Not to be a baseball nerd, but I was a bit confused by the playoff system in theis film. This is similar to the playoff innacurracy of the film Rookie of the year. I do love this movie, and even recited George Knox's speech for an acting class, but the horrible innaccurracy of all the baseball in this film is entertaining to me. If anyone can think of any more mistakes of the baseball variety, please leave a post
shareHere's an inaccuracy:
They referred to Mel Clark being taken off "injured reserve" when everybody knows that in baseball, it's called the "disabled list".
They are accurate in the playoff system here. Today winning the pennant means winning the league, but prior to the 1994 season when the Central division and wildcard spots were introduced, winning the pennant was winning the division. In this movie the Angels are in a tie with the White Sox (my team, and by coincidence they are playing tonight, GO SOX!) in the AL West. By beating the Sox, they clinch the division and thus the pennant. Now, I know this movie was made in 1994, the first year of having 3 divisions per league, but the script was likely written during or prior to the 1993 season when they still had 2 leagues. BTW, the Sox won the pennant in 93 only to lose in the ALCS (they didn't have ALDS or NLDS back then) to the Jays who won the WS. The Sox would've won in 94 with MVP Frank Thomas and Jack "blackjack" McDowell who was making a case for a 2nd consecutive Cy Young award, but there was a strike. Also on that team were WIlson Alvarez, Robin Ventura (who ended his career last year on the Angels), Ozzie Guillen, and Rock Raines!
shareThis is true. However, If you notice, at the all-star break, the angels are about 30 games back from first place. The only way they could get back to first is if for every game they won, the first place team lost. This is highly unlikely. In addition, if the Angels did win in this fashion, they would have a resounding lead in first place. Another innacuraccy concerns the play in which the catcher hits home run to win Mel Clark's game. His bat shatters and the cover is torn off the ball. If a bat ever shatters in baseball, it is because the batter did not put solid bat on the ball. It means that the ball probably will not leave the infield, much less go out of the entire stadium. furthermore, he actually TEARS the cover off the ball. This simply cannot happen, especially if the bat not only breaks, but SHATTERS!!
Just wanted to mention that in 1994, the Montreal Expos would have won! Larry Walker, Moises Alou, Marquis Grissom, Wil Cordero, Mike Lansing, Cliff Floyd, and Sean Berry as the offense, Ken Hill, Pedro Martinez, Jeff Fassero, Kirk Rueter as the four first starter and John Wetteland as the closer. What a team!
sharejust wanted to mention ventura retired from the dodgers not the angels. some sox fan ( go cubs )
shareFirst, let me say I love this movie. I'm a huge fan of baseball (The Dodgers in particular), but that has very little to do with why this is such a fun movie. Yet, this movies numerous inaccuracies aside, I think there's more misinformation in this very thread then in the movie the thread was speaking about.
I'm not sure where you guys are coming from with what it means to win the pennant. Winning the pennant has always, and will always mean you GOT to the world series. This means that two teams get to "win the pennant" every year. This is of course the National League, and the American League champions.
"THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!"
As sick as it makes me to have to cite THAT disgusting moment in baseball history, it lends credence to what I'm saying, inside of an example which EVERYone on this board should be familier with. The Giants came back from an insurrmountable lead to take the National League title away (this was before playoffs, but that makes no difference in what "winning the pennant" means) from the Dodgers. Both National League teams, the winner going to the World Series.
To suppose that just because of rampant expansion, and a silly extra round of playoffs would create four pennant winners, instead of two makes no sense. Baseball is far to set in its ways to alter something as sanctified as a term like "winning the pennant". Tiny, insignificant changes in baseball are worse then pulling teeth.
I enjoy this movie. I also enjoy over-analyzing movies, so don't think I'm saying you shouldn't do that. Just try to make sure you get it right while you're doing it, or else you look sillier then the alleged inaccuracy you claim you've found.