While playing mlb 2k8, as well as past 2k baseball games, and comparing it to the ultra sim game that is 08 the show, there was something that always seemed, well, off. Im talking about the small size of the outfields. It seems that the outfield is not much bigger than the infield, and not only does it feel "small," but the gameplay takes a big hit. This has been my biggest gripes with 2k baseball games, and although most might not notice it at first, i am asking you to at least make an observation. Outfields in baseball are simply very big and very spacious with lots of room for outfields to roam free. In 2k8, the outfields are only slightly bigger than the infields, and in order to recreate a "real baseball experience," this needs to be fixed.
Im making a list of reasons of how bigger outfields would not only make the game more authentic to how MLB really is, but how it would exponentially affect the game in a positive way. My main gripe about the small outfields in 2k8 is that it allows for completely unrealistic fielding and baserunning issues!
First, im going to give a few examples of how different the outfields are in 2k8 compared to both 08 the show, as well as real baseball.
1. Bigger outfields would allow for greater hit variety, as there is more room for the ball to travel. This would then help the game feel more diverse and less "scripted."
2. Bigger outfields would make fielders have to cover more ground. While plaing 2k8, players cover way too much ground in not enough strides. Yet in real baseball, as well as in 08 the show, outfielders have to run a good distance before actually getting to the ball. For example, in MLB 2k8, on a line drive shot to left field, the fielder only takes a few steps to the ball and throws it to the cutoff immediately. in real baseball, outfielders run and cover a lot of ground while getting to a lined shot in the outfield, and then get in back to the cutoff while holding the hitter to a single.
3. Also, in 2k8, for fly balls, outfielders only need to move a few steps to catch nearly any routine fly ball. Yet, in real baseball, a rountine fly ball oftentimes requires the OF to run a good distance, and then haul the ball in casually.
There are other examples, but i want to get my essential point across and give reasons to how this negatively affects gameplay in an unrealistic way.
1. lets take a man on third base. a ball is hit in the air to center field, and the runner on third is looking to tag and go home. in 2k8, since the outfields are so small, there is less distance that the OF has to make to throw home, or to any base for that matter. as a result, it is very likely that the runner would get tagged out at home, whereas in real life the runner would usually tag easily w/o worrying about a throw to the plate.
2. a batter hits a ball that goes off of the left field wall, and youre looking to in with a stand up double and take a little time to dust off your uniform before the ball gets thrown in to second. well, in 2k8, the OF gets to the ball immediately because the outfields are so small and he doesnt need to cover much ground, and the OF throws a strike to second and has a close play. the runner may be gunned out at second on what would appear to be a routine double. and while the runner may end up safe on another close play, the small outfields allowed for unrealistic fielding/baserunning results. in baseball, after hitting a deep ball that gets to the wall, or in the gap, usually slows down a good margin and jogs safely into second. yet the game makes your player run at full speed to make sure he gets in there safely (which doesnt work all the time)
Now this is my biggest gripe, especially for those who want to play small ball like i do:
3. runner on second, base hit up the middle. the runner from second usually scores from a hit to the outfield 9 out of 10 times, unless an absolute lined rocket right at the left/right fielder. yet, once again, since the outfields are too small, not only do the outfielders get to the ball in an unrealistically fast amount of time, but they have a shorter distance to throw home than in real life. This way, it is nearly impossible to score on a base hit to the outfield with a man on second. And, when this rare occasion does actually occur where i do score in this scenario, it is at least a close play at the plate. in real baseball, the OF understands that he has no shot at the plate and will casually send it back into second base, where the runner from second touches home safely w/o having to worry about a throw home.
4. Now, after realizing that it is hard to score on a base hit with a man on second, lets take a look into how it affects your strategy. What is the point of bunting and moving a man over to second if you need a double to drive him home? What is the point of utilizing speed (pinch runners, shaping your team around athleticism, etc.) if it is nearly impossible to play small ball and score from second base on a single? What is the point of sacrificing a man to third base and hoping a sac fly drives him in when it is rarely occurs? This is why i really hope that the outfields are bigger, as not only would it affect gameplay tremendously, but it would make the game more realistic/lifelike/authentic!
Lastly, I want to mention how fielding ratings would become more important with greater outfields. With bigger outfields, it would make baserunning speed more important, and it would make the player range rating matter that much more, as there would be more room to cover. Also, throwing strength would be that much more important, as there would be a greater importance in having guys with strong arms in a bigger outfield.
OK. im done with my rant. but i seriously hope that the developers of 2k9 see this and make it a reality in the game. I know i would buy 2k9 if bigger outfields were in the game. Tell me what you guys think
Im making a list of reasons of how bigger outfields would not only make the game more authentic to how MLB really is, but how it would exponentially affect the game in a positive way. My main gripe about the small outfields in 2k8 is that it allows for completely unrealistic fielding and baserunning issues!
First, im going to give a few examples of how different the outfields are in 2k8 compared to both 08 the show, as well as real baseball.
1. Bigger outfields would allow for greater hit variety, as there is more room for the ball to travel. This would then help the game feel more diverse and less "scripted."
2. Bigger outfields would make fielders have to cover more ground. While plaing 2k8, players cover way too much ground in not enough strides. Yet in real baseball, as well as in 08 the show, outfielders have to run a good distance before actually getting to the ball. For example, in MLB 2k8, on a line drive shot to left field, the fielder only takes a few steps to the ball and throws it to the cutoff immediately. in real baseball, outfielders run and cover a lot of ground while getting to a lined shot in the outfield, and then get in back to the cutoff while holding the hitter to a single.
3. Also, in 2k8, for fly balls, outfielders only need to move a few steps to catch nearly any routine fly ball. Yet, in real baseball, a rountine fly ball oftentimes requires the OF to run a good distance, and then haul the ball in casually.
There are other examples, but i want to get my essential point across and give reasons to how this negatively affects gameplay in an unrealistic way.
1. lets take a man on third base. a ball is hit in the air to center field, and the runner on third is looking to tag and go home. in 2k8, since the outfields are so small, there is less distance that the OF has to make to throw home, or to any base for that matter. as a result, it is very likely that the runner would get tagged out at home, whereas in real life the runner would usually tag easily w/o worrying about a throw to the plate.
2. a batter hits a ball that goes off of the left field wall, and youre looking to in with a stand up double and take a little time to dust off your uniform before the ball gets thrown in to second. well, in 2k8, the OF gets to the ball immediately because the outfields are so small and he doesnt need to cover much ground, and the OF throws a strike to second and has a close play. the runner may be gunned out at second on what would appear to be a routine double. and while the runner may end up safe on another close play, the small outfields allowed for unrealistic fielding/baserunning results. in baseball, after hitting a deep ball that gets to the wall, or in the gap, usually slows down a good margin and jogs safely into second. yet the game makes your player run at full speed to make sure he gets in there safely (which doesnt work all the time)
Now this is my biggest gripe, especially for those who want to play small ball like i do:
3. runner on second, base hit up the middle. the runner from second usually scores from a hit to the outfield 9 out of 10 times, unless an absolute lined rocket right at the left/right fielder. yet, once again, since the outfields are too small, not only do the outfielders get to the ball in an unrealistically fast amount of time, but they have a shorter distance to throw home than in real life. This way, it is nearly impossible to score on a base hit to the outfield with a man on second. And, when this rare occasion does actually occur where i do score in this scenario, it is at least a close play at the plate. in real baseball, the OF understands that he has no shot at the plate and will casually send it back into second base, where the runner from second touches home safely w/o having to worry about a throw home.
4. Now, after realizing that it is hard to score on a base hit with a man on second, lets take a look into how it affects your strategy. What is the point of bunting and moving a man over to second if you need a double to drive him home? What is the point of utilizing speed (pinch runners, shaping your team around athleticism, etc.) if it is nearly impossible to play small ball and score from second base on a single? What is the point of sacrificing a man to third base and hoping a sac fly drives him in when it is rarely occurs? This is why i really hope that the outfields are bigger, as not only would it affect gameplay tremendously, but it would make the game more realistic/lifelike/authentic!
Lastly, I want to mention how fielding ratings would become more important with greater outfields. With bigger outfields, it would make baserunning speed more important, and it would make the player range rating matter that much more, as there would be more room to cover. Also, throwing strength would be that much more important, as there would be a greater importance in having guys with strong arms in a bigger outfield.
OK. im done with my rant. but i seriously hope that the developers of 2k9 see this and make it a reality in the game. I know i would buy 2k9 if bigger outfields were in the game. Tell me what you guys think
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