Power Pros Forum

The long and tedious workaround doesn't seem to be working at all today, and the glitch still isn't fixed. MLB '13's developers are proving every bit as bad as EA Sports at fixing bugs, there's been game breaking glitches since release that haven't been acknowledged yet, and now you can't even play games.

Nobody is worse than 2K Sports at fixing bugs. Those people just promise stuff, and stuff never comes to fruition.

I don't think I've ever played a 2K game with Online features, which sounds fortunate if they could possibly be worse than this or EA Sports. Although EA Sports never even promises stuff, when bugs show up in their game, they usually just ignore them, sometimes they go on the forums deleting posts about them, but usually they just don't pay any attention at all.

My last post was out of frustration though, this still isn't worse than EA Sports NHL series in terms of game breaking glitches yet. Although if they introduce a few more without fixing any it will be a close competition.

I have a lot of players I want to start using but I can't even get these players retired if I can't play games. I even accidentally got duplicates of Miguel Cabrera, I bought one a while ago and wound up getting another one today so I need to sell one.

Hockey Ultimate Team in the NHL series still has the same game breaking bugs it did in the early days of NHL '11.

This particular glitch was surprisingly fixed in just a few short days, so games can be played. Meanwhile there's no estimated time on fixes for bugs that occurred since release, but whatever.

I think at this point I may just pick teams at random if nobody has requests, I'm sick of trying to think of a team I haven't played yet and I'm definitely not scrolling through the whole topic to confirm any of it. To even things out, AL games will be on the road with NL games at home, this will also ensure the DH is always on.

First random number... 8.

This corresponds to the Detroit Tigers.

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Season 5, Game 3:

Boston Bruins (2-0) at Detroit Tigers

Bruins: 6
Tigers: 7

Some games the programming just intervenes to guarantee you have no shot at the win, the Bruins were screwed over by that very fact in this game. They jumped out to the quick 4-0 lead, but the Tigers mind control worked wonders on the Bruins fielders to score 4 runs after the 3rd inning would have easily been over if not for an error that's literally nearly impossible to make unless you're doing it on purpose. The Tigers could not have won the game if their fielding wasn't phenomenal as much as they couldn't have won it if the Bruins fielding wasn't atrocious. The Tigers robbed hits at every turn, turning sure base hits and RBI into virtually impossible inning ending double plays, where the Bruins fielding gave baserunners wherever possible, going as far as letting an easy flyout bounce off their head.

The Bruins looked like they might have been able to somehow win the game just by their phenomenal hitting bailing out their god-awful pitching and fielding, the Tigers amazing fielding kept it to a 1 run game in the 9th, the Bruins with a 7-6 lead. Brian Wilson then came in and promptly blew the save, taking just 1 pitch to do it. He managed to record a grand 1 out before surrendering the winning run.

Player of the Game: Prince Fielder, 4-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 2B, 3 R

Thornton: 3-4, 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB, K, 2 SB
Gardner: 4-5, R, RBI, K, SB
Ciriaco: 3-5, R, 3 RBI
Morneau: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Gonzalez: 0-5, K
Lewis: 0-2, 2 K
Staton: 0-1
Larson: 0-1
Harris: 0-1
Cooper: 0-2, 2 BB, K
Davis: 1-4, 3B, R, K
Curtis: 0-3, R, BB, 2 K

E: S.Thornton

R.VanVorstenbosch: 3 innings pitched, 8 hits, 4 runs, 2 earned runs (???, seems to be randomly decided, he didn't give up any actual earned runs), 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
J.Tazawa: 1 inning pitched, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 strikeout
J.Feliz: 2 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts
A.Aceves: 2 innings pitched, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts, hold
B.Wilson: 0.1 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, blown save, loss

Win: Duane Below (1-0)
Loss: Brian Wilson (0-1)
HR: P.Fielder

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Video "highlights" are many for this game, and will be coming in a later post.

I may need to add some power bats, with no home runs lately. I'd add some good fielders, but I don't think fielding ratings make a difference anymore, even gold glove rated players make god-awful errors at the worst possible times. I upgraded Thornton to have great throwing accuracy but he still throws over the shortstops head on every other double play ball.

I think this series will basically just go until I finish a bunch of collections, even though the focus of the series is the games, once the collecting is done I'll see just about no reason at all to keep going with it. I wish there were some changes to the game to make the CPU gameplay a little more exciting, but every game is against the other team's ace starter and their fully rested bullpen and that gets a little stale once you've faced all the teams.

I'm not sure if my collecting will extend to the team collections or just exclude them, because those may be really tedious to go after because a lot of them have a player that's virtually impossible to find and tons of players that aren't in any other collections. As for my collection progress at the moment, I technically have no completed collections, because it only counts once you've used or recycled all the players in it. I do have the cards stockpiled to complete several collections though.

And now for the video highlights of last game, based on the lack of interest in them last time it doesn't seem worth going through the trouble to embed them or anything. I may have exaggerated the plays earlier in sheer frustration, but you guys know me, I tend to lose control in frustrating situations. Remember, that was typed shortly after my closer took literally 1 pitch to blow the save.

1. The woes began with this play. As what could have been an easy double play ball is thrown high by Thornton. Ciriaco clearly had the chance to still tag the runner or something, but did not, and no outs were had on what turned into a 4 run inning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv8U1y5Eo74

2. RBI hit up the middle? Nope, inning ending double play. If you haven't played The Show this play may not look as amazing to you as it does to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4amZynTnYk

3. Despite the Bruins general fielding woes, they did have one great play in them, as Barry Cooper robbed a hit off the bat of Prince Fielder. This was the only time Fielder was out in this game. Unfortunately for the Bruins he had more at-bats after this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoCfPKw7kOM

4. A true circus play, the ball is driven to center field, it looks like the normally solid Gardner will have an easy play on it, but the ball hits off his face instead and bounces back up. The baserunner takes a break on second base for some reason before continuing on to third, the throw in from Gardner was way off as he was horrible on this play, but Gonzalez managed to dive back towards the base to barely get the tag in time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6cRaiSMleI


Also, I just realized these replays save the music that was playing in the stadium at the time. So, bonus points go to whoever can identify the songs in the highlights. Maybe I'll let you pick a future player (off a list of players I have on me), and give you the first chance to name the next star dynasty player.

I'll give the hint that in the 4 highlight videos, only 2 different songs are played.

It's hard to tell over the cheers, but they aren't songs from the game, are they?

Not by default, they are songs I put into the game. It seems in this game you just have to replace the music all in one place and it's replaced almost everywhere in the game. Not like the NHL series where you have to set it as the music in the menu, in every specific mode, and in every specific stadium and it takes like 10 minutes. So I guess the video highlights will give insight as to the kind of music I listen to sometimes, if that other music topic wasn't enough.

Next random number is 15, the Houston Astros. God, now we have to win.

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Season 5, Game 4:

Boston Bruins (2-1) at Houston Astros

Bruins: 3
Astros: 2

It's hard to imagine a lineup like the Bruins being no-hit, with just one batter with an average under .300, and three over .400, and even one over .500 at the start of this game, but for a while it looked like a legitimate possibility. Lyles had a no-hitter with 2 outs in the 7th inning when Morneau hit a single to break it, Gonzalez came up with a big home run and just like that the game was tied at 2. Even the Bruins starter had a pretty good start, as he pitched a 1 hitter through 5 innings. The Bruins relief pitching was good in this game as well, allowing no runs, Justin Morneau hit a 9th inning home run to give them a 3-2 lead. Brian Wilson came in for the save and try to make up for his last appearance, he struck out 3 batters, but not before getting into a little trouble with runners on first and second.

Player of the Game: Eddy Gonzalez (personally I would have given it to Morneau, for breaking the no-hitter and giving us the lead late)

Thornton: 1-4
Gardner: 0-4, K
Ciriaco: 0-4
Morneau: 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, K
Gonzalez: 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Lewis: 0-4, K
Cooper: 1-4
Davis: 1-3, BB
Curtis: 0-3, BB

E: B.Cooper

B.Kelly: 6 innings pitched, 3 hits, 2 runs, 8 strikeouts
R.Cortes: 1 inning pitched, 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts
J.Tazawa: 1 inning pitched, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 strikeout, win
B.Wilson: 1 inning pitched, 2 hits, 0 runs, 3 strikeouts, save

Win: Junichi Tazawa (1-0)
Loss: Sam Demel (0-1)
Save: Brian Wilson (2)
HR: J.Morneau, E.Gonzalez

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I was a bit worried in one of the innings when I should have easily scored at least 3 runs, but scored none because my players kept popping up bunts and their fielder made a brilliant catch to rob what could have easily been a 2 out, 3 run double. But Morneau made things work out in the end, I was wondering when he'd hit another home run, since I power swing nearly every time he's up.

Yeah, speaking of inserting music into games (and sorry if I go a bit off-topic here), it's almost impossible to do that for my PC MLB 2K12 game, since the file is a .bin file.

I don't think I could stand to play a sports game with the default music considering how awful sports games soundtracks are these days.

Next random number is 17, making the final game of the season against... Miami Marlins.

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Season 5, Game 5:

Miami Marlins at Boston Bruins (3-1)

Marlins: 1
Bruins: 5

Case Royal pitched well in his start and the Bruins definitely broke out of their previous power slump in this game, hitting several home runs, even getting one from Pedro Ciriaco, who was a triple short of the cycle. Aceves pitched the last couple innings in his last game, and Morneau had a 2 run home run in the game before his retirement.

Player of the Game: Pedro Ciriaco

Thornton: 1-4, R
Gardner: 0-4 (I've never seen a batting average drop more than .200 in 2 games before him)
Ciriaco: 4-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
Morneau: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI
Gonzalez: 2-4, 2 K
Lewis: 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Cooper: 1-4
Davis: 2-4, K
Curtis: 0-3, BB

C.Royal: 6 innings pitched, 4 hits, 1 run, 4 strikeouts, win
B.Lugo: 1 inning pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 3 strikeouts, hold
A.Aceves: 2 innings pitched, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts

Win: Case Royal (4-1)
Loss: Ricky Nolasco (0-1)
HR: P.Ciriaco, J.Morneau, M.Lewis

When reached for comment on his plans for next season, the Bruins general manager responded with:

"It kind of sucks to replace Mike Lewis after one of the better games in his career, but he's just generally not done well enough to deserve his spot, being a DH and hitting worse than anyone else on the team."

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Retirements are Alfredo Aceves, Brian Wilson, and Justin Morneau.

Unfortunately, now the "Team Hall of Fame" in game has been filled so I can't do a good voting system in the offseason because there's nowhere else to look at retired players stats, so there's no way for me to get Morneau's final stats, or anyone else that retires. If anyone can think of another way I can do this, let me know.

Has anyone been following closely enough to vote on Hall of Fame players without me being able to get their career stats?

Basically the Hall of Fame voting now would be something like:

Jason Motte
Joel Hanrahan
Philippe Aumont
David Ortiz
Jacoby Ellsbury
Alfredo Aceves
Brian Wilson
Justin Morneau

Already in HOF:

Gio Gonzalez
Ryan Zimmerman

I could get stats on some of the players, but I don't think it would be fair to the players I can't get the stats for.

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New players look like they might be...

Billy Butler (DH, replacing Lewis)
Joey Votto (1B)
Koji Uehara (RP)
Jason Grilli (CP)
Either Jered Weaver or Justin Verlander (to replace Zambrano who will retire after the next game, I may even activate them both midseason)

I may have to either select the players myself or get rid of the Hall of Fame altogether at this point.

Until I decide on which it'll be, I'll add Ortiz this time. Making the HoF:

Gio Gonzalez
Ryan Zimmerman
David Ortiz

Next number is 11, Angels, and looking at their lineup, I'm pretty sure I haven't played them before...

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Season 6, Game 1:

Boston Bruins at Los Angeles Angels

Bruins: 12
Angels: 4

The Bruins got several big home runs from unlikely sources to give them a huge lead that the pitching could protect. Curtis hit a grand slam at the bottom of the order and Thornton was a triple away from the cycle.

Player of the Game: Shawn Thornton

Thornton: 4-6, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, SB
Gardner: 1-6, 2 K
Butler: 1-6, RBI, K
Votto: 3-5, 2 R
Ciriaco: 3-5, R
Gonzalez: 2-5, 2 R, K
Cooper: 1-5, HR, R, 3 RBI, K
Davis: 4-5, 3 R, RBI, K
Curtis: 2-5, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, K

E: J.Votto

C.Zambrano: 7 innings pitched, 3 hits, 2 runs, 4 strikeouts, win
J.Tazawa: 1 inning pitched, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 0 strikeouts
K.Uehara: 1 inning pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 strikeout

Win: Carlos Zambrano (2-0)
Loss: Joe Blanton (0-1)
HR: S.Thornton, B.Cooper, R.Curtis, J.Hamilton

Season 6, Game 2:

San Diego Padres at Boston Bruins (1-0)

Padres: 2
Bruins: 13

Weaver was brought onto the team and had a pretty good first game, but just couldn't finish it, as he collapsed in the 9th giving up several hits and multiple runs, he would leave with 1 out remaining for the bullpen to handle. Thornton had another great game, extending his home run streak to two games. Weaver was perfect until two outs in the 5th inning, when the announcers jinxed him and he gave up an immediate 2 hits and a walk. Weaver gave up 4 hits in the 9th, which was more than the 3 he allowed in the entire game up to that point. Of the 13 runs the Bruins scored this game, only 5 were earned, scoring no earned runs against the starter despite chasing him by scoring 6 runs in total against him.

The Bruins were unusually efficient in scoring runs this game, getting their 13 runs on just 15 hits and not leaving tons of runners on every inning.

Player of the Game: Shawn Thornton

Thornton: 4-5, 2B, HR, 4 R, 6 RBI, K, SB
Gardner: 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Butler: 1-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB
Votto: 1-5, R, 2 RBI, K
Ciriaco: 0-5, K (had a .500 average in 6 games before this one)
Gonzalez: 2-5, R, 2 K
Cooper: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, K
Davis: 1-4, R, 2 K
Curtis: 1-3, 2B, 2 R, BB, K

J.Weaver: 8.2 innings pitched, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts, win
J.Shannon: 0.1 innings pitched, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 strikeout

Win: Jered Weaver (1-0)
Loss: Edinson Volquez (0-1)
HR: S.Thornton, C.Quentin

3 game updates in one day? Well, I am looking forward to some of the changes that will be made on the team in the future, and I also need the money I get in these games to do bidding.

Random number is 16, Atlanta.

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Season 6, Game 3:

Atlanta Braves at Boston Bruins (2-0)

Braves: 16
Bruins: 1

The Bruins were begging for a mercy rule to call this game pretty much the whole way along as this game might as well have been over before it started.

The Bruins manager joked "We might have staged a comeback if it wasn't for that Medlen kid", but in seriousness, they never had a chance.

Player of the Game: Kris Medlen, 9 innings pitched, 7 hits, 1 run, 16 strikeouts, win

Thornton: 2-4, R, K, SB
Gardner: 1-4, K, SB
Butler: 1-4, RBI, 2 K
Votto: 1-4, K
Ciriaco: 2-4, K
Gonzalez: 0-4, 4 K
Cooper: 0-3, 2 K
Davis: 0-3, 2 K
Curtis: 0-3, 2 K

E: R.VanVorstenbosch, R.Curtis

R.VanVorstenbosch: 6 innings pitched, 16 hits, 12 runs, 10 earned runs, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts, loss
R.Cortes: 1 inning pitched, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 strikeouts
J.Shannon: 1 inning pitched, 2 hits, 2 runs, 0 strikeouts
J.Grilli: 1 pitch pitched, 1 hit, 1 run, 0 strikeouts (obviously)
J.Tazawa: 1 inning pitched, 2 hits, 1 run, 0 strikeouts

Win: Kris Medlen (1-0)
Loss: Ryan VanVorstenbosch (2-2)
HR: F.Freeman, B.McCann, J.Francsco

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Blooper reel of highlights to come.

Also, anyone else think the "defensive indifference" rule on stolen bases is really stupid?

Blooper reel highlights, now all in one video.

Season 6, Game 4:

Boston Bruins (2-1) at Baltimore Orioles

Bruins: 7
Orioles: 1

Case Royal pitched a good game and it was more than enough to get the team the win as he becomes the first pitcher in Bruins history to get 5 wins. He walked a batter and allowed one hit in his start, but the walk was because of an extremely inconsistent umpire and the hit because of an extremely slow and apparently stupid outfielder. Shawn Thornton stole another base in this game, but only because of a bad throw by the catcher as Thornton nearly fell over on his jump towards second. Eddy Gonzalez hit a 2 run home run in this game.

Player of the Game: Case Royal

Thornton: 2-5, 2B, R, K, SB
Gardner: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, K
Butler: 1-5, 2B, R, RBI, K
Votto: 1-5, R, 2 K
Ciriaco: 1-5, RBI
Gonzalez: 1-5, HR, R, 2 RBI, K
Cooper: 3-4, 2B, R, K
Davis: 2-4, R, RBI, 2 K
Curtis: 1-3, BB

C.Royal: 6 innings pitched, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, win
J.Tazawa: 1.1 innings pitched, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 strikeout, hold
K.Uehara: 1.2 innings pitched, 0 hits, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts

Win: Case Royal (5-1)
Loss: Jair Jurrjens (0-1)
HR: E.Gonzalez

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Case Royal is a pretty odd pitcher to use, he barely ever hits the spots you're trying to hit, but he's successful anyway. You try to pitch way out of the strikezone and the ball winds up right down the middle, if any other pitcher does that it's a home run, but he somehow gets away with it.