Take Me In To The Ballgame

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1996 film "Soul of the Game." They introduce the film (1:16), with an overview of the story, cast, and filmmakers. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (4:32). Amount of Baseball (7:50) highlights baseball in credits, some Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Jackie Robinson heroics, and a quick player comp. Baseball Accuracy (10:36) b...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1951 comedy, “Rhubarb.” They introduce the film (0:55), with an overview of the story, cast, and filmmakers. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (7:17), then begin their grading with Amount of Baseball (13:58). Baseball Accuracy (18:09) considers the origin of the term “rhubarb” and its journey into baseball terminology (Red Bar...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the classic 1984 film, "The Natural." They introduce the film (2:00), with an overview of the story, cast, and filmmakers. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (6:52), and then Ellen issues the first apology in Take Me In to the Ballgame history. Amount of Baseball (15:88) kicks us off with a disagreement, as they discuss the Amount...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 2012 indie zombie film "The Battery." They introduce the film (2:13), with an overview of the story, cast, and filmmakers--including the almost supernatural circumstances of its making. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (8:44), and have a brief parental advisory: there will be some discussion that is not appropriate for younge...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde scout the 1994 movie, “Little Big League,” grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (2:29) before reviewing the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (8:26). In Amount of Baseball (15:05), they are dazzled by the variety and amount of on-field play, and a player comp comes courtesy of MLB The Show. Baseball Accuracy (19:32) considers t...

With Ellen Adair away, Eric Gilde brings in Chicago native Scott Thomas to revisit “Rookie of the Year” in a “Replay Review!” After introductions are made (1:25), they review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (16:45). In Amount of Baseball (25:12), Scott does some geographic detective work, and also shares his grading philosophy. The consideration of Baseball Accuracy (18:35)...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1992 Seinfeld episode, “The Boyfriend.” They introduce the episode (1:34), and review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating it (5:47). In Amount of Baseball (12:28), the scouts consider how the presence of actual baseball players impacts their scoring. Baseball Accuracy (17:02) considers Keith Hernandez’s status as a Civil War buff, defensive acumen,...

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...

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 scout...

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 bo...

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 mome...

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 cele...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1990 TV movie "The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson." They introduce the film (1:27), with an overview of the story, cast, director and writer. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (5:48), with a metaphor that Mike Schur would not enjoy. Then, they begin with Amount of Baseball (9:48), discussing whether or not this is a baseball...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1979 TV movie  "Aunt Mary," about Mary Dobkin, the first female little league coach in Baltimore. They introduce the film (1:27), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (5:21), with an on-the-nose metaphor. Amount of Baseball (9:50) makes some borderline calls on baseball on the ra...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde scout the 1999 movie, "The Scout," grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (2:00), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (10:05), with a bit of a search for a metaphor. In Amount of Baseball (14:51), Eric stays on the wagon, despite personal conflict. They discuss the...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1949 Busby Berkley musical "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (1:34), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (11:10), with another apropos metaphor. Amount of Baseball (15:50) revisits what counts towards baseball quantity...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1999 fim, "For Love of the Game," grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (1:19), with an overview of the story, cast, and director, and a PG-13 discussion of Kevin Costner nudity, w/r/t both this film and "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (9:05) and aim to make some per...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde  discuss the 1956 Japanese film "I Will Buy You," directed by Masaki Kobayashi, grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (1:11), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. If you have not seen this film and are following along at home, use this handy reference. Kishimoto: the scout. Kurita: the baseball star. Kyuki: the coach. Fueko: Kurita...

Ellen Adair and multi-hyphenate writer/actor/baseball fan Brian Gene White discuss the hilariously bad 1977 made-for-TV movie, "Murder at the World Series." They talk about Brian's upcoming comic book series, DEATH'S ASSISTANT, his play IS NOT THAT STRANGE, and the 2020 World Series, an apropos topic for Brian's Dodgers's fandom. Ellen kicks off an introduction to the film (6:14) "Murder at the Wo...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1946 Looney Tunes Bugs Bunny cartoon, "Baseball Bugs." They introduce the cartoon (1:20), with an overview of the story, cast, director and writer, and discussion of the title's play on words. A Legal Disclaimer (6:55) clarifies that this review establishes no precedent for the cartoon to be viewed as a "film," w/r/t the dispute of Alan Sepinwall v. Joe Posna...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde gird themselves to discuss the 2006 Happy Madison production, "The Benchwarmers," grading it on the 20-80 scouting scale. They introduce the film (1:20), with an overview of the story, cast, director, writers, and the sources of its "humor." A backstory on why David Spade and Rob Schneider were cast! They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (8:5...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the classic 1973 film, "Bang the Drum Slowly." They introduce the film (1:19), with an overview of the story, cast, director and writer. They review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (8:04), with Eric's best metaphor yet. Then, they begin with Amount of Baseball (10:33), discussing the lack of extended baseball sequences, the desire for a Jom...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss "Twelve," a 2019 family film about a little league baseball player. They introduce the film (1:18), with an overview of the story, cast, and writer/director.  20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (4:08), they begin with Amount of Baseball (5:43), discussing the abundance of high-quality baseball, with reference to particular moments and a 2020 playe...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss a baseball-themed episode of "The X-Files," titled "The Unnatural" (season 6, episode 19). They introduce the episode (1:19), with an overview of the story, cast, and writer/director. After a description of the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the show (5:25), they begin with Amount of Baseball (7:41). The episode presents a similar grading challenge to...

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the movie "Fever Pitch," the 2005 Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore romantic comedy, set against the backdrop of the Red Sox 2004 season. They introduce the film (1:24), with an overview of the story, cast, and director. After a description of the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (3:26), they begin with Amount of Baseball (5:10). How do baseball c...