Ep 3. The Yips

In the third episode of the third season of Brockmire, titled "The Yips," we find the famous baseball announcer Jim Brockmire still in the midst of his existential crisis. After returning to the United States from his trip to the Philippines, where he tried to find some meaning in his life, he starts to doubt his abilities as a sportscaster and that leads him to a dark place.

During the episode, Brockmire faces a big challenge when he realizes that he is experiencing the yips, a condition that affects athletes when they suddenly lose their ability to perform a certain skill. In Brockmire's case, he cannot stop saying the word "cock" on air whenever he tries to say "strike." This puts his job at the Morristown Frackers in jeopardy and he starts to feel like he might never be able to work as a sportscaster again.

In addition to his professional struggles, Brockmire is also dealing with some personal issues. He is still trying to come to terms with his failed marriage and his feelings for his ex-wife, Jules. However, he is finding it difficult to communicate with her because she is now engaged to someone else and does not want to talk to him about their past.

Despite his difficulties, Brockmire finds solace in an unlikely friendship with Charles, a young, inexperienced producer who is eager to learn from him. Charles helps Brockmire come up with a plan to overcome his yips and save his job at the Morristown Frackers. Meanwhile, Brockmire tries to help Charles gain more confidence and assertiveness in his work life.

The episode also introduces some new characters who add to the show's humor and heart. We meet Morristown Frackers' new owner, a Silicon Valley billionaire named Matt Hardesty, who tells Brockmire that he wants to turn the struggling baseball team into a "prototype for the future of sports." However, Hardesty's ideas clash with Brockmire's traditional approach to baseball and the two butt heads throughout the episode.

Overall, "The Yips" is a hilarious and poignant episode that explores themes of failure, redemption, and friendship. It showcases Hank Azaria's incredible talent as an actor and his ability to bring depth and nuance to the character of Jim Brockmire, even when he is making crude jokes about genitalia. It also sets up some interesting plotlines for the rest of the season, making viewers excited to see what's next for Brockmire and his companions.