Review: 'MLB Superstars' will show you renewed respect for the game
Posted Wednesday, August 3, 2005 at 1:54 PM Central
by Tim Briscoe
From the title of the new Major League Baseball DVD MLB Superstars Show You Their Game, you'd think it was just another disc of game highlights. Yeah, there's some of that but there's a lot more.
A more apt title would have been "MLB Superstars Show Jennie Finch How They Do What They Do." Jennie Finch is a big part of this release. Jennie was an All-American softball pitcher at the University of Arizona with a record 60 consecutive wins. She won a gold medal with the 2004 U.S. Olympic softball team. She's also a correspondent for TV's "This Week in Baseball."
Besides being a great softball player, Jennie Finch is also very, very beautiful. I mean a Playboy Playmate caliber of beauty but with a squeaky-clean image.
A lot of the footage is from TWIB segments where players show Jennie baseball fundamentals. Tiger catcher Pudge Rodriguez showing Jennie how to throw out runners. Former players and future Hall-of-Famers Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. talk about the mechanics of hitting and fielding the hot corner. The great Roger Clemens gives you an insight into his training regimen.
Some of the segments are a little dated with players like current Yankee Alex Rodriguez in a Rangers uniform and the Cardinals' Larry Walker in Colorado Rockies gear. But the overall message stands true: it takes a lot of hard work to do what they do well.
The disc is great for young ball players. They see the pros preaching the fundamentals that their coaches are trying to teach them. With the phenomenal Jennie Finch, it's a great DVD for boys and girls.
And that's the real fun of the disc. Fast-pitching Jennie faces some big hitters for batting practice -- and makes them look silly. These guys are the best of the best and they can't even get the wood on the ball. Her rising fastball just completely baffles the big leaguers. When Cincinnati Red Sean Casey hits would be an infield grounder off her, he jumps into the arms of his teammates like he hit a homerun in the seventh game of the World Series.
When my three-year-old daughter get old enough to play sports, you bet I'm going to show this DVD to her. It's evidence that females can be just as good as their male counterparts. It'll also show her how to swing the bat like Barry Bonds.
These guys have so much respect for Jennie Finch -- that's obvious. And even more so, these guys have so much respect for the game. They share that respect and love of baseball on this disc.
Thanks primarily to some players' alleged use of steroids, people's faith in baseball has been shaken recently. This DVD gets back to the heart of the national pastime -- and that's a terrific thing.
