A Great Way to Pass the Time

by PhiSlamma on Jan 24, 2009 3:28 PM PST Comment 36 comments

and fufill that craving for basebal.... MLB The Show 08.

I usually pick up the new version each year and play with it when I have time, but it gets a lot of attention in the off-season. I like to make a guy in career mode, put it on hardest difficulty and see how I do.

Right now I have a CF on the Cardinals, at age 19 he is batting .280 with 1 HR and 1 RBI and 6 SB through the first two weeks. His OBP is a respectable .360, but hopefully Ill bring that up. I was on the Angels AAA club to start my career, then got called up, batted a very respectable .367 with 10 dingers 30 RBI and 32 SB in 125 AB, but for some reason they didnt offer me a contract at the end of the season.

Oh well.

This thread could be a "make a dude and compare stats" or a "what do you do to stroke your baseball needs in the offseason" thread.

This Fan-Post is authored by an independent fan. Tell us what you think and how you feel.

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I have been playing MLB '06 the Show (haven't gotten the new one yet)

have the setting on pro, won the ROY award in my first big league season at 20 (batted over .400, 46 homers and 97 RBI’s) and just signed a contract with the sux by mistake. my career line for each level (AA/AAA/MLB) .400+/.500+/.700+. I’m killing it, think I need the new one for more challenge.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000

by halofan4life on Jan 24, 2009 3:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

bump up the difficulty

its much much harder on Veteran/HoF than on the other two.

Hitting .300 on HoF actually feels like a huge accomplishment.

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Jan 24, 2009 3:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I had never played it before, so I was getting my feet wet on pro.

I think I’m spoil myself and get MLB ‘09 when it comes out, and I think that’s when I’m gonna bump up the difficulty. I’m gonna be so incredibally mediocre

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Specializing in maniac-ball since 2000

by halofan4life on Jan 24, 2009 5:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

guess fastball every time and take it vs. cpu. It works

Tex went to the dark side.

by vlad IS my man on Jan 25, 2009 1:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Same

until I get two strikes I guess fastball. The Adaptive Pitch Selection software that The Show has created does a solid job of changing speed and locations, and pitching based on situation.

Pitchers who have good splitters/sinkers wont throw them with a man on third.

If there is a man on second with less than two outs they usually bust you low and in.

But knowing this, its easy to take advantage. If they throw you a changeup low and away, you will probably get a fastball somewhere high/in.

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Jan 25, 2009 2:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

MVP Baseball 2005 (+ mods)

is still the standard for me.

replacement level analysis

by 442 on Jan 24, 2009 4:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Me too

Got it up to the 2008 mod. I played most of the season’s games for the Angels last year and am a bit burnt out on dynasties—every so often I’ll find a team to use and sim a few seasons to see what kind of results I can come up with with my tinkering. Last night I took on the Giants—took me until about 2012 to make them into contenders (and even then they lost in the NLCS 4-3!). For some reason, I’ve found that the CPU LOVES to make shitty moves with the Angels when I’m not playing as them—ex., traded Naps for some crap catcher and then stuck Lackey and Escobar in the bullpen with Shane Loux in the starting rotation, and Torii Hunter at AAA, instead!

I’m looking forward to trying out the new “MLB Front Office Manager” when it comes out next week—gotta find out if it’ll actually work on my computer, though…

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Jan 24, 2009 5:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah the off-field mechanics are flawed

But in-game, it still kicks ass.

replacement level analysis

by 442 on Jan 25, 2009 10:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Other

Vince Flynn, Nelson Demille, Brad Meltzer.

No these are not free agents. They are however available for free at your local library. They are just some of the more fiction writers. Flynn, for example, writes about CIA and torture. Demille is not as graphic, his first novel was the General’s Daughter. Demille is sort of like a grown up Hardy Boys mystery novelist. Meltzer is another fine mystery writer.

So since there’s not much to do, for now and thee baseball channel sucks, these novels and there are quite a few are fun to read.

by Kristy_Joe on Jan 24, 2009 7:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Plus, Meltzer wrote Identity Crisis

…which will satisfy your inner comic book geek. If, y’know, you have one.

I don't know...I'm makin' this up as I go.

by ArkAngel on Jan 24, 2009 8:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ghosts/Aliens

by Trey Hamburger

Your life will change forever.

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Jan 24, 2009 9:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I usually pick up these games once the new one comes out...

So, I’m a year behind you.

by Downing Rules on Jan 24, 2009 10:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I played a couple of seasons on MLB 08.....I made a SP....and it took me 2 seasons to break into the majors...

first full season in the “bigs” and I posted a decent 3.57 ERA in both the pen and some starts combined and had 154 K and 34 BB in 175 IP……but when it came time for the postseason I only got 2 IP and the Angels lost in the ALCS to the Twins 4-1………

Havent played since.

12/19/08 - Thank you KLJ for coming into my life.

by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 24, 2009 10:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Never played the Show i dont think

I was huge into MVP 2004 (awesome game, except prospects/created players always sucked, so the game wasnt fun after like 8-10 years). Played as the Angels one time and went 162-0, took me a long ass time, and it was worth it. I pretty much owned that game on every difficulty level, but i stopped playin about 3 years ago. Now im more into Baseball Mogul, but im def gonna check out the Front Office Manager game thing

Lets go angels

by anaheim angels on Jan 24, 2009 11:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I never used to like the 2k franchise

But I just picked up 2k8 for the 360 and I actually really like it. The pitching is the most interesting, albeit most frustrating, part. I appreciate the authentic stadium feels more than anything.

But for the deepest baseball for any stat geek, pick up MLB Power Pros for the Wii; I think its also for the PS2.

by linkbruin on Jan 24, 2009 11:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

boring

"i got 5ive on it"

by Funke5ive on Jan 25, 2009 12:10 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Off Topic

I’m still trying to figure out how / if I know you. Do you or did you ever play in a roti baseball league that goes to Palm Spring each Father’s Day?

Sorry to keep bothering you about this, but it’s bugging the hell out of me.

I was uncool before uncool was cool.

by WiHaloFan on Jan 25, 2009 7:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If by "roti" you mean Rotisserie then

there is a possibility you may know my father or uncle. My dad has been doing Rotisserie baseball leagues since I can remember…seems like 20 years. Not sure if he does the palm springs thing or not, but I do remember him going there often. I Think his team name is “The Funky Fiasco” I do remember him having big draft party’s at the house when I was younger. Him and his friends have been doing Spring Training since I was knee high, I have lots of cool pics with all kind of old Halos, though my favorite one is with Ricky Henderson. I would give him a call and ask him but we are not speaking at the moment. ggrrrrrr…damn him!

Shoot me an email if you think you know him. funkefiver @ yahoo.com
BTW it’s no bother at all… I have a little extra time because I don’t play Video games… :)

"i got 5ive on it"

by Funke5ive on Jan 25, 2009 10:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't have to do with anything, but has anyone played Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion?

have to to say that is better than the Show

Tex went to the dark side.

by vlad IS my man on Jan 25, 2009 1:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, I have

Though not for a while—and I haven’t played The Show (I’m a PC guy, don’t do consoles [for now]), so I can’t compare.

Light Up That Halo!

by Clutch on Jan 25, 2009 2:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

PS2

They are still under contract to make the MLB games for PS2 for 2 more years. You can pick up a PS2 for CHEAP especially from eBay or something along those lines.

Since The Show 10 is coming out soon, you can pick up either 08 or 09 real cheap from a place that sells used games like Gamestop. I got 08 for like 15 bucks.

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Jan 25, 2009 2:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

wait....

I thought ’09 is coming out in March??

That's just Manny being..........a jackass

by autry's cowboys on Jan 26, 2009 10:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think each year the game itself is one year ahead

of the actual season….

Ok just checked, im wrong =)

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Jan 26, 2009 10:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Im playing Fallout 3

right now, its Oblivion with guns, but since I nerded out on the other Fallout games, its like being in a giant post-apocalyptic candy store.

I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....

by PhiSlamma on Jan 25, 2009 2:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

love that too

Tex went to the dark side.

by vlad IS my man on Jan 25, 2009 7:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I just finished(?) Fallout 3 last night

still have a lot of quests to complete but after finishing one of them (I won’t spoil it), it goes into movie mode about the “wanderer” and runs credits.

I am gonna have to go back to a saved check point and avoid the end to finish some of the other quests.

by SoCalWine on Jan 26, 2009 3:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The best baseball sim out there

is OOTP (Out of the Park Baseball) 2009. Purely a text sim, but so incredibly in-depth it’ll make your head spin. You can create fictional leagues and play them out or use the MLB teams. Much better than Baseball Mogul in my opinion.

light up the halo

by deer on Jan 25, 2009 5:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't play video games...

Mainly because I don’t have the coordination to do so.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jan 26, 2009 11:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Good thing it takes no coordination to roll a 20-sided die!

by Higz on Jan 26, 2009 12:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That's a...

[rolls die] … great comment!

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jan 26, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, that was shamelessly stolen from Futurama.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jan 26, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

In reference to dungeons and dragons right?

by linkbruin on Jan 26, 2009 12:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

Gary Gygax guested on an episode. He rolled a d20 to see if he was pleased to meet you.

Angels fan since '67

by red floyd on Jan 26, 2009 3:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rotation:
1) Josh Beckett
2) Jake Peavy
3) Rich Harden
4) Scott Kazmir
5) Zack Greinke

*Andruw Jones is the leading MVP candidate. He is batting over .500 with 40+ homers and 70+ RBIs already (in 30 games). His OPS has hovered around 2.000 for basically the entire season lmao.

by Chzburger Jones on Jan 28, 2009 9:46 AM PST reply actions 0 recs