MovieChat Forums > The Rookie (2002) Discussion > Three pitches for the strikeout

Three pitches for the strikeout

posted 11 years ago by mercury4
7 replies | jump to latest

In real life it took Jimmy four pitches to strikeout Clayton. In the movie he does it in three. They said it was too hard to film Royce Clayton fouling off one. Why? They were able to do it in For Love of the Game with Kevin Costner.

[–] cara-stone 10 years ago

Um, different people? Different place? Different time? Different circumstances?

Michael Jordan takes off from the top of the key and slams. So why can't you?

[–] mercury4 9 years ago

Um, different people? Different place? Different time? Different circumstances?

Michael Jordan takes off from the top of the key and slams. So why can't you?

What does that have to do with anything? I'm talking about them filming someone fouling off a pitch, which Clayton did in the real life situation when Morris struck him out. What's so hard about that? It's not that hard and it's been done before in baseball movies. They've filmed all types of fouls. Close fouls that were almost homers, fouls that almost went fair, foul tips, etc. And you're forgetting that they filmed Wack fouling off one of Jimmy's pitches. And I don't know why you are asking me if I could take off from the top of the key. That's irrelevant and a ridiculous question. And for your information, Jordan could not take off from the top of the key. Do you know where the top of the key is? Nobody has ever dunked from the "three point line," and never will. Not all players can even take off from the free throw line. Taking off from the top of the key is impossible unless your Superman lol. I hope you're kidding.

[–] jennypage028-1 9 years ago

Baseball players dont practice hitting foul balls, so it could possible take a significant amount of time, John Kruk in the Fan , fouls a pitch off in the movie and he said it took a lot of pitches an dtakes before it wa accomplished , I forget the exact amount, but enough that the director got mad and wanted someone to do it , before being told that it takes a lot more effort then people think.

"Let us die young or let us live forever
We don't have the power but we never say never

[–] asherp 8 years ago

Budget...timing.....

They probably made a deal with a stadium/extras to film the scene. They probably had a few minutes...a few hours to get the shot. It wasnt at the core of the movie so you can imagine that it was something with a limited budget and a limited number of hours that could be put to it.

Perhaps the real MLB game was going to start in an hour....

[–] duckofprey (1557) 8 years ago

"Perhaps the real MLB game was going to start in an hour...."

I just read on IMDB that they filmed that part *after* a real Ranger game.

[–] duckofprey (1557) 8 years ago

This too was on the trivia for this film...interesting

"Producers contacted Royce Clayton, the first batter Jim Morris faced in the Major Leagues, and got his permission to use his name, etc for the film. It actually took Morris four pitches to strike him out. Clayton managed to hit one foul. But it was too difficult to film a ball going foul, so they left it out."

[–] Sandman81 (1510) 5 years ago

Royce Clayton was not only willing to reenact a time he failed to do his job, but do so in a movie that would make sure that people remember it for years and years to come. If he wasn't bothered by the change from 4 pitches to 3, then you shouldn't be either.