The smell of barbecues is filling the air as the chilling winter begins to leave the air. It is baseball season again, when every team with a halfway decent budget can find its way into the playoffs. Yeah, Tampa Bay could be an exception along with a few other teams, but the high payroll teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels are going to have a chance. But aside from beer-battered brats and high hopes for your club, gamers are given another competitive sports franchise. MLB: The Show ‘11 showed off its Joe Mauer cover again this year when it hit shelves March 8th. The Show has made its way to the top of the food chain as far as baseball franchises go. This year hasn’t just been a glorified roster update either, The Show has worked in a few more pitches to their repertoire this off-season.

The art of the analog stick is redefined in this year’s installment. Fielding has taken a step in the right direction this year. It wasn’t The Show’s fault that fielding has been pretty much nonexistent; fielding has never been an important facet in a baseball franchise before. However, the difference between having Michael Bourn in center is much different than using Adam Dunn in the outfield. The ratings greatly influence the fielder’s reaction time, momentum, and accuracy. This has been a rare and much needed improvement from prior years. (more…)