Sports Reviews

This is the second Ichiro Suzuki figure put out by McFarlane Toys. The first, from Series 1, had the Seattle Mariner's right fielder in his batting distance, and was not particularly impressive, mainly because they captured the least distinctive part of the process by which he hits the ball. However, this MLB Series 4 Figure is one of the most impressive ones McFarlane Toys has issued to date (which is now up to Series 7).

Ichiro is shown laying down a bunt and this is the first baseball action figure I am giving 4 stars on educational value because this is a textbook example of this neglected art form (How many times in the baseball playoffs this year, the greatest in history, did guys come up to bat in bunting situations and not know how to get the job done? Answer: Too many). Look at the superb attention to details. Ichiro is a split second away from dropping his bat; it now barely making contact with one hand. He got down low to get this bunt and already his eyes are on the field to make sure he has put this one where it needs to be to beat it out. Best of all, the ball is suspended mere inches (relatively speaking) off of the ground. Perfect.

To top things off the face looks more like the player than is usually the case with these action figures, and McFarlane Toys sets the standard on such accuracy in this field. I also like it that for once the people who keep insisting on putting dirt on the uniforms of all these players did not go overboard again. There is a road Grey Jersey version of this action figure as well, but obviously he is not batting in the top of the first, although even the bottom of the first would still dispel the sacrifice bunt idea (besides, if it is a sacrifice it should be directed towards third and I do not think that is what is happening here). The bottom line is that Ichiro is a marquee player and this is a marquee action figure from McFarlane.

Alex Rodriguez played in his first spring training game today, in which he went 0 for 2, and he was not wearing the blue home jersey of the Texas Rangers. My connection says that McFarlane Toys will be coming out with an update version of this figure in a New York Yankee figure, but I will believe that when I see it. Ironically, one of the other MLB Series 8 Figures is Alfonso Soriano, so you have both of the players in the biggest trade of the off-season in their old uniforms. Yankee fans can also get Kevin Brown in his old Dodger uniform and Hideki Matsui as an actual Yankee in a Yankee uniform. Note: Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens in their Houston Astros uniforms will both be in McFarlane's MLB Series 10 out this summer, as will the second Derek Jeter figure (will he still be the Yankee shortstop when that happens? Stay tuned, America).

As always with the McFarlane figures the details are quite impressive. You can just about read the printing on the baseball, which is suspended off of the infield dirt, and I especially liked the back of A-Rod's jersey is starting to come out from the uniform pants. His autograph appears on the glove and his index finger is sticking out, just like it is supposed to be. Even the cleats on the bottom of his A*Rod shoes are there. In terms of articulation you can move the figure's head slightly and his right arm swivels most of the way around; it actually looks good in several positions, so take your pick. The figure is attached to the base plate, which is right at the edge of the outfield grass, by a metal peg on the left leg and a clear peg on the right (so that the toe is not touching the ground).

I do not know if the trade makes the MLB Series 8 Figure: Alex Rodriguez with Blue Rangers Jersey (Home) an instant collector's item, but with this and the Soriano figure coming out at the same time I just had to pick up both and put them side by side on the bookshelf. The blue jersey is a nice shade of blue and they do seem to be reducing the amount of dirt on the pant legs in this series (someone at McFarlane really loves to have dirt on the uniforms; nobody is every playing in the first inning apparently).

There are three New York Yankees in the MLB Series 8 Figures from McFarlane Toys, but Alfonso Soriano is not one of them. There is Hideki Matsui in the Yankees gray road jersey, but then Kevin Brown is still wearing number 27 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Alex Rodriguez, who was traded for Soriano, is still decked out in the road uniform of the Texas Rangers. You have to appreciate the great irony here that Soriano and Rodriguez would both come out in the same action figure series just after they were traded for each other (there are no action figures planned for either the player to be named later or the money paid by the Rangers to the Yankees).

This is the second McFarlane figure of Soriano and is a great improvement over the previous figure, which had Soriano suspended in mid-air to avoid being taken out by an unseen runner having just made the throw to first base in an attempt to turn the double play. Soriano does have one of the more distinctive batting stances and follow throughs, and it is the latter that is captured this time around. I was thinking that Soriano's bat, one of the heaviest in baseball today, was not as big as it should be, but that really depends on the angle. In terms of details you have not only Soriano's name on his bat, but "12 AS" on the back of his shoes, "AS 12" his batting gloves, and a "12" on the shin protector, the wrist band, and the batting helmet (which is made of plastic, a nice touch).

The only points of articulation is Soriano's right forearm, which you can position as you want (ideally it should be parallel to the square of his shoulders), and his head, which should be aligned with the center of his body as the ball is deposited into deep left center field (at the stadium in Arlington for all we know). Both of the metal posts easily fit into the batter's box base plate and the figure has no problems standing upright. This figure is right up there with the Bernie Williams action figure as the best of the bunch for the New York Yankees; too bad he no longer plays for the team that plays in the big ballpark in the Bronx.

One thing I want to emphasize is that now that we are up to Series 8 one of the great improvements McFarlane has made is the knob of Soriano's bat comes off so that you can slide the bat handle into position and then put the knob back on. The same thing holds true for the Matsui figure, so it must apply to the Jeff Bagwell one as well. This is a vast improvement over the older figures, where you had to cut open Jason Giambi's hands to get him to grip the bat. Final Note: Jeff Bagwell, Richie Sexton and John Smoltz are the other figures in MLB 8. Yankee fans can look forward to Mariano Rivera in MLB 9.

Home runs are easer and a lot better graphics thea most baseball games

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Joshua come say hello to your mother

At first I thought this be just another game with bad graphics and hard to play, but boy was I wrong. Providing a practice zone even the worst gamers can get the hang of it. The exhibition games are my favorite, there is only one problem MJ is not in it, instead he is replaced with a made-up #99 Guard. But Guard is still really good.

This game's the best I've ever played for SEGA. The graphics are good and the create-a-player is better than most. There are codes for playing on different courts. If you like basketball games, get it.

NBA Hoopz is a good game for 5 yrs or older. It has great action. It is 3 on 3 basketball. You pick a forward, guard and center from any team. You can change players between quarters. It is the best game that I have.

This is a great game! The graphics are not the coolest because it is a 98' game. But it is fun, you can play exibition or a season or even just the play-offs if you like. it is 1-8players. I would recomend it.

This is a really fun game to play if you like having fun on your Game Boy Color. The graphics are good (exspecialy for a game Boy game)and it is just really fun!make sure you get this game!i reccomend it!!!