Okay, so I figured I’d walk you through my little MLB The Show 23 WBC experiment. It was kinda fun, kinda frustrating, but hey, that’s gaming, right?
First off, I got the game. Obvious, I know, but gotta start somewhere. I was hyped for the World Baseball Classic mode. The whole thing just screamed potential for awesome gameplay and team building.
Then came the team selection. I spent a good hour just scrolling through all the rosters. I was torn between going with a powerhouse like Team USA or trying to build up an underdog. Eventually, I landed on Team Great Britain. Why? Because why not? Seemed like a fun challenge.
Next, I dove into the gameplay. I started playing some exhibition games just to get a feel for the team and the updated mechanics. Let me tell you, timing is everything in this game. I whiffed on more than a few pitches early on. I tweaked the batting settings a bit to make it a little more forgiving, but still challenging.
After the exhibition games, I jumped into the WBC tournament. The early rounds were tough! Team GB wasn’t exactly stacked with superstars, so I had to play smart. Lots of small ball, stealing bases, and clutch hitting when it mattered. I focused on pitching – that’s where I could really make a difference. I developed a nasty slider with one of my starting pitchers that kept the opposition guessing.
Now, here’s where things got interesting. As I progressed through the tournament, I started tinkering with the team’s lineup and player development. I spent a lot of time in the menus, analyzing stats and trying to find hidden gems. I was looking for speed, good fielding, and maybe a guy with a little pop in his bat that I could turn into a more complete player.
I found a few prospects buried in the minor leagues and started giving them playing time. It took a while, but some of them actually started to develop into solid contributors. It was super satisfying seeing those guys improve and start making an impact in crucial situations.
The later rounds of the tournament were nail-biters. I was playing against teams with way better overall ratings, but I managed to grind out some wins. Strategy was key. I was bunting, hit-and-running, and using my bullpen strategically to keep the opposition off balance.
Did I win the whole thing? Nope. I got knocked out in the semi-finals by Team Japan. They were just too good. But honestly, I was still stoked with how far I got with Team Great Britain. It was a blast taking an underdog team and making a run in the WBC. I learned a lot about the game, and about player development, and about myself (lol, jk).
Anyway, that’s my MLB The Show 23 WBC story. It was a fun little experiment, and I’d definitely recommend giving it a try yourself. Maybe pick a different underdog team, see how far you can take them. Good luck!
