Major League Baseball's opening day doesn't come until March 31, but Sony is already making its pitch for the next installment in its long-running baseball sim series. The company today announced a March 8 release for MLB 11: The Show on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and PSP.

　　Joe Mauer is a catcher, but he still knows how to swing a bat. The PS3 version of the game will introduce Move compatibility and 3D support into the series. According to ESPN, the motion-sensing control option will be limited to a Home Run Derby mode, while a new analog stick scheme will be used to control batting, pitching, and fielding. For purists, the game's previous button-based control scheme will be included as an option.

　　Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer will return as the cover athlete after adding a third consecutive Gold Glove and fourth Silver Slugger award for his performance in the 2010 campaign. He was also named 2009 American League Most Valuable Player and is a three-time AL batting champion.

　　Not for controller throwers. Sony will be rewarding those who preorder the PS3 edition of MLB 11: The Show with a free 30-day trial of MLB.TV, the streaming service that lets players watch regular season games from around the league on their PS3s or PCs with DVR-like features. In addition, Sony will be debuting a baseball-themed PS3 controller alongside the game. The MLB 11: The Show Edition Dual Shock 3 controller will sell for $54.99 and come in white with a red baseball stitching pattern on the front.

　　For more on the previous entry in the series, check out GameSpot's review of MLB 10: The Show.