If timing is an issue, you can adjust the pitch speed slider. You can lower it which will give you a little more time to react to the pitch. Makes it easier to lay off bad pitches and more time to react to a fastball. There is a timing slider, if you increase it, it makes your timing window larger so even if you are a little late on a swing you have a better chance of making good contact. If you think you are timing right but just not getting hits you can increase the solid hits slider. I have noticed in this year's game there seems to be a lot more hard hit balls right at a defender. Another issue could be your TV. I have two LCD TVs, one a Philips, the other LG. On the LG I can hit and my timing is very good, on the Philips I am always behind and not making solid contact and rarely score more than 2 runs. The Philips is a couple years older and there is no 'Game Mode' on the TV so I'm experiencing lag on that TV. If you have a 'Game Mode' setting on your TV, use that. Here is a forum discussion on the lag with this game... http://www.operationsports.com/forums/mlb-show/540789-game-absolutely-100-needs-calibrate-lag-feature.html