Gil Thorp by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill for June 22, 2015

The stands in the Valley Pessimists Conference are always half empty.

Is Boo on the phone with Gil or Marty?

I can see it now. Tru is ‘talked into’ going to see the Mystic Pranks, breaks curfew and must sit out the big game vs Jefferson.

There seems to be a YouTube deal called MysticGotJokes. I’ve never been on it, but I wonder if it’s the inspiration for the band name.

Since when does Gil look down on playing for second?

So they’re playing the Jeffs in the bleachers? Is it gonna be a fight in the stands like a Redskins game or a high school baseball game? It’ll be interesting to see how they set up the field in there.

So after 2 weeks and 2 boys and 1 girls game it’s finally almost Thursday and time for The Mystic Pranks. Time sure moves oddly in Milford. Suspension for Tru and Boo or fiery crash? Stay tuned.

Is Gil wearing a black “wife beater?” Look out, Mimi!

True, Boo, Amy and Lucky take their root beer Hoo to catch the ever elusive Merry Pranksters, err, Mystic Pranks. Rubin and Whigham have been monitoring our speculation of a negative occurrence. Next week: Pedro, Pool, Mimi, Milford CC, Kenny Lark’s Mom. Well, everything but Kenny’s Mom.

In all reality, P 1 Marty looks like a true skid row bum lurching into a Korean who resembles Gil .P 3 Why does Boo have John Pascoe’s graduation picture on her wall ?

That shot in P2 looks like stock footage from Gil cashing in on the merchandising circuit. “Gil Thorp, state champ here, and we only use Champion Athletic Seating at Milford Coliseum, the home of the 2014 state champions.”

So based on Marty’s talk, Jefferson is running away with the title. But Gil makes it sound like they’re only 1 game behind which makes Marty’s comment stupid.With it so close to the summer storyline starting, I’ll revise my prediction. No car crash, that would be too complicated. I’ll go with Tru(e) goes to the concert, something happens where they get caught, Tru(e) suspended for the final game and with a slim lead in the last inning the replacement closer gets shelled. Jefferson wins! Jefferson wins! Jeffersoooooooon wins!

Coaches Held Hostage: Day 65 for Mimi; Day 24 for Kaz. If the speculation about being sat down for attending the Pranks concerts (that’s how hard core fans refer to them) is correct, then Mimi may have to make an appearance to administer that punishment to Boo. Wait. That’s what would happen in the real world or any comic strip striving for some semblance of reality (that’s your cue, Mr. Reality), but this is Gil Thorp. Never mind anything I said except the count.

…yes, Kenny Lark’s Mom, yes yes….where was I?

P2-Is that Gil or a young Pete Rose?

Nah, P3 is the first in the Tru(e) Standish autographed photo run: “Thanks for letting me round second, hoping I’ll get a four-bagger tonight. Manly XOXOXs, Tru(e).”

Is it Wednesday in Milford?

But if True gets caught and suspended for breaking curfew, that means he would have to be ratted out by someone else at the Mystic Pranks concert. Hmm. I wonder who that could be…

The expression is that pessimists see the glass as half empty – it was a play on that. It continues to amaze me that a purported puzzle whiz appears to be totally clueless

Let him go to the concert. How many Ws has that pretty boy dilettante cost me this season?

Cutterjock, Bravo, well played. Any chance Boo’s invitation to get on board for Mystic Pranks has nothing to do with a band?

Could it be? After months of suspenseful non-action, is something big about to occur at the concert? We should finally know this week. And speaking of knowing, you know that Mopped Up Thorp is always worth waiting for.

Hello, didn’t you read the caption below the comic?

….you try to educate the next 8 months, Mop, some only chew on the covers!

Wrecked him, damn near killed him!

To the tune of “Speed Racer” theme………. go kdizzle…. go kdizzle …. go kdizzle goooo! .Good shot…………. very good shot!

It’s summer already. Everyone else has graduated, and they’re still playing ball in MILFord?

Not everyone is seeing my award winning commentary??? :)