She So Purposely Dropped That Ball
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JaysonT — 14 years ago(May 06, 2011 01:05 AM)
@soggybottom: I really like your interpretation.
In the deleted scenes of the film (on the special edition DVD), extra scenes show how Dottie will do anything to win a game- including knocking out a pregnant teammate to the point of having her need medical attention. Kit even scolds her for "always having to win."
I also think Dottie dropped the ball accidentally. Not only does she say "high fast balls" to the picture, but the split second before Kit knocks into her, Dottie's face is looking scared and unprepared. There's no way in that instant she would be able to say "let me just drop the ball and let this bytch win." No way at all.
PLUS from a storyteller's perspective it doesn't make narrative sense for her to just let Kit win. The point of the story was that Kit was always second fiddle to Dottie. Dottie was better at everything, and Dottie GOT Kit everything (on the train, in the league, etc). The ending was supposed to symbolize Kit getting it on her own. Even the end shows this ("You wanted it more then me, you did what you had to do.") Dottie was not the type to just bow down like that. -
ShizaMinelli — 14 years ago(September 30, 2011 01:46 PM)
In all fairness, a change of heart can happen in a split second, if not sooner. I thought at that moment she decided that her team was worth sacrificing for the sake of her sister. It was selfish, but to me seemed deliberate.
When you're 17 a cow can seem dangerous and forbiddenam I alone here? -
soggybottom — 14 years ago(September 30, 2011 05:56 PM)
A split second? Really?
I guess it depends on how fast of a thinker you are. For me, it takes a few seconds to process any kind of a thought, and of course it would take A LOT longer when making a big decision, like this one, and she really didn't have much time to think between pitches.
That's why I think that the argument works better if you say that she dropped it subconsciously. Because consciously, she wanted to do whatever it took to prove to the team that they needed her back to win, but I can see how someone might reason that deep down inside, she knew that her sister needed it more.
I just can't see with how competitive she was the entire film that she would willingly lose the game on purpose.
And as I've stated many times on this thread, holding onto the ball wouldn't make Kit lose. The game would've remained tied and gone on into extra innings. Kit would have had other opportunities to be the hero WITHOUT any help from her sister. -
ShizaMinelli — 14 years ago(September 30, 2011 06:20 PM)
The split second could have also been the length if time she thought it was a good idea, but it happened at a really crappy time unfortunately. It's just a stab in the dark, though, rewatching today it seemed much more obvious that they wanted it to be ambiguous. It certainly makes for a fun debate though.
When you're 17 a cow can seem dangerous and forbiddenam I alone here? -
soggybottom — 14 years ago(September 30, 2011 09:34 PM)
I totally agree Shiza, and I'm actually a fan of both sides. I think it's interesting if she dropped it on purpose, and it's interesting if she didn't (or somewhere in between)
One of the best arguments for dropping it on purpose (that I haven't seen on this board yet) is the scene where Dottie looks over into the opponents' dugout and sees Kit crying. I think that they were trying to show us that Dottie was starting to care about her little sister's feelings for once, and that may have had some impact on the final play.
I'm sure that the debate will continue on this board for years to come! -
jejozi — 14 years ago(March 30, 2012 08:42 PM)
Plenty of opportunities? How do you figure that? The game could have ended the next inning without Kit coming to the plate again. She'd already been taken out as pitcher after getting rocked, and she may never have gotten to field a ball the rest of the game. Haven't you ever played a game and never had ball hit to you? Have you ever played?
The way it was filmed, she dropped the ball on purpose. It wasn't her hand hitting the ground and the ball flying out, her hand was on the ground and the ball trickles out, rolling less than a foot from her hand. She committed the ultimate sports betrayal.
Oh, and not all of us need to over analyze a situation before making a decision.
This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here. -
jejozi — 14 years ago(March 30, 2012 08:03 PM)
You're a piece of work. Bitch and moan about people not being able to see another's point of view, then doing exactly what you're crying about.
This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here. -
acquiesce03 — 15 years ago(January 12, 2011 01:30 PM)
I always used to think that Dottie dropped the ball on purpose. I watched the movie again a couple of days ago, and I'm not sure I think that way anymore. I think that Dottie was extremely ticked off at her sister, and was determined to shut her down UNTIL she saw her freaking out in the dugout. I think that once that happened, she realized it wasn't important. She still played her best, but she wasn't playing with the sole purpose of beating her sister. If she had still been as pissed off as she was at the beginning of the game, I think she would have held on to that ball for dear life just out of spite. Now I just believe what Dottie said at the end: Kit just wanted it more than her.
I do believe that Dottie was happy for Kit, though. I can also understand why people think she dropped it on purpose. The next time I watch it, I may change my mind again.
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soggybottom — 15 years ago(January 12, 2011 02:44 PM)
Thanks Acquiese. That's the best post on this thread yet!
Everything that you said is very thought-provoking and extremely important to the build-up of the climactic play. What was going through her mind? Was she really feeling that bad for her sister? Was she trying as hard as she could to help the team to prove to her coach and her teammates that they were right to let her come back to the team?
She could STILL hang onto the ball, and not make Kit the big loser. The game would've still gone on. I think that had Racine lost because of Kit on that play, people would've had a better argument that Dottie felt so bad for her that she had to throw the game.
I liked talking to MissCarsShe was really nice, but she so was so determined to not budge an inch, and I can't understand why people have to be that way.
Yeah, there's nothing wrong with things being capable of going 2 different ways. People just can't stand to have a shred of doubt about anything, and that's sad.
I think that you can really choose your own ending for this movie. However you want it to be, you're right! What's wrong with that? -
Hockeystix14 — 15 years ago(February 12, 2011 08:19 PM)
She dropped the ball on purpose. Kit wanted the spotlight for once in her life and Dotti gave it to her. I was a catcher and have gotten run into many of times and held on to the ball every time so it is not hard once you have the ball to safely secure it in your glove. Dotti clearly had enough time to get the ball in her glove and position herself to make the tag.
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dfgdfg22 — 15 years ago(February 15, 2011 11:14 AM)
I honestly the scene is just poorly filmed, and looks like Dotty dropped the ball on purpose.
It should have come flying out at the moment of impact, but for dramatic purposes they had Dottie hold on longer, so they could show the close-up of the ball dropping. I believe all the debate is the result of the director not watching enough MLB home plate collisions and nothing more.
No way Dottie would have thrown the game in my opinion. -
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soggybottom — 14 years ago(July 14, 2011 10:18 PM)
I can take it just fine. What makes you think that I can't?
Are you sure that you replied to the right person? I've done nothing on this thread but say (over and over) how it can go either wayIt's up to each person to interpret that scene to fit their own desires, and NOBODY can be wrong (And I'm totally open to new interpretations too if anybody has any by the way).
If that so OBVIOUSLY proves that I can't handle other people's opinions, then I guess you're right.
My apologies.