Phillies: Five Candidates to Join the Phillies Broadcast Team
John Kruk
Since mutually agreeing to leave ESPN, the fan-favorite Kruk has been looking for opportunities to stay in the booth.
He acknowledged the desire to stay in broadcasting, although he joked about getting into personal fitness.
ESPN and I have mutually agreed to part ways. I can't thank them enough for all they have done for me and my family.
— John Kruk (@JohnKruk) October 4, 2016
I will continue to pursue TV opportunities so I can continue covering the game I love
— John Kruk (@JohnKruk) October 4, 2016
Kruk has the experience, personality, and history with the fans needed to be successful on the broadcast team. He is an early favorite to join Tom McCarthy, Ben Davis, Greg Murphy, and Mike Schimidt on the broadcast team.
Brad Lidge
If Kruk is not the answer, Brad Lidge would be a strong second choice for me. The hero of the 2008 World Series team, Lidge worked on MLB Network following his retirement.
Lidge has many of the traits Kruky brings to the booth: broadcast experience, personality, and a connection with the fans. I’m not sure the team has reached out to Lidge (who currently lives in Colorado and has younger children) but he would be on my list of finalists.
Pete Rose
Ok, I’ll admit this is a major stretch. But at the same time, how much fun would Sundays with Schmidt be with those two together behind a mic for three hours?
Fans enjoyed seeing baseballs all-time hits leader during the World Series coverage, and he brings unlimited knowledge of the game.
You might have to check on the specifics of his suspension and see if he can work for a team in this capacity, but baseball has loosened it’s stance on Rose lately.
He might get in trouble behind the mic, but he’s more than entertaining and would bring the hitting insight that leaves with Matt Stairs.
Jimmy Rollins
While J-Roll is not officially retired, he has not played since the beginning of the season with the White Sox. After going unsigned for the remainder of the season, Rollins joined Fox Sports and worked on their season coverage. Rollins also joined the booth during his playing days when the Phillies were out of the playoffs.
Rollins obviously has an attachment to the camera, and having him and Schmidt together would be an interesting combination. What other team has their franchise’s top two hitters in one place all season long?
Jimmy would have to officially retire, but that should not be a major issue considering he went unsigned last year after being cut.
Darren Daulton
I believe Darren Daulton is a dark horse in this race, and has just as strong of an argument as anyone else on this list. He is an ultimate fan favorite who worked for 97.5 The Fanatic before his cancer diagnosis. Now that he is healthy, Daulton can jump back behind the mic and continue to make fans swoon from home.
Next: Phillies Who Could Be Traded This Offseason
Imagine the Phillies moved on from Ben Davis and hired both Kruk and Daulton. That would be a great combination I would want to listen to.