Opening Day for Major League Baseball is just around the corner. If you can’t make it to the ballpark or in front of a television screen for any game you want to watch this season, know that there are dozens of Grand Slam apps you can call up to dial into all of the action. There are apps that let you watch and listen to all the games, manage your fantasy roster, and get news and statistics focused on your favorite team and players.
Any of these five titles are worthy additions to your app rotation.
MLB.com At Bat (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad: Free, with subscription, Android: Free/$14.99)
MLB.com At Bat is a first-ballot Hall of Fame app for any category and a must-have piece of software for any baseball fan. Sure, the app is pricey and will cost you fifteen bucks for the full season (the iOS version also has a $2.99-per-month option). But fans will get a lot of value for their money. For starters, the app includes audio live streaming for virtually every Major League Game (including Spring Training and the playoffs). MLB At Bat also offers great highlights, oodles of statistics, and news-specific to your favorite and chosen teams. Further, app owners that also subscribe to MLB.TV can also watch just about every game of the season on their mobile devices. The video service includes camera angles and footage not available on regular broadcasts. This means fans of the Chicago Cubs can have their hearts broken from multiple vantage points. Even without ponying-up for the MLB.TV subscription, this app is well worth what amounts to the cost of two beers at the ballpark.
Fantasy Baseball Draft ’12 – Yahoo/ESPN Live Drafts (iPhone, iPod Touch $2.99, iPad $4.99)
Thanks to fantasy sports, you don’t have to be a professional athlete or coach to participate in opening day. This app allows you to manage live fantasy drafts for leagues managed by Yahoo! Sports and ESPN. Pretty sweet. There is a free version you can tap into for free to get a feel for everything. Own and Android? Than download the free and official Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball app for Android smartphones and tablets.
Team Stream (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android: Free)
If you are mostly interested in news about your favorite ball club, Team Stream is a comprehensive and free resource to tap into. Powered by the popular site Bleacher Report, Team Stream lets users create customized feeds around their favorite team in all the major professional and college sports. Receive push notifications every term there is noteworthy news about your chosen team, and enjoy the beautiful layout and sharp writing found within the app.
FanGraphs Baseball (iPhone, iPod Touch: $2.99)
Thanks to the book and more recent feature film Moneyball, sabermetrics and deep statistical analysis is now a major part of the game. Even if you are not paid to monitor the fastballs and on-base percentages of baseball players, sabermetrics can be an addictive hobby or at least provide for good chatter while sitting in the bleachers. FanGraphs allows you to track every play of every game, and provides neat visuals that make everything more understandable and user-friendly. Think of it as a 21st century way of keeping score.
Baseball Superstars 2012 (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android: Free)
When your team is not on the diamond and you still need a baseball fix, this quirky game is there to help you in a pinch. This 2012 edition is even more addictive than previous versions. Just give yourself a little bit of time to get used to the controls. Like hitting, pitching, and fielding, it takes a lot of practice to master.
