I want to start by saying that right up there with NBA 2k13, RTTS is usually the best first person sports gaming experience, but...this year not so much.
I have seen threads posted on the commentary, or the lack there of, and while I do not agree that the lack of commentary in the mode is a mode killer, I understand.
Changes were made to RTTS this year to bring you closer to what it is like to be on the field, closer to the experience of a pro ballplayer. The effort is there but the execution is lacking. In 13, RTTS lacks continuity. It is like a bunch of cut scenes thrown together. Each event feels disconnected from the next. With Broadcast presentation on, players will hit HR's and before they get to second base, we cut to the next batter. The crowd starts cheering as they should and then stops. My team hits a grand slam, do we celebrate as a team? Nope, next man up please. It is all very disjointed and seems rather sloppy. It feels like the very linear experience you get from a lot of FPS titles where you just run play after play (scene after scene) to get to the end of the game (the next boss battle). I cant believe I am talking about possibly my all time favorite series this way but I am just being honest, the goal was more immerson but I have never felt so disconnected from the mode. It is baseball on the field but not baseball in my heart.
What we need for next year is real time enviroments in RTTS. Give us the option to speed up the game but if we are truly trying to simulate an experience here, cut scenes and on again, off again commentary arent the way to go. As many things as possible need to happen in real time. In my opinion, the mode will have no lasting appeal in its current form until this happens.
I love the game, and MLB 13 is worthy of all the praise that has been, or will be heaped upon it but for RTTS, it is back to '12 for me.