Hello, and welcome to the MVP Baseball 2003 pre-game show. I'm Cary Goleman alongside Star Screamer, and we'd like to welcome you to what looks like an excellent game. Star?

That's right Cary. Along with the new name, this team is sporting a brand new look and gameplay, and it looks like it has everything needed to go all the way to the top.

Now Star, you mentioned a new look for the team, care to expand on that? Just what about it looks different?

Well Cary, this is a team that has been redesigned from the top down. The initial layout is nothing short of the professional style and character of other EA leagues. The players look fantastic, and really stand out from previous years. Each player looks to be in top form and ready to take the field. Although it is obvious each of these players went to one of four conditioning coaches, each also brings their own little personal characteristics to the team, something that helps make the game that much more exciting.

I'm especially impressed with how well each player moves. I was watching during warm-ups, and it was great to see how naturally each of the players reacted to the ball - especially to liners and ground balls. However, I also noticed that a few of the characters still need to work on their dives. While it's advisable to go after the ball with two hands, doing so during a dive isn't the smartest move. I also noticed that some of these players have the uncanny ability to catch a ball after it hits them in the back. I'm no expert, but that seems to be a clear violation of the rules, but I'm sure the league is looking into that.

Great stuff, Star. As well as a new team, we also have a new stadium. Your thoughts on that? I'm really impressed with the new sound system.

This is a great looking stadium Cary, as with all of the stadiums around the league - no doubt about that. I was surprised with just how many of the little details the architects were able to throw in. I was down on the field earlier, and was overcome with joy at seeing all the little things that were happening, such as dust being kicked up at home plate, or the excellent fielding markers that did their job without getting in the way. The only real disappointment I could see was that the crowd didn't really seem into the game. Now, this may just be my eyes going, but instead of a lively crowd, all I saw was a blurry mess of people. By the way Cary, would you happen to know if this is 'Men in Uniform' night?

No Star, I'm not sure. Maybe someone in the booth can pull that information up for you.

Well, just a question since it looks as if everyone in the stadium is wearing the same outfits. But anyway, you also mentioned the new sound system. Now, I know you're a big fan of the sounds of the game, especially when it comes to EA, and this year things are just as good as ever. The music selection is fantastic, and there are little ambient sounds of the crowd and vendors to help you get into the gaming spirit. The acoustics in this place are fantastic. I even got to hear a little of Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow's excellent play-by-play. I have to say, those two guys really know their stuff, and they provide some really good insight on the game - even if they do have a tendency to repeat themselves.

Good stuff Star, but looks aside - how is the team this year? As you remember, the team EA fielded last time came up a little short of people's expectations. Aside from the rename, has there been much change to their play, or can we expect more of the same?

Last year's team was terrible - there's no question about that. As a result of that the entire staff has gone back to the drawing board for every aspect of the game, resulting in a much-improved team.

What kinds of changes have you noticed?

Well - in the past, much of EA's attention has gone towards individual seasons, but never into the overall Franchise. This year, it's a whole new ballgame, and the difference is noticeable. One of the more interesting aspects of this new initiative is the introduction of goals, such as winning the World Series, or just having a winning season. There's even enough latitude in the league to allow managers to entertain offers from other teams, if they do well enough with their team that is. For the most part, the Season structure remains the same as previous years.

I've heard some of the players talking about the changes to the Home Run Showdown? What is it about the new rules that have the players so excited?

You'll remember that in previous years, the Home Run Showdown was just that - players would have to hit as many homers as they could in a given time limit. This year it's totally revamped. The most noticeable difference is that players can now compete two at a time. Instead of just hitting home runs, they compete to see who can get a certain distance first. Each time a player gets a hit, the distance is measured in feet while the distance of fouls are subtracted from the total. As an added challenge, missed swings also result in the subtraction of 100 feet.

Sounds like there have really been a few changes in the overall flow of the game - how about the team itself? Do the guys seem ready to play, or is there still a little hold-over from last year's team?

Well Cary, they are definitely ready to play, although there are a few areas that could use a little work. Both the pitching and batting schemes have been completely reworked in the off season, making for a game with a much better flow. I was a bit skeptical of how much of an impact the new system would have, but it seems to really be working for the players. Pitching is very tight, with very few wild pitches or passed balls. Batting is just as good, and much improved over last year's system. The team seems able to hit a lot more doubles and triples, as opposed to last year's team only being able to hit singles and, more frequently, homers.

The area that the team still needs a little work on is fielding. Although this group's fielding is better than most of the other teams in the league, it's still not where it needs to be. In addition to the catching mistakes I mentioned earlier, the fielders just don't seem to be at their best. Players have a tendency to miss easy catches, while others will nab balls that they have no business getting.

Star, we've talked about some of the mistakes in the team's game, but the question I'm sure a lot of fans are asking is, just how mentally tough is the team this season?

Well one of the best things about this season is that it feels fair. Since the home run number has been toned down, scoring doesn't get nearly as out of hand as it has other years. I've noticed that at first, the new batting and pitching schemes seemed to be giving the players problems, but once they got settled, things were fine.

Star, you've mentioned the new schemes the trainers have come up with for batting and pitching - how much of an impact have they had on how the game is played?

A big one, Cary - a big one. Not only are they the biggest difference in the game, but they are also the hardest to explain. The pitching coaches have come up with a system similar to the one used by kickers in football. After selecting a pitch, a meter appears indicating the speed and accuracy of the pitch. Throwing the pitch when the indicator hits the green area results in a good pitch, while any other area can result in a bad pitch. Like I said - it sounds complicated, but it is very easy to use. The same goes for batting.

The coaches have divided the strike zone into nine areas. Each of these areas is designated as either a hot, cold or neutral zone, and differs between players. Aiming (using the analog stick) for one of these areas increases the chances of getting a better hit. The fielding system has remained mostly unchanged and works.

'PLAY BALL!'

Okay - thanks for the info Star. And it looks like Leonard Nimoy has just thrown out the opening pitch, and the game is underway. On behalf of Star Screamer, and me, we'd like to thank you for joining us and hope you enjoyed the show. We now turn you over to the voices of MVP Baseball 2003, Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow. Take it away guys...