As the baseball season came to an end, Accolade decided that it was the right time to release the latest in their justifiably lauded Hardball series, this one cleverly called Hardball 5. Since it seems like just yesterday we saw Hardball 4, you're probably asking yourself, "What does this one have to offer me?"

	The answer is a strong, "Not much." In fact, it's nearly impossible to tell where or what the "improvements" over Hardball 4 are. The game looks, and unfortunately plays, identically. Hardball 4 is something of a step backwards in playability from Hardball 3 (not to mention the classic first release, which I played to death on my Atari 800). Hopes were high that some of the things needing improvement in the previous games would be addressed here.

	There was supposed to be an improved stat model, so I let the computer handle a series of complete seasons. Well, it looks like the increased number of stats are either wrong, or the modeling of them is way off (most likely the latter). The game's always had too much offense – which isn't surprising considering its arcade slant – but now it's become bizarrely offensive. With the 1995 players, no one had too many power numbers, with just over 40 homers enough to lead both leagues in all of the seasons I simulated. Averages were in the .320 to .350 range with RBI totals in the 100-110 range. However, it seems now that every player had 20-30 homers, with Rex Hudler of the Angels (yes, Rex Hudler) finishing consecutive seasons with over 30! For comparison, Frank Thomas hit .268 with 21 homers and 74 RBI in a full season.

	The pitching stats are equally bizarre. Despite the huge number of homers each pitcher seems to give up (nearly every starter had given up 25-40 homers), the ERAs aren't abnormally high. However, the other stats are completely off. Jim Abbott led the American League in strikeouts (with a whopping 128 in 194 innings), while Randy Johnson came in 23rd place, with a mere 103 in 215 innings. Greg Maddux, the best pitcher of his generation (and perhaps a few others), was 8-12 with a 4.08 ERA for a Braves team that came in first-place. The next year he was 12-12.

	I let the computer handle all trading and assignments, and the results were beyond bizarre. The computer traded away the entire starting pitching staff of the first-place Angels during the course of the season, dealing Chuck Finley and Mark Langston for Chris Hammond. I suppose the reason the computer did this is because I set it to emphasize youth over veterans, but I'd still like to see a simulation that does wheeling and dealing well.

	Since the game has always been a better arcade game than a simulation it may be a bit pointless to criticize it for its poor stats (since they bother to include them, they're fair game, however). Unfortunately the game isn't aging well even in arcade playability. The players are way too big for the field (a common problem), the animation is average (players are video-captured and feature too few frames of animation to make them very convincing – rotoscoped or polygonal characters would be superior), and the in-field controls are mediocre. The pitcher-batter confrontation remains the best part of the game; hitting is particularly entertaining. As an ex-pitcher, I am thoroughly disgusted by the difficulty in striking out, or fooling, the computer batters, but this is a fairly common problem in all of the current sims (I set the guy up with a high-and-tight fastball, then threw a perfect slider on the outside corner and they still pull it for a double – sheesh, are they all Edgar Martinez? ).

	Presentation has always been a strength of the series, and this one is no exception. All of the menus are stylish and impressive, and I was particularly fond of the ability to edit the statistical displays. Unfortunately, the interface is horrific when trying to change lineups and make substitutions. Anyone hear of "drag and drop" interfaces?  This makes the interface in Front Page Sports: Baseball look downright elegant.

	If you already own Hardball 4 there's little reason to buy Hardball 5, unless you just have to have the current players and/or the additional stat categories. If you don't have the previous version you're better served by Stormfront's superior Tony LaRussa 3 or Sierra's FPS: Baseball. Considering my long-standing admiration for this series, I have to say that Hardball 5 is a disappointing "whiff," a veteran who's played too many seasons and is beginning to embarrass himself. Damn, and I was ready to play along with the fall classic...