Angels in the Outfield commentary, part 12: ‘You gotta have faith. You gotta believe’

Back to Murphy’s living room. He’s not wearing a cowboy hat, but it’s strategically placed on the mantle where he drapes his arm right after putting down a newspaper and asking Knox “What in the Sam Hill is all this about real angels?”

Knox tries to blow it off, and Murphy isn’t buying that cow dung either. It’s obviously hard to explain, but Knox mentions the boys as his mascots, of sorts, and downplays the angels by saying it’s between the three of them. He clarifies that the angels are “not in on all the plays.”

“You’ve lost it, partner,” says Murphy. That cowboy lingo just keeps coming.

Then Knox follows up by saying if he lies, the angels wouldn’t like it and wouldn’t come back. Like the profanity, I don’t really get this line of thinking. Is it a way to teach kids good lessons in this children’s movie, about not lying or swearing? Because the boss angel Al never said anything about it. Then again, it’s all farfetched anyway, so why am I nitpicking?

Owner doesn’t pull any punches
Knox says the angels are very temperamental.

“Mental is the keyword here,” Murphy says. “I’m sorry, George, but I’m relieving you of your management responsibilities.”

That seems extreme given that the team has one game left in the season with a chance to win the division. Then Murphy shifts quickly from firing his manager to telling Knox he’ll give him a 24-hour window “to get your head on straight.” Then Murphy will call a presser where Knox can tell the whole world that this “hogwash” about angels isn’t true.

“George, you repeat any of the bologna I’ve heard here, we’re talking the end of your career in baseball,” Murphy says. “Have I made myself clear?”

OK, I have some time issues again. The Angels had two games left in the season, the first was the loss on the same day Roger went to court. The next day, presumably the same one where Knox and Murphy have this conversation, should be the final game of the season… right? What kind of schedule would that be, to have an off day before the final game of the season?

I know, I know. I’m thinking too much. I’m forgetting my dad’s favorite line to me: It’s a movie!

All cozy by the fire, Knox is at home getting his head on straight, or going through a box of old baseball stuff. This includes a Sports Illustrated cover with him in his catcher’s gear.

Full house for the presser
At the press conference the next morning, Murphy strolls to the podium wearing his cowboy hat; the room is filled with reporters and Angels players as Knox prepares to read a statement about these so-called angels. But before he gets into his second sentence, Roger, J.P. and Maggie show up in the back. Their arrival causes a stir. Not really sure why they’re late, but OK.

Knox decides to “shoot from the hip” with his words. He starts off by saying there aren’t always logical explanations for things that happen in sports. Very true, in real life as well. He believes there are times in life where something stronger, higher “or maybe spiritual is with us.”

“I can’t explain it. But something has happened to my players this year,” Knox says, as the camera pans into the audience and spots Ranch with a “I’m not buying this crap” look in his face.

Knox does a good job here of explaining how his players have played differently, and he’s managed differently this season. Call it faith, angels or whatever you want, he adds, wrapping it up.

A speech from Maggie
And because the movie didn’t bother to pay any other actors to have speaking lines as journalists, Ranch jumps in with the first question. He’s as objective as he always is (so, not very) in asking if Knox believes that a kid sees angels at the games. Knox doesn’t know how to respond, so Maggie – yes, Maggie – jumps in instead.

Maggie wants to say something on behalf of Knox, but Murphy, who apparently didn’t notice her waltzing into the presser late, asks her name and business for being here. Maggie Nelson, takes care of foster kids, she states.

She goes into her speech, saying Roger could tell them all what’s happened, but everyone would laugh. She points out a double standard though, because nobody laughs at a player when he crosses himself before going to the pitcher’s mound, or when a player scores a touchdown. Saying it’s like it’s OK to believe in God but not angels. It’s not the best analogy, in my opinion, because as we all know, this is a movie with a bunch of stuff that is so beyond realistic.

This ice-breaker exchange between Murphy and Maggie is pretty funny though, for the people at the presser and movie viewers.

“Is it your belief, ma’am, that angels play baseball?”

“Since the All-Star Break, yes,” Maggie replies, very seriously. It’s a great line.

“We all need somebody to watch out for us,” Maggie continues. “Every kid I have ever taken care of, has been looking for someone to love. An angel.

“You’ve gotta have faith. You’ve gotta believe. You’ve gotta look inside yourself. The footprints of an angel are love. And where there is love, miraculous things can happen. I’ve seen it.”

That’s actually a pretty good speech from Maggie. In overthinking about it as I’m working on this piece, however, I’m not quite sure how all this is supposed to wrap together with the baseball team. Faith, believing, foster kids needing love… it’s all very nice. But that has nothing to do with whether Knox and/or Roger are crazy for believing these angels help the team.

Maybe I should just go with it and enjoy this sweet little kid’s movie.

Would the real Angels please stand up?
Her speech prompts Clark to rise from his seat and speak, because I guess this is a free-for-all news conference. Clark doesn’t know if there are angels out there, “other than the 25 of us in uniform.”

“But I know, there is one thing I won’t do,” Clark continues. “I won’t play for anyone but George Knox. I believe in him.”

Whoa. Huge full-circle moment right here. Remember when these two basically wanted to kill each other with their words early in the movie? Their past history from Cincinnati was a trigger point? Well. My how the turn tables.

Catcher Messmer is quick to stand up – wearing thick, black-framed glasses that were in style in the 1960s and 2010s but definitely not in the 90s – and say “that goes for me, too.” This creates a ripple effect throughout the room as other players all stand up as well. Roger and J.P. rise as Knox offers a “thank you” with teary eyes.

Murphy really has no choice at this point. I’m not sure if his intention of possibly firing Knox got out to the press, but there’s no way he’s doing it now.

“George Knox is the manager of the ball club.”

That’s met with cheers from the room as Murphy also comes around on the angels, saying that he hopes they’re on their side. Well, considering the name of the movie is Angels in the Outfield, yeah, they’re on your side.

The applause gets boisterous in the room. Roger looks like he’s going to hurt himself, he’s clapping so hard. Even the always-annoyed David offers a smile and giant clap.

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'

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