Naturally, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) version of MLB 09: The Show is not nearly as pretty as the mighty PS3 version - and it's lacking most of the more nuanced animations and environmental effects of its boffo Blu-ray counterpart -, but it still looks as good as PSP game ought to - and it ought to look great at this stage in the game, and it does, which is great.

Furthermore, in both Ad Hoc and Infrastructure mode, MLB 09 on PSP doesn't seem to suffer the gross lag issues as seen in both the PS2 and PS3 versions online - maybe that's why it costs $10 more than the almost identical PS2 version...

All told, this MLB 09 underling might lack in visual pizzazz, but it's nonetheless a very solid baseball simulation (and it's the only version you can take with you on the bus, obviously, which is always a plus).

Then again, so was last year's version and, like most sports game series, you have to realize that you're mainly spending brand new money for brand new rosters in what is otherwise just a modestly modified, same old game.