10 Early Observations from MLB the Show '23
Pitching is harder, hitting is easier, and throwing is a nightmare that will haunt my dreams.
Let’s get right into it. Here are some initial observations after a day+ of playing MLB the Show ’23.
1. The gameplay looks pretty similar. The ball seems to leave the bat differently, with a slightly higher loft on hits in the air. I know some believe that hitting will be more difficult this season. It is too early to say, but I think the engine as it stands today will negate some of the hits off poor pitches out of the strike zone.
2. There are more line-drive singles. It was probably more challenging to hit a single than a home run in ’22. Many good swings I’ve had resulted in uncatchable line drives to the outfield. I assume that is intended to give the game a more “baseball” feel.
3. Pitching is harder. Pitchers have less command with pitches, making it harder to dot the corners. This has led to more walks (both pitching and hitting) and further rewards patient hitters.
4. Speaking of patience… My best results come when I work the count and wait on mistakes. The decrease in pitcher command results in more hittable pitches, at least in online modes.
5. There is a lot to do. The content is impressive and a little overwhelming. Having so much available at once is disorienting for someone who likes to complete everything. That’s not a bad thing. The Battle Royale rewards are fine but not great. Same with the event. The best value for getting a playable Ranked Seasons team might be team affinity. I did the Central Showdown last night, and it was pretty painless. It is repeatable, and a few hours focused on that mode could provide immediate value.
6. Flipping is non-existent. The companion app is yet to update, and I’ve become dependent on that to make stubs. I’ve seen some guys already got some excellent stub counts going, but it is a slow road for me. I’m not patient enough to flip on the website or in the game. I’ve done a little, but the lack of players has slowed transactions. I will wait a few days and hope that the app updates.
7. Prices seem lower. The market will change with the general release on Monday. The wealth of easily attainable mid and high-90s cards make completing the Live Series collection feel less immediate (I always try to finish the collection within the first week or two). Top cards like Ohtani, Trout, and deGrom still cost 100,000+ stubs, but overall the collection looks doable, especially once the app is turned on.
8. Defense is harder. The new throwing meter takes a second to get accustomed. I’ve already made my share of throwing errors and seen opponents struggle. It will take a few weeks to master, especially when using poor defenders. You need to know where you plan to throw the ball.
This is basically my brain any time I need to make a throw…
9. Speaking of throwing… I advocate an aggressive but largely conservative base running strategy in my book. Outfield throws were just too good. At least until people figure out the throwing meter, this is an excellent time to get aggressive on the bases and force your opponent to make a play. More often than not, you’ll get rewarded.
10. Superman dives are reduced. MLB the Show ’22 got ridiculous with the ability of infielders to launch themselves across the diamond to catch balls and then throw lasers from their knees. Not anymore. Dives seem to have a lower success rate, and then you have to make a difficult, timed throw. This is a much-needed change.
Dogs are the Best
Send some love to Digital Champion who lost his dog of 15 years a couple of days ago. As the owner of a 13-year-old dog (who I’ve had since he was a puppy) with major health issues right now, I can only imagine how hard it has been.
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