I know some baseball scouts sign players only because they can throw 98 99 but no tryout would only consist of scouts only requiring the pitcher to show them their fastball...any real life senerio the scouts would want to see the pitchers breaking ball..change up...slider..ect....I'm not saying its untrue that they wouldn't sign him if he didn't have good secondary pitches but they would at least ask to see them
shareYou do realize that this is based on a true story, don't you?
The scout wasn't really interested in Morris but let him go through the try-out process in order to fulfill the promise he made to his players. Morris threw 12 consecutive 98 mph fastballs and was later signed by Tampa Bay.
"WOULD NEVER HAPPEN..." HUH?? Its a true story! Jim Morris played 2 yrs for the Devil Rays (at the time) are you telling me you thought this was fiction? If you can throw mid to high 90`s? you can make it on just 1 pitch needs movement though. I live in Detroit and case in point is Joel Zumaya who has hit 103 (or 104 goin by gun?) But his ball has lost his movement, why he has been hit so hard the last 2 yrs and injurys. Morris only lasted 2 yrs and yes mostly cause he didnt have another good pitch. But this is a true story? How could you not know that, you seem to know what your talking about on not having another pitch? Dont you remember him? Was a big story when it was happening. And tell that too Mariano Riveria that you need more then 1 pitch! Cutter all he has and best reliever ever! Also probaly the 2nd best reliver of all time Trevor Hoffman, has gotten by pretty much with his wicked change up, but it`s one of the best in MLB, so yes you can get by with 1 great pitch. Yes that is the norm, that you do need more then 1 pitch, but if you got heat with movement or one of the best pitches in game, you can get by. Pitchers who are good at 3 or 4 differnt is the norm, yes. But if your GREAT at 1 pitch, you can get by with so-so other pithces. Morris did know how to throw other pitches also, just didnt go into cause his fastball was the main story, but yes the lack of another great pitch and the loss of movement on fastball (mostly, often flatten out after a while) and age kept him in only 2 yrs, although they say he probably could have remained on team or another MLB team for another yr or so, but wanted to be with family. How you did not a know a true story, is unbelievable, think they made this up? Wow. I hope you belived in "Miracle"? We did beat the Russians, not made up either, hope you know that.
shareI saw Mr. Morris pitch while I was at an Angels game, with seats next to the Angels dugout, 2nd row off the field. When Morris emerged from the TB dugout, I nudged my buddy and said its that guy ! the one that Tampa signed recently from being a High School coach. In his warmups, being so close to the field, we could hear the air being ripped by his warm up pitches. It was quite a goose bump moment to say the least. He was the real thing, too bad it didnt last too long, but he got to live a dream.
shareYa great story! He could bring it! Yep a unbelievable story, have had about 3 or 4 friends who played college baseball (nevr made it) and other friend is married to Steve Avery`s sister and my brother who lives in Indy now (im a Detroiter and he still is by heart, havnt missed opener in 30 yrs, im 40)) but his son is 10 and plays on a team coached by Chris Truby in Carmel, dont know if you remember him, was our 3rd basemen in 2001 (Tigers) - but ya have talked to those guys few times. Yep what a life! Actually Morris probably could stuck around a few more years (he says?) but family more important, but like you said, got to live his dream. I think people underestimate mid 90`s to high 90`s. Like he said in movie, only a few can hit that. I hit 83 and brother hit 87 out of high school and that aint *beep* to the pros, we are the kind of guys who need an aresnal of pithces, like my man said. But if you got the heat he had, theres a spot for ya. But ya your right, i saw him too, he could bring it! You should here Zumaya pop the mitt? That is when he isnt hurt, guy is cursed. But saying he is back to throwing the ball over a 100 and his ball is moving again, unlike last yr! Why he was gettign hit so hard, sayin he was dropping down on his motion, but back to throwing over top and ball moving again, thats what you need! MOVEMENT! He`s back baby!Movement just as important. But if you are a Angel man, look forward to seeing you in playoffs this yr, Kazmir, i know guys gave up some prospects, but he will be back (although you lost some gamers, and wish Jarrod Washburn threw for us like he did for you back in the day, what a turd!) Tigers will be there as long as Leyland dont over manage like he did the last 3 weeks last yr and Twins, sorry no more wins cause ball lost in roof (witch our Don Kelly did last with a week to go (should not have been in, Raburn should have been in) but that 1 game cost tigers divison, my brother who runs a steel comany in Indy (rich) with my urging, paid $2000 a piece for tickets right on Tiger dugout for game 3 against Yankees, lets just say he isnt too happy with me, only get back ticket value $70 a piece. Haahaa, still pissed at me. but what can you do, was thier for 84 series and all their 2006 playoff`s and 2 W.S game`s (right behind homeplate) when Mags hit hr off Street. Twins gonna find out real quick how much that dome helped them, good to hear from guy who know`s his MLB! "PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT" 4 GREATEST WORDS IN THE WORLD! Headin down to Lakeland in few weeks. As you can see im pumped! Take care buddy! Go Tigers!
shareAs rare as 98 MPH pitchers are, 98 MPH lefties are like the Holy Grail of baseball.
shareI love this movie and would give not only my left one, but my right one, too, to play in the majors. But Jim Morris didn't pitch two seasons in the majors, he pitched less than two months OVER two seasons. I tip my cap to JM, he did it.
In his major league career he was 0-0 with an ERA of 4.80, nine walks and 13 strikeouts in 15 innings over 21 appearances.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morrija03.shtml
This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.
Mariano Rivera has made a career on one pitch and I'd say he's been pretty successful. There's no reason to having a large repertoire of pitches if you're only in the bullpen.
shareBut you need more than one pitch, even if all you do is take something off it. Professional ball players can hit anything if they can sit on what you're throwing. Even Rivera throws something other than his cutter 20% of the time. Just enough to keep 'em guessing.
This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.
Dumbest post ever....how could you watch the movie and not know its based on a true story..i hope this guy is being sarcastic
share*cough* based on a TRUE story *cough*
shareAs other posters have already indicated 'The Rookie' is based on a real story and why wouldn't it happen? Yes the more conventional way is to be drafted, go to the minors and develop your skills until you are called up. Morris did it in the more unconvential way he went to a try out and got the scouts attention. Baseball scouts are always on the look out for a player who's got that special talent. Obviously Morris still had some velocity in his fast ball. It's a great story as Morris got a chance that few get. The ending credits certainly indicated that Morris pitched for two seasons fulfilling a life long dream.
Would never happen? It did happen ...
"The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense."
Supermodels...spoiled stupid little stick figures mit poofy lips who sink only about zemselves.
& it continues to happen...steve delabar, substitute teacher from kentucky.
sharethey dont care if u can throw breaking balls. they care about speed. if u can throw 100 mph. you can learn to throw off speed. especially if you are 22 23. most off speed pitches are gradually learned throughout a career, but speed on a fastball can never be tought
sharewant to bet on that?
I knew Jimmy Morris personally, through my sis and after the movie came out i was able to contact him one time and asked him how good the movie was.. He said that they did very well. there are some fictions in it (read my question for a list of them)
But, 99% of the movie was right on.
LOL @ the OP skulking off like a scolded dog. He thought this was fiction. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
shareits very much real because it happened