Gameplay hitches, although primarily it runs well, but it will aggravate players when their opponent serves up a meatball only to have their pitcher freeze mid-wind up. Thus, you do not know when said meatball is exactly being served, causing the expected outcome of homerun to become strike three. There also seems to be a problem with the franchise mode where sometimes it works, and other times ongoing seasons are drastically shortened for no particular reason. Then there is the A.I., which has the charming Kelly Leak-like trait of trying to shag every pop up. Clearly a fly straight to left field does not have to be charged at full speed by the center fielder, and if you do not call them off they will barrel into you.

Now to my main gripes. I know it is not fair to expect the Wii version to trump either the PS3 or 360 games, but to make it at least comparable is fair in my opinion. Graphics aside, because frankly as much as I like them I do not especially feel they make or break a game, the Wii version really amounts to nothing more than a stripped down version of 2K7 let alone 2K8. For example, the payoff pitch system from 2K7 is in the Wii version, but if you miss the payoff pitch, there are no adverse effects. Whereas in last year's 360 game, hitting those spots played into the overall performance of your pitcher, there is no such importance here.

I know there are Wii owners out there who must be a little peeved that hardcore sports titles are drastically reduced to cater to what is perceived as being the main Wii audience. I find no problem with including reduced modes that are easy for everyone to play, but the main game at least should mirror the other products. With the 360 version players get to tinker with the all new enhanced pitching system; they can play with minor league teams; and there are even tons of baseball cards to collect and trade with your friends. Put side by side you would not even recognize these as being the same game. As fun and easy as the Wii controls can be, I know they could have just as easily put in the total pitch control on the Nintendo version.

At the end of the day, if the Wii is all you have got, then this a decent baseball game to pickup. Just don't expect it to be revolutionary or live up to the other versions. I would give it a break because it is their first effort on the Wii, but at best it feels like a discounted title. It would be unfair to say that it does not lay a solid foundation for the future, but only time will tell if it can be molded into a playoff contender.

By Tom Kelly
CCC Freelance Writer