Character

Runner

persistent threatening opportunistic

The Runner occupies first base in Josh Lyman's heated baseball analogy, where he poses a clear threat to score despite a three-run lead. Josh stresses throwing strikes to neutralize him, venting frustration over pitchers who wander and allow advances. This scenario underscores strategic discipline, paralleling political vulnerabilities where ignoring threats like Ritchie hands opponents the game. The runner embodies the persistent danger of unchecked baserunners.

2 appearances

Also known as: runner on first

Runner's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

2 moments

S4E4 · The Red Mass

Pitch Out — Josh's Baseball Rant and the Pivot

Not applicable (metaphorical); functions as looming, ticking danger within the analogy.

The Runner exists only within Josh's baseball metaphor as the immediate scoring threat on first base; the runner's danger animates Josh's argument for aggressive prevention (pitch-out).

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S4E4 · The Red Mass

From Baseball Rant to Political Pivot

N/A — a rhetorical construct, experienced by Josh as an imminent scoring threat.

The Runner is part of Josh's baseball analogy — a rhetorical device representing an opponent advantage that must be neutralized; not physically present but functionally central to Josh's line of …

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Affiliation

Commission on Presidential Debates