Okay, so I was messing around in MLB The Show 23 the other day, trying to get better at pickoffs. I’ve always been trash at it, so I figured it was time to practice.
First, I hopped into a game, just a regular exhibition match. I picked a team, didn’t really matter which one, and started pitching. I let a guy get on first base, you know, just to set up the situation.
Then came the tricky part. I held down the left trigger, the one you use to peek at the runner. You gotta be quick about it, though. And don’t take too long a lead or you will be caught off guard easily. Then, while still holding that trigger, I pressed the button for first base. On PlayStation, that’s the circle button.
The first few times, nothing happened. The runner just stood there, chilling on first. I guess my timing was way off. I messed it up again. And again. This was way harder than it looked.
But I kept at it. I tried to get the rhythm down, holding the trigger and then quickly tapping the base button. After a while, I started to get a feel for it. The pitcher would do a quick turn and fire the ball to first.
- Hold down the left trigger to peek at the runner.
- While holding the trigger, press the button for the base you want to throw to.
- Practice the timing!
Finally, it happened! I picked a guy off! He took off for second, and I nailed him. It was a thing of beauty. I even did a little fist pump, which is lame, I know, but I was pumped.
My Takeaways
It takes practice, a lot of it. It’s all about the timing. You gotta be quick and smooth with the button presses. Don’t hold the trigger for too long, and don’t rush the throw. Just find that sweet spot. Keep practicing, and eventually, you’ll be throwing out runners like a pro.
I’m still not great at it, but I’m definitely getting better. I’ve picked off a few more runners since that first one. And I’m sure I’ll get even better with more practice. Also, I went to settings and then mode-specific and changed player lock base running opportunities to none. It really helped me a lot.
And one more thing. It’s super satisfying to pick someone off when they’re trying to steal. It’s like, “Nice try, buddy, but you’re not fast enough.” I love it.
