Phillies 2016 Broadcasting Team

The Philadelphia Phillies are returning a familiar team of radio and television broadcasters for fans to enjoy in the 2016 season.

With a little under a month remaining until the 2016 MLB season gets started, it seems like the perfect time to take a brief look at each of the Phillies’ radio and TV broadcasters, the men who share their views with and help to enlighten us fans.

Many times over the years, a broadcaster’s voice can become firmly attached to some of our greatest memories. What Phillies fan will ever forget Harry Kalas’ call of Mike Schmidt‘s 500th career home run, for instance?

“Swing and a long drive – there it is, #500, the career 500th home run for Michael Jack Schmidt!”

While we won’t be seeing any 500th career home runs by a Phillies player during 2016, and while there may not yet be any dramatic postseason calls, there are sure to be some exciting and dramatic moments, and thrilling calls by this year’s broadcasting team members. Let’s take a look at each of them, including the Spanish language broadcast team.

TELEVISION:

Tom McCarthy – McCarthy had the incredibly difficult task of replacing franchise legend Harry Kalas for play-by-play calling, but he has done so admirably. ‘T-Mac’ has settled in nicely now, proving to be not only a very effective broadcaster, but also a generally positive voice that fans have embraced.

From 2001-05, McCarthy did broadcast work for the Phillies on the radio. In 2008, he rejoined the Phillies team and would take over this current role for the 2009 season. In between, he did some radio work for the Mets with WFAN.

McCarthy has solid knowledge and experience in baseball as a prior assistant GM/play-by-play guy for the AA Trenton Thunder. Other areas of past experience include ESPN Radio, as well as in both college football and basketball coverage. One may also presently hear McCarthy call CBS NFL games, college football, and college hoops on CBS College Sports Network, and MLB games on FOX. Phillies fans are pretty lucky to have a broadcaster with such a great voice and full resume.

Ben Davis – Born and raised in the Philly area, Davis moved from being a Comcast SportsNet analyst to the broadcast team at the start of last season as a replacement for the departing Jamie Moyer. Davis’ arrival was a welcome one for me personally, as I have always enjoyed his broadcasting work and his first-hand knowledge of pitching.

Davis’ experience in both pitching and catching allow him to provide a unique take on the game. During the 2008-10 seasons, after decades as a catcher, he returned to the game as a pitcher for the Reds in ‘A’ ball, and in the Atlantic League. He finally retired from the game after the 2011 season.

The 2nd overall pick in the 1995 MLB Amateur Draft by the San Diego Padres, his MLB career extended from 1998-2004 with the Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago White Sox. In 486 games, Davis accrued 38 home runs and 204 RBI while registering a .237 career batting average.

Gregg Murphy – The man referred to as ‘Murph’ has been broadcasting for the Phillies since the 2012 season. He is always on the move, providing a different perspective on the game at various locations throughout both Citizens Bank Park and each of the road venues where he discusses game action, interacts with fans, and presents MLB news in his “Major League Notebook” segments.

A Saint Joe’s grad, Murphy may also call a game or two when McCarthy gets a day off, or is elsewhere calling a football game. Beyond his work for the Phillies, Murphy has covered the World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and the March Madness of the NCAA basketball tournament. Murph’s addition to the staff adds a nice element you may not find in other MLB broadcasts.

Matt Stairs – Forever beloved in Philadelphia for his pinch-hit home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers “into the night” of the 2008 NLCS, Stairs continued his Phillies’ legacy by joining the broadcast team for the 2014 season.

In just 120 at-bats for the Phils over the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Stairs knocked in 22 runs and hit seven of his 265 career dingers. His career was deemed strong enough to earn the big lefty slugger a place in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame last year.

Prior to broadcasting for the Phillies, Stairs was on MLB Network Radio and the New England Sports Network. As a current color commentator, he adds a unique element to the listening experience with first-hand knowledge of hitting and a unique, creative flair.

Mike Schmidt – The three-time National League MVP, 1980 World Series MVP, and Hall of Fame 3rd baseman had served on the Phillies’ broadcast team in 1990 before rejoining the staff on a limited basis in 2014. Schmidt shares his wisdom on Saturday and Sunday games in Philadelphia in what have become known as “Weekends with Schmidty” appearances. It is hard not to soak up and enjoy all of the stories, experience, and insight which the legendary all-time greatest Phillies player has to offer.

RADIO:

Scott Franzke – Franzke, a Southern Methodist University product, has been on Phillies radio airwaves since 2006, switching in 2007 to his current role as the primary play-by-play broadcaster. Franzke has a great voice and feel for the game, and he and his broadcasting partner (covered next) have become beloved by Philly sports fans. I always love listening to the Phillies’ radio broadcasts in the car because he does such a terrific job.

His talent is not surprising as he has already done so much in the realm of sports radio. Franzke has worked with Prime Sports Radio, done some radio work for the Texas Rangers, was a minor league broadcaster, and even worked the 2000 Summer Olympics. His experience obviously contributes to his ever-growing abilities.

Larry Andersen – Since 1998, the quirky Andersen has been covering Phillies games as a color commentator on the radio. As I mentioned with Franzke, I love the radio broadcasts for the Phillies, and Andersen also contributes to that fondness.

For lack of a better word to describe him, Andersen is a character. He makes nearly every broadcast interesting with some sort of goofy remark, usually a number of them. However, he can also be quite insightful with his pitching background. He and Franzke enjoy a rare chemistry on the air.

Across 17 big league seasons and 995.1 career innings, Andersen had a 3.15 ERA and 40-39 record. For the Phillies from 1983-86 and again from 1993-94 he maintained a 3.27 ERA, had an 11-14 record, and struck out 221 batters in 297 innings. Andersen was a pretty solid reliever.

Jim Jackson – You will find ‘JJ’ involved in a little play-by-play duty during various games, but he also runs the radio pre and post-game shows. Covering the Phillies broadcasts is his side job. His main gig of twenty-two years is doing play-by-play for the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, and he is currently their main TV voice.

The Syracuse University product has done it all; broadcasted for a few minor league baseball teams, written “Walking Together Forever: The Broad Street Bullies, Then and Now”, and done a radio show. While Jackson does an excellent job covering the Flyers, he also adds a nice change of pace to the regular Phillies radio coverage.

SPANISH BROADCASTING:

Bill Kulik – The Bryant College product is very well-loved by his fan base. Kulik is the founder of the Spanish Béisbol Network, which began covering Phillies games in 2005. “El Gringo Malo” was even privileged enough to call the 2008 World Series for the Phillies. Beyond the Spanish Béisbol Network, Kulik was involved in getting the New England Sports Network off the ground as well.

More from That Balls Outta Here

Angel Ibo Castillo – Castillo took up his most recent venture broadcasting with the Phillies in 2012, but well before then was able to get going in the United States by writing with Impacto Latino. He took off in his first go-around broadcasting for the Phils by 2006. At the same time, Castillo was also involved in sports radio with his show “Deportes de Aqui y de Alla”. In between his Phillies terms, Castillo covered the Washington Nationals.

TBOH’s editor Matt Veasey actually had the special opportunity to do an excellent interview with Castillo about a year ago. I also recently had the good fortune to have Castillo answer a few of my own questions for this piece.

Angel provided a bit more information on the remarkable Bill Kulik: “He is from Moorestown, New Jersey and his family moved to Colombia when he was just four years old due to his father’s work with the U.S. government. Bill learned to speak Spanish during his time in Colombia, as well as in Argentina and Brazil. In college, Bill was a left-handed pitcher, but did not reach the professional ranks. He came up with the idea of creating a Spanish broadcasting network.” Angel also added that Kulik only currently covers the Phillies for baseball and the Panthers and Eagles for football.

In response to my question about what he has learned since getting started with the Phillies in 2006: “It doesn’t matter from a broadcast point whether the team is good or bad that season, you have to try to keep positive. In the current situation, you have to try to help the fans understand the rebuilding process.” Castillo then added, “I have also learned about things that fans never see on the field, including some secrets about players and the team, things that you have to keep private.” Castillo finished off by including, “I have also learned some of the business side of the game. It can be easy to criticize some of the front office moves when you are a fan, but reality is that you never know how a player is going to produce in a new environment when given a chance.”

Wrapping up my questions for Castillo, I asked about what he is looking forward to seeing this upcoming season. He replied, “I want to see our young talent such as Franco and Nola continue to develop. I want to find out if Odubel Herrera is for real, and if Jeremy Hellickson can be a part of the future. At some point this season, I would love to see J.P. Crawford here. If the Phillies can trade Carlos Ruiz by July 31st, maybe even Jorge Alfaro. I want to see the new front office work aggressively. So far they have done a great job, but there is still plenty more to do.”

I could not agree more. The coming 2016 season presents many interesting opportunities for the young Phillies players, and is a very import year for the organization to keep progressing as a whole. Soon we will all be back following this fascinating team during the season, guided by the voices of each of the gentlemen listed above as they add to our appreciation of each moment.

Next: Nola Struggling in Early Spring

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