ESPN Major League Baseball info

GROGtheNailer · Post by **GROGtheNailer** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:34 pm

ESPN Videogames has announced a new sports title set to debut in the spring - ESPN Major League Baseball. The series formerly known as World Series Baseball 2K will feature two ESPN baseball veterans: Jon Miller and Karl Ravech. Miller – who´s set to begin his 15th season on ESPN´s Sunday Night Baseball - will handle the play-by-play duties. Ravech - the host of ESPN´s Baseball Tonight - will provide the in-studio analysis. K-Zone and GameCast are other additions gamers will see this spring. K-Zone is a tool used to visually create each batter´s unique strike zone. GameCast gives the user a pitch-by-pitch analysis of simulated games and also allows the player to join a simulated game at any time. Blue Shift is developing ESPN Major League Baseball for release on PS2 and Xbox

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:37 pm

*drools*
 
 Damn, it´s way too early to get pumped up about baseball, but I´m in on this one.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:57 pm

Jon Miller -- outstanding.
 
 Karl Ravech -- dick.
 
 I worked with Ravech indirectly from 1989-91. He was the weekend sports anchor at WBNG-TV, the leading station in Binghamton, N.Y., and I was a sports reporter at the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin. We crossed paths pretty often at events, and Ravech acted like he was God´s gift to earth. An arrogant dick.
 
 I was pretty stunned that Ravech landed at ESPN. He went from being weekend guy in Binghamton to Harrisburg, Pa., I believe, another small market, right to ESPN.
 
 Not sure who Ravech had compromising pictures of at ESPN, but I must admit that he does a fine job on "Baseball Tonight," a very tough show to host due to the constant influx of game updates and information.
 
 Take care,
 PK

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 3:04 pm

Sounds like the Gamecast feature will be part of online leagues again. If they give a pitch-by-pitch gamecast, along with charting of pitches, that would be way cool.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 3:04 pm

Yeah, Ravech spent some time in Harrisburg. I do not believe that is his real hair though <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif">

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 3:43 pm

It´s kinda odd the guys ESPN picks up. You mentioned Ravich and I´m sure there are a boatload of others (Keith Olberman comes to mind). Most notable, Trey Wingo. He did the sports here in St. Louis for a few years on our local NBC station, and more than a few of us thought he was a strange bird. But he ends up on ESPN and he seems to be having much success.
 
 Back to the topic at hand. I thought one of World Series Baseball´s biggest problems was it´s announcing crew. I can´t remember who the play by play announcer was but he was so incredibly dreadful and boring to listen to. A huge step for this ESPN franchise. I wonder though if Morgan will also be in the booth alongside Miller. From what it sounds like, he´s not.

GROGtheNailer · Post by **GROGtheNailer** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:13 pm

I want to see batter/pitcher gameplay improved and i´m sold.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:25 pm

I want to see improvements all over the map.
 
 Pitcher/Batter interface needs something new. What they had last year is still 10 years old.
 
 I though WSB was probably behind ASB in terms of gameplay. It´s not bad but the batting/pitching made me fall asleep.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:37 pm

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD>Quote:<HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><BLOCKQUOTE>
 On 2003-12-03 11:04, Leebo33 wrote:
 Yeah, Ravech spent some time in Harrisburg. I do not believe that is his real hair though <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif">
 </BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>
 
 Leebo:
 
 There´s no way that´s Ravech´s real hair, at least in front. He was starting to get the "Phil Collins´ early solo career Batman" receding hairline in the late 80s and early 90s. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Plugs or a weave, all the way.
 
 Take care,
 PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:38 pm

WSB still has a strike zone that´s way too big. It was slightly improved for this year´s game, but it needs further work for ESPN Baseball before I´m sold.
 
 It´s the linchpin for me. Plus bigger outfields would be nice. Too many line drives and hard shots rolled to the wall in WSB 2K3.
 
 Take care,
 PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:41 pm

Dan:
 
 It´s funny you mention Trey Wingo. He was sports director at a competing station in Binghamton when Ravech was in Bingo.
 
 And who was Ravech´s boss? Bill Pidto. Binghamton, a city of 50,000, is a cradle of ESPN announcers. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">
 
 Wingo, unlike Ravech, is a super-nice guy. Super-nice. One of the nicest guys I´ve met in the TV business.
 
 Funny story about Wingo. I was working as the PR contact for the inaugural NHRA drag race at Gateway near St. Louis in 1997. We held a media drag race the day before the event, and Trey came late, all flustered and confused as I don´t think he knew much about drag racing.
 
 I walked up to him and said: "Trey Wingo? Paul Kelly, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin."
 
 This was a good four years after I left the paper and he left Binghamton. He freaked, saying, "What the hell are you doing here?" And I said, "What the hell are YOU doing here?"
 
 We both laughed, shook hands, and Trey had a great time at the media drag race.
 
 Again, Trey is a very cool guy. I was really pleased to see him land at ESPN.
 
 Take care,
 PK [ This message was edited by: pk500 on 03-12-2003 12:42 ]