Pitcher List Baseball Podcasts

Ellen Adair and Brian Gene White grade an episode of "Hey Arnold!" entitled "The Baseball" on the 20-80 scouting scale, with an intermission on the 2024 World Series Champion Dodgers. They introduce the show, with background on the creators (1:58) and provide a summary of this episode's story (6:12). A quick overview of the 20-80 scouting scale for those just joining us (7:15). Amount of Baseball (8:07) looks at a couple of ways that Ellen breaks with precedent in scoring this category, and at the diversity of the kinds of baseball in this episode. Baseball Accuracy (17:44) discusses the player positioning in the streetball game and some other animation faux pas, whether physics-accuracy-is-baseball-accuracy applies to this cartoon, the accuracy of Quigley Field w/r/t Ebbets Field, Shibe Park, and the Polo Grounds, and issues with Arnold having Mickey Kaline as his favorite player. The scouts dive in on some Mickey Mantle and Al Kaline comparisons with the fictional Mickey Kaline, along with references to Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. Ellen tests their ability to do a teeny tiny deep dive considering every player who homered on their last at bat, and talks about the accounting of Al Kaline's last game in Joe Posnanski's BASEBALL 100. Storytelling (43:31) talks about the primacy of stories of baseball players facing retirement in baseball media, and its metaphorical implications. They consider a few real-life baseball players, such as Chase Utley, Albert Pujols, Roberto Clemente, Ken Griffey Jr., and parallels to what's currently happening in the TV/film industry. Brian shares an interesting fact about the young voice actors in "Hey Arnold!" Both envy Arnold's room and community, and discuss Kaline's nickname. Ellen compares a story moment to Don Delillo's UNDERWORLD. Then, an INTERMISSION (1:00:16) in which Brian and Ellen discuss the 2024 Dodgers and their postseason, with a segment Ellen has titled Three Things, which challenges both of them to choose three answers to various Dodgers-related prompts. No spoilers on the names and moments discussed here as they look at the Dodgers' path to their 2024 World Series Championship. They return to grading with the Score Tool (1:25:38). Acting (1:29:00) considers the performances of Dan Castellaneta, Tress MacNeille, Ron Perlman, Toran Caudell, Jamil Walker Smith, Francesca Marie Smith, James Keane, and Dom Irrera. Delightfulness of Catcher Character (1:35:29) weighs Helga as catcher and Delightfulness of Announcer (1:38:45) Billy Riback as "TV Reporter/Announcer." Lack of Misogyny (1:40:27) leaves us feeling good. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:43:15) Six Degrees of Baseball (1:45:56) Favorite Moment (1:46:22) Least Favorite Moment (1:46:50) Scene We'd Like to See (1:47:10) Dreamiest Player (1:48:41) and Favorite Performance (1:48:52). Follow Brian Gene White on Instagram/Threads @briangenewhite, and find Ellen Adair on Bluesky and Tiktok @ellenadair, on Twitter at @ellen_adair, and on Instagram/Threads @ellenadairg.        Join: PL+ | PL Pro [https://www.pitcherlist.com/premium/] Proud member of the Pitcher List Podcast Network [https://twitter.com/PitcherListPods]

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1942 Disney short, “How To Play Baseball,” starring many, many Goofys. They introduce the cartoon (1:55), with Ellen clarifying precedent established concerning cartoon short eligibility as a baseball film (per a previous ruling discussed between Alan Sepinwall, Joe Posnanski, and Mike Schur). This is of course followed by a review of the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating it (7:59). Amount of Baseball (14:30) gets help from its status as ratio-based. Baseball Accuracy (16:50) considers the cartoon’s example and argument of the game’s simplicity, the ball and glove (A.G. Spalding, Rawlings, Charlie Waitt, Doug Allison, Bill Doak), descriptions of pitch types, the World Series player shares, and hitting the cover off the ball (Martin Maldonado, Tony Walters, Jose Reyes, Bryce Harper, Jose Abreu). Ellen and Eric then turn to Storytelling (47:55), where they consider the cartoon’s structure of a descriptive half followed by a narrative half. Goofy and goofiness are praised, generally, and questions arise about fights with the umpire, which team the viewer really should be rooting for, and the notion of sentient baseballs. Swing music and high stakes come into play when discussing the Score (56:46), and Acting (58:31) discusses the skill and limits of Fred Shields’ narration. Delightfulness of Catcher (59:56) and Delightfulness of Announcer (1:02:25) and Lack of Misogyny (1:04:21) discussions are limited due to the nature and contents of this short cartoon. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:06:12), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:12:07), Favorite Moment (1:15:16) Least Favorite Moment (1:16:49), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:19:46), Dreamiest Player (1:21:37), Favorite Performance (1:23:20) Review Thank You (1:25:30) and Next Time (1:27:25).   Join: PL+ | PL Pro [https://www.pitcherlist.com/premium/] Proud member of the Pitcher List Podcast Network [https://twitter.com/PitcherListPods]

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1957 film "Fear Strikes Out." They introduce the film (1:26), with an overview of the story, cast, director and writer. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (8:45), with autobiographical metaphors (appropriately). In Amount of Baseball (14:38), the scouts' differing viewpoints on this tool yield different assessments, but they both agree that the movie is not extremely interested in the actual baseball action. Ellen has a 2020 player comp. However, in Baseball Accuracy (18:35), they start by considering the accuracy of the on-field play that we do see, particularly ball trajectories and one geographical issue. There are a few inside-the-park-home-run inaccuracies and one Pat Venditte situation. They discuss Piersall's history of stolen bases (w/r/t Luis Aparicio and Maury Wills), Fenway Accuracy, Joe Cronin, Lou Boudreau, and the Sox outfield (Clyde Vollmer, Dom DiMaggio, Hoot Evers, Faye Throneberry and Ted Williams). With appreciation to Mark Armour's SABR article, they discuss the nature of Jimmy's outbursts and on-field antics in contrast to what is depicted in the film. Storytelling (32:48) brings up Ellen's problem with many biopics, and Eric's view of the melodrama. They discuss the storytelling around Jimmy's illness and Mrs. Piersall's illness, Mr. Piersall's overbearing nature (as depicted), the camera work, Edith Head's costumes, and the exposition. Boy howdy, the exposition. Is The Score (1:03:50) overbearing or not? Acting (1:21:39) compliments the ensemble, but our scouts canNOT shut up about how fantastic Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden are. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:20:19) and Delightfulness of Announcer (1:20:58) do not offer much. Lack of Misogyny (1:22:06) considers Jimmy Piersall in an apron. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:24:22), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:22:49), Favorite Moment (1:29:20) Least Favorite Moment (1:33:25), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:34:49), Dreamiest Player (1:36:35), Favorite Performance (1:36:59) Review Thank You (1:42:30) and Next Time (1:43:09).   Join: PL+ | PL Pro [https://www.pitcherlist.com/premium/] Proud member of the Pitcher List Podcast Network [https://twitter.com/PitcherListPods]

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 2007 film "War Eagle Arkansas." They introduce the film (2:25), with an overview of the story, cast, director and writer. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (5:20), with a metaphor for the ages. In Amount of Baseball (9:35), Eric tries to find baseball wherever he can, while Ellen remembers the Jared Hughes / J.T. Realmuto moment. Baseball Accuracy (13:25) considers Wheels's assessment of Enoch's pitching, Luke Grimes' pitching motion, and Pops's baseball career. The scouts dive in on Albert Pujols career (recorded before his release, but this goes out to you, Pujols), and the Dizzy Dean vs. Bob Gibson vs. Cy Young controversy, with references to Lefty Gomez, Carl Hubbell, Jacob deGrom, and Corbin Burnes. Some discussion of WWE/WWF, Jerry Lawler, and birds. Storytelling (32:48) addresses questions about the rivalry with Nardler and the Eureka Springs boys, Pops' baseball career, contradictory impulses vs. an inconsistent point-of-view, and whether or not Enoch actually likes baseball. Our scouts discuss the film's message vs. their own personal wiring, and the binary presentation of Enoch's choice. Did we need Pops's funeral, or the scene with the deer? We absolutely needed the cinematography; props to Masanobu Takayanagi. The Score (1:14:45) praises Will Churchill's guitar compositions and the bluegrass music depicted in the film, with reference to Ola Belle Reed, and the poetry of Miller Williams. Acting (1:21:39) compliments Brian Dennehy, Mare Winningham and Mary Kay Place, and revels in the performances of Luke Grimes and Dan McCabe. Delightfulness of Catcher (1:27:39) considers Pops as a catcher. Delightfulness of Announcer (1:28:59) sets a record? Lack of Misogyny (1:29:07) mulls how Wheels's misogynist comments should be graded. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:33:56), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:37:07), Favorite Moment (1:39:58) Least Favorite Moment (1:41:14), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:42:25), Dreamiest Player (1:44:37), Favorite Performance (1:45:53) Review Thank You (1:44:14) and Next Time (1:49:43).   Join: PL+ | PL Pro [https://www.pitcherlist.com/premium/] Proud member of the Pitcher List Podcast Network [https://twitter.com/PitcherListPods]

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).   Join: PL+ | PL Pro [https://www.pitcherlist.com/premium/] Proud member of the Pitcher List Podcast Network [https://twitter.com/PitcherListPods]