MLB 08: The Show glitch?

I was like a jack-in-the-box (up, down, up, down, etc.) until the contract expired and I signed with the White Sox.

That's when I got really frustrated with the RTTS feature. I was tearing it up at the plate, but kept getting benched because my fielding skill and base running wasn't where the "manager" wanted it. So put me at DH instead of sending my down to AAA. But that never happened.

 

Even better!

 

Anytime I do a created player feature in a baseball game, I always try to boost his speed as much as possible early on, figuring decent average and power numbers would be fine to start with. What kind of customization does the game have in this regard?

 

Off the top of my head ...

Contact vs. RHP
Contact vs. LHP
Power vs. RHP
Power vs. LHP
Plate vision
Plate discipline
Clutch hitting
Bunt
Drag bunt
Speed
Durability
Base running
Base-running aggressiveness
Arm strength
Arm accuracy
Fielding
Blocking (catchers)
Reflexes

There are even more for pitchers.

Each one has a secondary benefit. For example, if you work on Power vs. RHP, you get also get a boost in Power vs. LHP. But not much.

 

It's odd that bunt is in there since so few people really utilize it like they should anymore.

 

New spin on an old favorite:

Today I was playing the Pirates and was leading 4-3 going into the top of the 9th. I had already managed to go into the pen and warm up Gagne (already admitting defeat in the game) and got back to the batting screen just fine. The Pirates' relief pitcher threw one friggin pitch and all of a sudden the pullpen screen popped up (I didn't actually hit a button) and said I had to sub for that reliever (again...I'm not the Pirates so this directive seems like some phantom fuck you).

Tried mashing a few buttons to get out of the bullpen (knowing I was already bent over the table). Game reset...put away the game. It takes all the fun out of it knowing that every time I start a game I'm flirting with whatever I'm doing not actually mattering. Sigh.