{FAQ for Baseball, GameBoy}
{PM5KDemon aka Chris Evans}
{Copyright 2003           }
{sadrebel@hotmail.com     }

------------
Introduction
------------

Having recently bought a GameBoy Player, I felt like reliving some memories of
seemingly never ending roadtrips as a young boy - as such, I dug out Baseball.
I don't understand why people don't like this game - sure, it's endlessly
repetitive, the AI is more than shocking, the graphics are worse and the
animation worse still, all of which while clicky bleeps make up the sound,
but none of these are reasons to make this game out to be as bad as some people
have done. I love playing this game, and it always leaves me with a smile on my
face - this is one of the few games I've played where I'm genuinely enjoying
myself, a rareity nowadays with overcomplicated graphics, gameplay and 
storylines.


------------
Controls
------------

Batting (Before Pitch):
        A (press) - Full swing
        A (tap)   - Bunt
        B         - Check field
        +         - Move

Batting (During Pitch):
        A (press) - Full swing
        A (tap)   - Bunt
        B         - Steal
          + Up    - Second
          + Left  - Third
          + Down  - Home
        +         - Move

Batting (After Hit):
        A         - Return to base
          + Right - First
          + Up    - Second
          + Left  - Third
        B         - Advance to base
          + Up    - Second
          + Left  - Third
          + Down  - Home

Pitching:
        A         - Pitch
          + Down  - Fast ball
          + Left  - Curve left
          + Right - Curve right
          + Up    - Slow ball
        B         - Check field
        +         - Move

Fielding:
        A         - Throw
        B         - Run
          + Down  - Home
          + Left  - Third
          + Up    - Second
          + Right - First
        +         - Move


------------
Gameplay Notes
------------

In USA mode,
            Pitches are faster and in MPH
            Fielders are slower
In JPN mode,
            Pitches are slower and in KPH
            Fielders are faster

Stealing third base if there is no contact with the ball is definite if the 
runner moves at the soonest possible time and the pitch is below 94MPH.

Stealing second base if there is no contact with the ball is definite if the 
runner moves at the soonest possible time and the pitch is below 98MPH.

Manual fielding is better for catching foul balls.

Automatic fielding is better for catching fair balls.

Infield ground balls are fielded better automatically.

Outfield ground balls are fielded better manually.

Triple plays are impossible, except for tag up situations when a foul ball is
caught manually.

Normal double plays are possible, but rare and difficult.

If a runner on third attempts to steal home, once the ball is in the catcher's
hands he won't throw, allowing second to be stolen.

Always attempt to steal bases, even if you have to return to your base - 
fielders won't throw the ball to that base, i.e. if stealing third and 
returning to second, the ball will stay at third.

AI pitchers very rarely walk batters, or pitch balls for that matter.

AI batters hit homers off balls more frequently than corner pitches.

AI batters hit homers off the inside corner more frequently than the outside.

AI runners won't steal bases.

Throwing out runners before the pitch is impossible.

The Eagles (pitch first) are the better side in JPN and USA modes, batting 
average wise.

All pitchers lose speed after their 3rd inning, and become near unusable by the
6th.

Pitching in the following way:
        Ball, curved to the inside
        Curve to outside corner
        Curve to inside corner
        Fast ball to outside corner
Is more likely to obtain strike outs or easy outs.

Bunt doubles are possible with the use of a runner on second, stealing third.

Bunt singles are more succesful with batters further down the order.

Triples are impossible.

Catches off the wall are impossible.

Gaining a 10 run lead, whether in the top or bottom of the last inning or the 
first (which I achieved tonight :p), wins the game.

Runners won't leave bases automatically until the ball hits the ground, and if
they have begun to steal a base they return.

The infield fly rule is not applied, although manipulating this is rarely a 
possibility.


------------
Gameplay Tips
------------

- Knowing the information above is vital.
- Watching pitches is near enough unnecessary - you can go after the first 
  pitch with fair success.
- Move to the front of the box and one pixel in - it might not make a 
  difference, but it's what I've always done and it's worked for me.
- You can sometimes make catches the AI can't - fouls down the first base line 
  being the main one.
- If you're being hit repeatedly, switch pitchers.
- Pinch hitting isn't really necessary.
- Let the AI do the catching where possible.

-EOF-