The same killer pitching/batting system is back in
MLB 2005. The pitcher chooses a pitch and selects where he wants to put it over the plate. The batter gets a quick glance at where the ball is coming and then tries to position himself for a hit. This works rather well, as does the pitch/guess ability that allows the batter to guess where the ball is coming, and if he is correct, his chances of a good hit increase dramatically.
The problems with control arise on both sides of the coin when people are running the bases. Controlling the runners is confusing as hell, and they always seem to take their sweet time to leave the base. The same problems in last year's game also arise with the fielders. The 'sprint' button is the same as the button to throw to first base. When you sprint to pick up a ball, if you don't let go right before you get there, you'll always throw to first base, which leaves the guy heading for home safe and sound. It's a shame they haven't addressed any control problems, but when you have the only baseball game on the PS1 you can do things like that.
Despite the tricky controls, dated graphics, and a few bugs, MLB 2005 is actually a decent baseball game. For PS1 owners, this is the baseball game to buy. In fact, it is now the only baseball game to buy. The problem here is if you really love baseball games, then you probably already own MLB 2004. MLB 2005 is practically the same game, just with updated rosters and a few new tweaks to the features. Unless you're trying to complete a collection, there isn't much reason to get this one. However, if you're dying to get a cheap baseball game then this is definitely it.