Yeah, I jumped the gun in expecting this to wrap up last week, didn’t I? I forgot that last year’s summer story didn’t begin until July friggin’ 9th! So if things stay on track here (…and why would they do that?), we’re in for another two and a half weeks of whatever this is. Which is hopefully just enough time for six more things that don’t make sense to happen. But then again, it could just as easily be one long tiresome game putting us all into a collective coma. That’s the beauty(?) of following this comic…ya never know when it will kick directly from a snail’s pace straight to ludicrous speed!
Today we see the difference in coaching styles between the Thorps: Mimi prefers to apply a serious smack-down when her player misses practice, whereas Gil prefers the “I don’t give a crap…wait, who exactly is ‘Elmer Vargas’ again?” method.
And then of course, we are reminded that the girls’ softball team still exists. They may or may not have played a game this season, nobody really knows for sure. But thanks to “Title IX: Comics Edition,” people in Milford have to pretend to care about this team for several days each year. Today is one of those days…so start caring people! You’ll note that Milford’s opponents have mastered the ludicrous speed pitch, allowing the ball to pass directly through the bat! (All the more impressive considering they’re playing softball…where’s the arc?)
There’s usually no arc in fast pitch softball. Good pitchers can bring the heat, though not through metal.
Comment by Smed — June 17, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Dumb question: Are we sure that’s a girl?
Comment by Gil'sBarber — June 17, 2008 @ 10:34 am
What’s the catcher’s sign for the Quantum Tunneling Pitch?
Smed – as long as the game is played somewhere with gravity, there will be an arc on the pitch. However, at the speed necessary to have the ball Quantum Tunnel through the bat (probably hundreds of thousands of miles per hour), it’s likely that the arc would be impossible to detect with the naked eye. So good artwork on the part of Rod Whigham, and an even better arm on the non-Milford pitcher!
Comment by Cash — June 17, 2008 @ 10:41 am
Where the hell are Gil and Mimi in the first panel? Coming down the escalator at the mall, it looks like. And Mimi’s got her clipboard – she’s about to start asking people if they have a moment to take a short survey.
I was wondering what the point is of suspending Branden for a week because she missed one practice…wouldn’t you just assign her extra BP and maybe yell at her for a few minutes? Why take someone who’s allegedly one of your best players out of the lineup for missing one practice? And then I realized the girls never get to play anyway, so maybe it’s all moot.
Comment by jules — June 17, 2008 @ 10:55 am
My guess is that the Milford players are trying to hit the ball by swinging the bat vertically instead of horizontally (thus the ‘down-and-out’).
Comment by Scott de B. — June 17, 2008 @ 11:17 am
LOL Scott! By jove, I think you’ve got it!
Comment by Gil'sBarber — June 17, 2008 @ 11:25 am
Courtesy of Tyler Jay’s free lessons, no doubt.
Comment by Gil'sBarber — June 17, 2008 @ 11:26 am
I like how Mimi morphs from The Joker in panel one to a shemale in panel two. Well, no, I don’t actually like it per se.
#2 Gil’s Barber, I too wasn’t sure if that was a boy or a girl. I guess there are no blondes with mullets on the boys’ team.
Comment by sourbelly — June 17, 2008 @ 11:31 am
Actually, I don’t think the Milford batter is swinging the bat at all — she’s just holding it in place. I deduce this because there are copious “lines o’force” behind the softball, but no sign of motion around the bat and batter.
I must say, the Whigham-era Gil is spending a whole lot of time with Mimi. He used to spent most of his time (a) sitting at the office — not working, just sitting, or (b) hanging out with Kaz. So somehow in the transition from The Age of Franks (I and II) to the Whigham Era, the deeply-closeted Gil has been replaced by manly, steroidal, absolutely heterosexual Gil.
Comment by johnw — June 17, 2008 @ 11:56 am
It’s also hard to hit a ball with your eyes closed. That kid needs some coaching! Too bad she plays for Milford.
Comment by johnw — June 17, 2008 @ 11:57 am
“A stern look” is about the greatest response ever. It should be applied everywhere.
“I gave Brandon 25-to-life for her role in the double murder. What’d you give that Vargas clown?”
“A stern look.”
Comment by Paul Arrand Rodgers — June 17, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
Love how Mimi goes from her “hee-hee mean girl” face in panel 1 to the “God, you’re such a pussy” face in panel 2.
Also initially thought panel 1 was at the ICE RINK, and that Mimi was sniggering about the idiots who forgot to take off their skate guards.
Comment by julienne — June 17, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
The girl softball player has forearms like Ted Klewzewski (sp?). Too bad she didn’t hit it; it would have been a home run.
Comment by JanB — June 17, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
I would agree that the player is more shim than him or she.
Comment by kenzo — June 17, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
In fast-pitch softball the ball doesnt arc; thats for the slow-pitch
leagues. It will often rise (called a riseball) as its on its way.
How the batter missed that pitch I’ll never know.
Comment by RobM — June 17, 2008 @ 8:06 pm
The girls have now played 5 games, and their record is 2-3.
Comment by RobM — June 17, 2008 @ 8:20 pm
Has Mimi contracted smallpox in panel two?
I’ve been slacking– time for the leeches and a couple bloodlettings at MHS before this becomes an epidemic!
Comment by Dr. "Eat More Cheddar and Drink More Pabst," aka Gil's Dietician — June 18, 2008 @ 9:21 am