Okay, so I’ve been getting really into MLB The Show lately, and I kept seeing this “Vision” stat pop up for batters. Honestly, I kinda just ignored it at first, figuring it was some minor detail. But then I started struggling against pitchers with nasty breaking balls, and I figured it was time to dig in. So, here’s what I did and what I found out, totally from my own trial and error.
My Deep Dive into Vision
First, I hopped into Practice Mode. I needed to see this Vision thing in action, with no pressure. I picked a batter with high Vision and then one with low Vision, just to get a feel for the extremes. I wanted to see the actual difference, you know?
What I immediately noticed was the size of the PCI – that’s the little circle you use to aim your swing. With the high-Vision batter, the PCI was noticeably bigger. It wasn’t a HUGE difference, but enough that I felt way more confident about making contact. The low-Vision guy? Tiny PCI. It felt like I was trying to hit a fly with a toothpick!
Experimenting with Pitchers
Then I switched it up. I started facing pitchers with all kinds of different pitches and varying levels of control. I quickly learned that Vision isn’t just about the size of the PCI, it’s also about how much it shrinks when a tough pitch is coming.
- Against curveballs and sliders: This is where I saw the biggest impact. With low Vision, that PCI practically disappeared when a big breaking ball was coming. I was swinging at air half the time! High Vision? The PCI still shrunk, but it was manageable. I could at least foul some off, or even get lucky with a weak hit.
- Against fastballs: The effect of Vision was less obvious here, but still present. I think it mostly helped with timing. I felt like I had a slightly larger window to react with the high-Vision batter.
Putting Vision to the Test in Real Games
After messing around in Practice Mode, I jumped into some actual games, both online and against the computer. Here’s what I can confidently say: Vision matters. Especially when you’re facing those online players who love throwing nothing but junk pitches! I started prioritizing players with decent Vision, and it definitely helped me improve my plate discipline.
I used to just swing at everything. Now, I’m way more patient. I’m working the count more, looking for pitches I can handle, and it’s making a difference. I’m still not a pro or anything, but I’m striking out less and getting on base more. That’s a win in my book!
So that’s my story, and I hope my own experiment record would help. Vision might not be the flashiest stat, but it’s definitely something to consider when building your team. My personal experience made me believe it, man. It’s the hidden gem that helps you make better hitting.
