Pitch – Alfonso Guzman-Chavez

By: Jessica Wolff

With the trade deadline fast approaching, things are tense in the Padres’ war room. The players though celebrate Mike Lawson’s (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) game winning run. As they go into the locker room, Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury) sees a packed bag in front of her Butch Hunter’s (Scott Peat) locker. He tells her that he always keeps a packed bag around the trade deadline because he could leave at any minute. Lawson assures her that she won’t be traded because she is the biggest news story in the league. Blip Sanders (Mo McRae) is worried about talk that he might be a trade target, but Lawson addresses the locker room and tells them that if they are going to be traded they will hear it from the GM, not on television.

Oscar Arguella (Mark Consuelos) congratulates Al Luongo (Dan Lauria) on the win and makes him promise that if he makes the necessary trades, that the Padres will be playoff contenders. Oscar meets with Charlie Graham (Kevin Connolly) and tells him that the Padres will be buyers this year. Graham tells him not to trade their top prospects and to cut two million dollars from the payroll. Oscar says that it’s impossible to do both, but Graham says it’s possible. At home, Blip and his wife Evelyn Sanders (Meagan Holder) prepare dinner as Ginny plays video games with their kids. Blip is worried about being traded and Ginny tells him that he can’t be traded because he is her only friend in the locker room.

In a flashback, Ginny meets new second baseman Jordan Collins (Parker Croft) and he impresses her with his throwing skills. Ginny tells him that he’s not interested in dating, but they agree to be friends. Lawson and Amelia Slater (Ali Larter) get dressed and Amelia says that she can’t stay. They go outside and find that the side mirror on the car has been busted. Lawson says that he hates groupie on groupie crime and Amelia gets offended by being called a groupie and drives away. Oscar makes trades in the war room and Luongo informs Butch that he’s been traded to the Cardinals. Graham congratulates him on the trade, but warns him that the payroll is still high.

Ginny calls Eliot (Tim Jo) and asks him if there’s any chance Blip will be traded. After a long and winded explanation, Eliot tells her that Blip will probably stay a Padre if they don’t make a trade for pitcher Alfonso Guzman-Chavez. In a flashback, Ginny and Jordan stay up to watch a TV show. Ginny’s father, Bill Baker (Michael Beach), tells them that Ginny has to get up early tomorrow and drives him home. His father comes out drunk and Jordan ignores him as he walks in the house. As Oscar negotiates, his assistant Rhonda (Kelly Jenrette) tells him to go to the dentist to get his tooth checked.

Amelia steps outside and is surprised that she has received a brand new car as a gift. She goes over to Lawson and tells him that the best way to apologize for calling her a groupie is not to treat her like one. She tells him that she doesn’t need him to buy her a car before walking away. Lawson clarifies it was a loaner from a team supported dealership, but it has no effect on her. Oscar discusses possible trades with Ross (Josh Peck) and makes a deal with Seattle, which leaves them without a third baseman. Amelia gives Eliot instructions to return the car. When Eliot is confused, she assumes that he knows about her relationship with Lawson. He is surprised and she keeps talking about the relationship before telling him not to tell anyone, especially Ginny.

The locker room is silent as Lawson talks to them about Butch’s trade. Luongo introduces Omar Robles (Jason Canela) and tells them that Butch has been traded yet again to the Cubs. Tommy Miller (Ryan Dorsey) goes running with Ginny to help take her mind off the trade rumors. Tommy admits that he’s going to miss Butch and Ginny remembers celebrating her victory with Jordan. Ginny gets notification that the Cleveland Indians are asking about Blip.

In the war room, Oscar asks Ross about whom they should trade for next. Lawson and Blip play pool and Blip is worried about being traded to Cleveland. Lawson reassures him that he’s going to be fine in Cleveland. He tells Blip that he needs to go and Blip figures out that he’s seeing someone. He tries to figure out why Lawson would hide his girlfriend from him and figures out that he’s seeing Ginny’s agent. Lawson defends his relationship and Blip is worried about being able to keep the secret. He advises Lawson to tell Ginny about his relationship.

Ginny and Evelyn hang out and discuss Blip’s chances of being traded. Blip comes home and Ginny finds out that Guzman-Chavez has been traded to the Braves, but Blip is still worried. Ginny tries to reassure Blip, but he gets angry and tells her that it isn’t her concern. He tells her that he’s more worried about his family than her comfort and storms out.

Amelia comes in and sees that Ginny is upset. After she tells her what is bothering her, Amelia encourages her to ask Oscar to keep Blip in San Diego. Graham asks about how the third baseman search is coming and Oscar tells him he’s still working on it. He is in the middle of a trade when Ginny comes in to talk to him. She makes her request and argues that she will never have more leverage than she has now. Oscar gets angry at her and tells her that players getting uprooted is a part of the business and that she has no business telling him what to do.

In a flashback, Jordan doesn’t see his father in the stands at their game. Bill steps out of the bleachers and calls his dad, asking him to come to the game. The call goes to voicemail as his father drinks on the couch. He eventually gets the message and heads on the road even though he is drunk. He gets into the car accident that kills Bill. Oscar gets a call from the Cubs and makes a deal for a center fielder. Blip goes to see Ginny and apologizes to her for his outburst. They sit together as the trade deadline winds down. Oscar makes a deal with the Indians. The trade deadline passes and Blip is relieved that he is staying in San Diego. Graham comes in to congratulate Oscar on the deals, and tells him that they need to convince Lawson to request a trade before the waiver deadline.

Luongo comes into the locker room and announced that the Cubs have traded Butch back to them and the locker room is happy to see him again. Ginny is excited, but realizes that Tommy has been traded to the Cubs. In a flashback, Jordan moves from the house while Ginny watches him drive away. Lawson goes to see Amelia and offers her a mouth guard as an apology, and they make up. The next morning, Amelia comes to find Ginny and tells her that she is dating Lawson. Ginny says that she is happy for her, but is disturbed by the news.