Phillies ‘Broadcasters out of Left Phield’ featured guest stars, ballpark food, and a potential FCC fine
The Phillies and NBCS switched up their usual routine for last night’s game against the Reds. Commentators Tom McCarthy, John Kruk, Ruben Amaro Jr., and B*n D*vis left the safety of the booth for the left-field stands. The occasion? A special production aptly named “Broadcasters out of Left Phield.”
While some curmudgeonly fans voiced their displeasure at the at times gimmicky broadcast, it was a ton of fun. Although I am usually not a proponent of sports broadcasts that feel like talk shows (i.e., the Manningcast, UFC with the Gronks), this was one of my favorite games to watch this season.
It didn’t hurt that Bryson Stott and Nick Maton combined to win the game for the Phillies, either.
The commentators themselves were fantastic. The always hilarious John Kruk was in rare form, even to his standards. And when he’s on fire, there’s truly no better way to watch the Phillies.
**Sure, that square-headed Malvern guy was there too, but the broadcast was so hectic at times I nearly forgot about him. Talk about well-earned bonus points.**
But I digress. The guest list in the makeshift booth was star-studded, and the ballpark food looked immaculate… a little too immaculate, in fact (more on that later).
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Special guests steal the show.
Kyle Schwarber joined the broadcast from the left-field grass and even saw some action during the interview. It was wildly entertaining to hear him answer the booth’s questions while clearly out of breath after chasing down a line drive to prevent a triple.
Of course, the guests continued to flow in. Young Sixers phenom and natural-born entertainer Tyrese Maxey made his way down to grace the guys with his presence. Needless to say, he did not disappoint.
His instant rapport with Kruk was a show-stopper, yielding some of the best banter heard on a Phillies telecast this season.
Kruk: “What are you, 23?
Maxey: “I’m 21.”
Kruk: “Christ… 21? I believe the drawers I’m wearing are older than that. So you can drink now?”
Maxey: “Yeah, but I try to stay away from alcohol.”
Kruk: “That’s all right. I’ll have them for you.”
You can watch Maxey’s full interview below if you missed it last night. It was a treat, to be sure.
Yet another former Phillies player drops an expletive LIVE
The show didn’t end there, folks. As the Phillies were stuck down 3-0 in the 6th inning, former Phillie Greg Luzinski stopped in the booth to catch up with his old buddy John Kruk.
Keeping with what appears to be a growing tradition made famous by known pariah Pete Rose, Luzinski took less than 10 seconds to swear into his hot mic, saying “No shit” in response to something the Krukster said to him.
The situation was made even more hilarious by two things.
- Luzinski making a Pete Rose reference in his quick apology
- John Kruk being the only member of the broadcast team to remain entirely unbothered
Despite the alleged faux-pas, the swift swearing was just what the Phillies needed to get back in the game. After the expletive entered the fray, the Fightins put up four runs in the bottom of the 6th.
You couldn’t write a better script if you tried. Yuengling tallboys are really the gift that keeps on giving.
Along with taking in a walk-off win, viewers watched John Kruk feast on offerings from around the ballpark like some ancient South Philly deity. Notable selections included the burnt ends cheesesteak, a Manco & Manco personal pie, and a root beer float.
No napkins, just vibes. Incredible stuff.
So, in short, it was a near-perfect night for Phillies fans. However, something caught the eye of many watching at home.
That ballpark food looked suspiciously good.
Don’t know what I mean? Look at this screencap from the guys over at the Absolutely Hammered pod. The burnt ends cheesesteak looks like something out of The Bear for Christ’s sake.
Look, I know there’s a degree of movie magic used to entice viewers to try the food when they’re at CBP, but this is just ridiculous. The fraudulence on display here is on par with a McDonald’s ad.
I’m tolerant of a lot of bullshit from our organizations, but I’d rather they serve up what the standard fan would eat. Either that or don’t make it so damn obvious.
While that was a glaring issue with the broadcast, the fact that was my biggest complaint outside of the Phillies bullpen and infield nearly collectively blowing the whole game is a testament to its entertainment value.
I give it a final score of 8.7/10. My ruling is final.
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Mandatory Credit: NBCS Philly
