Trouble with the Curve Page #7

Now I'm a quality associate, I see.

I've worked longer and harder than

anyone in that office. I deserve this.

You'll have your time, Mickey.

Just maybe not now.

All right...

I will see you all next week,

rested and ready to work.

It's my problem.

I don't know why I give my blood,

sweat and tears to those cold-blooded...

backstabbing jerk-offs.

And for what?

I guess, you know,

you want your name on the door.

Where'd you learn how to drink

fancy single-malt out of the bottle?

- They teach you that at law school?

- No.

My dad. Yet another brilliant gift

he bestowed upon me.

You are my sunshine.

My only sunshine.

You make me happy

When skies are gray.

My dad used to sing that when...

When we were low,

and he would sing that and...

it would help.

You have his voice.

What do you think, Flanagan,

about your first pick?

I don't know. What do you think?

I just got off the phone with Atlanta.

We're not gonna take him

because he can't hit a curve.

The last homer he hit was off a curve.

Tell him.

His hands drift.

He can't get any punch into a breaking ball

because his hands are just drifting.

Well, he still hit it out.

Sisters of the Blind could hit it out

with an aluminum bat.

From everything the Red Sox

have heard...

they think we're drafting

the next Albert Pujols.

Well, just take my advice

and be careful.

You're sure? Not even as a project?

You'd waste a number one pick

on a project?

If you wanna cover your ass, okay,

but I sure as hell wouldn't do that.

It's not every day you get

a number one pick.

That's true, but let me give you

another piece of advice.

Don't be afraid to walk away.

Go ahead and do what you like,

Flanagan.

If he's available, he's not gonna be playing

for the Braves, I'll tell you that.

Think he's right?

I don't know.

What's the matter with you? You okay?

Yeah. I'm just thinking, a lot, too much.

- Too much thinking.

- Okay.

That's enough, we're gonna get out of here.

Come on.

- Come on.

- Where are we going?

You'll figure it out when we get there.

- Come on.

- Do I need my shoes?

You can bring them if you want.

You want something from him...

that he just may not

be able to give you.

So do yourself a favor,

stop being pissed off about it.

What?

You're not so bad, Flanagan.

That's all right. I'll wait.

How long?

As long as it takes.

What are you doing?

What am I doing?

I'm taking my clothes off.

What?

Let's go.

You are crazy.

You coming in?

Oh, no. No, no, no, I don't think so.

Afraid you might forget about your job

for a second and actually have some fun?

Oh, thank you for the analysis.

How much do I owe you?

That one was pro bono.

Oh, thanks.

Come on.

Live a little.

No peeking.

What're you staring at?

The paint job on the car.

Oh, yeah, you like it?

Really hot paint job.

- Yeah.

- Really hot.

What? Here she goes.

- A cannonball.

- Yeah, you like that?

- Yeah, it's impressive.

- Thank you.

Isn't this beautiful?

Yeah, it sure is.

Where are you going?

I'm keeping a safe distance.

You're good at that, you know?

Why don't you try stopping?

Here.

How's this?

It's safe.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

What about now?

Safe.

This makes me nervous, Johnny.

Are you sure they're passing?

How well do you know Gus Lobel?

Trust me, we go back a long way.

Okay? He's a friend.

Three minutes to make the pick.

Look, I could play this safe

and tell you to take him.

But you don't want to do that.

The kid's hands drift.

The truth is, I didn't even see it,

Lobel did.

You better be sure

you understood him correctly.

I'm sure.

Welcome back to Major League Baseball's...

live coverage of the

first-year player draft.

This is the moment

we've all been waiting for.

High school, college students from across

the country have worked hard all year...

and it all comes down to this.

Here we go.

Okay, so it's time to find out.

Let's head to the podium.

Oh, my God.

Good evening.

With the first selection

of the first year player draft...

the Boston Red Sox select...

Paulino Estrada, a right-handed pitcher

from Arizona State University.

Yes! Come on, baby.

Gentry's ours, Red Sox pass!

The Atlanta Braves have the next

pick and they are now on the clock.

Congratulations.

The Red Sox. So stupid.

The Sox passed

because Flanagan's smart, that's why.

Like I told you last night,

kid can't hit a curve ball.

You know how I feel about you,

but God Almighty, if you're wrong...

Well, I'm not wrong.

Kid's nothing but a dead-red hitter.

Oh, you can watch him if you want

and see if he develops...

but no more than that.

I'll see you back in Atlanta in a few days.

Don't sign him.

- What?

- Gus is adamant. He can't hit the curve.

Oh, Christ! How long?

How long are we gonna listen to this?

I don't give a damn.

We've been tracking him.

Matt says he can hit the crap

out of anything.

This kid's a godsend.

- Pete?

- I stand with Gus.

I say sign the pitcher from San Diego.

We are not passing on him, Vince.

Last time I checked, that's my decision.

Yes. No, I'm sorry. It's just...

I've been following this kid...

- ...every game, every single at bat.

- Your computer's followed him.

When's the last time you stepped out

of the office and saw a high school game?

Our pick's up in two minutes.

If I am wrong, if I'm wrong, you fire me.

But I am telling you right now:

Bo Gentry's the kind of five-tool player that

changes the entire landscape of a franchise.

We draft this kid and we are competitive

for the next five, 10 years.

Sorry, Pete.

- You better be right.

- I'm right.

Definitely right.

Did it even occur to you

that I might get fired?

- You just don't care.

- What happened?

That's funny. Learn to walk away?

Isn't that what you said?

Yeah, well, I did. I walked away.

I passed and you guys got Gentry.

Congratulations.

You did the right thing, Flanagan. I guess

the Braves don't give a crap what I think.

Honestly, Gus, save it.

Hold on. Johnny, it wasn't us.

- Really?

- Really. It wasn't.

- It's the truth.

- The truth? Oh, okay.

Well, the truth is, it's over for me.

I had a real shot at the booth,

and now it's gone.

Okay, well, that wasn't us.

You can drop the act, Mickey,

I feel dumb enough already, okay?

You know, I should've known better.

A lawyer and a washed-up baseball player.

Look, you have to believe me. Last night

meant more to me than you know.

Get out of the way, Mickey.

This is a bad time to walk away now.

Move.

No.

Move!

Let him go.

Well...

I guess now I go into a life of retirement

for all the good service I've given them.

Always use another watch.

I should've seen it earlier.

No, it wasn't your fault.

Phillip Sanderson sent that guy up here

to make sure I didn't screw it all up.

Well, things are definitely screwed up.

So, what do we do now?

Go home.

Me, to a career ending, and you to

a career that's just starting as a partner.

I don't think so.

What?

It was more important

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