For the better part of a decade, MLB The Show has been the series to play when looking for a premier baseball simulation experience. Between its nuanced gameplay mechanics, deep rosters of both current players and legends, and loving recreation of real-life MLB stadiums, The Show has proven itself as one of the best baseball experiences out there. The most recent installment, MLB The Show 23 is a strong continuation of that reputation, displaying developer San Diego Studio's unparalleled attention to detail. It's thanks to that level of detail that MLB The Show 23 has hooked fans like never before.

MLB The Show has one of the most tight-knit communities in the whole sports genre, and much of that community shares a close connection to The Show's card-collecting game mode, Diamond Dynasty. Diamond Dynasty shares many similarities to Madden NFL and FIFA's Ultimate Team, in that players collect various cards that represent professional ballplayers, build a highly-skilled team, and compete against others. This game mode is what keeps many fans coming back year after year, and as Diamond Dynasty has evolved, fans have developed a list of unwritten rules that govern the action of each ranked match.

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Don't Stay Paused For Long In Diamond Dynasty

Managing a baseball team requires careful decision-making, from which reliever should come in to lock down a game, to which hitter should come in to deliver a clutch hit off the bench. Diamond Dynasty allows players to make those tough decisions in the pause menu, and to ensure a steady pace of play, an on-screen timer dictates how long players can stay paused. Many believe SDS is a little too generous with this timer, however, and any lingering in the pause menu is met with frustration. It's proper etiquette to move as quickly as possible, as a sign of respect for the opponent's time, and to keep the action moving smoothly.

Watching Replays Is Frowned Upon In Diamond Dynasty

Hardly any MLB The Show fan can deny how satisfying it is to launch a home run into the stands, especially in a close-scoring game, and The Show's in-game replay understands that. After every home run, players can push a button to savor their swing in all its glory, with additional stats on its distance, exit velocity, and other metrics. Watching a home run replay can be viewed as highly toxic, though, as it slows down the speed of the game while rubbing the misfortune of the opponent in their face. So even if it was a particularly long home run with one of Diamond Dynasty's best cards, it's best to move on to the next at-bat.

Don't Bunt Dance In Diamond Dynasty

Trolling takes many forms in online multiplayer games, and MLB The Show's Diamond Dynasty is not free from players looking to get under someone's skin. One way Diamond Dynasty players will try to throw off their opponent is through what's called bunt dancing, which is when hitting players will repeatedly press the bunt button to trigger the corresponding animation. While most players view this as harmlessly annoying, it can catch some players off guard and affect the execution of their pitches. As many players know, it can take one bad pitch to change the course of a game, even with the best pitchers in Diamond Dynasty.

With the many unwritten rules in the actual MLB, it's only fitting that MLB The Show's Diamond Dynasty mode has its own list of unwritten rules. High-level cards are often at stake in Diamond Dynasty games, and these unwritten rules ensure players are able to have a clean match where the victor is rightfully awarded for their efforts. While it's inevitable that players will encounter opponents who break one or more MLB The Show unwritten rules, many longtime fans understand how important it is to keep every match as enjoyable as possible.

MLB The Show 23 is available now for PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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