Interview with MLB 11 the Show Cover Star Joe Mauer

Minnesota Twins' All-World catcher Joe Mauer was in enemy territory today promoting MLB 11 The Show, widely considered the most authentic baseball game available.


In between 3D homerun derby hacks with the PlayStation Move, we talked with Mauer about the Twins getting the hometown discount and how the Players Union felt about it, how long he'll catch, balancing the how much he studies opposing pitchers vs. opposing hitters and a special moment he shared with Mike Piazza.



Here are the images he gazed at when contemplating his place in the pantheon of side-burned catchers.


Due to hit stores on March 8, 2011, just in time for Spring Training, as the only officially licensed first party video game exclusively for the PlayStation®3 (PS3™), PlayStation®2, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), and the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) go systems, MLB 11 The Show is prepared to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience for all fans, new and old.

• Most Realistic Baseball Simulator: MLB 11 delivers true-to-life gameplay, authentic franchise and season modes, and incredible detail not found in any other sports game
• 3D Functionality: Features the most advanced stereoscopic 3D technology, available in all gameplay modes
• PlayStation Move Support: Move functionality in Home Run Derby mode
• Pure Analog Control System: Includes analog controls for hitting, pitching, and throwing
• Co-op Mode: Allows up to four player offline or online cooperative play, users can play 1 vs. 2, 2 vs. 2, or 2 vs. CPU
• Challenge of the Week: A quick, fast paced 2-3 minute, 1-player, online experience, with leader boards and prizes awarded, in 3 tiers
• Road to The Show 5.0: New interactive slider set to the Create Player process, new training modes triggered by the Player Performance Evaluator, Minor League substitution logic improvements, advancement system improvements, and the new No Assist Fielding option
• Eric Karros Joins the Broadcast Booth: Former Dodger first baseman Eric Karros joins franchise veterans Matt Vasgersian and Dave Campbell to complete the three man crew
• Addt’l New Features: Customizable camera editor, stadium specific broadcast camera angles, stadium specific jumbotrons/fireworks, new rain/cloud coverage weather elements, ADVA setting for players with disabilities, etc.

Mets to Open Citi Field with Sass

A Mets press release fabulously announced this weekend that Mets legend Tom Seaver, Piazza New York Catcher, and the cast of West Side Story will joining the ball club for today's home opener at the new Citi Field.

Word is Omar Minaya will be asking each of the actor/dancer to "show what their jazz hands are made of" and take groundballs for scouts prior to the game, citing that they "can't be a worse #2 man than Luis Castillo." Despite protests that they "aren't ball players or acutally even Latin American for that matter," most are likely to humor the GM.

It is yet to be confirmed whether or not the organization will be holding the obligatory Mike Piazza "I'm still not gay" press conference following the ceremonies.

When you're a Met,
You're a Met all the way
From your first cigarette
To your last dyin' day.

When you're a Met,
If the spit hits the fan,
You got brothers around,
You're a family man!

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Have You Gotten Your BlogsWithBalls Tickets Yet?

Piazza, New York Catcher

Photo: mlb.com

Or: How do I know you're gay? Because two hipsters insinuated so.

I'm not, nor have I ever been a fan, of Mike Piazza. But I've never hated the guy either, nor have I ever put much credence or thought into the rumors that have followed him throughout his career regarding his sexuality.

Another thing I've never been is a fan of is hippy jam sessions. Foolishly, I purchased the Juno soundtrack a few months back, if for nothing else than the Mott the Hoople track, which, until the purchase, I only had on vinyl.

I really hadn't listened to it until yesterday. Not knowing the song or artist I was actually listening to, I heard the words:

San Francisco’s calling us, the Giants and Mets will play
Piazza, New York catcher, are you straight or are you gay?

My immediate reaction was "WTF was that?"

I look down at my iPod and see a song titled "Piazza, New York Catcher" by some duo calling themselves Belle & Sebastian.

My second thought is, "Why is this guy so hated?"

Sure he had Elton John's arm and Freddie Mercury's 'stache, but he hit as well as any catcher who ever played.

He was a Rookie of the Year, 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger. What fan wouldn't want him on their team? There is no argument on whether or not he is a Hall of Famer. And the real debate shouldn't be on what hat he should wear, but rather why his sexuality now outweighs his performance as the greatest hitting catcher who ever played.

The joke's so old that it's not even funny anymore.

Paul Lukas, a writer who we greatly enjoy, posted an article on ESPN this week titled "Good riddance, Mike Piazza," primarily citing Piazza's selfishness and failure to advocate for gay rights.

Mike Piazza is a baseball player who did what he was paid to do by organizations willing to pay him for his services as a catcher. Simple supply and demand. He offered his goods and teams paid for his services. How is that different than any other athlete? That's all they are - commodities. Maybe some of us would like them to be social advocates or more team-minded, but for a "career" that spans (in Piazza's case) only 15-years, why should we ask or expect more out of them? Would Piazza have done anything different for the fans he played for especially now when they are so quick to brush him away? Why would or should any of them?

We should judge our athletes on what they do on the field, and we have a right to criticize them for what they do off of it. Ultimately, fan opinion will shape athletes' legacies. Whether they be Pete Rose and Jose Canseco or Mike Piazza. Unfortunately, Rose and Canseco's on-field accomplishments are greatly overshadowed by their extra-curricular shenanigans. Piazza deserves better. Because, really, his off-field shenanigans don't even exist. Yet, they are the first thing online pundits point to.