Talent for the Game (1991) Movie Script

You know we all

appreciate this,

Mr. Sweet.

Virgil.

Working the hours we do,

wasn't any other way.

Management isn't

gonna give us

any time off.

Not for something like this.

I hope he's good.

You aren't

claustrophobic,

are you?

Well, I've been having

a reoccurring dream

about being buried alive,

but other than that, I'm okay.

Lester, this is Virgil Sweet.

Glad to meet you, son.

How you doing?

A little nervous, I guess.

Not as nervous as I am, son.

I don't know how you guys

live down here.

You must be

part mole. Right?

You get used to it.

Not me, kid.

Not me.

I could never get used to it.

You ready, kid? Yep.

Start walking.

Real nice.

Okay. Put some

heat on it, son.

Control it, kid.

Control it.

Give me all you got, son.

All right, kid.

That's enough.

Good job.

You did good, kid.

Real good.

Thank you, sir.

You got the good

breaking stuff, son,

but your fastball

is a little short.

Do I have what it takes?

Maybe. It all depends on

how hard you work

on your mechanics, son.

"Maybe" ain't no kind of answer.

"Maybe" is powerful stuff, son.

The road to heaven's

paved with "maybes."

Look, you got a dream.

You hold on to it.

Everybody needs a dream.

Hello, gentlemen.

How are you?

Hi, Virgil.

Virgil.

Virgil, how you doing?

Hey, Cal, how are you?

Nice to see you, Virg.

Great jacket.

The circus is in town, right?

How you doing, Virg? Pretty good, Ray.

How are you?

Strike one!

I heard about a kid in Boise.

He's never been struck out.

Rumors.

He ain't it.

He ain't it? He ain't it.

Ain't what? The phenom.

What's that?

The player that

just rises perfect

right out of the earth.

He don't have to learn

like you and me.

He's born to play.

Every guy out here,

I'll swear to you,

even though they won't

admit it, every scout

that's out here right now,

is looking for him.

That's our dream.

That's why we haul ourselves

all around the country,

going from town to town.

Do you think this guy

really exists?

He exists, all right.

Hard part's finding him.

Gentlemen. How you doing?

Nice of you to make it.

You too, Virgil.

Very good, Frank.

Very quick.

The junk man has arrived.

Virg here is a great

teller of tales, kid.

Now, there are two sports

in which a man has got

to be able to tell tall tales.

Baseball and fishing.

You see

before you, kid, is the

last of a dying breed.

The guy actually

believes in magic.

He won't even use

a radar gun.

Now why is that, Virgil?

It releases very dangerous

radio vibrations, Frank.

It makes you wear

very weird clothes.

Ball.

I take that about

82 miles an hour.

How about you, Frankie?

I'll be damned.

Eighty-two exactly.

Better watch

where you stick that.

You'll tweak

your tweeter, buddy.

You'll warp your fungo.

You're gonna back up

your plumbing.

Definitely.

Okay, that's it.

It won't back up my plumbing.

Strike two!

You did all of the troubleshooting

stuff? I checked everything.

- California Angels.

- Bobbie Henderson's office.

Yes, operator.

I'll accept the charges.

I got your number

from an outhouse wall.

Somebody who got

your number from

an outhouse wall.

I told you to

stop doing that,

didn't I?

Troubleshooting,

troubleshooting. Try that.

Hello? Weaver sent me a telegram.

He says, he wants me in LA

day after tomorrow.

How come you're the only guy

who calls collect

from the field?

Do you have any idea

what he wants?

You know Weaver.

He always

plays his cards

close to his vest.

Yeah.

Would you

take me away

from all of this?

Wilson. Got all

he's going to have.

Couple years, strain's

gonna shoot right up the arm.

Let somebody else

pay for the sling. Pass.

Kerriker.

He's got a seven curve,

but his heater is

a foot and a half short

and he ain't

getting any stronger.

Pass-adena.

It's the bottom of the ninth,

two outs,

one man left on base.

And who's coming up to bat?

Trouble.

Trouble focuses in,

sets his feet...

Licks them a little bit.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the tension mounts.

Here's his 0-and-0 pitch.

First pitch...

Swung on and missed.

Strike one.

Pitcher winds up.

Here's the 0-and-1 pitch.

Ha!

After 63 days,

honey, welcome home.

Ahhh!

Woo!

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.

Sorry.

I didn't mean it.

It's freezing. I know.

Why did you do that?

Because I absolutely

wanted to do it.

It's funny.

Oh, shit. Oh, shit.

Come on. No, no.

Ah...

Aw, shit, Virgil.

I forgot.

You okay?

Gotcha.

You okay? Yeah.

Hi, Nicky.

How are you?

Hi, Virgil.

How are you?

You been good?

Great. Good to see you.

Ba-boom!

How are you? How you doing?

How's it going? Wonderful, where's Bobbie?

She's in the powder room,

hiding.

Oh, wait, look.

I've been

practicing. Watch.

Get out of here.

You need more practicing.

Hello, Steve. Hi, Virgil.

Ha, ha!

Hey, watch this.

Safe!

You're looking good, Timmy.

Come here, you!

Hot dogs. I own your ass.

You wish you were

with me, don't you?

I miss you, Virg.

Not too much?

No, not too much.

Don't change on me, man.

A lot of water

under the bridge since '71.

Christ, you were getting good.

If that

son of a bitch

hadn't hit you...

Hey, that's hardball, man.

Come on.

What am I doing here?

All right, this is

for your ears only.

Nobody on the floor knows yet.

This team has been sold.

This one?

Right.

Wow.

Who bought it?

Gil Lawrence,

the advertising guy.

Yeah, Linda.

Comprehensive

farm system report.

You got it there?

On Lawrence's desk

by noon, all right?

Right. Noon!

Man, does he know

anything about baseball?

He's got a billion

dollars, beau.

He doesn't have

to know anything.

That's dumb.

Dumb? Yeah.

A billion dollars is dumb?

Virgil, we got to talk.

No, man, that's not what

I'm talking about.

But, yeah, let's talk.

Well, the man's got

his own ideas.

He's going to take a broom

to the whole front office.

For a while,

I didn't even know

if I was gonna get the ax.

But somehow

you survived, huh?

That's good, kid.

Lawrence isn't happy

with the scouting

program.

He thinks it's too expensive.

Thinks we don't need

guys in the field anymore.

You're kidding.

We're going

with the bureau's

scouting reports.

We'll get comprehensive

statistics on every eligible

player out there.

You're not kidding.

How much time do I got?

I can stall for a little while.

What kind of an answer

is that, Tim?

I don't know.

Virgil, baseball is changing.

It's a business.

It's profit and loss.

Yeah, there never was

any security in scouting.

You're goddamn right.

What about coaching?

I always thought,

maybe, you know...

Lawrence wouldn't buy it.

Convince him.

You're good at that.

Virgil...

He's got no reason

to promote you.

Have you got one single

good prospect

I can throw at him?

Yeah. Yeah?

Yeah. Got a kid,

a sleeper. He's great.

If he's ready, do I got a job?

Well, it can't hurt.

Can't wait

any longer, Riggs.

I got to see the kid now.

He can't pitch in the damn rain.

I got an idea.

All right, Riggs.

Give him a dry ball.

Tommy, I want you to

give me your best fastball.

Just turn it loose.

Show me some magic, kid.

Give him another one.

Let it go, son.

Just let it go.

One more.

Let it go, son.

Let it all go.

Come on.

That's it, son.

So?

He's not fast enough.

Not yet.

Work hard, kid.

See you next spring.

This must be Virgil Sweet.

It ain't working, Bobbie.

I'm coming up with zero.

Hey, you'll think of something.

I don't know.

I just don't know.

I'm running out of time.

Why don't I come out

and see you this weekend?

Ahhh!

No!

Mmm. Where am I, Sweet?

God's country, honey.

And you're looking beautiful.

You're not so bad yourself.

However, I must say,

your ride

is an automotive slum.

Look at this.

I just had it cleaned.

The outside. The inside

hasn't been touched.

I'm hungry.

Where are you taking me, Sweet?

Pocatello, honey.

Pocatello.

No!

Watch the road.

Ahhh!

We're going

to go see some

long-ball hitters.

Shit!

What?

It's dead. It's dying

like everything else

in this car.

It's too old.

God!

We're overheating.

Must be the fan belt.

Oh, man. And we're

in the middle of no place.

I got it.

It's not the fan belt.

It's not? It's the water pump.

Do you have a water pump?

Well... Sweet.

You got two choices.

We can either sit here and sweat

or we can start to walk.

We could dance.

What?

We could dance.

We're out of seeds.

You know what, Sweet?

Huh?

I always knew exactly where

I was going with my life.

I always knew what I wanted.

And then...

Then one day

you walked into my office

and you introduced yourself.

I knew I was in trouble.

I mean, I never

knew anybody could

look so battered

and be so damn attractive

at the same time.

I love you, Sweet.

Come on. Git.Wait. Stop.

Ah, shit.

Ah, this is stupid.

What's the matter,

your back hurts?

No.

You got a mind.

Hell, you got

a master's degree

in psychology.

I got nothing.

I'm a scout.

Pretty soon,

I won't even

have a job.

I haven't

got an ounce

of security.

Aw, it's boring already.

You're starting

to piss me off, Sweet.

Wait a minute. This is what

I'm trying to tell you.

You don't get it.

You just don't get it.

I know you're not getting it.

Get what, all right?

I don't need

that kind of security.

I have that kind of security.

Look, I love the fact

that you're a scout

and you do what you want to do.

Don't you see that?

Aw, Sweet, I believe

everything happens

for a reason.

I mean, that's why

we're out here

getting sunstroke

because this is

exactly where we're

supposed to be. Okay?

You don't really believe

that garbage, do you?

You know what your problem is?

You got your head

so far up your ass

feeling sorry for yourself...

That you can't see

that everything you need

is standing right here

in front of you.

You're such an asshole, Sweet.

Bobbie!

It doesn't fit!

Keep trying.

Baseball.

Yeah.

Ho, ho, ho!

You can do it!

Throw it in there, kid!

Strike!

You're out!

Strike!

One more, Sammy!

Strike!

Ow! You're out!

Game's over!

You all right?

In this town

because we're

supposed to be.

Is that what you said?

You're lucky

it's my left hand.

I got a date tonight.

Way to go, man.

Good game.

Good job!

How's the hand, son?

It hurts.

Better ice it.

Listen,

my car broke down

up the street a ways.

Do you know where

there's a pay phone

I can use?

Sure. There's one over

at the grocery store

across the road.

Thanks. My name's

Virgil Sweet.

Toby Curry.

Glad to meet you, Toby.

Who's your pitcher?

Sammy Bodeen.

Man, he's really good.

He's better than that.

Hi, Sammy.

Hi.Virgil Sweet.

Hi. Nice to meet you. It's a pleasure

meeting you.

You got a great arm, son.

Thank you.

Listen, I used

to catch pro

a few years back.

You caught pro? Yeah.

I'd love to catch you, son.

Sure.

Tobe, give him the mitt.

One's a fastball?

Yeah. Two's a curve.

Three's a split-finger.

Thank you, son.

Can I borrow your mask? Sure.

Thank you.

Come on, son.

Thank you.

Sure, Sammy.

You throw that way to him,

but you burn my hand off.

You holding back, son?

Let her rip.

Let it go.

Argh!

You all right, mister?

You okay?

Yes! Does it hurt?

Yes.

Son, I'm a professional scout

for the California Angels.

He's a scout for the Angels?

Yes.

They're not

doing too good

this year.

Well...

I think Sammy's been

wasting your time here,

Mr. Sweet.

I'm sorry about that.

Mr. Bodeen, I don't think

Sammy's been wasting our time.

Dad! Customer here.

I'll be right back.

Hi.

I need some fuel

and I need to

check the batteries

and hydraulics.

Oh, sure.

We can do that.

How's Ann, Frieda? Real good.

Tell her hi.

Mr. Bodeen,

I was...

I think I can

make this easy

for you, Mr. Sweet.

I'm the minister

of the Genesee

Community Church

right here in town.

That's it

right over there.

Do you see?

And my daddy was also

a minister to that church,

and his daddy before him,

and that's the way

it's always been.

And I hope to goodness

nothing ever happens

to change that.

But Samuel's the only one

that can follow me

into the pulpit,

so he's pretty well got his

future mapped out for him,

and that doesn't leave

too much room

for baseball.

I don't want you

to get me wrong.

I got nothing against baseball.

I think it's

a wonderful sport.

I really do.

It helps build character

and all that stuff,

but it's just a game.

I think you should

really hear this.

This is about your son.

Is there something wrong?

No, not at all.

Not at all.

What is it that confuses you?

Well I'm not gonna stand here

and try to pull your leg

and tell you that

I know your business.

Because I don't.

The only thing I know

is baseball.

I've lived it all my life.

A shortstop told me

a couple years ago

that his family

came from Greece,

and in old Greek,

the word "sin"

meant missing the mark.

I guess you must

have a point to that.

When somebody has

a God-given gift

like Sammy

and he doesn't use it,

I think that's kind of

like missing the mark,

don't you?

I feel really bad for that kid.

What are you going to do?

I don't know.

We could kidnap him.

That's an idea. I'm only joking.

I just find it difficult

to leave him here.

How good is my son?

Mrs. Bodeen, I've

spent my whole life

in baseball.

I don't know anything else.

He's the best I've ever seen.

That good?

Yes.

He should get a chance.

Would you like to sit down?

Your husband

really doesn't want

your son to play.

Who knows? Our Sharon

is a very devout girl.

Maybe it's time the church

ordained a female pastor.

It may take

a day or two, Virgil,

but I believe

my husband will relent,

and Sammy will go

to Los Angeles with you.

I just ask one thing in return.

Yes?

He may be

a gifted ballplayer

as you say,

but in all other respects,

he's still a child,

and I want you

to look out for him.

Would you do that?

You have my word.

Sure.

Sure. Do you remember

what I told you?

Yeah.

I just don't know why

you don't call Weaver.

He'll take me

right out of the loop.

Plus, I promised the mother

I'd take care of the kid.

Do this for me.

Sure.

Love you, Sweet.

Oh, Sammy.

Come on. You have the most

wonderful adventure

ahead of you.

Promise me something.

That you'll listen

to Mr. Sweet

and always do what he tells you.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

I got one for you, kid.

You got two out

and a man on first.

Darryl Strawberry up to bat.

Do you hold the runner?

Nope. I pitch

to the hitter.

Why?

Strawberry's a home run hitter,

likes the ball low

and a little outside.

So where do you pitch him?

Give him

fastballs outside,

but up a little bit.

Why?

Make him hit down.

You're smart, kid.

You learn quick.

Who's that?

Used to be my coach, son.

His name's

Iron Jack Kelly.

Full-blooded Blackfoot.

One of the smartest men

in baseball I ever knew.

His eyes are weird.

Not weird, son.

Magical.

He could take a look

at you, snap his fingers

and hypnotize you

and make you

believe in yourself,

do things you could

never do on your own.

Once I was in a slump.

He walked up to me,

looked me in the eye,

snapped his fingers and said,

"You're gonna hit a double."

Yeah? What happened?

I hit it out of the park.

Whew!

Only joking.

I got a double.

Nobody could resist him, son.

You got to believe

in yourself, son.

I want you

to discipline yourself.

To concentrate.

I need total concentration.

Put this target...

right in your mind's eye,

and let your

muscle memory take over.

Visualize this target.

Okay, kid.

I want you to relax now.

And I want you to look

at the target, son.

Visualize it.

Now close your eyes.

Let it go.

Aw, jeez! Don't worry about it.

Concentrate, kid.

You can do it.

Don't you think we ought

to move the car?

Got to believe in yourself, kid.

The only difference

between you and a

Major League ballplayer

is that they believe

they belong there.

Great.

That's enough for today.

You and Bobbie

going to get married,

Mr. Sweet?

Something comes into your mind,

and you just let it

right out, huh, son?

Well, are you?

Well, a man's got to have

a lot more going for him

than just a scout's salary

in order to get married, son.

I don't know.

Why do you ask?

Well, I was just thinking.

If you weren't,

I... I was thinking

about asking her myself.

You were, huh?

How come you couldn't

play anymore?

I told you, kid.

I got hit.

Yeah, I know,

but what happens

if you try?

I can't run.

When I run, I get dizzy.

Everything else

is okay. I just

can't run.

You know, when I

was a little kid,

I used to watch...

Used to watch

Nolan Ryan on TV.

And I used to pretend

that I could be

like him someday.

You will, kid.

Someday there'll

be some kid

watching you on TV

saying the same thing.

Try to get some sleep.

We'll be in LA by the morning.

Yeah.

Hey, kid, who taught

you how to pitch?

Nobody.

Who taught you how to play ball?

Nobody.

Good night.

I don't like games,

Miss Henderson.

They're a waste of time.

Strange thing for a man to say

who just bought

a baseball team.

Don't you think?

You want to tell me

what's really

going on here, Bobbie?

Hey, fellas, my limo's here.

Eighty nine.

Eighty-nine miles an hour.

That's pretty good

speed, Mr. Lawrence.

Kid's name is Miller.

He's out of USC. He had

pretty good stats.

This what you

dragged me down here

for, Bobbie?

Uh, not exactly,

Mr. Lawrence.

Dick Bortner.

He's leading

the league in homers.

Do you know him, Virg? Yep. So will you.

You got five minutes.

Couldn't resist

the old bone yard, eh?

Nice to see you.

How are you?

Pretty good.

How do you like

our kid?

He's got all the tools.

You're going to be real

proud of him in a couple

of years. Excuse me.

Hey, hello there.

How does he look

on the gun? Very good. Eighty nine.

Stay down.

It's just a ballpark, kid.

Let's get out there.

Hello, gentlemen. Hey, Virg.

There's the kid.

Sammy Bodeen. Virgil Sweet,

one of our scouts, found him.

Mr. Lawrence,

I knew nothing about this.

There's no authorization.

Try and relax, Weaver.

It's okay.

Bring him in.

Fred.

Yo, Sweet!

Looking good.

Just have a good time.

Hey, Burnsy.

You don't mind

if I catch, do you?

Nah, it's no skin off my behind.

Let me borrow

your helmet. You got it.

Hey, listen, buddy,

who's the new

slump meat out there?

Sit back and relax, Burnsy.

I think you're gonna

enjoy this one.

Oh, yeah? Yep.

See you later, Virg.

Here you go, kid.

Okay, kid.

Warm up.

Real nice.

Just relax.

Yes.

Attaboy, kid.

This boy do anything

besides warm up, Sweet?

Let her rip, kid.

Come on, son.

I was wondering

what you wanted

for dinner tonight.

Huh? Yeah.

You ever had sushi?

No.It's great.

You'll love it.

It's very LA.

Don't try so hard.

Yeah.

Ninety eight.

Let's see

what he can do

against a hitter.

Bortner.

Get a bat.

Bortner.

Get in there now, come on!

Man, oh, man.

Show him the fence, Dick.

Look funny in that

uni, there, Sweet.

Name's Richard,

isn't it, Bortner?

What if I just call you

Dick for short?

Call me whatever you like.

Come on, kid.

Whew!

What are you doing, kid?

He's crowding the plate.

So back him off.

Throw him a slider.

Make him respect

you, okay?

You know what sushi is?

No.Raw fish. Can you

believe that?

Human beings eating raw fish?

Tell him to quit

while he's ahead, Sweet?

Nope. I told him

to bean you.

To what?

I told him to hit

you in the head,

Dick for short.

Come on, kid.

I let my bat do

the talking, Sweet.

Whoo-wee!

Wanna know what

he's gonna throw in

next, Dick for short?

Hey, screw you, Sweet.

Throw him a fastball, kid.

Yes.

Faster. Yeah, that's right.

Throw it a little faster, Sammy.

Ow!

What was the velocity on that? One hundred.

Throw it as hard

as you can, son.

Damn. I can't

believe it.

One hundred and two.

That's

a good record.Yeah.

Yes.

How you feel, Dick?

Fred,

you better sign

this kid before

somebody else does.

What did you say

this kid's name was?

Bodeen. Sammy Bodeen.

What's his name? Come on in, kid.

Virgil Sweet.Virgil.

Sign him.

Wow. Look

at this place.

How many people live here?

One.

One very rich one.

Sammy.

Sammy, thank God

you're here.Ah.

Welcome. We have

to get upstairs

right now.

Uh, Mr. Sweet,

would you

excuse us, please?

Where are you going? Mr. Lawrence

would like to see Sammy right away.

By himself? Yes. Yes.

Would you

excuse us? Go on up there.

Beau!

What a space.

Unbelievable.

God help me, I do love money.

Well, you got it here.

I haven't seen

craftsmanship

like this ever.

You don't think

much of me,

do you, beau?

What are you talking

about, Timmy?

You tried to cut my balls off.

Took the kid

over my head to Lawrence,

you and Bobbie.

No, gracias.

Think I was going

to cut you out

of the loop?

Something like that.

It was a beautiful move, Virg.

I would have done

the same thing myself.

Thank you. You're getting to be

quite a piece of work.

Oh, Timmy, so are you.

Listen, uh...

Listen, forget it.

Kid's got the good face.

Yeah, he does.

He really, really does.

Folks.

Can Mr. Lawrence

have your attention?

May I have

everybody's attention

please?

There's an announcement to make.

Good afternoon.

Every once in a while,

a talent rises up

and burns so brightly

that, uh, it redefines

the limits of the game.

From Genesee, Idaho,

nestled among

rolling fields of wheat,

comes such a talent.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I give you our

newest Angel...

A gift from heaven.

Sammy Bodeen.

He's making

a cartoon out of this.

Sammy, how does

it feel to be so celebrated?

This is Sammy Bodeen,

our newest Angel,

and he's the starting pitcher

for the Angels

on Saturday night.

Did you know

anything about this?

Jesus Christ, Virgil.

Where did you play ball, Sammy?

Uh, Idaho.

Uh, Sammy doesn't have any

actual pro experience, Al.

He's a phenom.

What kind

of experience

does he have?

What's your name? My

name is Greg Rossi, Gil.

What kind of experience

does he have?

Greg, as I've said, he has no

actual pro experience,

but he was born

to play the game.

Don't you think

you're jumping the gun

on Saturday night?

Really. No. I don't.

Isn't this just

a publicity stunt

to get a lot of people

in the stands? Next question.

Isn't this putting

an awful lot of

unnecessary pressure

on a young kid like that?

Well, Al.

It's a game of pressure.

He's not ready for this,

and you know it.

It's a game of inches.

With all due respect to

this terrific Peter Pan act...

if Mr. Bodeen is as good

as you say he is,

why won't you just

let him work his way

up through the minors?

Do you have a point? I think

Eddie Bane might have had a point

when he worked for

the Minnesota Twins

and he was gone

in a year. And what

about David Clyde?

He was gone in

the Rangers in

about a year.

These were all phenoms.

You remember Clyde. All right, Virgil.

I remember Clyde, yeah.

I think you'll be

surprised and I think

it's safe to say

that you will be amazed.

Now, everything

you need to know

is in your press kits.

Please pick them up

on your way out.

In the meantime,

relax, enjoy the party,

and, uh, we'll see you

Saturday night.

Go, Angels.

Come on, Paul!

What are we supposed

to go to press with?

I think you're making a mistake.

You're going too fast.

Look, I understand

your concern, Virgil,

but that's why I need your help.

I'm aware

of the danger here,

but, uh,

you got to admit

the possibility.

I saw what

the kid can do

with your help.

Yeah, but Saturday's

too quick to

pitch this kid.

Yeah, but it's our best

available option.

The Angels are in the toilet.

Now, I want you

with us on this, Virgil.

Tim's gonna talk

to you about it.

I got some people

in my office right now,

but we'll talk. All right?

I love it, William. It's wonderful.

We're going for

an association with

the wheat fields.

I love the association

with wheat.

Oh, I feel so great about that.

I was trying to

capture the field... I have one problem.

His face.

It's too benign.

It's too...

Benign.

His expression, you mean.

He needs to look more dangerous.

More, uh...

Dangerous. Pardon?

A lean, mean pitching...

Machine.

I'm afraid

I don't understand

the connection with...

Every guy in the country

is going to identify

with Sammy Bodeen.

A stranger from nowhere

who shows up...

Unannounced.

You're Virgil Sweet, aren't you?

Yes, I am. Hey, I'm Greg Rossi.

Nice to meet you.

I don't drink. Oh, here you go.

Listen, you're just the guy

I want to talk to.

You found

our young sprout,

didn't you?

Huh? Well, listen.

Why are you starting

him on Saturday?

What's the big rush?

Uh, I'm really not starting him.

No, come on, come on.

He barely

fits his uniform.

You're putting him in,

up against Kansas City,

which is a good team.

And you guys have been

living in the basement.

So what's the story?

Listen, I don't know, you know?

What? What do you mean

you don't know?

You're the guy

who found him,

isn't that right?

Yeah, I found him,

but I have nothing...

Hey, Greg, how you doing?

I got to talk to Virgil.

We'll be right back.

Tim, buddy.

Tim.

And women like

dangerous men, too,

right, Miss Henderson?

Ah. Mr. Lawrence,

I really don't know

what women find

dangerous or not.

I do know that

Sammy Bodeen is

a very wholesome,

open, and honest young man

and that men and women

will identify

with that.

You have a point.

You may have a point.

I have a point.Okay. Let's go with this.

That's it. We meet

tomorrow morning

in my office.

You're looking at

the new General Manager

of the California Angels.

You? I'm making you

my assistant.

Me? Your salary's

60 grand a year,

you get a two-year guarantee.

Bonuses are included,

and I got you

on a retirement fund.

Wait a minute. What?

Wait a minute.

Oh, that's really generous, man.

You deserve it, Virg.

You really deserve it.

How about some champagne, eh?

Can we have some

champagne over here?

Yes, sir.

Here you are.

Here's to Mother Baseball

and the talent

that keeps her young.

What about the kid?

Rossi's a reporter.

Everything's

a scam to him.

Are you a reporter, too?

You are so sweet.

No, Sammy, I'm not.

I'm a lawyer.

You must be so excited,

everything that's going on.

Yeah!

I can't believe it's real.

Well, it is.

I mean, come Saturday,

you're gonna be

pitching in front of

50,000 people,

maybe more.

Yeah.

Look, Virg, you send

that kid down to the

minors for seasoning,

that's no guarantee.

He could throw his arm

out just as easily in

some bush league.

Sammy could spend

the rest of his days sitting

in the backseat of a bus

drinking whiskey out of

Dixie cups with the rest of

the might-have-beens.

You know that, Virg.

We've been there.

So just don't interfere

with the plans Lawrence

has for the kid.

He'll be fine.

You and me will

take care of him.

Guys like us, Virg,

we get this kind

of chance once

in a lifetime.

You do this job right,

you get a leg up.

And nobody's going to get hurt.

Hey, hey...

All I want you to do

is keep Sammy happy.

Try not to make

any waves, all right?

Oh, yeah.

You and I are

going to go out and

get you some clothes

something that fits

a man in your position.

They want me to watch the kid.

They want me to stay, Bobbie.

They want me to move

up to the main office.

They want me to

be Tim's assistant.

We won.

Is that what you really want?

For $60,000 a year,

two years guaranteed,

unless I want to quit, yes.

Let's warm up.

You know, he's just

loosening up and

he's popping the glove.

Look at that.

Hey, I don't care how hard

this kid throws, man.

He don't belong here.

Hey, Lawrence

doesn't care

about that kid.

He doesn't care about us.

All he's trying to do

is make some money

off this deal.

The kid's got to

pay his dues just like

everybody else.

Hey, look. I expect

the kid to fall on his face,

just like you guys do.

I don't like the idea.

I think it's a joke.

He's going to

make us look bad, too.

Come on, kid.

Great hit, man.

Uh-oh!

Check him out!

Hollywood!

Is he sweet or what?

My goodness!

I see someone finally

got you in a suit, huh?

Come on.

Get your back into it.

How you doing, Fred? Hey, Sweet,

where's your boy?

He ain't here?

Jesus, I was afraid of this.

I usually pick him up

and I called the hotel.

But he didn't answer,

so I thought he'd

already come out here.

Does anybody know about this?

I don't think so.

All right.

I'll find him, Fred.

By the way,

Lawrence wants

to see you

up in the club restaurant. Right now?

Mmm-hmm.

Does he know about this?

I don't think so.

All right, Fred.

I'll find him,

all right? Thanks.

There's the man.

Don't choke, okay, Tim?

Hey! You look like

one million bucks

there, Virg.

How do you like him?

How do you like

our boy's dress, huh?

Tell him what

you were telling me.

Well, we have Sammy's

photo session. It's scheduled

right after practice today,

but Sports Illustrated called.

They want an exclusive

interview with Sammy for

after the game on Saturday.

And depending

upon the outcome

of the game,

he can be on

the cover next week.

I love it. How do you feel, Virg?

Huh, great white hunter?

How's his arm?

Oh, he's doing

real good. He's...

We're just

resting him right now.

He's a little excited.

Well, the kid looks great. Could we

bring down some photographers to see?

I think it would be

really a good idea

instead of always

these posed pictures.

Actually, it's, uh, best

that he rest, I think.

He's pretty excited.

Virgil knows best.

Virgil, I want you

to know you're doing

a great job.

Excuse me.

I have some more things

to take care of and, uh...

Have a good lunch.

You look good.

Go ahead.

Jesus, kid.

What are you doing to yourself?

What if I fail?

You can't think that way, kid.

Did you know they were

going to pitch me

Saturday night?

No.

No, I didn't.

Well, should...

Should I pitch?

Should I be there?

What about Eddie Bane?

What about David Clyde?

Should they have pitched?

They've got nothing

to do with you, kid.

You're a scout, Virgil.

You know more

about baseball

than anybody.

Am I ready?

All's I ever wanted to be

was a big-league

baseball player.

Now I don't know anymore.

If you want something,

sometimes you

got to take a risk.

And if you really

want something,

then you got to be willing

to risk everything,

and that's the scariest

thing in the world, son.

A bit much, huh, kid?

Yeah.

How you feeling?

I'm all right.

♪ Gave proof

through the night

♪ That our flag

was still there

♪ O say does

that star-spangled

♪ Banner yet wave

♪ O'er the land

♪ Of the free

♪ And the home

♪ Of the brave? ♪

Hi, everybody. And welcome

to tonight's ball game

between

the California Angels

and the Kansas City Royals.

I'm Ken Brett. And

the big story tonight

right here at the stadium

as young right-handed

pitcher Sammy Bodeen

takes the mound

against the potent

Kansas City Royals,

who lead the division

with two weeks to go

in the baseball season.

And now,

here's our first look

at the young phenom

that everybody has

come out to see this evening.

And you've got to be wondering,

what is going through

the young man's mind

as he takes the mound

here at the ballpark

for his professional

and his Major League debut

against the Kansas City Royals.

And now

a little background on

the young right-hander,

Sammy Bodeen.

There he is!

He is going to start.

175 pounds

and he's only 20 years old,

a very young man

in a Major League debut.

He played no professional,

in fact, no organized baseball

that we can find.

Because we went all the way

back to Little League.

Hi.Hi.

How you doing?

Oh, you know.

Play ball!

Go get 'em.

Umpire Hank Robinson

signals it's time

to play ball,

and we're under way here

with the professional

and Major League debut

of Sammy Bodeen.

The first batter he faces...

Sean Collins, who has

very good speed.

Bodeen ready to make

his first Major League pitch.

And here it comes.

It's a bunt

down the first base line.

A very good one by Collins

and nobody covers first.

And he's gonna be safe.

Another look at the bunt

in slow motion here.

Just a perfectly placed bunt

between the pitcher's mound

and the first base bag.

Bodeen, as you can see,

the pitcher, a little late

covering.

And Collins is on first

after one pitch.

And that will bring up Rudy Law,

the center fielder,

a .325 hitter,

nine home runs, 61 RBIs.

Bodeen checking Collins,

who's got good speed

at first base.

And here's the pitch.

A swing and a liner to center.

Law has a base hit.

Collins rounds second.

He's on his way to third.

He'll make it

with a head-first dive.

He'll be all right.

Runners on

first and third for

the Kansas City Royals.

Hitter now, Garris Touson.

A .291 hitter,

19 home runs,

81 RBIs,

as we start to get into

the power guys

in the Royals line-up.

The pitch as the runner

on first goes.

A throw to second

by Burns, is cut off.

The throw back

to the plate not in time

as the double steal

is perfectly executed

by Kansas City,

as Collins scores.

It's 1-0, Royals.

And moving on to second

is Rudy Law.

Just a perfectly executed

double steal by Kansas City.

Law on second.

Count of 1-and-0.

Now to Touson.

Check to Law,

the runner on second.

And the pitch...

A swing and a grounder

up the middle

past Davidsmeier.

Son of a gun.

Okay!

Coming around from third

to score is Rudy Law.

It's 2 to 0.

And time-out is called already!

Manager Fred Lunney

on his way to the mound

to talk.

Well, they're hitting him.

Now, you can't

let these guys

intimidate you.

Okay?

You settle down.

Kansas City leading 2-0.

Nobody out.

Runner on first

in the top

of the first inning

here at the ballpark.

The batter's going to be

Mark Webb...

Webb has 30 home runs, 109 RBIs.

The pitch, a fastball,

a little high for ball one.

1-and-0 to Webb,

a .285 hitter.

Runner on first.

Still nobody out.

2-0, Royals.

It's a swing

and a line drive...

Base hit.

Bodeen does not look

comfortable on the mound.

And you would think

the butterflies

definitely in evidence

in the young man's stomach

in front of a sellout

crowd here at the stadium.

Here's the pitch.

Look out!

Down he goes!

Did it hit him?

Did it hit the bat?

Umpire Hank Robinson

now deciding to award

first base to Phil Lombardi

and to complicate things

here, bases loaded

and nobody out

for Kansas City.

Virgil.

Do you think he

can turn it around?

He's got a lot of heart, Bobbie.

Ontiveros still

waiting on Bodeen.

There's the swing.

And a high fly ball

to center field.

I'm afraid we're having

a lot of problems

with our friends in the press.

What are they saying?

Well...

They get the feeling

they've been duped.

They think this is all a fraud,

Sammy's just a publicity stunt.

Hank Marshall

particularly

is upset.

He, uh, gave me

a message for you.

He said, read

his column tomorrow,

and it will not be

on the sports page.

Front page is where

it will be found.

I'm sorry.

It's been a rocky start

for Bodeen,

but he has recorded

his first out.

And here's

the first pitch to Lacy.

Low and inside for ball one.

Kansas City, up to this

point in the ballgame,

three runs on four hits,

and we're still in the top

of the first inning.

Runners on first and third.

Bodeen checking with

the catcher, Dan Burns,

gets the sign.

Check of the runners.

Here's the pitch to Lacy.

Grounded past the mound

toward short.

Davidsmeier cuts it off,

throws wide to the plate.

And diving...

Well, I've seen enough.

Weaver.

Get on the phone.

Get him out.

You can't do that.

What? You can't

take the kid out.

Take it easy, Virgil.

He got him into this.

He's gonna have

to stand behind him.

Virgil, can you hear the crowd?

You should

have thought of that

before you started this.

Look, it's my team

and I'll do what I want.

You got a kid out there

that's pitching

from sheer courage.

He's out there

on the mound

all by himself

and he's got to know

that we believe

in him.

If you take him out now,

he may never

be able to pitch

another batter again.

Oh, shut up.

Tim, get on the phone to Fred.

Get the kid out.

I thought you were

a baseball man.

You're the sorriest chump

I've ever seen

take a dump between two shoes.

Call security.

You're fired.

You can't fire me, buddy.

I got a two-year guarantee.

But you know what?

You can take that guarantee

and shove it

where the sun

don't shine.

I quit. Get out!

And take the kid with you.

He's a fraud.

Now get my lawyer

and tell him to

tear up the contract.

Now, get on a phone.

Any phone. I don't care.

You call the dugout.

And get that kid out

of there. Now.

What are you looking at?

What am I looking at?

Your lawyer.

Manager Fred Lunney

pacing that Angels' dugout,

and he's got

to be saying

to himself,

"How much longer

can I go with the

young right-hander?"

It's his confidence.

I think I'll fire myself, too.

What?

Making his way

up to the plate now,

left-handed hitting

Damon Farmar.

The first pitch.

And it's a swing and

a grounder to second.

Randle bobbles, tags McQuade

throws to first,

and they get him.

He did it! End of inning!

Double play!

And Sammy Bodeen

is gonna make his way

into the Angel dugout.

But the damage has been done.

For the Royals,

in the top of the first, four

runs, four hits, no errors.

As we head to the

bottom of the first,

4-0, Kansas City.

Who is it? Weaver.

What does he want?

Yeah?

Hold on a second, Fred.

Yeah, Freddy. No.

No. Let him

start the second.

Look. Don't worry.

We'll survive.

Just get

the bullpen up,

keep them ready.

Anybody makes it

to second base,

you yank him.

Derrel Thomas,

the leadoff hitter,

a .244 hitter

this year,

six home runs, 19 RBIs.

Here's the first pitch

in the bottom of the first.

And he swings.

It's a high fly ball

to center field.

Excuse me, dear.

Hey, watch it!

And Law makes the catch.

One pitch, one away

in the bottom

of the first inning.

Quite a change from

the top of the first.

Lenny Randle, the hitter.

Lenny Randle swings

at the first pitch.

Bounces it right through

Giapistol's legs

and into center field.

So the Angels get

their first base runner.

And the Angel fans finally

have something to cheer

about in this ballgame.

Charlie, I got to see the kid.

Virgil, you know

the dugout's off-limits

to suits.

Runner on first, as the first pitch is

swung on and missed by Davidsmeier.

And it's 0-and-1 as we get our first look

at the Angel third base coach, Mark Budaska.

Giapistol working quickly.

Another pitch, another swing

and a miss.

It's 0-2 to the Angel shortstop.

Hey, Virg.

How you doing?

You look sharp, buddy.

Good luck today, Frankie.

And the throw.

The pitcher's swung

on a miss.

The throw to second.

And that's a double play...

Let's get that first hitter.

Forget them, kid.

Just go for it.

He's going to leave him in.

What the hell's he doing?

Where the hell is Weaver?

Weaver!

Come on, kid.

Come on.

Bodeen just now

finishing up his warm-ups.

The catcher is Dan Burns.

And due up as the lead-off

hitter for Kansas City

will be the catcher Chuck Fick.

Dan Burns making his way

to the mound

with some

last-minute instructions

and to try and settle down

the young right-hander,

Sammy Bodeen.

How you doing, kid?

Virgil?

Shh. Not so loud.

I'm very incognito, son.

What are you, nuts?

They catch you

out here, they'll kick

you out of baseball.

I'm here to tell you

that I was wrong, son.

I'm not doing so good.

That's why

I'm going to

hypnotize you, son.

What?

Remember the first time

you ever threw the ball

to me?

Back home?

Right.

I want you to

go back there

in your mind.

I want you to forget

about this crowd.

I want you to forget

about everything...

Except me.

Then I want you

to throw

the ball to me

the way you did

that one day

in Idaho.

Yeah... But...

Look at this.

No buts.

You got no choices, son.

It's magic.

You're hypnotized.

Very long meeting just

taken place on the mound

between Dan Burns

and Sammy Bodeen.

And it's finally

broken up by the

plate umpire, Hank Robinson.

And we're set

to start here in the

top of the second inning.

Chuck Fick's gonna

start it off for

Kansas City.

Powerful catcher.

A .275 hitter,

25 home runs, 92 RBIs...

Breathe.

Come on.

Come on, son.

Come on.

Strike!

Strike two! Yes!

That's it.

Sammy, that's it.

That's throwing that pill.

Yes.

Strike! You're out!

Strike three called

and down goes Fick.

Three pitches

and he gets his first

Major League strikeout.

And it's one out

here in the top of

the second inning.

One down!

That's the kid

I saw the other day.

That's him.

And the next hitter

will be Tony Tarasco.

Tarasco, left-handed hitter,

asks for time out,

getting settled in the box.

Strike!

Attaboy, Sam. Tell him, Daddy.

When I'm right, I'm right.

All right, kid.

Two down, Sammy.

You're out!

Two down!

One more.

Sammy! Sammy!

Sammy!

Sammy! Sammy! Sammy!

Strike!

Come on, kid.

Strike two!

Time out, ump. Time out!

You're doing great, kid.

Having fun?

I am now.

Just one more strike,

and this guy's history,

and so am I.

Mendoza will be in next inning.

Do me a favor.

He's a rookie,

so take care of him.

My whole life,

the only thing

I ever wanted to do

was play in the big show,

catch one inning

of a Major League

pitcher.

You made my dreams

come true, son.

You're one hell of a pitcher.

Now, do me a favor.

Throw me a fastball

that knocks

my socks off.

You want me to close my eyes?

No. I don't

ever want you to

close your eyes again.

Sammy! Sammy! Sammy!

Strike three!

Yeah! Yeah!

That was you

out there,

wasn't it?

You could tell? Mmm-hmm.

How did it feel to catch

a Major League game?

Fantastic.

Well...

You got a big problem now.

You can't tell anyone.

I want a million dollar bonus,

non-refundable upon

signing my new contract.

I want one million

dollars a year,

guaranteed for six years,

and I want to be paid

whether I'm injured or not.

Oh. And one

more thing, Gil.

I won't play on artificial turf.

Do it with me.

You're so silly.

Talent for the Game (1991) - full transcript