The Show 2008

Just bought the game for the PSP and it doesn’t disappoint. A few things from last years version have been tweaked to make it a superior game but the best thing i can say about is that they didn’t try to re-invent the whole thing –  they have endeavoured, and succeeded in bettering a game that has already established itself as the best and most realistic baseball game around.

I just wish i had a PS3 so i could buy the game for that.

Cervelli

I’m going to have to disagree with neildo84’s comments about the collision at home that left Cervelli with a fractured wrist. Of course i feel bad for the kid, but as almost any Catcher will tell you, if you decide to block off the plate from the runner then a collision is very likely. Would it have been nice if the Rays player had just slid into a probable out – yes. Did he, or the Rays, do anything wrong – no.

In a perfect world there would be no collisions in baseball at all, spring training or not, so i find it hard to fault a young player for leaving it all out on the field when he’s trying to leave an impression on an organisation. I certainly don’t think that on this occasion that retribution is called for, especially when people seem to be split on whether the runner did anything wrong at all.

Retribution, and the Phranchise’s general excellence…

If this weekend has taught us anything about how the new regime under Joe Girardi will go, it seems to be that the team will no longer shy away from seeking retribution when one of our own guys takes a hit, as with Cervelli’s injury at the weekend. It was a frequent criticism under Joe Torre that he was too placid and would very rarely, if ever try and send a message to an opposing team following any contentious incident – It seems like Girardi will be much more willing to try and encourage a tight-knit team who will look out for one another in games.

Whether looking for retribution in any given situation is right or wrong is a whole other discussion, but for me this development seems to be another positive aspect of the early stages of Joe G’s managerial career in the Bronx. It already seems to be having a positive effect on the togetherness of the team if recent interviews are anything to go by.

Another thing becoming clearer over the weekend is that Phil Hughes is showing just how good he can be, and living up to most of the hype that he’s been the focus of. Yes, it’s only Spring Training, and yes, there’s a long long way to go before he can be considered to really live up to his hype, but the early signs are even more promising than most could have hoped for.

If he can keep up anything close to the form he’s shown dating back to last season’s effort against Cleveland in the playoffs, and can continue showing such steady and significant progress since coming back from injury, then the Phranchise could go a long way to answering some of the questions asked of our starting rotation in the buildup to the ‘08 season.