TEMPE, Ariz. -- As Angels manager Kurt Suzuki began his media session Tuesday morning, he was immediately asked why the pitching matchup between his club and the Padres was so notable.
“Ferris Bueller?” Suzuki said with a smile.
Suzuki said it became a running joke in the clubhouse once everyone figured out the pitching matchup was between Angels lefty Mitch Farris and Padres right-hander Walker Buehler. But he also said he had his doubts that some of the club’s younger players would get the reference to the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” because it came out in 1986.
Even Suzuki, 42, admitted he hadn’t seen the classic movie starring Matthew Broderick, who even makes a memorable visit to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs while skipping school with his friends.
“I haven’t seen it,” Suzuki said with a laugh. “But I’ve seen bits and pieces.”
Second baseman Christian Moore, 23, was among the youngsters in the clubhouse who didn’t know about the film and hadn’t seen it. But surprisingly, a lot of the younger players such as Logan O’Hoppe, 26, and Ben Joyce, 25, said they’d seen the movie. And, of course, veterans like Travis d’Arnaud, 37, and Jordan Romano, 32, said they’d watched it several times.
But none of the players understood why they were asked the question until they were told it was because of the last names of the two starting pitchers facing off. As soon as they each heard, they couldn’t help but laugh.
Even Farris, who struck out six over 3 2/3 innings but gave up seven runs, said he didn’t know until he was told about it after the start. But the 25-year-old got a kick out of it and said he’s seen the movie, and pitching coach Mike Maddux often teases him about having the last name Farris.
“I've seen the movie but I didn't put two and two together though,” Farris said. “I was focused on the game. But I mean Maddux, he messes with me, calls me ‘Bueller’ all the time. But I didn’t realize it. I’ve seen the movie, though. Cool connection.”
The classic John Hughes film, also has a baseball connection, with the protagonist Ferris Bueller (Broderick) going to a Cubs game with his friend Cameron (Alan Ruck). And thanks to research from Larry Granillo, it was found that the game they attended was on June 5, 1985, with the Braves beating the Cubs, 4-2, in 11 innings. Ruck even went to Wrigley Field last year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the game.