A common complaint from die hard baseball fans is that many people who attend games spend more time playing on their iPhone or Blackberry than actually watching the action on the field.
I guess this is a valid complaint, at least until you consider the multitude of applications that can turn your iPhone into a baseball nirvana. From getting the latest baseball stats to planning your stadium roadtrip to finding a fun game to play, there are almost enough apps out there to make it excusable for you to stare at that tiny screen instead of the gigantic field in front of you. Almost.
Stats
Statistics are important in every sport, but in baseball numbers like 56, 756 and 2,130 are spoken with almost religious tones. MLB.com At Bat will allow fans to get the latest stats and scores on their iPhone, but that is not all. For $9.99 this app also gives you live audio of games from around the league and offers limited daily video feeds. If you subscribe to MLB.TV you can even watch every game live from your phone, though blackout restrictions still apply.
If it is historical stats you are looking for, then the Baseball Statistics 2009 edition might be more up your alley. This app from Bulbous Venture LLC, priced at $2.99, gives you Major League player and team stats from 1871-2008 and does not require Internet access. If you find a more convenient way to settle an argument about whether George Brett or Robin Yount had more career hits, please let me know.
Enhancing your game experience
If you find yourself on the road watching your favorite team play, then Baseball Road Trip is quite the handy app to have. Not only does this 99-cent app have pictures, facts and information about every Major League stadium, it also includes places to eat and hotels in the area. A cool feature lets you to rank the stadiums in 10 different categories, allowing you to plan the ultimate baseball road trip.
Faster Than Monkeys’ iScore Baseball Scorekeeper could best be described as a scorecard on steroids (too soon?). For $4.99 this app will help you keep score of any baseball or softball game whether or not you know how to keep traditional score, and it allows you to export saved games to a computer. While entering rosters can be tedious, general ease of use and a nice display make this a good app.
Games
Baseball Superstars looks and plays a lot like a number of Nintendo baseball games, with its cartoonish graphics and basic controls. Good thing the app from GAMEVIL Inc. is also very fun and has tons of modes, including a season mode, mission mode and a home run derby. Hardcore baseball sim fans will probably be disappointed there are no real players or teams, but for $2.99 casual baseball fans will be impressed.
As for the aforementioned hardcore sim fans, they will more likely gravitate toward MLB World Series 2009. The controls are a bit more advanced. Although player names are not included, it does have real stats and player numbers making it easy enough to figure out who is who. This app for $2.99 also boasts a season mode, a postseason mode and five MLB stadiums. More stadiums are coming soon.
Batter up!
