Additionally, with the Adaptive Pitching Intelligence (API) feature, catchers will call the game based on the individual strengths and weaknesses of each pitcher as well as analyze tendencies of batters.

[29][30] The game suffered in its reviews due to this with critics praising the gameplay but lamenting the sheer number of bugs that should have been solved before release.

"[32] Detroit Free Press gave the PS2 version three stars out of four, saying, "If John Smoltz is getting a lot of strikes with his slider, the confidence meter will increase, making it even nastier for opposing batters.

A new Road to the Show career mode allows players to create a rookie who must toil in the minors while awaiting a chance to crack the big league lineup.

"[33] However, USA Today gave the PS3 version six stars out of ten, saying that "As a baseball title, [the game] is a solid and has a wide array of choices.