The Outfield

1

Right, yeah.

Hey, Sanders! You're late!

Sorry, Coach.

A little hustle

would be good right about now!

Hey.

Hey, Picasso.

Where you been?

Just got distracted, you know?

Is that paint on your glove?

Yeah, I guess I left

the lid open.

- So, then what happened?

- Oh, yeah, yeah.

So I texted him. He texted me.

I texted him. He texted me.

I texted him.

He didn't text me back.

So I texted him again.

Then that little

"I'm writing something" bubble

popped up, those little...

the three dots.

Then that disappeared.

What is that about?

You think something's wrong

with his phone?

There's something wrong,

all right,

but it's not with his phone.

It's like we're monkeys

in a frickin' zoo.

You're the one

they're looking at.

Seriously, dude, I don't know

why you don't just sign

with one of them

and get it over with.

What about you, man? Any calls?

No.

It'll happen.

You know, I heard it helps

if you actually attend class.

Okay, good job!

Let's go! Banana drills.

Oh.

Right in the jaw.

Yeah, you think

that's funny, huh?

Outfield!

His panties are in quite

the bunch today, huh, guys?

When aren't they?

- That guy needs to get laid!

- Dude.

He's not wrong.

- Good hit.

- Don't sound so surprised.

Of course. Maybe if they had

real coffee here...

- Hey, Ms. Rachels.

- Oh. Hey, Jack.

How's your mural coming along?

Actually... and maybe you

could help me with this...

I was trying to digitize

some of my animation drawings.

Oh, yeah. Sorry, Jack.

Digital animation is a little

out of my league...

no pun intended.

Uh... Oh, before I forget,

I, uh... I finished that book

you gave me.

- Oh. Did you like it?

- I loved it.

I thought it was amazing

how Haring

held on to his graffiti roots

even after he became,

like, an art superstar

and how Basquiat

and Kenny Scharf formed,

like, a... like,

a little artist community

and they inspired each other.

Well, you know what they say.

It takes an artist

to know an artist.

Hey. Can I ask?

Why would you leave a city

like New York

to come to a place like Peoria?

I mean, not that it's bad

or anything.

I just needed a change.

- You ever go to Yankee Stadium?

- Oh, sure. Plenty of times.

Not real fond

of the new one, though.

Me neither. It's like

a ballpark on steroids...

which I guess

is kind of fitting.

Hey, Jack? Has anyone ever

told you that you have talent?

Yeah. Wait. You mean with art?

Yeah, with art.

No, not really.

- Well, you do.

- Thank you.

You know,

I may be way out of line,

but, uh, I have something

I really want you to consider.

California Institute

of the Arts?

Cal Arts.

It's all art all the time...

painting, drawing, sculpture,

and arguably the best

character-animation program

in the country.

It's basically

a feeding ground for Pixar.

Eric Darnell went there?

And Tim Burton,

John Lasseter, Brad Bird.

Well, if you're interested,

I can help you

fill out an application.

Look, Ms. Rachels,

I really appreciate that you're

thinking of me and everything,

but I'm playing ball next year.

Oh, I was under the impression

that your college plans

were still undecided.

Technically, I haven't

actually signed anything yet,

but the ball part's

pretty much a given.

Well, in the meantime,

consider your options,

all of your options.

There you are. I've been

looking everywhere for you.

Oh, hey, Em.

Or should I say Coach Emily?

Ha ha. Very funny.

Hey, I heard the scouts

were out today. How'd it go?

You know, they don't

really say much to us.

Well, they better be

paying attention

when you're out on the field.

I didn't defer your college

for my health.

I know. I know.

Just think, you, me, State.

No parents, no curfews,

coed dorms.

- Can't forget about those.

- Me neither.

Oh, shoot.

Time to babysit

the rejects at JV track.

I love my life.

Don't go too hard on 'em.

Me?

Never.

Every second step

is a stumble

That gets you closer

to the line

You're a mystery kid

And whatever you get,

you borrow

But it's hard to know

You never believed

I was set to see

But I've got eyes

in the back of my head

And you never conceived

I could read your book so well

Let's go, Jack!

You're a ghost in this life

A collection

of un-waved sails

You're a ghost

In the party line

- You sure it's set on six?

- Hey, you guys...

Uh, what?

Uh, yeah. Yeah, it is.

Hey, you guys want

to help me break in

my dad's new Jet Ski

this weekend?

No way, dude.

I got scouts in town.

Yeah. Me either.

Why not?

I got stuff I got to do.

Does "stuff" have anything to do

with Sheila Cohen's parents

being out of town this weekend?

- A gentleman never tells.

- What? Dude, that's...

Her hotness is,

like, epic level.

Doesn't she have a brother?

- Nope.

- Hot ones never do.

No, please. Don't get up.

I got it.

Good, man. You're doing great.

"Franchising opportunity"...

Ugh.

This sucks.

Jack's got suitors.

You got stuff.

Such balls, man.

What am I supposed to do?

Hey. Can you come load

me again?

Ackerman! Can you take care

of that, please?

I'm sure you'll find someone

willing to apply sunblock

to all

your hard-to-reach places.

They won't have

your gentle touch.

Gentle like this?

Ooh. Hmm.

Actually, no.

A little bit more like this.

All right.

Hey.

Welcome to

Austin York's Batting Bonanza.

I am Austin York.

- Cage for two?

- Yes, please.

Oh, well,

right this way, please.

Watch your step over

our little helper friend here.

It's kind of a charity thing.

We do a lot of that here at

Austin York's Batting Bonanza.

Right this way.

So we have Jack Sanders here,

all-star,

hitting in this cage if Ackerman

would just load the machine!

Cage three, right?

Yes.

Uh, 40 bucks.

There's no student discount?

Let me guess, Oak Lawn?

Uh, how'd you know?

Platinum is the card of choice

among Peoria's elite.

Shoot. We left

the bats in the cage.

What's so funny?

It's easy to do

when you're used to people

picking up after you.

Excuse me?

He dies, by the way, Gatsby.

At the end of the book,

Wilson mistakes him

for Tom and shoots him.

I know. I saw the movie too.

Hey, there he is,

the future of Tiger Baseball.

- Coach Schoffman.

- Hey.

Take a load off, son.

I didn't realize

you were in town, sir.

Yeah. I'm taking a look

at a couple of... thank you...

a couple of juniors

over at East.

Do you know Greg Sanford

and Doug Millan?

- Hey, Jackie.

- Hey, Dad.

Played against Sanford

in the Final Four last year.

So how are things going?

Really good. Just, you know,

working on my swing.

Oh, well, you know,

the hitting coach at State

is one of the best

in the game...

that is, of course,

if you sign with us.

But no pressure.

Well, I got a lot of homework

I should probably go

get started on.

All right, all right.

Well, it's always good

to see you, kid.

You too, sir.

- Night, bud.

- Night, Dad.

Oh.

Oh, I remember

when your mom took this.

How is she?

Have you heard from her lately?

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