As the old adage goes, “Third time is a charm,” or, in the case of 989’s PSP launch line-up, the fourth time is.

MLB is essentially a port of the PS2 version of the same game. With the exception of a few minor details, such as batter walk-ups and celebrations, the presentation makes its way to the PSP relatively intact. Player models are fairly well detailed and animate smoothly. Most of the flashier animations like diving catches and knee catches are around. Player uniforms even get dirty as the game progresses, which is a nice touch. Even stadium details like scoreboards and ads are around. All-in-all, this is about as complete a port as fans could hope for.

The last thing I was expecting to make the jump to the PSP version was commentary, something the other sports games haven’t had. Matt Vasgersian and Dave Cambell handle play-by-play duties and sound really good. While it isn't as verbose as the PS2 version, the inclusion of commentary is still impressive, if a bit off at times. It doesn’t happen often, but Dave sometimes says something that has little to do with what’s going on, such as saying a player is in a slump after a strikeout. Other ballpark sounds, like in-field calls, crowd noise, and announcements, fill in any dead time between calls.

MLB offers three play modes: Season, Quick Play, and Online, making it ideal for all types of handheld gamers. Season mode is for PSP owners with a little more available playtime at their disposal (such as when you’re waiting at the DMV). You can set your batting lineups, swap rosters, and even negotiate trades. During a Season, the game keeps tabs on what’s going on around the league and gives you team stats as well as individual player stats.

Quick Play is more for the players who just want to get in a quick game. It’s not quite as involved as Season mode and just lets you play the game without worrying about time-consuming details. Online mode follows the same aspects as Quick Play games, only instead of allowing you to play against the A.I., you’re matched up against another player. Both LAN and Internet play are available, although I wasn’t able to test either of the features out since finding local people with the game was as hard as finding players for an online game. Hopefully games will be easier to find once word gets out that the game is good.

The various difficulty levels are pretty spot-on. Most players will probably feel comfortable with Veteran mode since it’s the most balanced of the three modes. Rookie level is way too easy, while All-Star can get a little cheap at times. Individual aspects can also be adjusted in the Options menu, allowing you to craft MLB to your liking.

Next to fielding, batting interface is one of the most important aspects of any baseball video game. Batting in MLB really boils down to pressing the swing button at the right time – making it more luck and timing than pure skill. More advanced options, which allow you to guess pitch types and locations, are available for those who want more control. This introduces a risk/reward factor since a correct guess usually means a better hit (while incorrect guesses equal strikes).

Controls on the other side of the plate are just as smooth. Pitch selection is matched to the PSP’s face buttons while speed and accuracy are matched to a moving meter. The only problems with the system stem from the PSP’s analog nub. With practice, the problems lessen. Still, expect some off-target pitches early on.

Fielding is a simple matter of positioning a player under the falling ball. Pressing the R-Shoulder button can also give you a little boost if you’re a little off target with your catches.

After an underwhelming showing of sports titles on the PSP, 989 Sports finally managed to get a hit with MLB. And, although it’s not a grand slam, it’s certainly not a strikeout.