Finally, it’s time for that last ball game. And get this? It’s a night game. It’d have to be, if they were going to keep up with continuity. No way they have a morning press conference like that and then play that afternoon. Still, the fact that the owner was possibly going to fire his manager on the same day as a pennant-clinching game is ridiculous.
For some reason, Knox gives his pregame speech at the top of
the dugout steps to his team standing in front of the bench. I’m not sure why
the clubhouse wasn’t an option, but alright. Knox starts by saying he didn’t
believe in his players – or anything – at the start of the season.
“But when you stood up this morning, you gave me back my
reason to believe. I’m more proud of being a part of this team than any team
I’ve ever been on. You’re all winners, and I believe in you!”
Knox raises his voice now, but in a good, pump-up way. Not
like that vein-popping way when he dumped the snack table. He’s already got
Clark fired up, as the pitcher removes his Angels jacket with a determined look
in his eyes.
Pump up time!
Knox continues, pumping his fist: “So let’s go out there and show them what
winners can do! Let’s take that championship!”
Is this a good time to tell him this isn’t the World Series?
This was another point that I didn’t quite realize until many viewings later,
but this is for a division title. Now granted, the team is on the cusp of an
improbable comeback from last place in the middle of the season. It’s a huge
deal for them, yes. But this isn’t the end of the line, and the movie makes it
out to be so.
Starting pitcher against these White Sox? Mel Clark, of
course.
Rough start for Clark
For some quick adversity right off the bat, Clark gives up a two-run single in
the 1st inning before a diving catch from an infield ends the half inning to
limit the damage to 2-0. We move along to the top of the 5th, as Ranch guides
our way, still down 2-0 with a struggling Clark on the mound. (How fast would
his hook have been in today’s game?)
Clark is tiring, and there’s a man up in the bullpen. It’s
inning five, remember. The third baseman makes a play at the bag and celebrates
about it.
A screen fades to another inning, the 6th, with a runner on
for the Angels. Ray Mitchell is up, the Angels best hitter who was yanked for
Hemerling earlier in the season. Ranch notes, however, that Mitchell has choked
in the past when the pressure is on. On cue, Knox gets up in the dugout and
starts yelling encouragement to Mitchell in the batter’s box. Appreciate his
spirit.
On cue again, Mitchell connects for a 2-run home run to tie
the game. What’s a little funny is we see the crowd looking on to see where the
ball goes, then Knox and the players follow suit, yelling “Go! Go!” as if to
will the ball over the fence. And… the ball lands in the crowd at the top of
the bleachers. So, more of a no-doubter than a shot that barely made it over
the wall.
Celly time for Angels fans.
Clark needs an angel
Chicago threatens again the next inning, and to hear Ranch tell it, Clark has
been in trouble on the mound all night. Then why is he still in the game?! I
get that it’s still a tie ball game, but I’d like to hear what the LOB (left on
base) count is for the Sox. It has to be high.
“Clark definitely could use an angel now,” Ranch says,
because the cheesy-line department wrote this part of the script. OK, maybe
it’s not that bad. “As he’s tiring late in the game.”
Al is the bearer of bad news
Also, it’s the bottom of the 7th, maybe give the kid a better heads-up about
the lack of angels tonight. And really, why no angels? If championships really
have to be won on their own, then the angels should have never shown up in the
first place. What a dumb rule.
Al then really puts a damper on things by saying he’s there
to check on Mel who’s “coming up soon” and will be an angel. Not sure why they
have to kill of Tony Danza, but alright. Al makes a comment about Clark’s
“smoke-free” years as a way of commenting on how he’s going to die. So, lung
cancer? He has six months to live and is carefree at the moment.
Al basically tells Roger to stop worrying and concentrate on
his own life. The angels expect great things from Roger, which is kind of a
nice way to wrap things up with the boss angel.
Like a broken record, we’re reminded in the 8th inning as
Clark is on the mound that he’s fatigued. But a GIDP “bails Clark out of a
jam.” It seems to me they’re playing with fire on that front. With a runner on
third in the bottom half, the Angels score on a squeeze bunt play to take a 3-2
lead. Well. That was a play we hadn’t seen in this movie yet. Celly time again!
Top of the 9th = The pressure cooker
Deep breaths, time for the top of the 9th… and Clark is back on the mound to
face the heart of the Chicago order. This is definitely going against the
baseball book. Where’s the closer? First pitch is a bloop single to center.
Boom. I give him the hook right there. Call the bullpen.
Nope. This has to play out like a movie. All Knox does is have
a coach call down to the ‘pen to get somebody up. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t
have somebody up already. Seriously, Clark coughs on the mound and looks like
he’s about to keel over.
A grounder gets the first out but advances the tying run to
second. Still not ideal. Next batter, the shortstop dives for the ball to keep
it in the infield. It sure looks like a play where you just eat the ball and
allow the infield hit. Instead, he throws to first, off-balance, and the runner
is safe. Lucky that wasn’t an errant throw. So, two on with one out, but it’s
not all bad because this puts the double-play ball back on the board.
Is this too inside-baseball? My apologies, but I can get carried
away. If you haven’t already noticed by making it this far through this entire
commentary.
I’m not sure what Knox is waiting for, but maybe he has good head-to-head numbers as a righthanded pitcher against this next batter, from the left side of the plate. But this batter drives a ball to the gap in center. Williams and Norton go after it. But instead of a concussion-collision, Norton slides on the grass at the same moment Williams leaps up to make the catch. Like, what even is that play?
“And Ben Williams saves the game for now with a spectacular
catch!” Ranch exclaims.
The fly is deep enough for the runner to tag-up to third
base, putting runners at the corners with two away. Then Clark hits the next
batter in the back to load the bases. The batter gives Clark a stare down as he
tosses the bat aside. Yeah buddy, he’s tired and been in jams all night while
one out away from the win. I’m sure he hit you on purpose.
Who does that bring up? Why, the league’s RBI leader, of course! This guy is nicknamed “Hit or Die,” which seems a little violent and extreme. But hey, the message needs to be conveyed that he’s a dangerous hitter.
Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 2: 'Boy, they're bad'
Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 3: 'You don't even *lose* as a team!'
Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 4: 'God, if there is a God...'
Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 5: 'I love it when they come from above like that'
Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 6: 'There were *angels* in the outfield!'
Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 7: 'Let's keep the profanity down'
Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 8: 'This is not baseball'
Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 9: 'If the angel pitches with him...'
Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 10: 'Take me out to the ball game'
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