Pitch

Previously on Pitch...

You know what this means, right?

They're gonna bring up Livan to back you up.

I'm not sitting behind Mike Lawson.

You know what this means, right? * You're calling up Livan.

Look, Mike, I want you to play some first base.

- First base? - This will help prolong your career.

- I'm an agent. - I already got an agent.

Hi. Will Baker.

You clearly want what's best for her.

But, Will, you're in so far over your head.

- You should sign with her, sis. - But I don't trust her. I trust you.

And you always can.

Mike, I want you to meet Livan Duarte.

I've heard you could be one of the greats.

- Someday. - Nice to meet you.

Thanks for greeting him like a juvenile.

Come on, Oscar, he's here to take my job.

Relax, you have a no-trade clause.

Mike, quick question. I have a source that says

you might be put on waivers in an effort to trade you.

Right this way, Mr. Lawson.

- Thanks. They let you in here? - The man, the myth.

Give your favorite agent some thunder.

All right, okay.

You look great, bud.

I just ordered. You want something?

A bloody would be nice, but we have a day game.

Well, it is supposed to rain.

17 rainouts in San Diego in over 46 years?

It's not gonna happen. Coffee, please.

Thanks.

- Mike, listen, we need... - I cleared waivers. I know.

And now that you're clear, several teams are

interested in trading for you.

Oscar wants to know if you're happy here.

- Do I look unhappy? - You always look unhappy.

Yeah, but you know what puts a smile on this face?

- Hmm? - My no-trade clause.

Which means I don't have to go anywhere

if I don't want to.

And that is why Oscar wants to hear what you're thinking.

What you're open to.

Just to be clear, you're on my side, right?

- Pick your team. - We're still in this thing.

Mathematically.

Can pick your team, Mike;

could end up in Boston, Chicago...

Playoff teams. Play for a ring.

I'm playing for a ring with the Padres.

Okay.

Well, they do need to know by the end of the week.

'Cause if you're gonna play on a team that's going to the postseason,

you need to be on a roster by September 1st.

We'll get rained out before I ever leave San Diego.

Well, the tarp making a rare appearance here at Petco.

Padres do lead the Nationals 5-1,

but only four innings in the books.

And it's really a shame

because Ginny Baker was in some type of groove.

With the Padres still clinging

to hopes for a precious wild-card spot,

this storm could not have come at a worse time.

They need this win.

Man, I didn't think Korman was ever gonna call it.

And I just got over a cold.

Are you guys seriously complaining about getting a little wet?

Damn right.

All right, well, if a few raindrops make you whine,

I'm guessing no one wants to hop on a bike with me?

Gonna want to save some for the rest of the game, rookie.

Then let's go over hitters.

Mason Terry's up second, once we get back out there.

Yeah, I lost his last home run behind a cloud.

Yeah. Fastball inside. Great idea.

I set up inside off the plate.

Cranky today.

How can you tell the difference?

Yikes.

Ugh! Of course I got a blowout this morning.

Hair salons should sell weather insurance.

The rain messes with your do, you're covered.

- That's actually not a bad idea. - I know.

I have a million of them. It's a gift; I don't own it.

- Have you talked to Oscar? - Uh, not yet.

I want to know who's in my suite.

Well, technically, it's not yours.

It's the Padres', but since you asked, the mayor and his staff.

Great. Stuck with the WAGs.

On the upside, I hear the family room has

Grand Theft Auto V... and a bar.

And wives, girlfriends and children.

Okay, guys, hey, listen, I've got some hot chocolate

and towels on the way; there are the towels.

Please let my office know if there's anything else you need.

- Hi. - Hey. Stay dry.

Am I seeing you tonight?

- Careful. - He has no idea.

All right.

Ah, Charlie.

I need to go see the boss and make big baseball decisions

befitting my lofty executive status.

I wish I could watch.

Okay, I'm gonna walk away now.

That's a really good idea.

- Okay. - Okay.

Ump says it could be an hour before it stops.

I'll be ready, Skip.

Not if we don't start within the next 45 minutes.

Come on, my pitch count is low. I'm feeling it today.

I'm not taking a chance on you getting hurt.

45 minutes. Any longer and I'm pulling you.

- I'm gonna stretch. - Don't bother.

I know what the rain does to bones like ours.

Al, I know you're feeling kind of peppy

ever since you started eating kale,

which, for the record, I still think

is just the placebo effect, but you got a couple years on me.

Which is why this ex-catcher knows how your story ends.

Sorry, but when we get back out there,

Duarte's behind the plate.

- We need this game. - We have a four-run lead.

I like our chances. Mike...

Let's keep you fresh, huh?

Hey. Big picture, we need you for the long haul.

Yeah, that's easy for you to say. You get to go back out there.

Looks like I'm your catcher for the rest of the day.

That's the word on the street. You ready to go over the hitters?

Mason Terry's up again next inning.

Relax, mami,

I got you.

You better, papi.

Let's hit the bike.

Damn it!

Hey, Charlie. Got your text.

40.203.

What's that number mean to you, Oscar?

It's the number of seats at Petco.

Right. It's also the number of rain checks

we're gonna have to issue if a Ginny Baker game is called.

To be honest, I care more about the win.

Keeps us in the wild-card mix.

Good. Then we're both incentivized to get this game in.

You know, there was only a 17% chance of precipitation.

- It's not supposed to rain. - It's got to rain here sometime.

But not today.

It's not supposed to rain today. Why?

Well, what's your strategy?

Strategy?

Uh, well, uh, Doppler says

there's roughly a 40-minute break between storms.

My strategy is to hope that it's right.

40-minute break.

Well, the average inning is 20 minutes.

We only have to get the top half in.

Assuming the Nationals go down

one, two, three, we only need ten minutes of game time.

- We should be fine, right? - Well, I get it,

but it's, uh, the umpire's decision, not ours.

- And this decision's based on what? - The groundskeeper's opinion

on the condition of the field. Okay.

And where's the groundskeeper's office?

Charlie, you want to talk to the groundskeeper?

Before he consults with the umpire, yeah.

When Russell's stressed, he's a little irritable.

Oh, come on, I'm nothing if not a people person, right?

So where are we on Mike Lawson?

Get him to waive his no-trade clause yet?

You don't get Lawson to agree to a trade.

You have to plant the seed and let it be his decision.

All right, Johnny Appleseed, when do we harvest?

For what it's worth, I like Lawson on this team,

and I like him in our clubhouse.

And I'll to talk to him right now.

- And then we're gonna see Russ. - Russell.

- Prefers Russell. - Russell. Got it.

Yo, how long's it supposed to rain?

Yeah, when is it gonna let up?

Do I look like a meteorologist?

Well, you were close friends

with at least three weather girls. Two of them at the same time.

Maybe you picked something up.

Weather-wise.

Ah, that's a good one.

Maybe. Maybe.

Hey, Lawson.

You had breakfast with your agent today?

Not here.

Look, it's only talk now, but there's interest in you.

Can we discuss this later? We got a game today.

You don't.

You guys shut me down today in case I got hurt, in case you want to trade me?

Yeah, and I made it rain, too.

No, that was Al's call, not mine.

He thinks we're still in this thing.

- So do I. - And so do I.

Look... there's a small window.

Okay? So I'm around.

Knock it off. Next subject.

You know it's true. You have the sexiest groupies.