MLB The Show has had a feature called ‘Moments’ in it for years now. The idea is to put you in the moments that make baseball exciting. That full count, two outs, bases loaded home run that every little leaguer dreams of.

There’s a laundry list of these moments in the latest entry and one, in particular, has Fernando Tatis Jr. (if you don’t know he’s an incredible talent playing with the San Diego Padres) hitting a grand slam. It was a controversial and memorable moment from last year and you get to recreate it. Except not really.

I played my at-bats, tried a good half dozen times, grounded out, struck out, and then finally lifted a long fly ball to left-center. The left fielder got under it but it wasn’t enough: home run. Then immediately into a post-game screen. Tatis’ digital counterpart just made it past second base, the announcer had just called it a home run, but I didn’t get any moment to celebrate. The game was showing me a full post-game screen for a single at-bat and was already guiding me back into menus.

The Show didn’t let me enjoy the Moment. It was already leading me along to the next one. Earn more fake credits, open more packs, just keep moving.

I moved on to create my Diamond Dynasty team. A version of the alternative fantasy draft every sports game seems to have now. Create a dream team by opening packs of random players and use that team to grind out more packs, credits, or whatever else to slowly put together your perfect team. The Diamond Dynasty mode has several ways to use your team or other smaller fantasy teams you put together but don’t keep, to keep grinding away moments, games, and credits. It’s a slog but if you’re dedicated you can spend hours putting together a great team.

The problem is everything is a grind. Road to the Show is a create a player mode where you start on draft day and work your way up to the big leagues and hopefully the World Series. Unlike Diamond Dynasty there are no credits or boosts. You just play over and over again, slowly increasing dozens of attributes like hitting for contact against right-handed pitchers, or plate discipline, or arm accuracy until the game decides you’ve played enough and are promoted. It’s a slog but if you’re dedicated enough you can finally make it and play alongside your favorite players.

The problem is it’s just another long grind. Everything in this game is a series of bars or tasks, slowly ticking upward. You aren’t playing baseball for fun or experiencing the moments that make the game a “you had to be there!” kind of experience. It’s all toil and labor. I threw a perfect game in AAA with my player, a game later they mention it once and I'm back to the grind with little fanfare or care.

Baseball often sucks to watch. It’s three or more hours long. It has long stretches without any hits. And the current baseball product has more strikeouts, more breaks, and more nothing than ever before. It can still be fun though.

It’s those moments you remember with friends over and over again. Gibson’s 1988 home run with two bad legs. The Rays Game 162 comeback against the Yankees to make the wildcard. They are moments that make you feel a part of something. MLB The Show recognizes that and fails to spotlight it.

Maybe it’s fantasy sports and how some fans care less about home teams and more about an assortment of stats from around the league. Maybe The Show has pushed too far into loot boxes and left baseball behind.

Maybe I’m an old man yelling at clouds. Regardless I feel a deep disconnect from MLB The Show. What was once a celebrated franchise has followed the well-worn path that NBA 2K, FIFA, and Madden all have traveled. The enjoyment and passion for the sport have been overwhelmed by mechanics and menus.

MLB The Show doesn’t feel soulless, it feels like the soul is being drained from it. I hope this is a sign of transition as we move into new hardware and not of a general decline. Because what’s left here isn’t what baseball is about.