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A Feel Good Story

MFS62 Mar 29 2006 07:53 PM

from prospectus: David Bell is opening the door for one of the best spring training stories around. With Bell’s back a lingering problem, the Phillies are going to break camp with 33-year-old rookie Chris Coste, who can play third and short. The author of two books, Coste is a Disney movie waiting to happen Anybody know about him? Later

soupcan Mar 29 2006 09:06 PM

I know a little about him. He's 33 and can play third and short. He's also written two books.

Centerfield Mar 29 2006 09:43 PM

Oh yeah that guy. I think he's in camp with the Phillies.

KC Mar 29 2006 10:02 PM

<johnny cash voice>I played for Brandon, Fargo, Buffalo, Akron, Buffalo, Akron, Buffalo, Pawtucket, Indy, Scranton, I played everywhere, man, I played everywhere</johnny cash voice> He must have a good off-season job or rich parents.

Yancy Street Gang Mar 29 2006 10:21 PM

Just what we need, another Disney movie.

metirish Mar 29 2006 10:26 PM

I did like that movie about the old Rookie that got called up for Tampa a few years a go.....I think a pitcher makes a better story though.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 29 2006 10:54 PM

That Rookie movie was on tonite. I saw a few minutes of it.

metirish Mar 29 2006 11:07 PM

Cool deal, I loved the part where he was told he was going to Texas...and when he got called into the game....I'm a sucker for that.

Zvon Mar 29 2006 11:29 PM Re: A Feel Good Story

MFS62 wrote: from prospectus: David Bell is opening the door for one of the best spring training stories around. With Bell’s back a lingering problem, the Phillies are going to break camp with 33-year-old rookie Chris Coste, who can play third and short. The author of two books, Coste is a Disney movie waiting to happen Anybody know about him? Later I read up on the Phils in the local paper down here in SJ. I havent heard anything about the guy. Ive recently read Bell sayin he will be ready opening day. If I see anything about Coste Ill let you know.

Edgy DC Mar 29 2006 11:55 PM

]I did like that movie about the old Rookie that got called up for Tampa a few years a go.....I think a pitcher makes a better story though. Read the book. Not surprisingly, Disney misses the real story. < strongbadvoice >Casting Dennis Quaid as a burned out jock --- That's only been done a thousand times.< /strongbadvoice >

Rockin' Doc Mar 30 2006 07:45 PM

Yancy "Just what we need, another Disney movie." I'd rather another Disney movie than another Disney music CD.

metirish Mar 30 2006 07:49 PM

] Read the book. Not surprisingly, Disney misses the real story. Never even knew there was a book, looking for it on Amazon now.

Frayed Knot Mar 30 2006 11:19 PM

I missed the existance of the book also. The movie wasn't bad and, from what I remember reading at the time of it's release, was reasonably accurate aside from a few typical Hollywood flourishes. Quaid's decent in the role and his wife particularly so. Yeah it's Disney so they lay it on pretty thick at times but the thing's practically a tear-jerker in a few spots.

Edgy DC Mar 30 2006 11:48 PM

Reasonably accurate, sure. There's just large swaths of the story they're unwilling to tell --- a problem with most adaptations, as interesting books contain more material than the typical length feature film. The book certainly isn't excellent literature, but the story of his amateur football career and failed baseball career and going back to school in his late twenties is a big part of what's going on. The whole "nuns putting a miracle into the soil" frame story --- I don't remember any of that. I don't recall the special mentoring relationship of the young black player, but it felt Disney patronizing when I saw it. The great moment of this dude washed up from the softball circuit finally arriving in a major league clubhouse is all ruined by the clubhouse being Devil Ray clubhouse, and the uniforms practically being softball uniforms. When he gets to the tryout, after sitting around all afternoon, he does a good depiction of an old-school pitcher stretching his arm across his chest (a technique that's now frowned upon), but when they ask if he needs any warmup tosses, he says no. Huh?

Frayed Knot Mar 31 2006 12:06 AM

"There's just large swaths of the story they're unwilling to tell --- a problem with most adaptations, as interesting books contain more material than the typical length feature film." Duh! "... the story of his amateur football career and failed baseball career and going back to school in his late twenties is a big part of what's going on. The whole "nuns putting a miracle into the soil" frame story --- I don't remember any of that. I don't recall the special mentoring relationship of the young black player, but it felt Disney patronizing when I saw it." Like your first paragraph, they're not telling his entire life story here. And while one of the HS players was depicted as black, there was no particular "special mentoring" for him. If anything, the white catcher was the one portrayed as his main confidant/go-between. "The great moment of this dude washed up from the softball circuit finally arriving in a major league clubhouse is all ruined by the clubhouse being Devil Ray clubhouse, and the uniforms practically being softball uniforms." Would you prefer it if they changed the team he came up with in order to make the story more aesthetically pleasing? .... I didn't think so. "When he gets to the tryout, after sitting around all afternoon, he does a good depiction of an old-school pitcher stretching his arm across his chest (a technique that's now frowned upon), but when they ask if he needs any warmup tosses, he says no. Huh?" Small potatoes. If you want to tee off on some minor scene the least you could do is mock the 'radar trap' scene; a bit of hokum that not only didn't happen but couldn't.

Edgy DC Mar 31 2006 07:38 AM

]And while one of the HS players was depicted as black, there was no particular "special mentoring" for him. If anything, the white catcher was the one portrayed as his main confidant/go-between. I'm speaking of one of his minor-league teammates. ]Would you prefer it if they changed the team he came up with in order to make the story more aesthetically pleasing? .... I didn't think so. That's a cheap framing of the argument. I found it funny is all. A better idea would be perhaps not to milk the scene for all it was worth when it isn't working. More moving to the story was when Boggs and McGriff made a point of welcoming him. Another fun thing that happened is a player who came up shortly after him (after six or seven years in the minors) who stood in the clubhouse and proclaimed, "I can't believe I finally made it to the bigs," and promptly got fined by McGriff's kangaroo court for showing Morris up. ]Small potatoes. Sometimes one bad potato can spoil the whole bunch girl. Disney... with their golden sunsets and perfectly rugged nonthreatening heroes.... did you see what they did to Devo?

duan Mar 31 2006 08:37 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Reasonably accurate, sure. There's just large swaths of the story they're unwilling to tell --- a problem with most adaptations, as interesting books contain more material than the typical length feature film. That's certainly true, but a skilled adaptation will usually stay away from trying to replicate the book. A good example of this is Cider House Rules where the book was mammoth, but the onscreen adaptation made the story more concise, staying true to the heart of it, but being a much better movie by understanding what movies do well rather then trying to be a novel on screen.

Frayed Knot Mar 31 2006 10:27 AM

I thought the locker room scene worked well enough - Devil Dog unis and all - between their awe at the famous names on jerseys and just the pristine spaciousness of it all. "We're not in Kansas anymore". Yes the character of "Brooks" was basically made up. I did one time find a TBDR who also made his debut within a day or so of Morris - a name I knew but have since forgotten. He wasn't black and wasn't a superstar type (at least didn't become one) but I'm not upset over the movie's contrast of an older guy hanging on for one last chance with a cocky, 'thinks-he-can't-miss' kid. The brief, half-hearted stretch before auditioning was, I thought, consistant with his 'let's get this over with so I can tell the kids I tried' attitude he had going in.

Edgy DC Apr 04 2006 12:12 PM

]He wasn't black and wasn't a superstar type (at least didn't become one) but I'm not upset over the movie's contrast of an older guy hanging on for one last chance with a cocky, 'thinks-he-can't-miss' kid. i didn't see the purpose of that sub-plot as provinding a contrast; I saw it as a patronizing reiteration of Diff'rent Stronkes-era race values.

Zvon Apr 04 2006 06:38 PM

From the AC Press: ] When the 25 man roster was completed late Sunday [....] feel good story Chris Coste was out of here. David Bell proved healthy enough to avoid the DL. ]Coste, a career minor leaguer trying to make the Phillies as a 33 year old rookie, believed he played his way on the team with his .463 batting average, while showing he could catch and play first baes in the major leagues. But (GM) Gillick and Charlie Manuel didnt feel comfortable with only four outfielders, and when they had a chance to get (outfielder David) Dellicci [...] they jumped at it. [...] That meant the end for Coste, who was sent back to triple A Scranton. "I got a chance to play," Coste said before packing his bags. "That was a big thing. Given a shot? I don't know." Coste then excused himself and headed for a back room in the clubhouse, out of view of the media.