TBG 36 - The Scout

10/20/24 • 114 min

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).

Join: PL+ | PL Pro
Proud member of the Pitcher List Podcast Network

Join: PL+ | PL Pro
Proud member of the Pitcher List Podcast Network

Previous Episode

TBG 35 - Take Me Out to the Ballgame

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).

Join: PL+ | PL Pro
Proud member of the Pitcher List Podcast Network

Next Episode

TBG 37 - Aunt Mary

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).

Join: PL+ | PL Pro
Proud member of the Pitcher List Podcast Network