2023 Phils Spring Training News and Discussion

[zambonir]

Phillies officially announce re-signing of broadcasters. Stocker gets the other radio job out of last year's committee.

The Phillies have reached multi-year contract agreements with Tom McCarthy and Scott Franzke, the voices of the team's television and radio broadcasts.

In addition, the Phillies have signed radio color analyst Kevin Stocker to a multi-year contract.

— Philadelphia Phillies ( @Phillies ) February 21, 2023

[andyb]

Is Stocker the best choice? I admit I usually listened to the TV audio on MLB.TV. I like Franzke more than McCarthy but the TV syncing up with replays makes for a more coherent telecast to watch for me so I stick with the TV audio.

[zambonir]

Yeah, I didn't listen enough to form an opinion, even when I was in town. I kind of recall disliking Kratz (who I would have otherwise been inclined to like), he was basically pushing the same buttons as LA and Kruk (old-school, old-timer stories, albeit from a more recent time). Didn't Stocker also do it once before? My feeling is he's fine/ordinary. I think Bourn already had another gig?

[andyb]

I think I heard Bourn once. Seemed OK but just not enough to form an opinion. We did get the other Kevin (Frandsen) down here in DC who seems pretty good and probably left at a time where the Phillies could not offer a full time gig with Anderson taking most of the home games. Only doing road games must be a lot of work, especially when you don't get paid for doing the full 162.

[andyb]

Plassmeyer starting one of the Saturday split squad games. Realistically both look like 1-inning bullpen games for everyone. Training camp is a bit longer because of the WBC so no reason to hurry on the starters. Curious if they will ramp us Walker and Suarez a little bit more since they might be starters in the WBC.

[VoteForKalas]

Phillies officially announce re-signing of broadcasters. Stocker gets the other radio job out of last year's committee.

The Phillies have reached multi-year contract agreements with Tom McCarthy and Scott Franzke, the voices of the team's television and radio broadcasts.

In addition, the Phillies have signed radio color analyst Kevin Stocker to a multi-year contract.— Philadelphia Phillies (

@Phillies

) February 21, 2023

I've never understood the attraction of McCarthy; makes me actively not watch the games on TV.

Glad they were able to retain Franzke. Stocker may be interesting, have never heard him before.

[zambonir]

I think you can understand the attraction perfectly well - he's a good guy and loyal company man. Not the same thing as liking him of course. I just find him to be a benign presence. Actually find Murphy (or Jim Jackson) more appealing as pure voices. I think the biggest thing is the rest of the broadcast team is also flawed, and McCarthy is the one who has to rein them in or make them better or have some chemistry. Ruben has improved the team somewhat, and I don't mind Kruk in small does.

There are a lot more McCarthys than Frantzkes, that's for sure (which is to say I'm not sure we'd like a new guy any better. At this point the new guy might be his son!)

[julio]

I think a lot of us (the older ones!) are still just spoiled. Harry and Whitey had a chemistry that was truly unique. Franzke and LA bring some of that to the radio (at least when they're engaged in a serious game or pennant race; less so when the club is just playing out the string).

Most fans here won't remember, but it might be more fair to McCarthy and his crew to try to evaluate them against the By Saam/Bill Campbell broadcasts (with or without Ashburn). I prefer to listen to Franzke (Stocker is OK; I preferred Frandsen), but McCarthy doesn't seem to me to be materially worse than Phils' TV PBP guys other than Kalas. (Saam, Campbell, Musser when on TV).

And I rather liked Scott Graham, for whatever that's worth.

Color? Nobody in the booth has replaced Rich Ashburn, and I don't expect that anybody will. I'd love to be proven wrong about this, but nobody who has taken up the mike yet has been close. (LA is the closest.)

[Callison]

I am really glad Middleton is making these calls. Love this quote. Too often other teams are left in the dust as the Dodgers and Yanks buy everything in sight.

[zambonir]

Scott Graham was a loss.

It will be interesting to see how McCarthy is perceived by fans 10 or 20 years from now, especially if the Phillies stay good. What we had with Harry was also a product of the time - the ubiquity of radio, and local TV being just about the only TV. It was also sealed by the Phillies being so good from from 1976 to 1983 (mostly). And then came '93 and "High Hopes," with '08 and "you are the man" as the cherry on top. Today's young fans probably don't have much of a relationship with the broadcast at all (consuming it in smaller chunks or following games on social media) and they'll never get to hear McCarthy make a signature post-season call (though he doesn't seem to have a signature call at all). But anyone who only really remembers the '08 team and that era has also only grown up listening mostly to McCarthy.

[andyb]

Painter can't get Schwarber out.

Fun moment during live BP: Kyle Schwarber crushes one against Andrew Painter. A big crowd to watch Painter pitch. pic.twitter.com/JoeCal3qpC

— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) February 22, 2023

[zambonir]

News!

Pitcher Noah Song discharged from the Navy, expected to report to Phillies...

Because Song is on Major League Baseball’s military list, he won’t be counted against the 40-man roster until opening day. If he makes the team out of spring training, Song will be placed on the Phillies’ 26-man roster. If he doesn’t make the team, he will be traded or placed on waivers. Song can be placed on the injured list, or the bereavement list, or the paternity list, but he can’t be optioned.

I would think it's going to be tough. Crowded bullpen, modern bullpen usage makes it hard to hide a guy, Sox probably get him back (which this story somehow neglected to mention). OTOH can he be as good as Nick Nelson or Cristopher Sanchez or David Hale?

[bkeich]

I would think this is exactly what the Phillies didn't want. They probably wanted him available during the season, not at the start. Doubtful he can make the roster, but if they like what they see maybe they can work out a trade and send him to the minors assuming no one else claims him.

Maybe a stay on the DL is coming at the start of the season and they can have him spend time rehabbing.

[andyb]

Yeah I think ideally they wanted him to be able to do a 30-day minor league rehab stint after the season started. That might not be possible now.

Probably a small chance for a bullpen role but give him a shot. He is certainly tradeable (maybe back to Boston for another prospect) if he shows decent stuff.

Reading more, chances are he will not get back to the Red Sox because he would have to go through waivers and some small market team would claim him. Still tradeable to another team that would keep him on the major league roster though. It still would be nice if they could figure out an IL stint even if those 30 days would extend to him needing to be on the major league roster for the first 30 days of 2024. If he shows good stuff they will figure something out (trade or move pieces to keep him).

[zambonir]

Boston can just get him for free (well, for $). We'd be the ones giving something to Boston in trade (to remove the Rule 5 designation). A team who could more easily carry/hide him on the roster could trade for him and that might get you a better player than most Rule 5 guys, but only just.

[andyb]

Boston can just get him for free (well, for $).

See my comment on waivers. Unlikely he'd make it through. I have no idea if a trade could remove that rule 5 designation still. I think the only way he gets back to Boston is if he does not show anything close to his 2019 stuff. 2019 Song would be our 4th best pitching prospect and top 10 on our overall list.

[zambonir]

It's not clear if he has to go through waivers first in the event of a Rule 5 designation-removal trade with Boston, or if they could just do the deal and bypass all of it.

But Boston could also just let the process play out and get him back later in the season. Sure, a team like the A's or Orioles could probably stash him all year.

People do get hurt in spring training of course....

[schillingfan]

Richie Ahburn’s “Whiteisms” still rattle through my brain and are used by me but seldom picked up by others. “Hard to believe Harry’” for the face plant emoji and “oh brother” for the eye roll. His humor was so droll..

[donaldorc]

Man, Julio, I remember all the names of announcers you mention. We both go WAY back. I also agree completely with your ratings of the names you mention!

[zambonir]

If memory - not firsthand memory mind you - serves Harry was not at all embraced/welcomed by the fans when he first got hired. I also think radio had a great deal to do with him being so beloved (and skilled). And now Frantzke has inherited that mantle, and doesn't feel the need to be on TV.