Episódios
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1994 movie "Major League II." They introduce the film (1:13), with an overview of the story, cast, director and writer. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (4:58), with a metaphor that leads Ellen to bring up her earliest baseball writing. Then, they begin with Amount of Baseball (11:09), comparing it to "Major League," and celebrating the healthy amount throughout, and how it is shot. Player comps are still for 2020. Baseball Accuracy (15:18) dives in on Rick Vaughn's pitching mix (with excellent input from the sensei, Nick Pollack) and the film's fundamental misunderstanding of both pitching and the role of the relief pitcher. But there are many other questions. Why aren't people more excited about these pitchers pitching 8.2 innings? Ellen refers to Aaron Nola, Vince Velasquez, and Nick Pivetta. Who is catching when Rube is in the bullpen? HOW many homers is Jack Parkman going to hit? Eric cites Johnny Bench and Javy Lopez. Does Rick Vaughn need glasses? Why are the White Sox villains? Talk about divisions, Skunk in the Outfield Play, and the numbers on Dorn's purchase of the franchise. Some historical dives on Runners Jumping Over Catchers (Chris Coughlan, Matt Carpenter, Jason Kendall, Deon Sanders, Andrew McCutchen and J.T. Realmuto), Birds Hit by Baseballs (Eric Davis, Dave Winfield, Dion James, Randy Johnson, Shin-Soo Choo and Coco Crisp) and ways in which the film was Ahead of Its Time (offseason skills changes; Asian players, w/r/t Masanori Murakami, Hideo Nomo, Mac Suzuki and Chan-Ho Park; billboards; Hayes' A-Rod move). Eric discusses Lou Boudreau and Bob Feller, while Ellen looks at players with the yips, particularly Mackey Sasser and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but also Rick Ankiel, Steve Blass, Chuck Knoblauch and Steve Sax. Storytelling (54:43) addresses the inevitable comparisons to Major League Number One, weighing the excellent jokes to the panoply of offensive stereotypes. Eric has some storyline issues with Rick Vaughn, and Ellen wonders why they had to set the movie the very next season. "Get out of your head" and "have fun" baseball movie tropes surface. They discuss the return to the Rachel Phelps well and unaddressed character changes for Roger Dorn. What happens with Nikki's White Sox fan boyfriend? - and other issues with the Nikki storyline. Fact checks on her middle school classroom. The Score (1:18:47) is mostly what they want for this. Acting (1:21:03) compliments the returning cast of Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Corbin Bernsen, Dennis Haysbert, James Gammon, and Margaret Whitton. David Keith's villainy is delicious. Ellen has a take on Omar Epps' version of Willie, and advocates for Eric Bruskotter. Eric has a Remember Some Guys moment with Randy Quaid. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:35:06) discusses the rich variety of catchers presented in Jake Taylor, Rube Baker, and Jack Parkman, and considers "amount of catchers." Delightfulness of Announcer (1:41:55) lauds Bob Uecker and Monty's moment in the spotlight. Some discussion of costume design and announcer questions. Lack of Misogyny (1:45:05) considers, again, Rachel Phelps' villainy, the role of Vaughn's agent girlfriend Rebecca Flannery, Nikki, and Dorn's assistant. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:49:14), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:53:16), Favorite Moment (1:54:11) Least Favorite Moment (1:55:56), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:58:17), Dreamiest Player (2:00:53), Favorite Performance (2:01:02) Review Thank You (2:05:00) and Next Time (2:06:07).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1990 TV movie "The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson." They introduce the film (1:27), with an overview of the story, cast, director and writer. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (5:48), with a metaphor that Mike Schur would not enjoy. Then, they begin with Amount of Baseball (9:48), discussing whether or not this is a baseball movie, plus amount of football. Player comp? Baseball Accuracy (12:35) considers things that the film gets right about the court-martial, the stakes of the event, and its role in Jackie Robinson's life. They also discuss Jackie's friendship with Joe Louis and the latter's fights with Max Schmelling, Wendell Smith timeline issues, Branch Rickey and the United States League, why Robinson left UCLA and his post-college life, and the breakup with Rachel. Storytelling (35:24) praises the way the film represents racism as a spectrum, not a binary, with a variety and intensity of characters' racism. Wendell Smith's importance in this film is a bonus. They discuss the storytelling of the opening photo montage, the high-variance player of the dialogue, and filmic treatment of the bus scene itself. Score Tool discussion (56:35). Acting (1:01:14) lays praise at the feet of Andre Braugher, Stan Shaw, Ruby Dee, Daniel Stern, Bruce Dern, and J.A. Preston. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:08:57) and Delightfulness of Announcer (1:09:25) do not offer much. Lack of Misogyny (1:10:00) is helped by the amazing women who were actually in Jackie's life. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:12:57), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:17:13), Favorite Moment (1:18:42) Least Favorite Moment (1:21:20), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:23:18), Dreamiest Player (1:26:01), Favorite Performance (1:26:40) Next Time (1:28:16) and Review Thank You (1:30:03).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1979 TV movie "Aunt Mary," about Mary Dobkin, the first female little league coach in Baltimore. They introduce the film (1:27), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (5:21), with an on-the-nose metaphor. Amount of Baseball (9:50) makes some borderline calls on baseball on the radio and stickball, and appreciates Cal Abrams in the footage. Eric may not appreciate Ellen's player comp. Baseball Accuracy (15:22) references "Rookie of the Year" for the first practice, while Nicholas's baseball skill is called into question: that's a lot of choking up for a power hitter. The real Aunt Mary's coaching timeline brings up a discussion about the level of integration in baseball in 1950-1955, with reference to Jehosie "Jay" Heard, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, the 1954 Dodgers and World Series teams. More background on Aunt Mary's biography, and a dive into her baseball opinions, w/r/t bunting, Leo Durocher, slider grips, and the 1955 Orioles. An Ellen Adair Breakdown on her assertions about Gus Triandos and Eddie Waitkus. Pete Gray, Bob Turley, Clint Courtney, and the Orioles' minor league team are also discussed. In Storytelling (44:10), our scouts admire the direction, pacing, and perspective on baseball, though they discuss when the exposition does and doesn't work. The amputee joke and the lip-syncing kids definitely don't work, but they do bring to mind screening rooms at MOMA. Everybody Wants to Get With Aunt Mary. Strasberg Is the Worst. Can we see the books of the ice cream guy? They also discuss the gradations of racists in the final game, its outcome, similarities to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," Mary's rules, and Baltimore marble. The Score (1:15:14) balances some schmaltz with some fun choices. Acting (1:17:40) praises Jean Stapleton, but the scouts are mixed on Martin Balsam and Harold Gould. The young actors are sufficient. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:24:19) discusses Tony Rocco and Aunt Mary as a catcher. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:27:04) considers radio announcing. Lack of Misogyny (1:29:14) wonders if Strasberg gets sufficient comeuppance for his micro-aggressions. The kids' attitudes, with Old Maid vs. Bachelor Girl, testing of Mary's baseball knowledge, and the What Man Taught You About Baseball phenomenon, are also discussed. Dr. Hoxley is always an issue, but again: Everyone Wants to Get With Aunt Mary. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:42:03), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:47:50), Favorite Moment (1:48:15) Least Favorite Moment (1:49:40), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:53:22), Dreamiest Player (1:56:07), Favorite Performance (1:56:57) Next Time (1:58:38) and Review Thank You (1:59:55).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde scout the 1999 movie, "The Scout," grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (2:00), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (10:05), with a bit of a search for a metaphor. In Amount of Baseball (14:51), Eric stays on the wagon, despite personal conflict. They discuss the size and duration of shots, Cheetos for dinner, Keith Hernandez, Bret Saberhagen and a 2020 player comp. Baseball Accuracy (20:18) tackles the ability to sign amateurs, particularly college students, with reference to the Phillies signing Mike Adams and the Nats signing Bryce Harper. There's either a huge problem with understanding how scouting works, an organizational player development problem, or both. A brief foray into players who have signed and gone straight to the majors, including Bob Feller, Harmon Killebrew, Sandy Koufax, Dave Winfield, Catfish Hunter, Garrett Crochet and Mike Leake. Tommy Lacey and Adrian Houser compare-and-contrast. Issues with Mexican baseball accuracy refer to Julio Urias and Joaqim Soria, and pitch speed accuracy refers to Nolan Ryan, Bob Feller, and Steve Dalkowski. Brendan Fraser's form is discussed. Issues with the final game bring up immaculate innings, including Zach Plesac, Danny Jackson, Red Barrett, Ron Necciai, along with Don Larsen, Ozzie Smith as a power hitter, Billy Martin, and the number 42. Storytelling (46:57) addresses many questions: is Al good at his job? Did no one think through the King Kong analogy? What is the tone of this movie? Who thought these Mexico scenes were okay? What is the movie's attitude towards therapy? Why won't Steve pitch? What's the deal with his contract? Ellen has an additional series of "WHY" questions. They also discuss Steve's interactions with the press, Jimmy Piersall, Fernando Valenzuela, and the price of Dom Perignon. Score Tool (1:18:31) wonders if this is Bill Conti's floor as a composer. Some discussion of "You've Gotta Have Heart" from "Damn Yankees," and the Tony Bennett sequence. Acting (1:22:34) discusses the performances of Albert Brooks, Brendan Fraser, Dianne Wiest, Michael Rappaport and Lane Smith. George Steinbrenner is fine. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:26:16) weighs the various bowled-over people responding to Steve. Does Al count as a catcher? Delightfulness of Announcer (1:26:16) weighs the merits of Bob Costas and Tim McCarver versus the stupid things they are given to say. Eric fact-checks world series viewership. Ellen defends Costas/McCarver, but not John Sterling. Lack of Misogyny (1:32:07) balances Al's misogyny with the many excellent things about Dr. Aaron, Dianne Wiest's character. Some consideration for the character of Jennifer. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:33:04), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:40:29), Favorite Moment (1:41:49) Least Favorite Moment (1:43:57), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:44:26), Dreamiest Player (1:47:50), Favorite Performance (1:48:47) Next Time (1:50:40) and Review Thank You (1:51:58).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1949 Busby Berkley musical "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (1:34), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (11:10), with another apropos metaphor. Amount of Baseball (15:50) revisits what counts towards baseball quantity. They discuss the wait for a proper baseball scene, baseball montages without baseball, and the illustrations in the opening credits. Ellen points out the moment that Goldberg considers stretching a single. With Baseball Accuracy (18:53), our scouts dive in on the history of ballplayers in vaudeville, discussing Ty Cobb, Christy Matthewson, John McGraw, Mike Donlin, Cap Anson and Rube Marquard. They determine the year depicted in the film using T206 baseball cards, and tell stories about Rube Waddell and Ossee Shreck. Ah, Rube Waddell. Teddy Roosevelt and clowning accuracies are considered. They debate the 1908 vs. 1927 version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and problems with arguing balls and strikes, season scheduling, deadball-era observations, and the final game, with shout-out to Brett Phillips and Randy Arozarena. An unofficial Ellen Adair breakdown on baseball weight, citing Jose Altuve, Ronald Torreyes, Candy Cummings, Dummy Leitner, and Johnny Evers. Storytelling (46:31) examines this film as a high-variance player. They discuss baseball-relevant songs like "O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg," with reference to "Tinker to Evers to Chance" and Hank Greenberg, baseball-irrelevant songs like "The Hat My Father Wore on St. Patrick's Day," and horrifying songs, like "Yes, Indeedy." Are the people writing the songs and the dialogue talking to each other? That's a lot of milk. Consideration of Denny's (Frank Sinatra) moonlight serenade of KC Higgins (Esther Williams), and Shirley's (Betty Garrett) pursuit of Denny. They also discuss Leo Durocher's connection to the film, Phil Rizzuto, and various manufactured problems. Score (1:14:32) generally appreciates Roger Eden's catchy, peppy style despite questions about the content. Acting (1:14:51) discusses the undeniable charisma of Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams and Betty Garrett, plus praise for Tom Dugan, Jules Munchin, and the whole cast. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:20:41) weighs Goldberg as a clown catcher and catcher stand-in versus various traits of the Senators catcher. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:23:08) does not offer much. Lack of Misogyny (1:23:58) speculates on how the movie itself thinks it would score in this tool, with O'Brien and Ryan as romantic foils. The film's ultimate attitude towards KC Higgins and O'Brien's lack of character development are problems. No to the caveman approach. Just, no. And no spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:34:00), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:40:07), Favorite Moment (1:41:02) Least Favorite Moment (1:43:34), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:44:55), Dreamiest Player (1:47:20), Favorite Performance (1:48:40) Next Time (1:50:05) and Review Thank You (1:51:46).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1999 fim, "For Love of the Game," grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (1:19), with an overview of the story, cast, and director, and a PG-13 discussion of Kevin Costner nudity, w/r/t both this film and "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (9:05) and aim to make some personal discoveries at the same time. Amount of Baseball (13:31) considers the tragedy of ratio stat vs. counting stat for this film, with some of the best major league fictional baseball competing with its overall runtime. The turkey question montage rears its ugly head this early in the podcast, plus, a player comp. Baseball Accuracy (20:20) starts off auspiciously with discussion of Brandon McCarthy's seal of approval, Costner's athleticism and the attention to detail. An Ellen Adair Breakdown considers Billy Chapel's strikeouts, with reference to both other perfect games pitched by Dennis Martinez, Addie Joss, Sandy Koufax and Matt Cain, and Chapel's provided stat line with Juan Guzman and Jack Morris. How Am I Supposed to Feed My Family with This? I've Got Another Pitcher That I Researched a Lot. They discuss the 10-and-5 rights, Billy's start, Fenway Accuracy and the Jose Conseco-esque homer moment. Vin Scully is a surprisingly unreliable narrator. They also address Dave Eiland's role in the film, franchises with the most perfect games and Roy Halladay reminiscences, Kirk Gibson, Sparky Anderson and Dick Williams in the 1984 World Series, Armando Galarraga, and Yankee fan accuracy. In Storytelling (46:44), our scouts attempt to wrap their minds around the contrast in execution of the baseball and romance scenes, and the lengths they went to in order to avoid their boredom with the latter. Issues with Jane: the sign-wearing hypothesis; as a writer; going to a baseball field to avoid a pitcher; game attendance; motherhood; more. They are confused by Billy's morning schedule and annoyed with Mr. Wheeler and various communication issues. Mixed feelings about the V-8 conversation. Eric takes issue with the title, while Ellen has a question about Billy's parents. The Score (1:22:43) reminds Ellen of The Sims, at best. Song selection, including Shaggy, Vince Gill, and the "Paint It Black" does not help much. Acting (1:27:19) praises the ensemble, particularly John C. Reilly, Brian Cox, Jenna Malone, J.K. Simmons and his moustache. Competing but supporting theories about Kelly Preston. They rank this Costner performance. Shout-outs to Michael Papajohn as Sam Tuttle, Arnetia Walker as the bartender, Joshua Young as the airport bar Yankees fans, Shelly Desai as the taxi-driver and Jacob Reynolds as Wheeler's nephew: way to cast, Lynn Kressel. A George Steinbrenner anecdote. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:37:30) delights in John C. Reilly as Gus, his speech, and the Phillies defense and Aaron Nola. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:39:34) praises Vin Scully, Steve Lyons, and the Steve Lyons pants moment. Lack of Misogyny (1:44:30) considers Jane and her many issues, and Heather's interest in baseball. Is Ellen broken? No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:49:40), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:54:40), Favorite Moment (1:55:20) Least Favorite Moment (1:57:00), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:58:50), Dreamiest Player (2:01:14), Favorite Performance (2:01:36) Next Time (2:04:19) and Review Thank You (2:05:29).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1956 Japanese film "I Will Buy You," directed by Masaki Kobayashi, grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (1:11), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. If you have not seen this film and are following along at home, use this handy reference. Kishimoto: the scout. Kurita: the baseball star. Kyuki: the coach. Fueko: Kurita's girlfriend. Ryoko: Kyuki's mistress, also Fueko's sister. Also, if you're just joining, a review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (9:05). Amount of Baseball (12:14) considers different interpretations of the title sequence, and Ellen speculates about a kinship with a 1950s Japanese audience, adding a personal baseball-in-Japan anecdote. Player comp...exists. With Baseball Accuracy (18:53), our scouts dive in on Japan's history of player acquisition, as best as they can (with help from Jim Allen and Kozo Ota). Ellen refers to Allen's piece about Testuya Yoneda and Masanori Murakami, while Eric provides equivalents for the salary numbers discussed. What is the Toyo in Toyo Flowers for? Is it a joke? They also discuss Japanese team names, Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown, and a brief history of Japan's baseball origins. Storytelling (34:17) revels in the spy movie vibes, the opening and closing of the film, and some well-planted storyline seeds. But some issues exist with the usage of voiceover, misdirected storytelling in the early film, and our introductions to both Fueko and Kyuki. Feelings are mixed about Kishimoto shoving Kyuki into a car and the little plastic airplane, but a travel discussion highlights the isolation of Shikoku. They imagine giving this many gifts to J.T. Realmuto. They also discuss the complexity of the characters, the panoply of gambling, trickery and corruption, Kyuki's illness, sneaky letters, baseball players as commodities, and Ellen's Favorite Kind of Story. There is comparatively little to discuss with the Score (1:12:34). Acting (1:14:51) praises Keiji Sada's (Kishimoto) more modern style of acting, Yunosuke Ito's (Kyuki) incredible performance and physical life, Minoru Oki's (Kurita) subtlety, and excellent moments from Keiko Kishi (Fueko). Delightfulness of Catcher (1:19:23) and Delightfulness of Announcer (1:20:17) follow. Lack of Misogyny (1:21:41) considers the characters of Fueko and Ryoko, and the wise handling of the chemistry between Fueko and Kishimoto. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:29:10), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:35:01), Favorite Moment (1:39:04) Least Favorite Moment (1:41:27), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:43:11), Dreamiest Player (1:45:00), Favorite Performance (1:45:27) Next Time (1:46:50) and Review Thank You (1:48:24). Bonus plug to check out the podcast "Sometimes It Rains!"
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Ellen Adair and multi-hyphenate writer/actor/baseball fan Brian Gene White discuss the hilariously bad 1977 made-for-TV movie, "Murder at the World Series." They talk about Brian's upcoming comic book series, DEATH'S ASSISTANT, his play IS NOT THAT STRANGE, and the 2020 World Series, an apropos topic for Brian's Dodgers's fandom. Ellen kicks off an introduction to the film (6:14) "Murder at the World Series," including approximate synopsis, writer, director and some cast credits. After a review of the 20-80 scouting scale (13:46) and an introduction to Brian's scouting director (15:04), they dive in on Amount of Baseball (15:58). Baseball Accuracy (23:02) examines the accuracy of lineups and game seven pitching match-up, Brian's deep dive on J.R. Richard (with quotes from Jeff Pearlman), Bill Virdon Fun Facts, Astros and A's 1976/77 IRL, promoting a rookie for game six of the World Series, brief discussion of the 2022 and 2017 World Series, Brian's experience of fan bases from being a tour guide at Dodger stadium, the character of Alice listing Brooklyn Dodgers from the 1940s, Mary Shane and the history of female baseball broadcasting, w/r/t Jenny Cavnar, Suzyn Waldman, Jessica Mendoza, and some fan accuracy. This film requires a new segment, The Relevant-o-meter (57:11), rating how relevant the various characters are to the central plot. They get into the meat of Storytelling (1:09:43), clarifying that no, this is not based on Tom Seaver's book, and discussing the very (unintentionally) hilarious moments in this movie that made the scouts laugh til they wept, the creepy van, unearned Stockholm syndrome, the (un)likelihood of the Houston Astros paying ransom and other various ransom storyline plotholes, Steve as a walk-on try-out (with some context from Keith O'Brien's CHARLIE HUSTLE), this film's structural destruction of its midpoint action sequence, the dynamite in Steve's pants, the problems of baseball stakes vs. thriller stakes, and more. The Score Tool (1:48:22) discusses how John Cacavas's score is redolent of the 1950s and 1970s, and mostly adds to the hilarity. Acting (1:53:21) considers the performances of Michael Parks, Murray Hamilton, Gerald O'Laughlin, Tamara Dobson, Joseph Wiseman, Nancy Kelly, Janet Leigh, and Bruce Boxleitner, and discussion of 1970s film acting versus 1970s TV acting, with some thoughts about changes in acting style scale from the 1940s to today. Brian brings up the Dramas in the Emmys that year. Delightfulness of Catcher Character (2:02:00) finds not enough of Gene Tenace or Astros Catcher, but Delightfulness of Announcer (2:02:41) appreciates Dick Enberg's excellent contribution. Lack of Misogyny (2:05:11) discusses largely structural misogyny problems, with the film punishing the women with the most sexual partners, and some ridiculous double standards. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (2:14:44), Six Degrees of Baseball (2:18:03) with bonus discussion of Jamie Lee Curtis as "dialogue coach," Favorite Moment (2:19:27), Least Favorite Moment (2:20:23), Scene We Would Like to See (2:21:13 Scene We Would Like to See), paging Rian Johnson, Dreamiest Player (2:24:24) and Favorite Performance (2:25:23).
Follow Brian Gene White @briangenewhite on Instagram/Threads, or Ellen Adair @ellen_adair on Twixter, @ellenadairg on Instagram/Threads, @ellen.adair on Tiktok / Bluesky -
Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1946 Looney Tunes Bugs Bunny cartoon, "Baseball Bugs." They introduce the cartoon (1:20), with an overview of the story, cast, director and writer, and discussion of the title's play on words. A Legal Disclaimer (6:55) clarifies that this review establishes no precedent for the cartoon to be viewed as a "film," w/r/t the dispute of Alan Sepinwall v. Joe Posnanski / Mike Schur. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (9:01), with an apropos metaphor. Amount of Baseball (12:17) begins joyously, considering the density of baseball content, and at attempt at a player comp. Baseball Accuracy (14:43) opens with a consideration of judging cartoon baseball accuracy, and the ramifications of Bugs playing multiple positions, including his sprint speed, with reference to Roman Quinn and Tim Locastro. The Gas House Gorillas appear to flout roster-size regulations, both at bat and in the field. A Dylan Bundy outing is remembered. They discuss the inconsistency of who is the home team, background on the Gashouse Gang Cardinals, Dizzy and Daffy Dean, Madison Bumgarner, Zack Wheeler, the Polo Grounds, and how many players are on the Tea Totallers. Some issues: Bugs' final out, with reference to Duaner Sanchez, Clayton Kershaw and Marcell Ozuna, and his super-immaculate inning (or is it?). That is not a regulation bat. That IS a balk. Where is the pitching rubber? Storytelling (38:46) discusses the evolution of Bugs Bunny, and this cartoon as ultimate wish fulfillment, the Tea Totallers, the Bat Boy, and the screaming liner. Rating the Score (46:57) praises the iconic Looney Tunes music, the genius and career of Carl Stalling, the benefits of a full studio orchestra. Musical puns bring reference to the Atlanta Braves' organist. Acting (51:09) revels in Mel Blanc's virtuosity, even if this is not the most prime vehicle. They contemplate how writing creates a ceiling for acting; roles, not actors, are Oscar-caliber. Delightfulness of Catcher (54:58) weighs Bugs vs. the Gas House Gorillas' catcher, who clearly deserves a suspension. Delightfulness of Announcer (58:35) wonders: does the barbershop quartet count? Is the announcer visiting, or a Gorillas' partisan? Lack of Misogyny (1:02:35) considers the problem of the only female forms being literal objects. No spoilers on the following segments, although there is one moment when Ellen Completely Loses It: Yes or No (1:04:59), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:07:40), Favorite Moment (1:08:59) Least Favorite Moment (1:11:50), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:12:25), Dreamiest Player (1:13:53), Favorite Performance (1:15:38) Next Time (1:15:54) and Review Thank You (1:17:59).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde gird themselves to discuss the 2006 Happy Madison production, "The Benchwarmers," grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (1:20), with an overview of the story, cast, director, writers, and the sources of its "humor." A backstory on why David Spade and Rob Schneider were cast! They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (8:52), with an on-the-nose metaphor. Amount of Baseball (11:28) sees Eric return to the quality vs. quantity debate, while Ellen tries to be generous while they have the opportunity to do so. Reference to the double-play from the sporting goods store owner's team and maple syrup on a Ho-Ho. But with Baseball Accuracy (15:42), Ellen reassesses a long-established precedent. They examine the feasibility of a three-person baseball team, particularly given Clark (Jon Heder) and Richie's (David Spade) unbelievable lack of motor skills. The one-person team idea rears its head again with Gus (Rob Schneider), with references to Shohei Ohtani, as always, and Jackie Bradley Jr. Batting order ramifications are also touched on: how could they be up 17-0? An Ellen Adair breakdown on more scoring problems in a different game, and a dive in to history with the story of Danny Almonte. They also discuss Reggie Jackson and Jon Moscot's appearances, the classic MLB parks folded into the new stadium, however improbable its construction timeline, the tournament structure, and physics accuracy problems. Lastly: are the Benchwarmers even appropriately named? Storytelling (42:26) goes back through the dusty files to compare to scoring on "Ed." Age and time also do not exist in this film. The movie's mean-spiritedness is discussed, with its bevy of homophobic and fatphobic jokes, its attitude towards the character of Marcus, whom Gus used to bully, and little people in general. The training montage with Reggie Jackson irks one scout. Confusion about Mel's (Jon Lovitz) profession leads to a discussion about adult nerds, a Diet Coke ad, a sick burn about using the internet, and the Star Wars product placement. Nick Swardson's character: why? Also there is a robot butler. They bring up "The Bad News Bears," Jack Todd's Dave Dombrowski anecdote, Gus's weird Mountain Time lie, and violence against opposing children. Rating the Score (1:11:24) brings up "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," "Jerk It Out," a Gandalf meme, and need for therapy. Acting (1:13:11) is a philosophical inquiry: could anyone do better? Eric gives his spontaneous hypothetical. Jon Lovitz is always excellent. Ellen shares their affection for David Spade, but misgivings about the casting. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:19:28) considers Spade as a catcher character, specifically, and the opposing catchers. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:20:45) considers the two podcasting children and why the girl is given almost no lines. But also: Lack of Misogyny (1:21:48) considers the lack of intelligence required of the female characters in order to be love interests to their unpleasant male counterparts, and the universe in which mean and/or stupid derps get smoking hot chicks 3/3 times. Gus's baffling avoidance of sex with his model-gorgeous wife is also discussed, plus: ovulation accuracy. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:28:12), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:31:29), Favorite Moment (1:33:45) Least Favorite Moment (1:36:32), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:37:48), Dreamiest Player (1:39:39), Favorite Performance (1:40:12) Next Time (1:42:58) and Review Thank You (1:44:29).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the classic 1973 film, "Bang the Drum Slowly." They introduce the film (1:19), with an overview of the story, cast, director and writer. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (8:04), with Eric's best metaphor yet. Then, they begin with Amount of Baseball (10:33), discussing the lack of extended baseball sequences, the desire for a Jomboy breakdown, and a 2020 player comp. Eric surprises Ellen with his scoring. Baseball Accuracy (15:42) considers Bruce's stupidity as a catcher, Henry's left-handedness, the excellence of the Athletics and Orioles at the time, the appearance of Brooks Robinson, and filming at Yankee Stadium, Shea, and the Phillies' Clearwater venue. Some questions are answered, others are pondered: why does Bruce call Henry "Arthur"? What will our scouts call him? Crucially, are the New York Mammoths, the team depicted, in the American or the National League? The confusion of fictional teams playing real teams is discussed, with reference to the "new" Phillie Phanatic. Ellen also brings up Steve Carlton and the 1972 Phillies, plus Don Money. There are other problems: reverse phantom baserunners, visitors to the dugout, the organizational decision-making structure. An Ellen Adair Breakdown on a comparison for Henry's contract negotiations, pre-Catfish Hunter, concurrent with Curt Flood. A strange Thurman Munson coincidence! Storytelling (40:06) discusses the overture of the beginning, expectations and confusion, Tegwar, and Dutch's pursuit of the truth to the Minnesota trip. The contract negotiation scene is revisited, leading to a conversation about adapting a novel to a film. Praise for the movie's deft handling of heavier themes, confusion about the fly speech. Rating the Score (1:05:06) examines Stephen Lawrence's composition and his "Sesame Street" background, along with the Ken Burns moment, "The Streets of Laredo," "The Unfortunate Rake" "Spanish Ladies," "Look Before You Weep," and Ralph Kiner. Acting (1:13:11) lays praise at the feet of Michael Moriarty and Robert DeNiro, in particular, as well as Vincent Gardenia and Phil Foster. The actor who plays Bradley is not a favorite. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:16:54) revels in an abundance of catchers with a lovable Bruce Pearson at the center, despite a Gary Sanchez burn. The age of Robert DeNiro and Tom Ligon is addressed, along with Piney's costumes, Goose's lovely scene with Henry, and Red's advice. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:23:21) does not offer much. Lack of Misogyny (1:23:45) debates whether or not the film itself has a misogynist viewpoint on Katie, Bruce's call-girl fiancee, and the female owner of the Mammoths. Props to Tootsie. A high number of female characters for a baseball movie is a positive takeaway. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:31:58), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:34:59), Favorite Moment (1:35:52) Least Favorite Moment (1:38:19), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:39:55), Dreamiest Player (1:41:25), Favorite Performance (1:42:13) Next Time (1:43:56) and Review Thank You (1:44:54).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss "Twelve," a 2019 family film about a little league baseball player. They introduce the film (1:18), with an overview of the story, cast, and writer/director. 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (4:08), they begin with Amount of Baseball (5:43), discussing the abundance of high-quality baseball, with reference to particular moments and a 2020 player comp. Baseball Accuracy (11:36) considers Kyle’s pitch speed vs. real-life velocity from 12 year-olds, including the fastest Little League pitch, and the effect of the shorter distance between mound and home plate in Little League, with reference to Patrick Corbin, Dylan Bundy and Mike Minor. Eric shares his top pitching speed and looks into the feasibility of Kyle’s heart-stopping pitch. There are some issues with Lou Grey the Stanford scout, citing Ozzie Smith, Andrelton Simmons, Asdrubal Cabrera, Kevin Frandsen, Spencer Torkelson, and Bryce Harper. Kyle's knuckle-curve is a bright spot. Plus, is he a Stephen Drew fan?! Eric dives in on other players who wore 12, and has some videogame accuracy issues. Storytelling (36:40) discusses the confusing passage of time, "spring break"?, ADR or lack thereof, balanced with excellent baseball storytelling. Ted's work status is confusing and Chad and Ted's confrontation less than satisfying, but the tight structure of this as a family film is praised. They appreciate the moral about practice and the film's version of wish fulfillment, but are less fans of the Xavier storyline. Consideration of Kyle's pitching rival and their insane postseason stats. Rating the Score (1:02:00) examines Joe Carrano's composition, which is heroic without being heavy-handed. Acting (1:04:55) considers navigation of the script's pitfalls, and the pair dives in on the ramifications of budget on shooting schedule, with reference to soap opera shooting schedules. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:15:47) asks several philosophical questions, while Delightfulness of Announcer (1:19:42) does not offer much. Lack of Misogyny (1:22:13) examines the three-dimensionality of Beth, the mom, and Brooke, the girlfriend. No spoilers on this game, or the following segments: Yes or No (1:27:55), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:32:51), Favorite Moment (1:33:55) Least Favorite Moment (1:36:02), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:37:24), Dreamiest Player (1:40:54), Favorite Performance (1:41:17) Next Time (1:44:49) and Review Thank You (1:45:34).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss a baseball-themed episode of "The X-Files," titled "The Unnatural" (season 6, episode 19). They introduce the episode (1:19), with an overview of the story, cast, and writer/director. After a description of the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the show (5:25), they begin with Amount of Baseball (7:41). The episode presents a similar grading challenge to "The Mighty Casey," but with further conundrums. Three true outcomes baseball in 1947? A rundown of all the baseball events in the episode ensues. Baseball Accuracy (11:36) considers Negro League accuracy, with the Roswell Grays vs. the Homestead Grays, Josh Exley vs. Josh Gibson, and the tearing at the fabric of reality, with the angel of Leon Carter ("Bingo Long...") and the devil of Bobby Rayburn ("The Fan") on the scouts' shoulders. Brief shout-outs to James Raleigh "Biz" Mackey and Buck Leonard. Mickey Mantle's home runs bring up the concept of naming specific stats as a test of baseball acumen, with reference to Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Bartolo Colon, Aaron Nola, and Cliff Lee. Eddie Perez also tears at reality's fabric somewhat, and the team speculates about the 90s Braves, specifically Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Chipper Jones. Mulder's ode to box scores and the "Pythagorean Theorem for jocks" are both examined, along with night games and the Kansas City Monarchs, cactus accuracy, Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby. The Ellen Adair Breakdown considers the opening game, including the field's boundaries, the umpire, Gibson's folkloric Pittsburgh home run, baserunning and Fred Merkle, and Exley's home run "pace." (Don't @ us, Tom Tango.) Why do the Yankees scouts leave mid at-bat? Typical. Storytelling (40:53) discusses references to "E.T.," "Citizen Kane" and Pete Rose, before wondering about the intentionality of metaphors to the unknowability of Negro League stats and Jim Crow alien parallels. Dales' argument that all the greats are aliens, like Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sandy Koufax, solves some problems and creates others. Is Arthur Dales an unreliable narrator? The fairytale of the ending of Exley's story, the persistence of metaphor in the episode, and the tagline all add up to...? Ellen has problems with a Gibson-esque player being an alien, and Eric has problems with inconsistent head bonks. What is the aliens' "project"? Who is the strange child? So. Many. Questions. Rating the Score (1:07:14) examines Mark Snow's composition and Blind Willie Johnson's "Go with Me to that Land." Acting (1:09:15) discusses the enduring excellence of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, along with guest stars Jesse L. Martin, Frederic Lehne and M. Emmet Walsh. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:10:54) considers the obvious catcher snippets--but is there a catcher hiding in plain sight? Delightfulness of Announcer (1:15:46) poses the philosophical question: how delightful is two seconds of Vin Scully? Lack of Misogyny (1:15:46) weights Scully's smarts versus her disdain for baseball and appreciation of nonfat tofutti rice creamsicle, as the only speaking female role in the episode. Consideration of the moment that Exley turns into a woman. And a BONUS one-time-only segment: Alien Or Not (1:19:15)! But no spoilers on this game, or the following segments: Yes or No (1:24:12), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:28:29), Favorite Moment (1:29:08) Least Favorite Moment (1:29:46), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:31:27), Dreamiest Player (1:32:53), Favorite Performance (1:33:19) Next Time (1:35:00) and Review Thank You (1:35:58).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the movie "Fever Pitch," the 2005 Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore romantic comedy, set against the backdrop of the Red Sox 2004 season. They introduce the film (1:24), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. After a description of the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (3:26), they begin with Amount of Baseball (5:10). How do baseball clips, not scenes, rate? What is the minimum requirement for a baseball scene? Plus, date movie deception, and a player comp. Baseball Accuracy (9:50) considers the fictional Red Sox regular season 9th inning rally versus the Yankees, the legitimacy of Lindsey (Barrymore) running across the field in the ALCS, and binoculars that can see into the future or past. Editing around Lindsey getting hit with a foul ball creates some discrepancies for Mike Myers and Miguel Tejada. Our hosts delve into some historical moments: Dwight Evans's two-homer game in 1980, Pesky's Pole, Johnny Pesky, Thomas Yawkey, Ted Williams, the Polo Grounds, and Curse of the Bambino examples, ie. Roger Moret, Tony Conigliaro, Ed Armbrister and Carlton Fisk, Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner, Grady Little and Pedro Martinez, and other missing curse elements. They also discuss the possibility of a Cubs-based story, Bart Giamatti, spring at Fenway accuracy, Johnny Damon's ass, and offseason fandom. Storytelling (34:00) has much love for the dozen Pete Roses e-card, but much confusion about the timeline of the courtship, made problematic by Boston weather accuracy and things Lindsey should really be able to infer about Ben (Fallon) from context clues. Tonal inconsistency dominates. Is Ben sweet or creepy? Is he insecure or confident? Examination of the first date includes the difficulty of genuine vomiting sounds in television and film. Bonus subsections from Ellen: "Extracurricular Activity Accuracy" and "I Empathize." They discuss Ben's baseball elegies, luck in baseball, portrayals of fandom as addiction, cell phone gags (with a realization), and Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel and "A League of Their Own." Rating the Score (1:05:11) examines The Standell's "Dirty Water," Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," the Dropkick Murphy's "Tessie," with deep-dives on the history of these songs by Eric. Nick Drake's "Northern Sky" and "The Yastrzemski Song." Acting (1:15:16) sees a debate on Jimmy Fallon's performance, discussing the pull of sketch, spontaneity, ad-libbing, and Jim Carrey in "The Truman Show." Drew Barrymore's believability in this film also discussed. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:22:56) presents a conundrum, but the pair reminisce about meeting Jason Varitek and Ellen reads a short poem. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:25:40) is also a challenge, with such excellent examples present as Joe Castiglione, Peter Gammons, Bob Lobel, Harold Reynolds and Dave O'Brien. Lack of Misogyny (1:27:41) examines the depiction of Lindsey's friend Robin versus the women in the film on the whole, and the "not like the other girls" conundrum. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:33:30), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:38:14), Favorite Moment (1:39:20) Least Favorite Moment (1:41:02), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:45:48), Dreamiest Player (1:47:50), Favorite Performance (1:48:34) Next Time (1:49:44) and Review Thank You (1:50:32).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the "The Stratton Story," the 1949 biopic about Monty Stratton starring Jimmy Stewart. rating it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (3:09), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. After a description of the 20-80 scouting grades for those who are unfamiliar (9:46), they begin with Amount of Baseball (11:10), slightly hungover from "The Fan," but touch on baseball-related montages. No spoilers on the player comp! Baseball Accuracy (13:04) considers Stratton's praise for the film's accuracy, the existence of Barney (Frank Morgan), and Stratton's real career vs. its portrayal, including his first career game, All-Star season, and WHIP in 1936 vs. 2020. His post-accident life is also addressed: his spirits, his artificial leg, and references to Roy Campanella and "It's Good to Be Alive." The All-Star game at the end leads to questions about his pinch runner and bunting on Stratton, and the accuracy of this game. Discussion about the trajectory of the ball in the opening game, Stratton's career batting statistics, Jimmy Dykes, Barney's player knowledge, Bob Feller, and reference to the 2020 Phillies and Mets. Ellen questions the depiction of Stratton's control and has a small breakdown on Stratton's K/9. But Storytelling (31:58) examines the way inaccuracies bolster the storytelling, with fine seeds planted with all of Stratton's nimble running, and excellent misdirection about the dancing lessons. They compare the film's structure to Sam Wood's other baseball film, "Pride of the Yankees." Contrasting his injury as depicted with real life leads brings up Yoenis Cespedes and dangerous pitcher hobbies. Ma Stratton, Baby Stratton, and paternity leave in sports are considered. Discussion of the weirdness of the scene where Barney is made coach, he believability of Monty and Ethel's first date, haircut speculation, "The Brothers K," and the Astros and Mattress Mack. They rate the Score (1:01:27) and Acting (1:02:20) praises Jimmy Stewart, June Allyson, Agnes Moorehead's simplicity, and Frank Morgan's choices. Ellen uplifts three specific Jimmy Stewart acting moments. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:02:19) lauds Barney's catcher virtues, Ethel as catcher, Eddie's flameless glove, dreamboat Bill Dickey and his improved acting, and Milliken. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:05:58) and Lack of Misogyny (1:11:09) follow, the latter considering the character development of the female leads, and Ma's moment with the radio. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:18:33), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:23:11), Favorite Moment (1:25:16) Least Favorite Moment (1:26:38), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:28:54), Dreamiest Player (1:31:11), Favorite Performance (1:32:03). Stick with us to the end for some bonus Classics jokes.
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the truly baffling 1996 thriller “The Fan,” rating the film on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (2:20), with an overview of the story, cast, and director Tony Scott’s style. After a description of the 20-80 scouting grades for those who are unfamiliar (6:33), they begin with Amount of Baseball (7:57), pondering whether the finale counts as a baseball scene. They also consider how the average shot length impacts the amount of baseball received and include a 2020 player comp. Baseball Accuracy (11:28) opens with a consideration of how Barry Bonds being mentioned in this film tears at reality’s very fabric. The two talk Carl Hubbell, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, question Primo’s actual position, and wonder how Bobby Rayburn (Wesley Snipes) can return to a game after leaving it. The character that John Kruk plays has a truly superhuman hitting feat, and heads explode as they ponder a game in which it appears the Giants play multiple teams. The category wraps up with a brief history of baseball players murdered in the midst of their careers. Storytelling (39:42) examines Roy and Gil’s relative likeability, issues with Gil’s career as a knife salesman, and the strangeness of the bathroom and sauna scenes. Meanwhile, what is up with their drink orders?! Plus, an idea for a drinking game if you would like to get trashed while watching this movie. There are 10,000 questions raised by the wild and confusing finale. Score (1:18:48) feels some Gladiator vibes with this Hans Zimmer composition, and raises the question of how to consider a score that’s better than its movie when separated from it. Some consideration of the Rolling Stones subplot. Acting (1:23:45) praises not just Robert DeNiro and Wesley Snipes, but Benicio del Toro, John Leguizamo, Ellen Barkin, Kurt Fuller, Patti D’Arbanville, Chris Mulkey, and the young actors Andrew J. Ferchland and Brandon Hammond. Also, props to Snipes’ stunt double. The Delightfulness of Catcher (1:28:37) reveals truths about Gil’s friend Coop before a quick look at the Delightfulness of Announcer (1:30:39). Lack of Misogyny (1:31:47) considers Ellen Barkin’s character, as well as her excellent bar scene with Wesley Snipes. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:36:36), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:43:38), Favorite Moment (1:46:23) Least Favorite Moment (1:47:58), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:49:49), Dreamiest Player (1:55:40), Favorite Performance (1:56:27), Next Time (1:58:38), and Review Thank You (1:57:55).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1993 fan favorite "The Sandlot," rating this classic movie on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (4:29), with an overview of the story, cast, and some artistic touch-points for writer and director David Mickey Evans. After a description of the 20-80 scouting grades for those who are unfamiliar (9:42), they begin with Amount of Baseball (10:33), continuing a debate on what constitutes a baseball scene, and delighting in the return of a favorite little league team. No spoilers on the player comp! Baseball Accuracy (14:05) addresses the questionable scope of Smalls' knowledge re: Babe Ruth, s'mores, tobacco, and baseball in general, and his bad baseball playing relative to "Bad News Bears" and "Rookie of the Year." Eric gets nerdy about the stitching on the Babe Ruth baseball. They also examine Ham's homer, the sandlot's team roster size, Benny's rundowns, oppo tacos, and the democracy of player size and shape, with loving reference to John Kruk, Prince Fielder, Carl Edwards Jr., Jose Altuve, Jimmy Rollins, Joe Morgan, Bartolo Colon, Hack Wilson and Smokey Burgess. Some thoughts about Mr. Myrtle's (James Earl Jones) blindness and barnstorming play, and Maury Wills' stolen base record, with small shout-outs to Rickey Henderson and Lou Brock (RIP, who had not passed when the podcast was recorded). Storytelling (31:58) examines Adult Smalls' (LOL) narration and bookending scenes with continued contemplation of his perplexing relationship with baseball. Comparing the kids' summer vibe with "Bad News Bears" unearths the original title of the film. The team has questions about replacing the Babe Ruth ball, Bill's (Dennis Leary) baseball collection room, and the kids' level of education. Discussion of the high stakes, other genres referenced within the film, the original vision in casting, and whether Benny might be secretly rich. What ends up happening with Benny's hat? They debate the Score (52:51), including Ray Charles' version of "America the Beautiful" and similarities to "A Christmas Carol" and "Field of Dreams" scores. Acting (56:33) praises the cast. Patrick Renna and Chauncey Leopardi are National Treasures, and James Earl Jones is perfect at literally everything he ever does. An interesting acting challenge for Red Sox fan Dennis Leary! Delightfulness of Catcher (1:02:19) lauds incredible trash talking, an excellent model for a catcher despite Benny being the lovable group leader, the insult scene that almost wasn't, and "that wimpy deer" (reprise). Delightfulness of Announcer (1:05:58) brings up a debate on narration as announcing, with an anecdote about filming at Dodger's Stadium that includes Tommy LaSorda. Plus: where's Vin Scully?!?! Lack of Misogyny (1:11:09) takes a frank look at the lack of complex female characters that offset the misogyny of various insults traded in the film, and gets real about Squints and Wendy. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:16:32), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:26:45), Favorite Moment (1:28:41) Least Favorite Moment (1:31:37), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:34:33), Dreamiest Player (1:37:07), Favorite Performance (1:39:03), Next Time (1:42:21), and Review Thank You (1:42:54).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1974 Roy Campanella biopic, "It's Good to Be Alive," rating this TV movie on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the episode (1:19), with an overview of the story, cast, and expectations coming into the film. After a description of the 20-80 scouting grades for those who are unfamiliar (8:37), they begin with Amount of Baseball (10:12), discussing how to bring something up to code to be considered a baseball movie. Eric makes some claims about the scouting scale. No spoilers on the player comp! Baseball Accuracy (14:51) includes an Ellen Adair Breakdown on Campanella's hands and injury history, along with details of the car accident and initial expectations afterwards, Campy's thoughts about L.A., Ruthe's visits, Campy's salary and Walter O'Malley, and a compare and contrast of his real speech vs. the film speech. Storytelling (36:22) examines the usage of flashbacks, both good (a childhood scene about his biracial identity) and bad (a very puzzling scene with his son David). Discussion of the difficulties of Roy adjusting to his new life, Campy as a coach and manager, and the annoying reporter, with shout-out to Jason Vargas. Praise for the fly scene, and speculation about what Ruthe is drinking. They discuss the Score (1:03:17) and Acting (1:04:50), particularly Paul Winfield, Ruby Dee, and Louis Gossett, Jr. Ellen has a rundown of three specific excellent choices by Ruby Dee. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:10:45) is a fun tool to score for this film, with conversation about real Roy vs. his film depiction, some highlights of his real-life catching career, and mentioning early interest in him from the Phillies and Pirates. Ellen is not able to resist mentioning J.T. Realmuto, but just once. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:17:30) and Lack of Misogyny (1:18:11) follow, the latter considering that the film was written from Roy's point of view. Eric brings up some of the questions about the timeline on the night of Campanella's accident. Yes or No (1:25:16) briefly addresses Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige easter eggs in the film, along with the Classic Questions. No spoilers on the following segments: Six Degrees of Baseball (1:29:42), Favorite Moment (1:31:34) Least Favorite Moment (1:33:28), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:34:25), Dreamiest Player (1:38:14), Favorite Performance (1:39:23), Next Time (1:42:33), and Review Thank You (1:44:14).
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Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde delve into all the twists and turns surrounding this baseball-themed episode of "The Twilight Zone" entitled "The Mighty Casey!" Rating this 1960 TV episode on the 20-80 scouting scale may make for one of their most fun journeys yet. They introduce the episode (1:34), with an overview of the plot, actors, and a brief foray into Rod Serling's other writing about baseball. After a description of the 20-80 scouting grades for those who are unfamiliar (8:18), they begin with Amount of Baseball (9:22), including a discussion of whether or not Amount of Baseball is a ratio stat or a counting stat, Robert Sorrell's pitching double, and the concept of a montage expressing "he's doing well." Baseball Accuracy (13:04) touches on how much adding one pitcher could really help an awful team, Casey's pitching mix, how often a superman could plausibly pitch, connection to the Dodgers, the try-out flubs and a philosophical question about beaning. Storytelling (36:22) examines the fairytale nature of the story, the twists, Casey's mental fortitude with small shout-outs to Cliff Lee and Max Scherzer, Leo Durocher and the question of whether nice guys finish last, concerns about Dr. Stillman's motivations, Casey's age and implications for his Tommy John surgery. They discuss the Score (47:25) and Acting (48:35), particularly Robert Sorrells, Abraham Sofaer and Jack Warden, with our CRAZIEST TWIST YET! References to "Homeland," "Inception," and Ellen's final request. Plus, Robert Sorrells was a complex dude. Delightfulness of Catcher (56:59), Delightfulness of Announcer (59:23) and Lack of Misogyny (1:00:35) follow. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:04:58), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:09:30) Favorite Moment (1:10:25) Least Favorite Moment (1:11:18), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:13:37), Dreamiest Player (1:15:47), Favorite Performance (1:16:22), Review Thank You (1:18:35) and Next Time (1:19:10).
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Ellen Adair talks with Noah Gittell, journalist, film critic, and author of BASEBALL: THE MOVIE. They discuss ways in which Noah's Mets fandom has built character, the concept of love of baseball above all, surprises in researching the book, casting a movie about Jackie Robinson using actors from Jackie Robinson movies over the decades, and the worst baseball movie Noah had to watch. Noah has some hot takes about THE SANDLOT! They also talk about which baseball movie characters to put on the cover of the book, Noah's interview with Richard Linklater, and the decline in production of baseball movies in the past decade. Then, they get into Noah's grades for the brilliant 2009 film SUGAR, by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Parental advisory: there is some (very fun) conversation about a rated-R word used in the film in the "Lack of Misogyny" category. Ellen also fact-checks the earlier episode of SUGAR on an important "Yes or No" question.
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