I started a new RTTS career today and decided to do it as a closing pitcher. So far is has been a lot of fun, but once again my performance isn't helping me get to where I should be. I had 9 out of 10 saves in spring training with the MLB Brewers, with an E.R.A. under 2.00. What did that get me? The middle relief job in AA. Still, in only a few weeks I have moved up to the setup role in AA, so I am progressing. Training emphasis so far has been on fielding, pitching and durability, so that's not too bad.
More later...
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Show
I picked up MLB 08: The Show yesterday and was able to put in some time with it. First of all, the game is gorgeous. Players look like their real-life counterparts and the stadiums are amazing. It's really something to behold. The gameplay is very good as well. I have seen all manner of hits and faced ace pitchers and journeymen with realistic results. The pitching and batting interfaces are largely unchanged from last year's model, and that's fine. The game plays a realistic and fun game of baseball and that's the best you can hope for. I have yet to see any statistical bugs which are said to be a bit of a problem. I am sure they are there, but they must not be too commonplace.
I started a Road To The Show career, where you begin as a young player in the minors and work your way up. It is a blast, but I do have some complaints. First off, I can be the second highest rated player at my position in my organization, have some terrific stats, but I still am only on the AA team. When I am rated higher than the AAA player and have better stats, I would think I should be ahead of him in the organization's depth chart. Secondly, and worse, is that the goals you must achieve every few weeks make you focus your training on mundane areas, which forces you to neglect more important skills. For example, the emphasis on bunting is absurd, as it has caused me to basically ignore my power rating. It needs to be more flexible and not so difficult to obtain training points, so that you can reach your goals and focus on other areas at the same time. That or the goals need to be modified to more accurately reflect real life training. I mean, how good of a bunter do I have to be before I can concentrate on other areas?
I did play a game with Dave online last night and it was a blast. I fell short in a 6-4 game as the Cubbies really clobbered Adam Wainright in one of the middle innings. It also didn't help that I did not know how to work the base running controls. I hit several balls to the gap but had to settle for singles because I did not know how to make the runners go to second base. Doh! Dave led 6-1 until I manged to put a few runs up late, including a pinch hit home run by Cardinals' cast-off Scott Spezio. Overall, it played pretty well online, though lag came into play a few times for both Dave and myself. Dave plays a great game; he isn't afraid to throw strikes and makes sound managerial moves. Good job, buddy!
I also picked up Bully yesterday, but it will probably be a while before I get into that. I'll post impressions when I do.
I started a Road To The Show career, where you begin as a young player in the minors and work your way up. It is a blast, but I do have some complaints. First off, I can be the second highest rated player at my position in my organization, have some terrific stats, but I still am only on the AA team. When I am rated higher than the AAA player and have better stats, I would think I should be ahead of him in the organization's depth chart. Secondly, and worse, is that the goals you must achieve every few weeks make you focus your training on mundane areas, which forces you to neglect more important skills. For example, the emphasis on bunting is absurd, as it has caused me to basically ignore my power rating. It needs to be more flexible and not so difficult to obtain training points, so that you can reach your goals and focus on other areas at the same time. That or the goals need to be modified to more accurately reflect real life training. I mean, how good of a bunter do I have to be before I can concentrate on other areas?
I did play a game with Dave online last night and it was a blast. I fell short in a 6-4 game as the Cubbies really clobbered Adam Wainright in one of the middle innings. It also didn't help that I did not know how to work the base running controls. I hit several balls to the gap but had to settle for singles because I did not know how to make the runners go to second base. Doh! Dave led 6-1 until I manged to put a few runs up late, including a pinch hit home run by Cardinals' cast-off Scott Spezio. Overall, it played pretty well online, though lag came into play a few times for both Dave and myself. Dave plays a great game; he isn't afraid to throw strikes and makes sound managerial moves. Good job, buddy!
I also picked up Bully yesterday, but it will probably be a while before I get into that. I'll post impressions when I do.
Thoughts and Prayers
Some good people I know are suffering right now and I just want to mention them so maybe you could include them in your thoughts and prayers. My cousin Mark is struggling with an illness at this time. He is receiving treatment and hopefully is on the mend. It will be a long struggle for him, but I am hoping he recovers fully and gets back on his feet. We love you, Mark.
My buddy Dave has been going through a rough stretch. He and his wife have separated and their marriage is really up in the air at this point. As if that wasn't enough, his father may be dealing with a serious illness. Dave, you are stronger than you think. You hang tough and keep your chin up. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts. Call if you need anything at all.
God bless.
My buddy Dave has been going through a rough stretch. He and his wife have separated and their marriage is really up in the air at this point. As if that wasn't enough, his father may be dealing with a serious illness. Dave, you are stronger than you think. You hang tough and keep your chin up. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts. Call if you need anything at all.
God bless.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Nasty weather
We're having quite a snow and ice storm here. My kids are off from school and that takes a load off my mind. Barb is still at work, though her nursing school classes today have been canceled. That's a good thing, because she has quite a drive to get to her school. I am hoping she gets off early from work and comes home soon. I am working tonight and will definitely make it in, as work is only a couple of miles from my house. I get the feeling that I may have to work a double shift tonight; someone will probably call off because of the weather. While working a double can be a real drag, the overtime money would definitely come in handy.
Of course with the bad weather I will not be venturing out to any stores today to pick up MLB '08: The Show and Bully. It's just not worth the risk of possibly having an accident. In my younger days, I would have braved this weather and gone. I'm a little more sane now. Anyway, no sweat, they'll be there later in the week. I am hearing about some pretty puzzling bugs in The Show, so that has dampened my enthusiasm a bit. I'll be posting impressions of both games after I have played them a bit.
Of course with the bad weather I will not be venturing out to any stores today to pick up MLB '08: The Show and Bully. It's just not worth the risk of possibly having an accident. In my younger days, I would have braved this weather and gone. I'm a little more sane now. Anyway, no sweat, they'll be there later in the week. I am hearing about some pretty puzzling bugs in The Show, so that has dampened my enthusiasm a bit. I'll be posting impressions of both games after I have played them a bit.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Gaming update
Been having lot of fun with Rock Band lately. My boy Zach likes to play guitar while I take care of the drumming. I love playing the drums but I can only handle the Easy level. Weak, I know. Still, it's a blast. My friend Pete came over on Saturday night with his wife and 8 year old daughter Claire. While we couldn't get Kim or my wife Barb involved, Zach and Pete traded off on guitar, I played drums and Claire handled the singing. She did a great job; she is familiar with a lot of songs by The Police since her dad's such a big fan, so she nailed those. She also had a lot of fun with "Roam" and "I Think I'm Paranoid." Rock Band is so cool. I don't play as much as I'd like because most of my gaming time is late night, and since my daughter Jess has her bedroom in the basement where my consoles and TV are, I can't exactly be pounding on the drums like a maniac.
The other gaming news is that MLB '08: The Show is coming out this week. I'll be picking it up on Wednesday most likely. Those who snagged early copies say that it is phenomenal. I'm not as stoked as I usually am when a big game are released; I can't really say why. Maybe it's because it's so hard to find the time to play games anymore. But I'm definitely looking forward to hooking up with Dave for some games. It'll be Cards vs. Cubbies, I imagine!
Bully: Scholarship Edition is also being released on Xbox 360 this week and I might pick that one up as well. I didn't play the original on PS2, so I am looking forward to it. It's a long game so should keep me occupied for a while.
That's all for now...
The other gaming news is that MLB '08: The Show is coming out this week. I'll be picking it up on Wednesday most likely. Those who snagged early copies say that it is phenomenal. I'm not as stoked as I usually am when a big game are released; I can't really say why. Maybe it's because it's so hard to find the time to play games anymore. But I'm definitely looking forward to hooking up with Dave for some games. It'll be Cards vs. Cubbies, I imagine!
Bully: Scholarship Edition is also being released on Xbox 360 this week and I might pick that one up as well. I didn't play the original on PS2, so I am looking forward to it. It's a long game so should keep me occupied for a while.
That's all for now...
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Why I love Operation Sports
As you may have noticed, I provide a link to Operation Sports on this blog. I have been a member there for a long time and there is always good info on the site and in the forums. But it's like a community as well. For example, I give you the story of BluenGold, a guy who talked his wife into making a 442 mile round trip drive with him to pick up a copy of MLB 08: The Show three days before the actual release date. Now that may sound crazy to you, driving all that way for game just to get it 3 days early, but when it comes to sports gamers, we are completely irrational when a major game is nearing release. I myself wouldn't have made that trip, but I definitely understand why BluenGold would do that. Anyway, here's what happened:
They made the drive to a Wal Mart which was 221 miles from there house. His wife thought he was nuts, but she also thought it would be a fun road trip so she gamely went along. He got to the store, bought the game and at that point all was well. He stopped at a gas station to fill up for the trip home. As he pumped gas, his wife cleaned out the car and threw away trash that had accumulated during the trip. They drove back home and then they realized that along with the trash, she also threw out the game. Uh-oh. His wife wanted to drive back to get it, but he said it would be foolish, given what they had spent on gas already and that by the time they got there, the trash might have been taken. So BluenGold posted on the Operation Sports forum that the game was in the trashcan at this gas station and if anyone wanted to go there and get the game, they could keep it. He just didn't want it to be a total waste of money (and a great game).
A poster named JSKYWALKER1 read the message and said that he lived 20 miles from the gas station. He made the drive, looked in the trashcan and plucked the game right out of the garbage. He called BluenGold and told him that he had the game and that he would gladly give it to him if he wanted to drive back. So tomorrow at 5:00 A.M. BluenGold is driving down to pick it up. He'll get his game, his wife won't feel so awful and JSKYWALKER1 knows he did a very nice thing to help out a fellow gamer. JSKYWALKER1, you sir are a hero. And BluenGold, that's one hell of a wife you've got there.
They made the drive to a Wal Mart which was 221 miles from there house. His wife thought he was nuts, but she also thought it would be a fun road trip so she gamely went along. He got to the store, bought the game and at that point all was well. He stopped at a gas station to fill up for the trip home. As he pumped gas, his wife cleaned out the car and threw away trash that had accumulated during the trip. They drove back home and then they realized that along with the trash, she also threw out the game. Uh-oh. His wife wanted to drive back to get it, but he said it would be foolish, given what they had spent on gas already and that by the time they got there, the trash might have been taken. So BluenGold posted on the Operation Sports forum that the game was in the trashcan at this gas station and if anyone wanted to go there and get the game, they could keep it. He just didn't want it to be a total waste of money (and a great game).
A poster named JSKYWALKER1 read the message and said that he lived 20 miles from the gas station. He made the drive, looked in the trashcan and plucked the game right out of the garbage. He called BluenGold and told him that he had the game and that he would gladly give it to him if he wanted to drive back. So tomorrow at 5:00 A.M. BluenGold is driving down to pick it up. He'll get his game, his wife won't feel so awful and JSKYWALKER1 knows he did a very nice thing to help out a fellow gamer. JSKYWALKER1, you sir are a hero. And BluenGold, that's one hell of a wife you've got there.
Big night for a big girl
Yesterday evening I put together a bunk bed for Laurel, my 3 year old. It was quite the pain in the neck because I couldn't use my cordless drill for all of the screws; the drill was too big to fit into the tight spaces. So after putting in approximately 647 screws by hand, it was ready to go. Of course during the construction of the bed, I had to fend off wave after wave of Laurel attacks, as she wanted to be in the room, help me and constantly ask "Can I get on the bed now? How about now?!" So it fell upon my wife (Barb) and 14 year old daughter (Jessica) to help keep Laurel at bay. My 16 year old, Zach, gave me a hand with the bed and was a big help.
Laurel was so excited about her new bed that she wanted to go to sleep as soon as we were done. That's very unusual. So Jess and I snapped a few photos before she climbed in and then Barb and I read her a story. She slept through the night and when she woke up this morning, she declared her new bed the "best ever!" She is so proud of her new big girl room and bed. Sometimes it's the simple things that make life so wonderful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
