FAQ - Guide for MLB Pennant Race

 Subject: MLB Pennant Race FAQ 1.0
From: John Smedley 
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 1996 14:58:20 -0700
Message-ID: <[email protected]>

MLB Pennant Race FAQ V1.0

This is my first stab at a FAQ for this game, I hope it answers most
of the questions which have come up regarding the game:

1) What is the story with the rosters?

Early on in the project, back when we thought it was coming out in
May, we had opening day rosters. In the end we had the rosters as of
around the middle of September. Are they absolutely perfect, no. People
have pointed out several problems with them. Please understand that our
rosters only carry 25 people. 15 Fielders and 10 pitchers. The starters
are pretty much solid though with just a few exceptions. Remember you
can
do trades yourself and create players we missed. Sorry if there was any
confusion on this issue.

2) The manual is incorrect

Yes. This is true. Basically we had the manual done a few months before
the end of the game. We made some major changes to gameplay and this
changed the controls. The correct controls are below.

3) I am having a hard time hitting using the cursor

Allright. Let's face it, not everyone will be really good at this.
Here are some suggestions:

Put it in Veteran mode. The cursor is bigger here.
Use Contact and Normal - They are much bigger than Power
Move the cursor around quickly until you see the cursor turn red.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

4) Is there a batting cursor in Home Run Derby mode?

No

5) Why do I sometimes miss catching easy fly balls when my player
is right under the ball?

The Wind is a big factor in where the ball will land. Just keep
adjusting
your player until the player's hand goes up.

6) Can I move my batter in the batters box?

Yes - See the controls below.

7) Is there a button to switch to another active player?

No - But I can see there is a lot of desire for this one, so we will
consider it for next year's release.

8) Why doesn't the pitcher catch many balls

Basically in real baseball, unless the ball is hit right at the pitcher
he probably isn't going to be involved in many plays. We tried to
simulate
this as much as possible. The pitcher does get involved, it just depends
on the speed of the hit. If it's a really hard line drive down below the
mound than many times he won't get involved.


CONTROLS
---------------------------------------
Simulation Mode / Batting View
1)  Pitching:
X Button        Throw Selected Pitch
O Button        Throw Ball To 1st Base
Triangle Button Throw Ball To 2nd Base
Square Button   Throw Ball To 3rd Base
D-Pad           Moves Pitching Target
R1              Infield Shift
R2              Outfield Shift
2)  Fielding:
O Button        Throw Ball To 1st Base
Triangle Button Throw Ball To 2nd Base
Square Button   Throw Ball To 3rd Base
X Button        Throw Ball To Home Plate
R1,R2,L1,L2     Throw Ball To Cutoff Player
D-Pad           Moves Fielder
X Button        Jump (Without Ball)
D-Pad + X Btn   Dive (Without Ball)
O Button        Turbo (Without Ball)
3)  Batting:
X Button                Swing Bat
O Button                Bunt
Triangle Button         Steal Lead Runner
D-Pad + Square Button   Steal One Runner
L1                      Leadoff Advance
L2                      Leadoff Return
R1                      Hit And Run
D-Pad + R2              Move Batter
Select Button           Center Batter
4)  Base Running:
Up On D-Pad + Triangle Button   Run To 2nd Base
Left On D-Pad + Triangle Button Run To 3rd Base
Down On D-Pad + Triangle Button Run To Home Plate
Right On D-Pad + X Button       Return To 1st Base
Up On D-Pad + X Button          Return To 2nd Base
Right On D-Pad + X Button       Return To 3rd Base
Square Button                   Advance All Runners
L2                              Return All Runners
R2                              Stop All Runners
L1                              Head First Slide
R1                              Feet First Slide

Simulation Mode / Pitching View:
1)  Pitching:
Triangle Button                 Throw Selected Pitch
Square Button                   Throw To 1st Base
X Button                        Throw To 2nd Base
O Button                        Throw To 3rd Base
D-Pad                           Moves Ball Target

2)  Fielding
Square Button                   Throw Ball To 1st Base
X Button                        Throw Ball To 2nd Base
O Button                        Throw Ball To 3rd Base
Triangle Button                 Throw Ball To Home Plate
L1,R1,L2,R2                     Throw To Cutoff Man
D-Pad                           Move Fielder
X Button                        Jump (Without Ball)
D-Pad + X Button                Dive (Without Ball)
O Button                        Turbo (Without Ball)

3)  Batting
X Button                        Swing Bat
O Button                        Bunt
Triangle Button                 Steal Lead Runner
D-Pad + Square Button           Steal One Runner
L1                              Leadoff Advance
L2                              Leadoff Return
R1                              Hit And Run
D-Pad + R2 Button               Move Batter
Select Button                   Center Batter
 
4)  Base Running
Down On D-Pad + Triangle Button         Run To 2nd Base
Right On D-Pad + Triangle Button        Run To 3rd Base
Up On D-Pad + Triangle Button           Run To Home Plate
Left On D-Pad + X Button                Return To 1st Base
Down On D-Pad + X Button                Return To 2nd Base
Right On D-Pad + X Button               Return To 1st Base
O Button                                Advance All Runners
Square Button                           Return All Runners
L2                                      Stop All Runners
L1                                      Head First Slide
R1                                      Feet First Slide

----------------------------------------------------------
Arcade Mode / Batting View:
1)  Pitching
X Button(tap)                           Pitch (Slow)
X Button (Hold Down)                    Pitch Fast
O Button                                Throw Ball To 1st Base
Triangle Button                         Throw Ball To 2nd Base
Square Button                           Throw Ball To 3rd Base
Left On D-Pad                           Ball Breaks Left
Right On D-Pad                          Ball Breaks Right
Up On D-Pad                             Ball Rises
Down On D-Pad                           Ball Sinks

2)  Fielding
O Button                                Throw Ball To 1st Base
Triangle Button                         Throw Ball To 2nd Base
Square Button                           Throw Ball To 3rd Base
X Button                                Throw Ball To Home Plate
L1,R1,L2,R2                             Throw Ball To Cutoff Man
D-Pad                                   Move Fielder
X Button                                Jump (Without Ball)
D-Pad + X Button                        Dive (Without Ball)
O Button                                Turbo (Without Ball)

3)  Batting
X Button                                Swing Bat
O Button                                Bunt
Triangle Button                         Steal Lead Runner
D-Pad + Square Button                   Steal One Runner
L1                                      Leadoff  Advance
L2                                      Leadoff Return
R1                                      Hit And Run
D-Pad + R2 Button                       Move Batter
Select Button                           Center Batter

4)  Base Running
Up On D-Pad + Triangle Button           Run To 2nd Base
Left On D-Pad + Triangle Button         Run To 3rd Base
Down On D-Pad + Triangle Button         Run To Home Plate
Right On D-Pad + X Button               Return To 1st Base
Up On D-Pad + X Button                  Return To 2nd Base
Left On D-Pad + X Button                Return To 3rd Base
Square Button                           Advance All Runners
O Button                                Return All Runners
R2                                      Stop All Runners
L1                                      Head First Slide
R1                                      Feet First Slide

Arcade Mode / Pitching View:
1)  Pitching:
Triangle Button                         Throw Pitch
Square Button                           Throw Ball To 1st Base
X Button                                Throw Ball To 2nd Base
O Button                                Throw Ball To 3rd Base
Left On D-Pad                           Ball Breaks Left
Right On D-Pad                          Ball Breaks Right
Up On D-Pad                             Ball Rises
Down On D-Pad                           Ball Sinks
R1                                      Infielder Depth
R2                                      Outfielder Depth

2)  Fielding:
Square Button                           Throw Ball To 1st Base
X Button                                Throw Ball To 2nd Base
O Button                                Throw Ball To 3rd Base
Triangle Button                         Throw Ball To Home Plate
L1,R1,L2,R2                             Throw Ball To Cutoff Man
D-Pad                                   Move Fielder
X Button                                Jump (Without Ball)
D-Pad + X Button                        Dive (Without Ball)
O Button                                Turbo (Without Ball)

3)  Batting:
X Button                                Swing Bat
O Button                                Bunt
Triangle Button                         Steal Lead Runner
D-Pad + Square Button                   Steal One Runner
L1                                      Leadoff Advance
L2                                      Leadoff Return
R1                                      Hit And Run
D-Pad + R2                              Move Batter
Select Button                           Center Batter

4)  Base Running:
Down On D-Pad + X Button                Run To 2nd Base
Left On D-Pad + X Button                Run To 3rd Base
Up On D-Pad + X Button                  Run To Home Plate
Left On D-Pad + Triangle Button         Return To 1st Base
Down On D-Pad + Triangle Button         Return To 2nd Base
Right On D-Pad +Triangle Button         Return To 3rd Base
O Button                                Advance All Runners
L2                                      Return All Runners
R2                                      Stop All Runners
L1                                      Head First Slide
R1                                      Feet First Slide