Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill for April 15, 2022

I’m sorry, what?? There’s only ONE signal? And then what happens? Scooter yells, “HEY GREGG, WILSON’S HAND IS ON HIS LEG”?? Great plan.

Ever Conf 2nd or 3rd, but now we talk signals in private. Could be champs!

Wilson and Scooter receive signals from bench: Wilson fakes to pitcher; Scooter yells, "Slider low ’n away.” “Heater high ‘n tight.” Who needs stinkin’ trash cans?

Is the pitcher legally blind? Still no explanation on why he can’t wear glasses on the mound.

“But you can still feel!” Scooter exclaimed.

“What the heck are you talking about?”

“I’ll send the signals to you in Braille!”

It will take the Houston Astros, Tod Andrews and other rival coaches about two minutes to figure this one out. Mudlark Stadium about to become a driving range.

P1 Aren’t you being just a little bit paranoid Gregggg? Is every opposing coach and player in the Valley hanging out at the Copywrite Cafe spying on Milford’s #2 starter? Definitely a stellar idea moving to the parking lot outside and acting out how you’ll get the signals while all the inquiring minds in the shop slurp their latte’s and watch you and Eli work it out

Great plan Eli, what happens if you are benched or injured and not on the field?

P4 Blue vehicle on Wilson’s right, fastball, blue vehicle on Wilson’s left, curve…

A clue to plot development. Greggg has better than average hearing so Scooter pounds his fist in his glove once, fastball. Twice, curve.

This solution is sheer genius

WHERE is he going to be? Is he just going to shout? P.S. Most high school players don’t have enough skill to throw the ball any different.

Aside from reading the signals, isn’t a blind pitcher a bit of a problem?

Is the woman in the parking lot gray-haired Gregg’s wife?

This farce has all the drama (and none of the talent) of a Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney inspired “Hey gang, let’s put on a show!” as a means of solving a crisis. Greggg would be better off only throwing that knee buckling curveball. Most high school hitters can eventually time a fastball but a mean Uncle Charlie is tougher to track.

Um, like isn’t the coach supposed to handle this rather than dumb and dumber here?

Somehow, this plan reminds me of Garrett Morris and his translation of the news for the hearing impaired on the original SNL.

If Gregg doesn’t like the call, he shakes off Scooter, who in turn shakes off Wilson, who starts the process over. Good thing the pitch clock hasn’t started.

Opening Day: Our favorite Radio announcer says “The infield is really in tight. The Second baseman is almost up to the Pitcher’s Mound.”

Oh, better leave the coffee shop! There are spies everywhere that would love to get this secret intel about the Milford student with bad vision! And is it really necessary for Scooooter to demonstrate how a catcher gives signs? I think they all already know that.

Yeah, the predictions that seemed dumb are coming true. This plan is foolproof, Scooooter will just yell what pitch to throw to Gregggg. No way anyone will crack that code. Talk about forcing conflict/story. Gillll is going to kick him off the team if he finds out? Sooooo dumb.

And speaking of dumb, today’s Mopped Up Thorpppp is ready for your approval/disproval.

https://moppedupthorp.wordpress.com/

I wonder how long it will take for Pranit to figure out that he should bet against Milford on the days when Gregg is pitching?

Simple solution, all Milford needs to do is to purchase the “PitchCom Pitcher Catcher Communication Device” – an electronic device for catchers to signal pitches in an effort to eliminate sign stealing and speed games. Teams can have up to 5 players wear the receiving devices and it is virtually impossible to hack. For some reason there hasn’t been much publicity, but MLB is allowing this technology for games this season. Milford could afford this, all Gil has to do is raise the price on his State Champion Coach memorabilia by 5% and it’s easily covered.

Gee it’s to bad that the car Scoots was next to ran him over ,in all reality, we need a new plan. Anyone Anyone !

After all of the crazy plotlines with kids believing in magical peacocks, dressing in Coke box bikinis, and falling under the thrall of Aussie tattoo artists, can’t everyone just suspend disbelief about the existence of a kid whose eyesight isn’t correctable to 20/20 even WITH glasses? I can’t believe that THIS is the plot point people are unwilling to accept. /rant