Pitch, 1.09 - "Scratched"

Warning: SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED.

Break is over (and it's completely unfair, since other schools have more days off), but I'm still working to catch up on my reviews. Let's get started with the second to last episode of Pitch season 1.


Mike continues to grapple with his decision about leaving. On the one hand, he has been loyal to the Padres and their fanbase for years; it's how he made his name. On the other hand, he isn't getting any younger and he may be better off transferring to a team with a greater chance of winning. He's waived his no trade clause, but will he confirm his move to the Cubs? Nobody wants him to go, except for Charlie, whose mind has always been about the money. It's messing with Mike's mood, and frankly, it's messing with mine as well. Seeing a consistently grumpy Mike is definitely throwing me off.

Mike is also getting closer to realizing the extent of his feelings for Ginny, and has to watch her joke and flirt with many other interested men. This week, charming CEO Noah asks her out, and she accepts, with encouragement from Will, Blip and Evelyn. To be honest, I will forever associate that actor as the love interest in Taylor Swift's "Teardrops on my Guitar" video.

Fortunately, Ginny's upcoming date doesn't stop her from wholeheartedly supporting Mike, and she pleads for him to stay. When Al doesn't let Mike play in what was supposed to be his last game to minimize the risk for injury before the move, Ginny's influence with the cameraman hypes up the fans, and Mike enters the field to please them. Of course, he doesn't do well, striking out, but the fans love him anyway, and so does Ginny. Unfortunately, he brushes her off repeatedly, and Ginny has no idea why.

Noah ends up renting out an entire restaurant for his and Ginny's date, but Ginny still ends up leaving when Mike calls. The two say their goodbyes at a bar, and, gasp, ARE NEARLY ABOUT TO KISS. That is, until Mike gets the call from Oscar about the trade deal falling through, and the two reluctantly step away from each other. Ginny is famously known for not dating fellow players, but, well....

I've always had mixed feelings for Bawson. I do believe they have genuine chemistry, but not gonna lie, I still ship Ginny with Cara. I feel like the audience missed many of their potential intimate moments, and there was more commitment and thought on Mike's point of view. Fox better renew this show for a second season, so we can see their dynamic develop further, and hopefully become more balanced.

Meanwhile, Amelia's still uncertain about Evelyn and Will working together. Evelyn doesn't understand the big deal, but Blip's having doubts, too. Will can't really explain away their disappearing money, and Evelyn finally starts becoming suspicious at the discrepancy in their budget. She resorts to calling Amelia for help - that's when you know sh*t is gonna go down. With Noah's warning to Ginny earlier about the high failure rates of restaurant startups, this can't bode well. Will is clearly in the wrong here, and needs to recognize his reckless spending before he throws away other people, including his own sister's, money.

Lastly, Oscar and Natalie's fling ends when she tells him and her father (Al) that she's leaving for the Medical Corp. This moment should be sadder, but it really isn't, especially there was no emotional buildup for Oscar and Natalie's relationship. I hope season 2 (when if we get one) will focus on the supporting characters' backstories, especially since many of them are POC.

I've always been supportive of this show, and have praised it since the beginning of the season, but I feel as if these last few episodes have been falling kind of flat. The baseball talk isn't particularly interesting, and leaves less time for the cast to shine. I know Ginny loves and breathes baseball, but she does need a life outside of it. We have yet to see how she became friends with Blip and Evelyn, and Eliot definitely needs more screentime!!! That being said, I look forward to watching it if it gets renewed.

Rating: 8
Extras that didn't make it in: The fact that Ginny realized something was up because Mike called her by her first name instead of Baker was breathtaking.

*My next review will be Pitch 1.10 or the JTV midseason finale. ALSO, SHADOWHUNTERS SEASON 2 RETURNS TONIGHT. See you then!