Creating realistic baseball moments is what "MLB 11: The Show" is all about. Most of the drama in the PlayStation 3 game is driven by the game's new analog-based game play and the developer's ability to make almost every detail -- whether it's the AI reacting logically to a good pitch or an animation depicting convincing player emotions -- true to the sport.

The new analog pitching is the most polished and challenging game-play mechanic a baseball game has ever offered. It's all about finesse and finding a rhythm with different pitch types.

To place pitches on the corners, you have to angle the analog stick in the direction of the desired location. The gesture must be fluid and gentle, the video-game equivalent of threading a needle. The slightest error could result in a ball or, worse, a pitch that hangs over the plate. The length of your motions is tied to your pitcher's delivery; the amount of time allotted is shorter when working from the stretch, making finesse pitching all that much more difficult.

This new system not only offers a great challenge, but it also accurately simulates pitch counts. If just one pitch isn't working for you, expect to walk batters and reach deep counts. Most of my starters threw 80 to 105 pitches in five to nine innings of work.

The new batting mechanic requires similarly exact motions, pulling the right analog stick back to plant the foot, then pushing it forward to swing. Unlike pitching, however, it's easy to grasp and master. My contact ratio was absurdly high, but my hits per nine ranged around a realistic 12 to 15, resulting in five to six runs. The totals were usually far lower when facing an ace. Strikeouts remained low, but I found myself hitting more ground balls off of elite hurlers.

Fielding uses analog controls, as well, but it isn't much different from the previous version of the game outside of the new option to fake throws and lure players into rundowns. Rather, defense is most noticeably improved in the number of ways the fielders react. A distinct difference exists between outfielder and infielder motions, and players show a better awareness of their location on the field.

"Road to the Show" remains one of the more addictive and satisfying modes in video game sports. Developing your ballplayer no longer relies on an arbitrary set of in-game goals; you now earn experience points for every at bat or batter faced.

As for this year's multiplayer options, online leagues are shallow compared with franchise mode, but Sony did include new tools, such as a handy schedule creator, and a bevy of commissioner options give your league more flexibility.

"MLB 10: The Show" won Game Informer's Sports Game of the Year last year, and the product Sony put on the field this season takes a dramatic step forward in many meaningful areas. Even after 50 to 60 games played, I was still seeing new animations on the field, and the commentators were telling different stories about my team. Although I wanted more challenge from the batting, the new analog pitching controls should be experienced by every baseball enthusiast.