Finally Growing Up Season 1 Episode 9: The Next Steps

CHRIS, DREW, and JULIAN are sitting in their living room.

Put Me In Season 1 Episode 2: The First Start (A TV Ratings Guide Original)

PREVIOUSLY ON PUT ME IN

COACH DONOVAN takes the phone call, listening without saying a word. When it’s over, he hangs up.

COACH DONOVAN
They want me to pick someone to start the game.

TYLER
Who?

COACH DONOVAN
Well I’m not sure how many of you have the stamina, since most of you do an inning or two at a time.

MIKE
This sounds like the job for the utility pitcher. Too bad I don’t want to.

COACH DONOVAN
Yeah let’s talk about your attitude. Crap, who’s left?

CARTER
Put me in.

__________________

COACH DONOVAN
Put you in? Why would I do that?

CARTER
Because I’m willing to. I want to show everyone I have potential.

COACH DONOVAN
You don’t. But fine. Go in the game and then head to the dugout at the end of the inning.

CARTER
I’m sure I’ll be back as a reliever soon.

COACH DONOVAN
Not if it’s up to me. Get in the game, the crowd is waiting.

CARTER runs onto the field and to the pitchers’ mound, having thrown no warm-up pitches. The first pitch is a strike. The crowd cheers. RAY, the Charleston Capitols catcher, walks over to the mound.

RAY
Listen up kid, I don’t know if you’re good or not, but that was a nice pitch. Keep it up.

CARTER thanks him, but RAY doesn’t hear as he has already turned around to go back to the catchers’ box.

CARTER takes a few seconds, then throws the next pitch. It’s a strike. The crowd cheers.

CARTER (to himself)
How did that happen?

CARTER throws the third pitch. It’s also a strike, and the batter struck out. The crowd cheers. He gets through the next five innings allowing just one hit.

LEWIS, the manager, congratulates CARTER.

LEWIS
You can really pitch kid!

CARTER
It’s probably a fluke.

LEWIS
Who cares? Good pitching is good pitching.

CARTER
True.

LEWIS
Coach Donovan was right about you.

CARTER
What do you mean? He hates me!

LEWIS
He put you in.

CARTER
I think he was saving the other pitchers for later in the game. Plus, I volunteered. He doesn’t even like to talk to me.

LEWIS
That’s Don for you.

CARTER
I hope he doesn’t hate me when I go back to the bullpen.

LEWIS
Oh you’re not going back there. You’re a starting pitcher now.

CARTER
Huh?

LEWIS
If this outing looks anything like the future ones, you’re the best pitcher on our team! I can feel it right now, you’re going to be famous.

CARTER
I doubt that.

LEWIS
You don’t appreciate yourself enough.

RAY interjects

RAY
You really don’t. It was so easy to catch for you. I’d do it again any day.

CARTER
I don’t know what to say.

LEWIS
I say you walk a few steps out of the dugout and tip your cap to the crowd. They’ll love it.

CARTER does just that. The crowd cheers and chants his name.

RAY
You’re on your way to stardom.

The Bullpen Season 2 Episode 5: On The Mound

PLAYERS

Kurt: long-term reliever
Lorenzo: middle-relief pitcher
Jason: bullpen coach
Robert: 8th inning/setup pitcher
Bryan: closer
Eli: left-handed specialist
All: benchwarmer
Until now.

Jason: I know last week we went to the wrong stadium. Please, nobody tell me we got this one wrong too.
Lorenzo: Coach, I know the rest of the team doesn't seem to be here but there's a crowd waiting for a game to be played.
Robert: Didn't anyone see that one of our starting pitchers is getting married today, so him and the other starting pitchers aren't coming to the game? Also, the game doesn't start for another five hours.
Jason: Why didn't I know this, and why did no one tell me?
Robert: You've never been good with dates and times. Also you threatened to make us pitch if we didn't get here at 2pm, and told us that's final and you won't be hearing any responses. 
Jason: Yeah that does kind of sound like me actually. And also who told you this thing about a wedding?
Robert: I read about it online. How else would I find out anything about this team? Oh also Bryan you're on my fantasy team now, most of my pitchers got hurt and there's no one else on my league's free agent list.
Bryan: Thanks?
Robert: What I'm trying to say is, don't pitch.
Bryan: Fine by me.
Jason: Wait...uh oh.
Robert: What?
Jason: Some of you actually are going to have to pitch.
Robert: No kidding.
Jason: Remember the last time we had to go in the game? That's basically why I'm the bullpen coach now. I never wanted to have to go through that again.
Lorenzo: Us either Coach. But with some prayers and sugar, we should be able to make it through.
Bryan: I actually have a thing going on so I probably have to leave by the fifth inning, guess I can't be the closer, that's too bad.
Jason: Nice try. Robert already said you're not pitching. 
Robert: That's right.
Jason: Wait. I'm in charge. Bryan, you're not pitching.
Bryan: Yes!
Jason: You're staying here though.
Bryan: Am I?
Jason: Actually whatever. 
Robert: So, who's going to pitch?
Jason: Kurt is supposedly our long-term reliever so I guess him?
Kurt: Yep, I'm the long term guy. I'm probably good to get a guy or two out.
Jason: Great, that leaves us with only 25 to 26 more!
Kurt: Too bad this is a home game. Let's be real, the other team would definitely not be batting in the final inning if they didn't have to.
Jason: You should probably start warming up in an hour or four. Actually don't, wouldn't want to tire you out since your average pitch count this year is 0.
Lorenzo: So what do we do until then, Coach?
Jason: I guess go home, make sure to get back for the first pitch though.
[Five Hours Later]
Jason: Alright Kurt, good luck.
Eli: Break a leg!
Robert: That's something you say when you're acting. Kurt is actually pitching.
Eli: Oh.
(Kurt walks up to the mound.)
Stadium Announcer: Now pitching, Burt LeTrix.
Robert: Huh?
Jason: I just got a text from Kurt saying to "just go with it". OK, why does he have his phone with him?
Lorenzo: Simple Coach, so he can make a call to the bullpen when he's ready to come out of the game.
Jason: The pitchers don't do that genius, the manager does it from the dugout.
Eli: I think I see him running back to the bullpen.
Kurt (out of breath): Sorry guys, kept my phone on me. Keep it here, passcode is 167597, I have some pretty fun time-waster games on there. Gotta run.
Jason: He's already out of breath. This is going to be a disaster.
Bryan: Was that a strike?
Jason: Looks like the umpire called it that. 
Eli: Guys it's all over social media! Kurt is going viral! As Burt, though.
Jason: Just because he pitched one strike?
Eli: Make that two.
Lorenzo: Why isn't the guy running?
Jason: He hasn't given up a hit yet! This is unbelievable! 
Eli: Looks like the guy hit that one.
Lorenzo: Yeah and it's headed right toward us, let me get my glove!
Jason: Crap.
Lorenzo: I got a home run ball everyone! Look!
Robert: Can't believe we're already losing. 
Eli: He was a two-strike wonder.
Lorenzo: Three strikes now.
Jason: Are we really going to do a play-by-play of every pitch he throws? 
Bryan: Nah, let's just watch. Whoa, he threw another strike! OK I'm done.
[Long pause]
Lorenzo: Coach, we haven't talked for six innings, can I at least mention the fact he's only given up two runs and we're winning?
Jason: I'm in total shock. I think the crowd is too, I've never seen people celebrate so loudly for simply throwing a strike.
Bryan: So about me in the game...
Jason: I don't think you have to worry, he might make it through the whole game! 
Robert: What's happening?
Jason: He's pitching great!
Robert: I mean why are there guys out there taking the ball away from him?
Eli: I think they're taking him out of the game. The starting pitchers came back.
Lorenzo: But starting pitchers start the game!
Eli: Not this time, I guess. The crowd is booing too. They're on our side this time!
Jason: They're on Burt's side but good enough.
(Kurt approaches the bullpen)
Jason: Kurt you did awesome! What happened?
Kurt: They said I've thrown a lot of pitches and want to give me a rest.
Jason: Oh come on, I can't believe they used that excuse. You were pitching great!
Kurt: They want me to start Saturday afternoon's game.
Jason: What.