News flash: Baseball players play baseball games
by Kyle Orland 
{ Feb 28th 2007 at 6:25PM }
Apparently baseball players' involvement with video games goes further than Guitar Hero related injuries. An Orange County Register story reveals that games like Sony's MLB '07 The Show have "virtually become required playing in every clubhouse and on the PSPs players use to pass travel time."
The little factoid is unattributed, but probably came from Mets third baseman and The Show cover star David Wright, who goes on to explain the game's usefulness as a tool for checking out the competition. "Pitchers throw the curves and sliders they're known for and hitters chase what they chase in the game. It's like scouting," Wright said. Does anyone else miss the days when sports games were more about accessible fun and less about being virtually indistinguishable from their real life counterparts?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hannibal @ Feb 28th 2007 6:29PM
When playing MVP 05 online on my Xbox a couple years ago, I ended up playing a game against A's pitcher Justin Duchscherer. He was already one of my favorite players and it was one of the greatest days of my gaming life.
AirIntake @ Feb 28th 2007 6:36PM
Strange. I read somewhere that NHL players are more likely to play Madden than an NHL game. The ones interviewed said they get quite enough hockey at work.
Dracula Jones @ Feb 28th 2007 6:36PM
RBI Baseball is the best game of all time. I still play it often. There is nothing in life as satisfying as the "Home Run Theme" that plays whenever you hit a home run. And that was, like, every other at-bat.
Mario Superstar Baseball seems like it's heavily influenced by RBI Baseball. The pop-up sound is almost identical to the one in RBI. It's a pretty decent successor and makes for some great drunken Vs. play.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Feb 28th 2007 6:47PM
Twins ace Johan Santana said last year or the year before that he uses baseball video games to scout opposing hitters all the time. Hard to argue with his results.
Arno @ Feb 28th 2007 7:00PM
Man those Mets are some bums...
Maurice M @ Feb 28th 2007 7:13PM
The funny thing about that last comment is that its stupid. Yes, these games are fun. I don't see how them being more accurate makes them any less fun within this genre.
nodnetni @ Feb 28th 2007 7:18PM
Unless the baseball player is Lew Ford, who plays doom.
"Gardenhire was eating dinner with his wife in an Anaheim restaurant Saturday night when he saw outfielder Lew Ford dining with two guys.
Gardenhire assumed they were former teammates, but Ford introduced them as "guys I met on the Internet."
Gardenhire quickly left.
Sunday, Gardenhire brought Ford into the coaches' room to explain. Ford said he met the guys playing the video game "Doom" on the Internet.
"Lew's always entertaining," Gardenhire said." - http://www.bat-girl.com/archives/000446.php
StevO @ Feb 28th 2007 8:05PM
I remember a similar article a while back somewhere about how NFL players like to get their hands on the latest Madden to see how their virtual player is ranked in stats. Its a source of personal pride and a sort of year to year competition.
jtkelly86 @ Feb 28th 2007 8:21PM
I still get nightmares when i think about my older brother dominating me in "Super Bases Loaded". Granted, i was 4 and he was 7, but it was still demoralizing.
carterman @ Mar 1st 2007 12:36AM
I disagree with your last comment with baseball games. The baseball games of recent years have really just been miles ahead of what used to pass as good for the sport.
Grammar freak @ Mar 1st 2007 9:29AM
I just realized, a true geek should own a mets Leela jersey
Galley @ Mar 1st 2007 9:41AM
Formula One drivers used PlayStations to familiarize themselves with new tracks.