MLB 09 The Show

by Ohpityme on Mar 21, 2009 11:10 AM EDT Comment 21 comments

This doesnt actually relate to the Mets, other than me being a Mets fan.

However being that MLB 08 The Show was what brought me back to baseball I thought I'd write about 09.

Has anyone played this amazing game? Do you think its the best representation of baseball in game form yet?

What do you think of Citi Field(In game)?

What about the Mets players ratings?

I'll be happy to discuss any aspect of it with my fellow AA'ers or enlighten those who havnt yet played it.

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MLB 09

I was a big fan of MLB 08 but, so far, I have mixed feelings about MLB09. It seems to me they have broken the batting mechanics. Timing doesn’t seem accurate as I find I’m ahead of almost everything. Furthermore, the baserunning mechanics are entirely broken. I’ve found myself unable to run at all at crucial situations as the computer seems to take over and make the runner hesitate when he should be running, no matter how many times I hammer the left analog stick. This is mostly in RTTS mode as the actual team play mode seems a lot less buggy. I do, however, have issue with the fact that pretty much every game, there is an inning or two your starter will just lose his control entirely, requiring a visit to the mound.

And Putz seems to have no control whatsoever. I give up a run almost everytime he comes into the game because he just loses the zone.

by Lunkwill Fook on Mar 21, 2009 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

Do you play the franchise mode much

I’ve rarely ever played a baseball game but the only reason I ever really buy any sports game is for franchise modes. Do you have any opinions on how 09’s plays?

by Gina on Mar 21, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Franchise mode

Strangely enough, I haven’t. I usually play franchise modes in other baseball games (MVP 2005, for instance) but in this case I was really attracted by the Road to the Show mode and have been playing that specifically.

by Lunkwill Fook on Mar 23, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

if you're only into franchise mode and not playing the games

let me suggest you get Out of the Park Baseball, which I think is one of the most addictive games ever. I’ve gotten the last couple of versions, and every year I say I’m not gonna upgrade but unlike console games the developers make huge advances in the game from year to year. It’s easily the deepest franchise mode type game you can get, and is so customizable – you can play current MLB format with current rosters, you can start with any season since 1901 and play a career mode from there, you can create fictional leagues, etc. Your imagination is basically the only limitation.

by cjmulrain on Mar 23, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

this thread alive?

I just started a Mets season mode (waiting on Franchise until Operation Sports’ guys create rosters with more prospects), and have quite a few impressions. I’ll just share a few to maybe revitalize the thread?

1) Citi Field looks kinda drab in this game… the dark green walls, the dull red of the HR apple… I think it’ll be a pretty park, but I feel like this game doesn’t capture it very well. As for how it plays, I find it’s really skewed for pitching- I’ve hit some long drives with Delgado that merely hit off the bullpen wall in the right-center alley. Hard to power HRs out. One exception tho- some CPU players have snuck HRs just into the short RF corner that juts out, which is frustrating.. Yankee Stadium-esque with the short RF porch there.

2) Hmm, player ratings- Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans have virtually no power, which is frustrating. Marlo and Freddy Garcia seem overrated (especially Garcia, who i was able to package in a trade for Chris Davis, wow). Niese has a real good fastball, like 93-96 mph, which is a little too much velo probably. Maine’s pitching wind-up doesn’t look right. Johan, Big Pelf, and Ollie are almost spot-on, though- Johan even shakes off signs by twirling his glove hand by his leg, and I saw Ollie do a big exhale while winding-up against a batter.

3) Has anyone noticed that the Mets’ plain white (non-pinstriped) home uniforms have a weird shiny “glazed” look in day games? They’re really reflective; it’s almost as if the players have glaze (like that put over pottery) on their uniforms. It bothers me quite a bit because I think the unis look great in real life.

by WuCross on Mar 24, 2009 9:45 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed for the most part. Murphy is pretty useless in the game, to be honest. And the lack of right handed options on the Mets bench is staggeringly annoying (note to Omar).

by Lunkwill Fook on Mar 25, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmm I do agree with all the criticisms but I still think its an amazing baseball game.
Citi Field looks beyond drab, the only thing I like about it is patrolling the seemingly HUGE centre field with Beltran.
I’ve yet to even hit a homer at Citi.
Yes I too am waiting on the rosters before I start a Franchise…I’ll probably try to trade for Chris Davis too(Great minds eh?) that you can get him for Freddy Garcia is pretty funny…are the Rangers THAT desperate for pitching?
Think I’ll bring Mike Cameron back to play right field as well(Just keep him away from Beltran eh?)
I hate that there isnt a picture for Daniel Murphy…ruins the realism for me and I was going to put his walk up music in the game too…but now I’ll probably just chuck him in AAA.
I like the ‘note to Omar’ comment on here…it made me LOL!
So what trades are you guys going to do with your Mets Franchise?

by Ohpityme on Mar 29, 2009 6:42 AM EDT reply actions

moves for my Show '09 Mets team

I totally agree with that bench comment. Plus not only is the bench mostly lefty, it also is extremely power-starved. I overhauled my bench big-time when i started my season.

Oh… re: Murphy, if you wanna try to edit his stance, check out the “Jose Vidro” stance. It sounds random, but it’s actually eerily similar to how DMurph stands at the plate. I also found that Maine looks a lot better with “Boof Bonser” delivery, and Castillo with “Juan Rivera” stance. (these suggestions were taken from a thread in an OperationSports.com forum)

As I mentioned, I haven’t started a franchise, but in my season, I picked up Nelson R. Cruz (the current Texas OFer), who had a nice season for me in the 2009 season. I just learned today that he’s a former Met farmhand, which “validates” my move haha. He was gonna reserve for me in 2010, because in the FA market, I picked up MANNY and Matt Holliday; i tried to pick up some starting pitching (Webb and Harden would’ve been nice) but oddly offensive players were much more willing to sign on to my team; i did manage to snare Cliff Lee but he’s been mediocre so far. Holliday just got injured for 2-3 months though (ugh simmed injuries), after a great start (.340, 20 HRs). I tried to sign Orlando Hudson, but he rebuffed me even though I offered more than he claimed to want =( .

Other deals I’ve done:

traded for- Swisher (dude’s hit 3 pinch-hit HRs for me, crazy), Rafael Perez, C.J. Wilson, Scott Podsednik, Gerald Laird (having a fast catcher is nice; saves having to burn a player by using pinch runner AND defensive replacement when pinch-running for Castro)

just signed as FA-Victor Martinez, Manny, Holliday, Chone Figgins, Jason Schmidt, Cliff Lee,Chad Cordero, Juan Cruz.

oh, funny story- after i traded Cora away in the Rafael Perez deal, i needed a reserve infielder to rest Castillo occasionally. I decided to go with good ol’ Awful (Argenis) Reyes, and in a game i played with him, he actually made some great defensive plays up the middle and had an RBI single and an RBI groundout and was very solid and scrappy haha.

by WuCross on Mar 31, 2009 1:44 AM EDT reply actions

Orlando

Orlando rebuffed you? So much for “I wanna be a Met”.

by Lunkwill Fook on Mar 31, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

hahaha i forgot about that!

i offered him 7 million per season (he was asking for around $6 mill) even tho in the game, he’s actually not that much of an upgrade over Castillo (true Luis has no power, but Orlando has mediocre power, so i doubt i’d hit HRs with him anyway— like i rarely homer with Reyes, who prob has similar power to Orlando but i haven’t checked).

by WuCross on Mar 31, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Some good moves there bro.
Think I’m going to look at getting;
*Chris Davis—to eventually take over from Delgado
*Mike Napoli(really overrated in the game)—I like the idea of bringing in another power hitting catcher called Mike.
Maybe sign a decent,young middle infielder to be on the bench…possibly Jeff Baker.
*Marcus Thames—Big power hitter for LF seeing as I wont be using Murphy.
*Get another lefty relief pitcher…was gonna be Will Ohman but the Dodgers have signed him now.
Then I’ll just add a few prospects to play in AA and AAA.
Really looking forward to opening day rosters…seeing as I live in England I dont get to watch that many actualy games…so I live my Mets season mainly through MLB The Show.

by Ohpityme on Mar 31, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

good suggestions!

Napoli and Thames.. gonna look into that. Actually, i was thinking of Thames yesterday.. “great minds” haha. Napoli is an interesting one i didn’t really think of, though- as much as i like Laird for being a fast catcher (i doubt he’s actually as speedy as Wright or Beltran in reality), i can’t hit a lick with him, and worst of all, so far when i sim games, he’s always right at the Mendoza line or UNDER.

Davis and Swisher platoon for me at 1B now.. Davis also isn’t simming very well for me so far in my 2010 season. (.240 avg, and .270-ish OBP, yuck. 10 HRs or so in May, tho, not thaaat bad; geez he’s pretty much Mike Jacobs).

let me know if you find some good young infielders- i could definitely use some depth just in case.

by WuCross on Mar 31, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Davis/Swisher platoon is pretty good…I hope for Chris Davis’ sake he isnt Mike Jacobs lol
(No offence to Mike Jacobs but I think Davis can be way better)

I dont sim games so usually dont even get a season finished, I’m going to wait for the opening day rosters to start my Franchise though.
Hmm Napoli is really good in the game
I think his stats are
A-Overall
C-Contact
A-Power
C-Defense
D-Speed
A-Potential
Well worth getting.

Anyways good talking to someone else whos into the game, dont know if you already post there but Operation Sports is pretty good for talking about The Show on.
Keep me informed with your Franchise bro
Peace

by Ohpityme on Mar 31, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

I thought the same about davis

But then I looked at his minor league numbers and realized his contact rates were insane. Most people look at him and think Adam Dunn without the walks but he’s really Dunn/Howard without the horrible contact rates.

by Gina on Mar 31, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Although that being said that obviously makes him more risky i guess

As hits can be fluky and contact rates decline with age/skill decline and such but if noting else he should be better than Jacobs.

by Gina on Mar 31, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Davis, Jacobs

yea, i really like Chris Davis in real life (and the Rangers as a young up-and-coming org); i just meant to say that the game seems to treat him like Mike Jacobs, if i was being unclear.

i actually think Jacobs gets a little bit of a bad rap for low OBP though- i think he can do better than .300 OBP and that the Leo Nunez trade wasn’t as terrible as some have made it out to be.

by WuCross on Mar 31, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

The problem is for him better than a .300 obp is like .320

And that’s still not very good. Plus the trade was critized because the royals already have so many 1b/dh types, most of whom are younger, cheaper and better than Jacobs.

by Gina on Mar 31, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

this is true, except..

i don’t know about “better”- altho i like youth, what if Kilahue (possible sp?) and Butler all turn into Ken Harvey II?

i definitely agree with the general point; Jacobs is clearly not an upper-echelon 1B unless he has a Jose Reyes-type and more improvement in walk totals. But i felt like the backlash from the trade was almost Victor Z-esque, which was befuddling (i doubt Leo Nunez will come back to haunt the Royals). Maybe that was just my inner defensiveness/protectiveness for former Mets prospects kicking in ;) .

by WuCross on Mar 31, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

My lineup.

SS:Reyes
2B:Castillo
3B:Wright
1B:Delgado
CF:Beltran
C:Napoli
LF:Milledge
RF:Church/Tatis

Bench:
Cora
Nelson Cruz
Sheffield
Castro
Edmonds
Chris Davis

Rotation:

Santana
Ollie Perez
Josh Johnson
Pelfrey
Maine

by Ohpityme on Apr 7, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions

interesting, here's my team

I’m up to 2011 in my Season mode- after a 104-58 season in 2010 resulted in a frustrating ouster in 4 games in the NLDS vs. the Dodgers (including a heartbreaking Gm 4 loss at Dodger Stadium that I’ll prob blog on Operation Sports), I overhauled my team in the offseason. I used to have a pretty great bench; Swisher (who hit 4 pinch-hit HRs over 2 seasons) and Marlon Byrd were some highlights. Well, I kinda wanted to clear salary for some FA signings, so I traded some guys in some 3 for 2, 2 for 1 deals, made some FA signings, and now:

Lineup (righties)

SS: Jose Reyes
3B: DWright
CF: Beltran
1B: Pujols
C: Victor Martinez
LF: Chris Davis
2B: Kinsler
RF: Alexis Rios

Bench:
David DeJesus
Teagarden
Alcides Escobar
Mike Hessman

Rotation:

Santana (who twirled a 1-hit, 12-K shutout on Opening Day 2011 after a rough playoffs)
Felix Hernandez
David Price (I traded Swisher for Price on a salary dump; hilarious)
Ollie Perez
Greinke (essentially Byrd for Zack)

Bullpen:

Dustin McGowan
Pelfrey
Niese
Lindstrom
Crain
Maine
Affeldt
Francisco Rodriguez

Pretty crazy, right? I like the quality i’ve been able to gather while not employing cheap tactics like signing FAs to trade away, and also being able to keep a distinct core of real-life Mets players haha. I even resigned Parnell and Fernando Nieve for the minors and just traded for Sheffield.

Is there anyway to track updates in this post easily? It’s annoying to have to look at archived fanposts to check for new activity.

by WuCross on Apr 9, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

santana*

there should be an asterisk; I did that performance (which also included a HBP by Santana, on Belliard) against the Nationals. My first shutout in the game was Ollie vs. the Nationals; they are pretty punchless in the game I guess.

by WuCross on Apr 9, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions