The 2010 Major League Baseball season has begun, and it promises to be more Android-friendly than any season before. If you’re the proud owner of a Droid, Nexus One, Hero or any of the other Android-powered devices on the market, you’re going to need a few good apps to keep you updated and entertained throughout the season. Here are our top five picks for baseball scores, stats, standings and more.Note: Android apps are rated on a scale of one to five stars.
1. MLB.com At Bat 2010
With this app, users can listen live to every regular and post-season game, get pitch speed and location data, view real-time scores and player stats, watch game highlights as they happen, read league news, and track player standings for fantasy leagues. It certainly sounds like the mother lode of baseball apps, and for the relatively whopping price of $14.99, users expect a lot.
Cost: $14.99
User Rating: 4 stars
Downloads: 10K to 50K
User Rating: 4 stars
Downloads: 10K to 50K
User comments:
Some complaints about audio and video delays and freezes, but overall positive reviews.
“Amazing app! The audio stablity could use some improvement, and the video highlights do not work well on my Eris, but overall, this app is well worth the $15.”
2. US Sports Buzz Widget from Mippin
Although this is an all-sports app, it allows users to filter content by sport. Users can read and share baseball news from a variety of sources. It’s a decent supplement to the rash of scores-stats-and-standings apps available.
Cost: Free
User Rating: 4 stars
Downloads: 5K to 10K
User Rating: 4 stars
Downloads: 5K to 10K
User comments:
“Great aggregated sports news. Good that you can filter by topic.”
“It’s a home run! I’m a baseball nut.”
3. Baseball Scores by Vireo
This app gives users up-to-date information about current and past MLB games, including detailed box scores, play-by-play, team rosters and player stats.
Cost: Free
User Rating: 4.5 stars
Downloads: 50K to 250K
User Rating: 4.5 stars
Downloads: 50K to 250K
User comments:
Lots of users wish the app had standings as well as scores, but overall it has enthusiastic reviews.
“For a free app, it offers a LOT of stats.”
“Loads slow, needs more stats. Other than that, one of the better baseball apps.”
“Good, simple and accurate.”
4. Fantastic Baseball by Geocade
Users can rep their favorite teams and compete against other fans in this baseball-themed, pub quiz-style game. Team “standings” are based on how much trivia their fans have answered correctly. The app also includes news, scores, schedules and other legitimate MLB info.
Cost: Free
User Rating: 3.5 stars
Downloads: 10K to 50K
User Rating: 3.5 stars
Downloads: 10K to 50K
User comments:
“If you’re an avid baseball fan, it’s great. Mixture of trivia from the modern era.”
“Daily trivia is great!”
“Fun for five minutes.”
5. Google Scoreboard
This app allows users to access daily scores, standings and news for baseball, and a slew of other popular sports. Set up live, in-game notifications for your favorite teams.
Cost: Free
User Rating: 4 stars
Downloads: More than 250K
User Rating: 4 stars
Downloads: More than 250K
User comments:
Some game stats not updated, some player stats missing, but overall positive.
“This app is awesome. You can set it as a widget on your home screen to follow your favorite teams in real time.”
“Quick and just enough information to be light on the battery.”
Comments