Introduction

It's spring again, and although some of you chumps might be dreaming of love... there's something much more important in the air. Baseball. Saturday afternoon at the park. Seven dollar beers and hot dogs with relish. Late night games on cable. Bench-clearing brawls, suicide squeezes and the dusty, leathery smell of tradition. Breathe deep. It's just beginning.

As always, with spring training comes this year's slate of baseball videogames. More ball games than ever will compete in the market, but only one has the mighty muscle of EA Sports. With a completely revamped engine, challenging gameplay and much-improved graphics, MVP Baseball 2003  is poised to help EA regain their baseball glory.

Now, IGN Guides is here to help you become master of the diamond, and claim a little glory for yourself. Whether you want to go yard on your roommate, or win a pennant on your own, we've got the tips for you. We'll tell you how to get the most out of each part of your game. Here's what you can expect inside this guide:

• Pitching and fielding strategies to help keep your defensive game solid.
• Batting and running tips to send your run totals into the double digits.
• Tons of Franchise info, including how to build the best team.
• Team-by-team breakdowns, highlighting team strengths, key players, unknown heroes and more!

The pitcher is warming up. Batting practice has just begun. Strap on some cleats, grab your Louisville Slugger and let's head to the diamond. It's time to begin another championship season, with help from IGN Guides.

Guide by: Jon Robinson and Chris Carle

On to Pitching/Fielding...