Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 11: ‘You can’t go through life thinking everyone you meet will one day let you down’

Meanwhile, at the courthouse, Roger sports a white shirt and tie as he and Maggie take a seat on an uncomfortable-looking bench. Time passes. I’ve never been to family court, but this is actually pretty realistic for the wait time, in my experience as a court reporter. You don’t just go to court without any waiting. It’s whenever your case is called. Things you learn when you’re a court reporter for a small-town newspaper.

Inside the courtroom, we see Roger’s dad make an appearance, still wearing that leather jacket and jeans. Pops looks real broken up about the fact that he’s there to have his parental rights terminated, or however this legal process is going.

“I’m not proud of it. It’s not something I can change my mind about either.” Ouch.

A heartbreaking, brief reunion
They finally call Roger in as his dad finishes signing his rights away. Roger forgets all about the baseball game he’s missing for a minute and is super excited to see his dad; he didn’t know he’d be there. Roger informs pops that the Angels are one game away from the pennant.

“Can you believe it? It’s just like you said?”

Oh, honey. For someone that knows so much about baseball and seems like a smart kid, it’s so sad to see how much emotional investment you have wrapped up in that sarcastic promise your dad made to you about the baseball team. Do I blame Roger? Absolutely not. He’s a kid who wants to be with his dad.

Pops responds by standing from his seat, tapping Roger on the cheek and muttering a sad “Sorry, boy” before walking out the door. Roger turns from stunned to an emotional wreck real quick. Luckily, Maggie is there for the tearful hug.

We lost!
Back in the tunnel at the ballpark, Messmer pounding the wall with his fist and Williams staring at the ground indicate the game is over and the Angels definitely lost. So, that means they’re now tied with Chicago with one game to play. What a plot twist! No one saw this coming!

J.P. is damn near inconsolable, though Knox tries his best, saying “it’s only a game.” One more “It could happen” from J.P. in this scene, too. Knox leaves him for a second before taking him home. Also, why is Knox the one bringing these kids home every game? Shouldn’t that be David’s responsibility, too?

Ranch sees an upset J.P. and grabs a chance to pounce. He flashes a business card in J.P.’s face and introduces himself as “the voice of the Angels.” J.P. says he knows he’s on the radio, then insults him by saying he has a big chin.

J.P. is still super innocent, and Ranch takes full advantage. J.P. spills his guts that they lost today because Roger couldn’t come, that he sees angels that help out because he prayed for them. He tells him everything. Ugh.

Roger’s mood turns sour. Poor kid.
On the ride home from court in Maggie’s station wagon that looks about three decades old, Roger loosens his tie. Maggie tries to put a good spin on his dad leaving him, that Roger could get adopted permanently. But Roger has clearly moved on from sad to bitter and pissed off.

Knox and J.P. are at home waiting for them. Maggie provides the context to Knox, and to the viewers. They waited three hours for the court hearing, which is “quick for family court.” The whole deal was a formality; Roger belongs to the state of California.

Roger is so pissed that he won’t even get out of the car, so J.P. and Knox join him in the front seat. Knox says he’s sorry to Roger, who angrily assumes he’s talking about losing “the stupid baseball game.” Knox turns and corrects him, saying he’s sorry because Roger is hurt. But Roger doesn’t want sympathy from someone who wouldn’t understand. Or so he thinks.

Some soft music plays, and it’s Knox story time. Knox talks about his childhood, with a deadbeat dad who couldn’t take care of him and his brothers. The pain doesn’t go away, Knox says, but “you can’t go through life thinking everyone you meet will one day let you down. Because if you do, a very bad thing will happen. You’ll end up like me.”

Huge revelation about Knox right here. Not only did his career get screwed by Ranch Wilder sliding into him, but he had a very rough upbringing as well.

More bonding for the boys
Knox stays to make dinner, because major league managers in a pennant race have a lot of free time to spend with kids he’s not related to. Later, the boys are out on the front porch when Knox says he’ll try making lasagna next time. He asks if the boys like that dish. They both say no and then ask what it is. Oh, sweet boys.

J.P. sees a sliver of a moon and calls it “God’s thumbnail.” Roger, still very much in an understandable mood from earlier, informs him that it’s just the moon because there’s “no God up there.” Roger says he doesn’t believe in angels anymore. Man, his dad really did a number on him.

Knox lets Roger sulk it out, even putting his arm around him in a tender moment that catches Roger sweetly by surprise.

The angels are out of the bag
The next day, we see the boys at the kitchen table likely doing homework. I think. Whatever it is, Roger is not at all subtle about finishing what he’s writing, closing his pink notebook and tossing it enthusiastically aside so he can read the newspaper. He’s actually reading a front-page story about himself.

Someone – Ranch, obviously – let it slip to a reporter that Roger sees angels. J.P. is identified in the story as “a source,” which Roger tells him means a person who told. Basically, Ranch Wilder hates the guts of George Knox so much that he had no problem going right to the newspaper with the story. Doesn’t seem like responsible journalism on anyone’s side.

Roger seems pleased by the fact that the story reported it was his idea to start Mel Clark in his first game back. But J.P. is still hung up on getting in trouble, even though it doesn’t dawn on Roger that J.P. might have told someone. Meanwhile, Knox is summoned to Murphy’s home, and the owner is not pleased.

Quick sidebar. When Knox enters, Murphy says “You stood me up last night.” All these years, I thought it was a comment about the team’s loss, like some odd way of pointing to Knox not coming through for him. But, remember when Knox stayed with Roger and J.P., made dinner with them? J.P. makes a comment to him, reminding Knox that he told him he had to be somewhere. Knox replied: “I do. Right here.”

That makes it even sweeter. Knox blew off plans with his boss, all because he wanted to make sure Roger was alright after his rough day. 

Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 1: 'I'd say when the Angels win the pennant'
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'