A Player To Be Named Later

A Player To Be Named Later
2005
Directed by Bart Stephens



SYNOPSIS

A documentary crew follows members of the Milwaukee Brewers AAA team, the Indianapolis Indians, as they struggle to beat their opponents and hopefully get that call that sends them up to the big leagues during the 2001 season.

MY THOUGHTS

As a lifelong baseball fan, I never put much thought into the minor leagues. It was always just this magical place where teams would get someone when a player hit the disabled list or when the rosters expanded near the end of the season.
This film really opened my eyes to the realities and hardships the players face.
A Brewers executive states early in the film that roughly 6% of minor leaguers will ever be called up to the bigs. This coupled with the grueling schedule, little pay, and also trying to start/raise a family add to the tension the players face everyday.
Many of them have little hope of making it. Some are already in their 30's and are still trying. Others are injury-plagued, while others are good, just not good enough. It's heartbreaking to see these people come as close as possible to achieving their dreams, yet most will fall short. Though a few do get the call.

You also meet several of the player's wives and children and experience what it's like to have a husband/father on the road and you can easily relate to their stories.

My only criticism with the film is that the film is very manipulative in how it tells its story. With a baseball game's length, it provides many opportunities to show the good and bad sides of a player. The film seems quick to decide that a batter is slumping (or surging) and shows a quick sequence of strikeouts, foul balls, fly outs. Same goes with the pitchers. These are clearly shot over several games and facing different teams. I'm sure the players also had great moments in those games but those are edited out in favor of an already crafted story.

But the film succeeds in making you feel like you're practically part of the team... and any fan of the game should seek this one out.