain? If so, follow the advice to start Alvin instead of your guy.

Did you keep your Rookie's Charm? That might be your best other option to get some runs in the 8th and 9th (if you're captain).

No I almost always refuse captaincy to keep Alvin on the team. Yeah I have the Rookie Charm still, but it doesn't seem to help.

I think it's not so much my pitching as it is my computer controlled fielding. They hit a nice one to the outfield, bring a runner in, and instead of throwing it to the cutoff man because it would be impossible to get the out at home, they throw it all the way to the catcher and the hitter advances to second. Stupid stuff like that. Oh and the coach waits one too many batters to take me out, because they always get a hit off of me as I am way out of energy.

If you become captain in year 3 alvin will stay...
never mind - judging by how your scout eval is low - you probably didn't win it all in year 2 - that's the only way Toby will let you be captain (no fate card needed).

So winning in year 2 has more bonuses than year 3 - IMO. What are your pitchers stats/abilities? Psychic Goggles?

I got to the CR in year 2 but I had nowhere near the ability (player-wise) or patience to wait 20+ games to score enough runs to win. I just left it at that.

I believe these are his stats, but I haven't turned it on lately to see if they are accurate:

Top Speed - 95mph
Control - C
Stamina - E

A couple handfuls of blue abilities

Pitching Heart
Tri Fangs
Psychic Goggles