Pitcher Selection in the World Series : “Strange selections” in Two American Films
- Makio Mukai
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
It's fair to say that pitchers hold the key to victory or defeat in the short-term World Series. Therefore, it's important to select the right pitchers. To do this, it's essential to avoid any eccentricities and select pitchers in a way that everyone can accept. However...
There are two American films that I always think of during World Series season. Both films feature scenes about the World Series, but in both cases, I can't help but think that the pitcher selection was strange.
First, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975). This film won multiple Academy Awards and is still considered a masterpiece.
This film is based on the novel of the same name, published by Ken Kesey in 1962. This novel depicts the protagonist, who pretends to be ill, repeatedly engaging in anti-establishment behavior in a mental hospital through the eyes of his fellow, a Native American, and is a scathing criticism of the American social system. It's truly a wonderful masterpiece. In this original novel, the protagonist, an avid baseball fan, begs the hospital to let him watch the World Series on TV, but is refused. However, the anti-establishment protagonist sits in front of a blank TV and ostentatiously pretends to be watching the World Series. This World Series scene also appears in the film, but it's quite different from the novel. The novel doesn't say which World Series it is (the context makes it impossible to determine which World Series it is), but the film depicts it as what can only be the 1963 World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers. Sitting in front of the blank TV, the protagonist not only pretends to be watching the game, but also loudly imitates the live broadcast of Game 2, beginning with, "Koufax. Koufax kicks. He delivers." The Dodgers pitcher is Sandy Koufax. But there's no way Koufax would pitch in Game 2. That year, Koufax won the Triple Crown for pitchers in the regular season (most wins, best ERA, most strikeouts). It was obvious that such an ace pitcher would have finished pitching in Game 1. And that's exactly what happened. Furthermore, Koufax set a new World Series record with 15 strikeouts in Game 1. It's odd that the protagonist, an avid baseball fan, wouldn't know that.
Next, I'll talk about an American movie about the Atlanta Braves' World Series.
The American movie "Nights in Rodanthe" (2008) is a love story between a middle-aged man and woman. As the woman, pretending to be Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, throws a can of food into a trash can, the man nearby says, "World Series last game. He wins! They win!" This is a pretty heartwarming scene, but I think it's strange. The Braves, with John Smoltz on their team, have only won the World Series once, in 1995, but the final pitcher in that game that decided the championship wasn't Smoltz, but rather closer Mark Wohlers.
No matter how heartwarming a scene in a love story, please don't say anything that could change history.
Every World Series has its own history, so I hope they'll handle it accurately. And it's difficult to win the World Series if you choose the wrong pitcher.
However, most people will probably say to me, "You're so fussy." That may be true. Maybe I should reflect on the fact that I was too hung up on the small details.
Now that I've reflected on this, there's something I'd like to say. The two American films I've mentioned here are not diminished in value by the issues I've pointed out. Most people will probably just find the scenes I've mentioned amusing.
Finally, regarding the issues I’ve pointed out, I'm worried that I may have just misunderstood something and there may not be any problem with the film. If so, please let me know and I'll correct it right away.
( If I’ve made a mistake or left out something important, please let me know. I’ll try to make corrections or additions.)