Take Me In to the Ballgame

War Eagle, Arkansas

Ellen Adair May 12, 2021

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This week on Take Me In to the Ballgame:

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).

 

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Ellen Adair

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