John Middleton responded to the Harry The K’s backlash and you might not like it, but he’s right

John Middleton addressed the Ghost Energy Deck situation Tuesday night at a Citizens Bank Park event and said what needed to be said without apologizing for the decision.

His core argument is straightforward. There is a seven-foot statue of Harry Kalas in left field. The broadcast booth bears his name and has a plaque. High Hopes still plays after every home win.

The legacy is not going anywhere because a concession stand got a new sponsor. That is a reasonable position and the people acting like the Phillies buried Harry Kalas in the parking lot need to relax.

Quick Note: They should have buried Harry Kalas in the lots…

John Middleton also made a point that almost nobody has engaged with honestly. By Saam won the same Ford C. Frick Award Harry Kalas won, 25 years earlier, after spending decades as the voice of Philadelphia baseball for both the Athletics and the Phillies.

If you cannot find a single thing honoring By Saam anywhere inside Citizens Bank Park, maybe the outrage about Harry The K’s is slightly misplaced. For the peanut-sized brains on Twitter, the entire point of Middleton bringing up By Saam is because there are a lot of people worth honoring in this franchise’s history and the building can only hold so many tributes.

On the money side, Middleton was refreshingly blunt

The fee the Phillies were paying the Kalas family was small enough that it was not a financial decision. His words were that the savings might buy some napkins. What Ghost Energy is paying the Phillies, on the other hand, could fund a player. That is the actual calculus and at least he said it out loud instead of dressing it up as something else.

Fine. Whatever. Here is my take.

The people on Twitter acting like they understand the Phillies organization better than John Middleton are the same people who forget that Middleton is in the stands during Red October, walking the concourse, taking pictures with fans, standing next to you in the bathroom during the seventh inning.

This is not some disconnected billionaire who bought a team and does not care.

The analog clock discourse is even more embarrassing. If your biggest problem at Citizens Bank Park is a clock that most people under 50 never used, you might be too emotionally invested in the wrong things.

Yes, I know that it was an ode to Connie Mack and really, ballparks in general, who constantly have analog clocks in the outfield that come in all shapes and sizes but I literally do not give a shit.

Speaking of emotionally invested, check out John Middleton not spilling a single drop of wine while spitting facts to these beat writers. That’s what I’m talking about.

John Middleton on the useless centerfield analog clock:

John Middleton explains to @TimKellySports why the center field analog clock likely won’t be going back up after the All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/dPawCMVicR

— OnPattison (@OnPattison) March 24, 2026

Let’s Talk About Ghost Energy…

Assuming you’re not an emotional mess already, before you write off Ghost Energy as some faceless corporate intruder, the founder Ryan Hughes grew up in Delaware County, was raised in West Chester, and has been vocal about his love for the Phillies and his admiration for Harry Kalas.

This is a local kid who built a brand and wants to create a great experience in left field. As someone also from DELCO and grew up right outside of West Chester, that alone is worth at least giving a chance before the outrage machine decides he is the enemy.

Don’t take my word for it. Here’s what Ryan Hughes has commented while everyone tries to bury him and his company before taking five seconds to see what they are about.

Shoutout DELCO: Here’s GHOST Energy Founder Ryan Hughes

“Harry Kalas’ name and legacy is not tied to a concession stand in left field, it’s much bigger than that, and while I don’t have control over the use of his name, I can promise you this: we’re going to continue to honor it in any way we can.” – Ryan Hughes, Co-Founder of GHOST 

Plus, The Ghost of Harry The K’s is still right there in the name if you squint hard enough. I said it in the first piece and I will say it again, that’s the best option outside of giving Ryan Hughes a shot at making his brand a staple at Citizens Bank Park. On a serious note, I’m still willing to give the guy every opportunity to prove GHOST Energy belongs and you should too.

I need to get my hands on some Ghost Energy. I’ll be honest, I’m a Celsius guy. Ryan Hughes, if you’re reading this. Glen Mills, PA born and raised.

Big DELCO/West Chester guy and I know we’re not an MLB Ballpark but Celsius doesn’t have my loyalty (money) quite yet. You want the boys drinking Ghost Energy? I’ll make sure we crush a few cans daily, brother. Let’s talk.

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