I'm new to this version and came from a graphically accurate game expecting just simulation so the graphical representations of gameplay are a nice bonus. I don't have any past years to compare to. But even though the graphics are simplistic, for me this is a much nicer way of being "in the game" when I play one.
I did see one foul "almost HR." And a couple of dropped foul popups. No rundowns, but snap throws from the catcher are cool. This game also avoids the typical trap of most baseball games where DPs are nearly automatic on any ball hit with authority anywhere near an infielder.
I do hope they continue to improve the representations of plays in the future. I realize that, for example, all the dives represent balls that the game computed were to be caught, but it seems unrealistic. It would be nice to show dives miss once in a while. I'm sure they can improve the graphic representations of outfield balls in general, such as the deep ball to the CF that appears to bounce in front of him and then go past.
Also, the mega-slow throws when the game has decided there's an infield hit are quite frustrating to watch. I just had the game show me what appeared to be two simple comebackers to the mound in a row with the bases loaded and both were slow-mo throws to first, safe. Grr...
