04/17/98

Baseball Fun

If spring fever means baseball to you, then I've got some Internet diversions for you. All require Shockwave, which can be downloaded for free. Now, altogether please: "Take me out to the ball game. Take me out to the crowd."

Fastball Arcade

Hit a home run at Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, and watch the fountains erupt. Swing your bat by clicking above the home plate. Experiment with your cursor position to find the sweet spot. For the youngest baseball fans, there is Dinger's Virtual Catch. Catch as many of the falling balls as you can in thirty seconds. But get hit by a falling bat or glove, and you'll lose points.

Hit the Heckler

"Don't you hate it when some obnoxious fan screams and shouts throughout the entire game? Here's your chance to get even." Using your keyboard to control the timing of the swing, try to hit the moving heckler as many times as you can in fifty pitches. But hit one of the low-flying birds, and it will cost you a swing. This game had both of my kids clamoring for the keyboard. But I was on a deadline, so I had to pull rank and throw them off. When you tire of the heckler, try your hand at any of the dozen other Game-Land Shockwave games.

Major League Baseball Fun & Games

Follow the Fun & Games link (look on the blue left-hand frame) for three Shockwave games. Big League Vendor puts you "in the stands with the fans" as you pitch hot dogs, peanuts and beer to the cheering crowd. But watch out, you'll lose points if you toss a beer to a minor. Home Run Derby simulates a fastball pitch during batting practice. If you can even hit the ball, you have better reflexes than I. Hold down the space bar to build up power. Release to swing your bat. The last game is a variation of Hangman based on fifty baseball-related words.

SIFK: Bat-o-Matic Fantasy Baseball

"Sports Illustrated for Kids" has created a terrific (and free) fantasy baseball league just for kids. After choosing a team name and joining a ten-team league, it's time to draft your players. You have $5,000,000 to fill out your lineup with five pitchers and nine hitters. Your virtual team will earn points based on how your players do in real-life games. For example, if one of your hitters scores a home run, you'll earn twenty points. But if he's caught stealing, you'll be penalized five points. The season has already started, but there is still time to create a team. Good luck!

Sportsline Arcade

CBS Sportsline presents twenty-five Shockwave sports games, including three with baseball themes. Test your baseball knowledge with the Baseball Playoff Trivia. Earn runs with each correct answer. Three strikes, you're out! In Grand Slam (a baseball version of Pong), move your bat to hit the balls as they bounce off the gloves. Ignore the Rules section, as it incorrectly lists instructions for the golf game. Last, but not least, is Major League Pinball. Try it. It's fast and fun.

The following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!

Backyard Baseball Coloring

Math Baseball

Small World Baseball

Please send questions or comments to feldman@surfnetkids.com.