Is this a 'make or break' year for MLB the Show?
Sources told Insider Gaming that the next version of Madden will be a “make or break” release for the video game franchise. What the term “make or break” means is still up for debate, but the report at least shows hope for frustrated players tired of the same repackaged junk.
While Madden gets the headlines because of its popularity, it is hard not to think this coming version of MLB the Show has the same stakes.
The early word from San Diego Studios is that we’ll get a significantly different version of the game this year, one that minimizes the annoying gameplay quirks of the past (fewer foul balls, smaller PCI outside the strike zone, more emphasis on contact hitters, etc.) while adding different dimensions to lineup construction and team building.
For veteran MLB the Show players, these are all welcome announcements. While ’22 still offered great content (although I’ve seen enough Moonshot events for a lifetime), the overall gameplay was not good. This is where I note that these gameplay issues did not stop me from playing for several hours every night, but I also took longer breaks than in the past.
I remember one night in January when I first played the game following a few-week break. After 45 minutes of infielder superman dives, bad swing timing home runs, and other nonsense, I turned it back off. It was probably another month until I played regularly again.
I was not alone based on the comments I read from other players. Something about the gameplay in ’22 seemed off and not fun. Perhaps most maddening was that the playing community vocalized these complaints to San Diego Studios, only to see them carry over from year to year. We all remember Ramone Russell’s “works as intended” comment during a stream early last year when the game was, well, playing like shit.
That’s why I think ’23 is a make-or-break year for the franchise. People were unhappy with ’22 and there is cautious optimism after the Tech Test that ’23 took previous complaints to heart. In some ways, these changes are surprising. I thought San Diego Studios would punt on this year’s version and do a larger revamp next year when the game would be exclusive to next-gen consoles.
Perhaps out of necessity, San Diego Studios made fundamental changes to the structure of this year’s game. I applaud the efforts but I’m also holding judgment until I play the game for at least a few months. I genuinely love playing MLB the Show but I also have limited time for video gaming. A bad product is just going to get me to play other titles.
What are your thoughts? Did MLB the Show need a major revamp after ’22?
My Ranked Seasons lineup
Throughout the year, I’ll post my Ranked Seasons lineup and discuss who I play and why. This is my end-of-year squad for ’22.
SS Jimmy Rollins
CF Mickey Mantle
RF Ken Griffey Jr.
LF Mike Trout
2B Jose Ramirez
1B Miguel Cabrera
3B Chipper Jones
C Jimmie Foxx
SP Randy Johnson / Justin Verlander / Corey Kluber / Johnny Cueto /
BULLPEN Goose Gossage / Billy Wagner / John Duran / Josh Hader / Dennis Eckersley (not sure why) / Aroldis Chapman / Edwin Diaz
BENCH Michael Harris Jr. / Bryan Reynolds / Honus Wagner / Joe Mauer / Jim Edmonds
I’ve hardly touched this lineup over the last few months, as most of these guys are either P5 or close to it. I’m too set in my ways to make changes now, but I’m assuming most players have similar-looking lineups at this point. The only real new addition here is Chipper, as I finally got bored with George Brett.
What I’m playing
At this point, I’m only playing Ranked Seasons games. Usually, I’m split between completing program requirements to get players for collections or knocking out whatever conquest maps or moments that need doing.
Reader mail
Send your MLB the Show-related questions to MakeWorldSeries@gmail.com or @DavidStegon on Twitter!
Our question today comes from David S. in Stafford, Va., because I just created this newsletter, and no one subscribes.
Q: What were your five favorite cards to use in ’22?
A: I’m glad you asked! Here is a rough ranking in reverse order:
5. Jimmie Foxx: Not the best year for catchers, but Foxx is a goon. I know some players like Adley for the switch-hitting ability or Mauer for his smooth swing, but Foxx tops my list.
4. Retro Finest Andrew McCutchen: Andrew McCutchen is my favorite real-life baseball player. His collection reward was an absolute goon. McCutchen cards are usually good but often have lower hitting stats against right-handed pitchers and good but not great defense. This card did everything and using it was the highlight of my summer.
3. Home Run Derby Juan Soto: The Finest Juan Soto card in ’21 was so good that I was waiting for a similar version to appear in ’22. This card did not disappoint, showing a knack for hitting home runs and exploiting the shift with doubles to left field.
2. Randy Johnson (either one): This card was an absolute game-changer, especially in the early months of ’22 when opposing starting lineups were still not that good. The Johnson card was not really that fun to pitch with (my favorite for that was Corey Kluber and all his breaking stuff) but my confidence going into games with him on the bump was through the roof. With stronger lineups, Randy has lost some of his effectiveness but for a few months there he was all but unhittable.
1. Jimmy Rollins: One of the best overall cards in MLB the Show history, a switch-hitting shortstop with near-maxed-out attributes is hard to beat. My only complaint is that we did not get this card earlier in the content cycle because it ruled.
Buy my book!
“How to Make World Series: An Expert’s Guide to Maximizing Your Results in Diamond Dynasty,” now available on Amazon.
100ish-Word Book Review
I listen to audiobooks while playing MLB the Show. Here’s what I’m listening to now:
Astroball by Ben Reiter
A look at how the Astros went from tanking mess to World Series champions, this book explores how then-general manager Jeff Luhnow rebuilt the team using analytics to improve scouting and player development. One big problem, though: The book does not mention the trash can banging that went on to define the team. While I assume the book was published before that happened, the author should have either written an epilogue or, better yet, rewritten much of the book. Despite this, I still found the baseball front office stuff exciting and enjoyed the background story of Carlos Correa before he was drafted. Score: 3.5/10
Need something to listen to?
Each week @SportsPenguin and I talk baseball, basketball, and general nonsense on our podcast: At the Plate, On Deck. This week’s episode touches on MLB’s pitch clock, the Manny Machado contract, a love triangle that derailed North Carolina basketball, NBA players acting cool around Malika Andrews, and snowboarding.