Just thought I'd let you know that the sneak peeks for MLB '05 have started on the Wizkids site. Those of you so inclined should go take a gander, it also goes into the mechanics of the pitcher a bit.

The sculpt looks much better then the 2004 ones, so that is an improvment that I like.

The impact of the stars rating depends on the rules. (Why not use a 3 star starter instead of a 3 star reliever? I guess there are rules that cover that).

The fact that players now have a different amount of clicks sound good.

The fact that there is an intangible for a pitcher that uses a variation of the old 3up 3 down rule sound great. I suppose now pitchers will click down most of the time and not up.

Pitchers now have an own offensive value and so the pitcher as batter dial is gone too.

All in all I can't wait to see the rules.

I'll chime in, too.
The sculpt is awesome!
Different pitchers have different batting stats? Awesome!
Having pitchers endurance based on their dial length, instead of a printed number, Awesome! If batters still have the Intimidation intangible, it will be useful finally.
I can't wait! Oh, since I said awesome four times I've got to say, DUUUDE!!!

I'm wondering if different pitchers also have different typs of batting. Gagne has a black die (get on base?) perhaps other pitchers have other types?
More then usefull, especially if you use a pinch hitter.
You put your top reliefer in there, I switch to my pinch hitter, and your reliefer is gone very fast.

The new sculpt does look better than last years model.

Just wish the '05 game would come out BEFORE the start of the baseball season. An April release sucks. :(

Actually an april release only sucks when it's february. When it's april an april release is just fine ;)

I guess they wanted to incorporate as much of the off-season trades as possible.

I understand. I want Sosa to be in the Orioles uni, not the Cubs. And stuff like that. (Sosa had BETTER be in the O's home whites when the '05 set is released!).

It's just hard when pitchers and catchers report in a week, and there's a whiff of hot dogs and rawhide in the air, and you've got to wait 10 weeks to see the game on the shelf. Just sucks, that's all.

Since they started with Sneak allready I guess the set it done. This means the Sosa deal was to late to be included.

But perhaps they are releasing the sneaks of people who stayed anyway.


Tell me about something that sucks. How many games did you watch in person in your live? And how many more will you watch?
I never watched a real baseball game in person in my life and I guess I never get the chance to do that.

You going to Gen COn Starcoates?

I'll take you to a Minor league game.

Nope, at least not this year. Frankly I don't know if I ever will come to the USA again. The last tiem was 15 years ago for a 4 week vacation and I wasn't a baseball fan then.

This year I have to stay with my wife and my daugther (at least that's the ultrasonic scan shows) and make extensive use of MTB.TV.

I found Intimidation useful in 04 since it served as a threat to knock pitchers like Maddux/Morris/Pettitte off Leadership and also was a quick way to knock an RP out of the game if you get lucky (and were able to chase the SP)

Most people tended to rely on one RP remember...

I agree that Intimidation had that use, but in 04, all starting pitchers had 11 clicks, and all relievers had 7. With the pitcher's ability to click up, I felt Intimidation had limited application, and didn't affect Endurance that much.
Also, I never brought less than 2 RPs.
What I meant was Intimidation would be more useful in 05. The sneak peak said, those with higher stars have more clicks and more room for getting hot, and Gagne is a 3 star relief pitcher, so he has a three-click dial. Consider how much more powerful Intimidation would be, if the RPs only have 3 clicks, max, or the SPs have less than 11 clicks and less room to click up.

Why dosen't this site have the previews up here for everyone to view and comment? I know it's not a big deal to check the wizkids site, but come on. There are two out there. Other realms sites put thier previews up that same day. So for all you sportsclix fans out there please check the wizkids offical sportsclix site to see the previews of the new set.