A great looking game that makes the biggest mistake a sports game can make.
MLB09 has a ridiculously steep learning curve, especially for those who had not played the MLB franchise prior. The problem stems from the complicated and imprecise controls. The six-axis features feel tacked on and not accurate. There seems to be a delay in control inputs, from dives for ground balls to base running inputs which can cost you runs and even games.
While the pitching and batting animations are smooth and accurate, the fielding animations leave a lot to be desired. The catcher seems to have predetermined animations in certain areas of the home plate area. There are times when the catcher repositions himself before attempting a tag on a base runner, which usually results in a missed tag. The same type of thing happens when you are trying to rob a homerun or dive for a grounder. IT seems for these actions, the player has to dive and jump at preset angles, which at times puts your player out of position.
The biggest problem and a mistake most sports games make is with the difficulty level. Instead of making the AI strategy more sound or even making difficult, non routine plays harder to complete, the difficulty adjust how successful you are in standard plays. A fastball down the middle that you would crush on a lower setting now is just a towering infield fly. The routine grounder to third base that is easily handled at a lower setting now becomes a double down the third base line.
Basically, it's as if the attributes of your players, regardless of who they are, take a dive, while the AI players get a boost. This just creates a frustrating uneven game that is not fun to play.
The franchise and RttS modes are great, the online play, less than stellar. Online has to much lag for a game that needs a precise touch, especially when pitching, masking it borderline unplayable. I would take points for that, but unfortunately, PSN is not known for stellar online play, so I just chalk the online play up as a network issue and not an issue with the game.
Overall, you may have fun for a brief period, but after a while your 2-1 wins and 9-1 blowout losses seem boring and predetermined and just plain old uninspiring.
While MLB09: The Show has it strengths, it also has it drawbacks, which makes my next statement tough. It is the best baseball game around, so if you are looking for your baseball fix, pick this guy up, but if you are not a big baseball fan, save your money for something else down the line.