Pitch Review: Scratched (Season 1 Episode 9)

Perhaps the best thing about Pitch is the stellar performance we get from Mark-Paul Gosselaar each and every week.

Mike Lawson is unlike any character he’s played before, and he’s been pulling out all the stops, particularly on Pitch Season 1 Episode 9, “Scratched.”

This episode brings out another complicated, emotional aspect of baseball — one that might not even seem that obvious.

Mike makes the decision to waive his no trade agreement and make a deal to go to Chicago and play with the Cubs, hopefully winning his first World Series in the process.

He makes that decision because he knows his time is running out. He’s only 36, but in this game, that’s near retirement. He also has the clear feeling that he is wanted on the team. More than that, I think we’re supposed to understand that he’s developed feelings for Ginny, and therefore thinks the safest choice is to leave the team.

And while I know that connection, and their near kiss at the end of the episode, is what a lot of fans have been hoping for, I’m disappointed by it.

Their relationship as a mentor and mentee is far more interesting to me. Even though Mike has had the opportunity to work with Ginny and help her adjust to playing with the team, she’s been able to help him just as much.

In fact, we even see that in this episode, from her advice when he’s warming up to her plan for getting Mike in the game (which is one of my absolute favorite moments from this episode).

With Ginny’s brother making terrible decisions and not quite being the brother he should be, Mike as a stand in for that — and even for Ginny’s father, rings more true to me than a romance would.

All that said, “Scratched” is a strong episode. It keeps its focus and digs into character development in interesting ways, especially when it comes to Mike.

It also sticks to traditional storytelling and avoids the “flashback-of-the-week” format it’s been using for most of the season.

The flashbacks have been useful for the most part, but they’ve been overdone. It’s like Pitch has been rushing to give us as much backstory as possible, and with “Scratched,” it finally slows down and focuses on what’s happening in the moment. That allows Mike’s character to shine even more.

You don’t have to play baseball, or any sport for that matter, to find his story relatable.

That’s true of Ginny in a lot of ways too, and it’s the reason this show works so well. Pitch is still trying to find its legs and figure out what it wants to be, but the one thing it knows is that the story is more than just baseball.

What did you think of this episode of Pitch? What are your thoughts about the possible Bawson romance?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and don’t forget to give the episode your own rating!

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Pitch airs Thursdays at 9/8 c on Fox.

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