47 pages • 1 hour read
The Big Field
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Chapters 25-31Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 25 Summary
In his room, Hutch listens to the Marlins and Dodgers on the radio. His dad tries comforting him, telling him he’ll get a “second chance,” but Hutch doesn’t want his dad’s empathy. In the morning, Connie takes Hutch and Cody to Roger Dean Stadium early, and Hutch forces Cody to hit ground balls so Hutch can practice fielding.
Paul Garner is on the mound for the Cardinals, and the Astros score four runs against him. To keep the score 4–0, Hutch makes a great play, throwing out a runner at home. Hutch then smacks a ball over the third baseman’s head and into the leftfield corner, scoring two runs. Darryl lines a ball up the middle, bringing the Cardinals within a run, 4–3.
Chapter 26 Summary
In the bottom of the fourth, Cody doubles in Tommy and Trip, giving the Cardinals a 5–4 advantage. With a clutch hit, Rod Brown ties the game in the sixth. Darryl tells Hutch that one of them will have to come through, and Hutch doubles in Brett (who reached on an error), and then Darryl singles in Hutch, giving the Cardinals a 7–5 lead.
Pedro has a rocky ninth, and the Astros get within a run. Hutch gives Pedro a tough talk. There is a runner on first and two out. Pedro needs to “suck it up” and get the final out. The Astros batter hits the ball in front of Cody, who throws it over the head of the cutoff man and near the first base foul line. Hutch runs toward the ball and catches it. While turning in midair, he flips it to Brett, who tags out the runner. The Cardinals win, tying the series 1–1
Chapter 27 Summary
Hutch didn’t watch the news when he made the error in game one, so he won’t watch the news about his game-saving play. Due to Cody, Hutch becomes aware that The Palm Beach Post dubbed him “Jeter Junior.”
After a short practice, Cullen tells the players the Astros had their chance: Now, it’s the Cardinals’ time. Cody wonders if Cullen stole his speech from the hockey movie Miracle (2004). Cullen admits he did.
Hutch plans to watch the Yankees play the Red Sox on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball—he would get to see the “real Jeter” play—but he decides that he would rather play baseball than watch it, so he goes to the batting cages in the park, where he finds his dad. Hiding behind a palm tree, Hutch sees his dad smile and hears him tell the machine to “bring it.” Hutch feels like he and his dad are “sharing” a moment, even if Carl doesn’t know Hutch is there.
Chapter 28 Summary
Hutch’s Nikes fall apart before game two, so he uses black electrical tape to keep the front part from flapping off. Hutch intentionally repairs his shoes in front of David Eckstein, the St. Louis Cardinals’ scrappy shortstop who won the 2006 World Series MVP. Darryl promises to get Hutch new shoes if they win tonight. People constantly give Darryl free stuff, maybe because they think he’ll remember them when he makes it to the big leagues.
Darryl asks about Hutch’s parents. Hutch says his mom and dad will be at the game, but his dad would probably rather be someplace else. Darryl scolds Hutch. Carl will be there, but Darryl’s dad won’t show up. Darryl probably won’t see his dad until he is playing at Yankee Stadium, and his dad wants something from him. Hutch should stop dwelling on what he doesn’t have with his dad and appreciate that his dad is present.
Chapter 29 Summary
After Cullen hypes the Cardinals, they fall behind 2–0. Rod Brown is on the mound for the Astros again, and he is throwing harder. Cody calls Rod’s pitches “beyond dirty.” After Rod walks Hutch, Hutch steals second and third. Rattled, Rod bounces a ball that gets by the catcher. Hutch scores, and the Cardinals cut the lead in half. Rod calls the run “cheap,” but Hutch quips the scorekeepers will count it anyway.
In the sixth inning, the Astros have runners on first and third with one out. To keep the score 2–1, Cullen brings in the infield and tells the infielders to throw home if they get a ground ball. The Astros batter smacks a ball to Darryl, and Darryl shoves it to Hutch, who catches it barehanded before snapping it to first for a double play.
In the seventh, Hutch gets a favorable count, but Rod is still pitching hard and quick. Hutch strikes out, stranding a runner on first.
Chapter 30 Summary
In the eighth inning, Rod gives up a double to Darryl, who steals third and scores when Tripp singles up the middle, tying the game 2–2. Before the ninth inning, Hutch feels like he belongs on the field: There is no other place in the world he would rather be.
Pedro has a dominant ninth inning, but Rod is in trouble. Cody singles, and Alex bunts him to second. Darryl tells Hutch not to wait for him tonight. The first pitch that Rod throws to Hutch is up and in, knocking him on his back. Rod purposely “buzzed” Hutch; now, Hutch is determined to get a hit. He hears his dad’s voice—“hey”—and sees him standing in the crowd.
Chapter 31 Summary
Carl stares at Hutch and drops his hands––a signal to bunt. Hutch wonders if his dad is “nuts” and asks the umpire for time. Back in the batter’s box, Hutch sees his dad smile, so he bunts it to third. The third baseman is unsure if he should get the ball or cover third, so Hutch reaches the base safely.
Darryl takes a pitch before launching the game-winning, series-winning home run. After the Cardinals celebrate, Darryl asks Hutch why he bunted, and Hutch says it was Carl’s idea. Darryl calls Carl a good coach before talking to a reporter from Sun Sports Network. Hutch goes into the stands and hugs his dad.
Chapters 25-31 Analysis
In the final section, Lupica reinforces the theme of Son Versus Father, deescalates it, and then brings the two archetypes together. In Chapter 25, Hutch remains angry at his dad. Carl tries to speak with Hutch about the error, but Hutch rebuffs him, stating, “Dad, I’m all talked out. But thanks for asking” (194). The roles have changed; Hutch is now pushing his dad away. In Chapter 27, the tension lessens as Hutch watches his dad in the batting cage. In this scene, Hutch bonds with his dad over baseball, even though Carl doesn’t know that his son is sharing the experience with him. In Chapters 30-31, the sharing is overt. Hutch hears his dad say “hey” in his head and then sees his dad in the crowd, signaling for a bunt. From the stands, Carl explicitly coaches Hutch, and his guidance sets up Darryl’s game-winning home run. The hug that ends the story indicates that the theme has gone from son versus father to son and father, with Hutch no longer seeing his dad as an antagonist.
Darryl adds to the theme of Son Versus Father in this section as well. His dad isn’t around, and Darryl speculates he won’t meet him until he makes money in the major leagues, or, as Darryl puts it, “When there’s something in it for him other than me” (223). Unlike Hutch’s dad, Darryl’s dad is not an upstanding person, and there are credible reasons for Darryl to dislike him. Hutch’s conflict with his dad is not as simple, with Darryl telling Hutch, “You oughta stop actin’ like such a baby on account of what you don’t got. And be a lot happier, and more grateful, for what you do” (223). Darryl suggests that Hutch learn to appreciate Carl and not dwell on Carl’s imperfections. Darryl’s wisdom alludes to the link between life and baseball. As in baseball, a person must work with what life gives them.
The last game in the series brings together the three central themes. The young athletes preserve their hopes of winning the championship by playing well under pressure. To play well, they display The Necessity of Teamwork. In the sixth inning, Darryl and Hutch turn a crucial double play. Pedro then pitches a solid ninth inning to give his team a chance to win the game. Son versus father becomes son and father, with Carl providing critical in-game coaching. With the three themes aligned, beneficial outcomes, like a championship, occur.
The motif of belonging supports the three key themes. Hutch proves he belongs on “the big field” by recreating Jeter’s “flip” play. Like Jeter, Hutch is in the right place—where he is supposed to be—and he handles the pressure of clutch situations, suggesting a hopeful future. The necessity of teamwork links to the motif of belonging. To win the championship, Hutch and Darryl learn that they belong to the same team and must work together. Son versus father furthers the motif of belonging, as Hutch discovers that his dad isn’t the opposition but a positive influence. The hug in the final scene symbolizes their newfound closeness, as well as a happy ending.
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By Mike Lupica
