"Tinker ... to Evers ... to Chance!"

It was the most famous double-play combination in Major League Baseball history. Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance were turn-of-the-century players for the Chicago Cubs. There was artistry in the way they turned the double play.

While baseball computer and console games of the modern era have tried to recreate the feel of that combination, most have fallen well short. Of course, most are concerned with the physical nature of playing the game - as in trying to time the swing to a 95-mile-per-hour fastball, or fading back under the shadow of a fly ball to the outfield.

But what if the game were more cerebral? What if it came down to drafting and signing free agents, juggling a roster, and calling the signals from the dugout as the manager, not a player?

Out of the Park Baseball 4, from Out of the Park Developments, is a baseball sim game that bases outcome on statistical probability, not players' reflexive prowess. It is a game that will not visually delight players, but will draw true patriots of the game to its myriad management challenges.

Don't expect to see big-name players here. There won't be a J.D. Drew, Tino Martinez, or Jim Edmonds in a Cardinals uniform. In order for that to happen, this game would have to sport the logo of the MLBPA, and pay out big bucks. Players in this league may sport the stats, but you won't recognize the names ... unless you break out the Baseball Encyclopedia and start creating players.

This game sports refreshing depth when it comes to player statistics. You can create that terrific Cub threesome by entering stats in a wide range of categories.

This game is light when it comes to the graphics and sound.

There is no sound to speak of. The gameplay registers along the bottom of the interface in typed format. There are repetitive phrases that can be monotonous.

As for the graphics: if you have ever "watched" a baseball game on ESPN's site, you will get an idea what this game looks like. It is a static field with boxes indicating player names and skills in the positions they occupy. As a runner reaches base, another box appears with information that will help you, the manager, make decisions about what you may do either offensively, or defensively. Will you bunt him along, or put on the hit and run? On the defensive side, what do you anticipate

The lineup is featured, along with managerial options. The play, unless you sim it out, pauses after each at-bat to give managers the option to change game philosophy.

You can even argue calls - well, challenge is more like it. If that debate gets heated, you can be tossed from the game.

Player editors, league editors, scheduling – it’s all in place to give game players full control.

This is, obviously, not a game that will appeal to everyone, but it will be a hit (pun intended) with baseball purists.

Install: Easy
This game was downloaded from the Internet, and the speed of that depends on your modem. But this game does not occupy a lot of hard-drive space. However the game does not have an uninstall feature, so you may have errant files floating around your computer for quite a while unless you know how to find and clean them out.

Gameplay: 7.5
The action is a little static, but outcome is statistical probability, which takes it out of the realm of reflexive adroitness.

Graphics: 6
These are not the sharpest in the work, but work well within the format of the game.

Sound: N/A
There is nothing here.

Difficulty: 7
This is a cerebral challenge. There are no difficulty levels.

Concept: 8.5
This game has so many options that true fans of the sport will spend hours tinkering with the lineups, and enjoy every minute of it.

Multiplayer: 7.5
The game allows players to work leagues through an FTP server. Not a bad way to run the game, but you need an FTP site to host your own games.

Overall: 7.8
Yogi Berra once said that “Baseball is 90 percent mental – the other half is physical.” This game does without the other half. Granted, this is not a program that will appeal to those who want to see animation or action. But for those that love the game, enjoy the behind-the-scenes management, embrace the mental challenge, like the statistical bombardment, and thrive on situational strategy, this is the game for you.