The lead actress and lead writer of Pitch have been asked by strangers whether the Fox TV series about the first woman in the major leagues is based on a true story.
It's not, of course, because there never has been one. Nor was it inspired by Mo'ne Davis, the first girl to earn a victory and pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series.
At the very least, the premise of the show, which debuts tonight at 8, might get people thinking and dreaming.
"It's already within the realm of possibility in people's minds, which is really interesting," said Kylie Bunbury, who plays Ginny Baker, a 23-year-old, screwball-throwing right-hander who is called up by the San Diego Padres to make her big-league debut in a spot start.
The producers are trying to get the baseball part as right as possible. The show has Major League Baseball's blessing, and Petco Park in San Diego -- where filming occurs -- appears just as it does during real games. Some scenes have been filmed at Dodger Stadium and some will be filmed at San Francisco's AT&T Park. Bunbury is being tutored by former big league reliever Gregg Olson, who also serves as a consultant.
"I'm sure there are going to be some naysayers; I'm sure there are going to be people picking us apart," Bunbury said. "But that's not the point. It's still a show. People need to remember. This is just an imaginary circumstance. The heart is what's the most important and the most beautiful about this."
Bunbury has spent the past several months learning how to pitch. She comes from athletic genes. Her father, Alex, played professional soccer. Her brother, Teal, plays for the New England Revolution of the MLS.
Could there ever be a female pitcher in the big leagues?
"If Serena Williams picked up a baseball at age 4 instead of a tennis racket, what would you think? There's a pretty decent chance," Olson said. "I think it's feasible at some point. It's going to take a special girl."
Stubborn dude
Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook had hilarious arguments in college, according to Love in a recent piece at The Players' Tribune website.
The two played basketball at UCLA together during the 2007-08 season. Love said they roomed together for road games. Love also said Westbrook was extremely stubborn.
"We were even competitive over the temperature of the room," Love wrote. "You know the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode where Vivica's character is sick in bed and Larry keeps adjusting the thermostat? That was me and Russ.
"Our thermostat battles would go something like this ...
"Minimum 74," he'd say.
"I needed the room cold. Around 68 was perfect.
"At night, Russ would jump up from bed and turn the dial way up -- and then five minutes later I would sneak over and turn it back down.
"One time I offered a compromise -- "How 'bout 71 degrees?
"Seventy-three," Russ replied. "Final offer."
"See what I mean? Dude is stubborn."
Sports on 09/22/2016