What I learned playing MLB The Show 16 against two baseball stars
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Right here, in this swanky hotel room, my main mission is prove myself a worthwhile baseball player next to Anthony Rizzo and Eric Hosmer. Oh, I mean video-game baseball player.
Yes, that’s an essential part, since Rizzo is one of the most imposing sluggers in the game and Hosmer is a three-time Gold Glover whose team won the World Series last year. There is no actual way I’m a better baseball player than either of them. But video games? Well, the playing field is at least a little more even.
[Podcast: Eric Hosmer on MLB The Show 16, video games and big rings]
We’re here, getting hands on with “MLB The Show 16,” the latest installment of the top video-game franchise in baseball. Baseball video games have come along way since I used to keep my own stats while playing “Baseball” on my old-school NES and the newest installment of “The Show” proves it. The graphics are crisp. The details are fantastic. And even big leaguers get a kick out of playing it.
Rizzo and Hosmer are among the ambassadors of the game, meaning they work with Sony’s San Diego Studio to make the game as true-to-life as possible. You can see how they did in this year’s game, which is available in stores (physically and virtually) starting Tuesday for PS3 and PS4.
In the interest of full disclosure, I don’t play video games like I used to. There were times where I’d play seasons upon seasons of video-game baseball and football with my built-from-scratch franchises. But I’ve got two kids, a long list of responsibilities and an ever-growing Netflix queue that don’t allow me the time to play video games that I had 10 years ago. Translation: I wasn’t walking into this “The Show” showdown with the big leaguers as a well-trained ringer. I was just hoping to avoid embarrassment and maybe even hover toward respectability.
Beyond that, I was hoping to understand a little more about the new game and how pro athletes interact with video games. Here are five things I learned:
1. ERIC HOSMER CAN BALL
Not only is the Royals’ first baseman adept with his hands on the baseball field, he’s quite good with a PlayStation control too. When I sat down with him, I hit an inside-the-park homer on the first pitch — and nothing else after that. The homer itself, against a Royal, was a funny little reminder of Game 1 of the World Series. But the rest of our game? Hosmer straight schooled me. He let me know it too with a few well-timed barbs. Yes, trash-talking is part of the game and I’m fine with it.
2. LORENZO CAIN IS SUPER GOOD IN THIS GAME
When I switched over to play against Rizzo, I took over the Royals. Earlier, Hosmer had told me how good his teammate Lorenzo Cain is in “The Show” and I quickly learned he wasn’t lying. Cain has incredible range in the outfield (he’s an All-Star centerfielder, so it makes sense) allowing me to make a couple of catches that I figured were hits lost to the gap. Later, I went deep with Cain off Rizzo, the crowning achievement of my day in “The Show” suite. Yes, I’m bragging.
3. YES, PRO PLAYERS WANT TO RAKE AS THEMSELVES
In case you’re wondering if MLB stars feel any more pressure to perform as their video-game selves, the answer is “Yes.” Both Hosmer and Rizzo pressed more when their digital likenesses were at the plate. Rizzo was looking to help himself with himself in what was a 0-0 game at the time. He had some momentum against me, but I was able to get him to pop up to third base. Hallelujah!
4. DEFENSE IN THE GAME IS IMPORTANT
One thing that changed in this year’s version of “The Show,” as Hosmer told me on our podcast, is that the defensive routes are tougher. This is, of course, on purpose. Big leaguers can’t loaf it out there on the field and you gamers can’t either. You gotta play the ball off the bat, run efficient routes and not look like a goof out there. (Confession: I looked like a goof out there a few times). It’s not just swinging and pitching and letting the artificial intelligence help with fielding. And just ask the Royals, good defense helps you win.
5. ANTHONY RIZZO HAD TO BE TAKING IT EASY ON ME
Rizzo and I finished with a 1-0 game in six innings, the lone score coming on the Cain homer. Rizzo has a reputation as one of the nicer guys in baseball and I have to wonder if he was taking it easy on me. I asked him a few times if he was and he said no. I will say this: He didn’t start Jake Arrieta against me, opting instead for Kyle Hendricks. Maybe he’s just seeing what his teammates can do in the game. Or maybe, as I suspect, he was taking it easy on me.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
