Phillies Spring Training Talk

[PhillyGirl]

Posted on Sun, Feb. 26, 2006
Phils say Kalas isn't outta here yet

Change is never easy for baseball fans, and when it was leaked last week that the Phillies were considering revamping their broadcast lineup, perception suddenly replaced reality.

The Phillies aren't trying to shove Hall of Fame play-by-play announcer Harry Kalas out the door, as might have been perceived.

Kalas is arguably the most popular member of the organization, even more than the double-play combination of Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins. The Phillies' organization doesn't have its head in the sand on this issue.

"We would never try to push Harry out the door and the thought of it is laughable," said Rob Brooks, the Phillies' manager of broadcasting.

Scott Palmer, the former Channel 6 sports anchor and the Phillies' new director of media and public affairs, echoed those sentiments.

"Harry's a national treasure and we all hope that he is here for a long time," he said.

That doesn't mean the Phillies weren't and aren't still looking to improve their broadcasts. One of the changes that has been discussed is putting longtime analyst Chris Wheeler exclusively on TV and using Larry Andersen, who did six innings a game on TV last season, strictly as a radio analyst.

Still, as of now, only two things are etched in stone.

"Harry is going to be doing six innings on TV and Scott Graham is going to do six on radio," Brooks said. "No other decision on our lineup has been finalized."

It wouldn't be surprising if the final assignments are decided sometime this week.

The Phillies also hired newcomer Scott Franzke, who replaced Tom McCarthy. Now the No. 2 radio announcer with the New York Mets, McCarthy did the pre- and postgame radio shows and two innings of radio play-by-play, the likely role for Franzke. Kalas is expected to continue doing one inning on radio.

There is a strong faction in the Phillies' organization that wants Wheeler on television for nine innings as an analyst. The three innings of play-by-play he did on TV could go to Graham.

Here is where it gets sticky.

For a number of years, Kalas and Wheeler have endured a well-documented strained relationship, but to the credit of both, they never allowed it to show in the booth. They have worked extremely well together.

It's no secret that Kalas would rather do the games with Andersen, a former Phillie who joined the broadcast team in 1998.

The Phillies have one thing in their favor in giving Wheeler a more high-profile role - he's a better analyst than Andersen.

That was no misprint.

For some reason, possibly because he was never a professional baseball player, Wheeler has become a lightning rod for criticism. He has been a member of the broadcast team since 1977 and is among the most informative analysts in the game.

So before you fire up the e-mails, here's an explanation: The job of an analyst is to give information that the average viewer may not know. Nobody does a better job of explaining hitters' and pitchers' weakness and strengths than Wheeler. It's as if he has a book on every hitter and pitcher in the league.

He has tremendous recall for situations that have occurred in Phillies history. He is always pointing out defensive strategies. Nobody is more up-to-date on the game's current events than Wheeler. It would be hard to find any announcer who comes to a game more prepared than Wheeler.

This is not to destilupfrontate Andersen, who obviously knows the game and has done a solid job. However, knowing the game and explaining it to the audience are two different things.

One thing Andersen hasn't improved much is his delivery. Even though he might be one of the funniest people in the Phillies' organization, it doesn't always come out on the air, especially with his monotone delivery.

Wheeler, on the other hand, is always enthusiastic, and it's not manufactured.

According to Brooks, the contracts of all five Phillies announcers expire after this season, so it's incumbent that they attempt to work well together, no matter how they are utilized.

So now the Phillies have a choice. Do they appease Kalas and some of their fans, or do they go for the better broadcast on television?

Either way, the Phillies will put out a first-rate broadcasting team, especially with Kalas, who turns 70 on March 26, as the leader.

The fact that the Phillies want the best possible radio and television broadcasts shouldn't be held against them, nor should it be perceived that they are trying to push a legend out the door.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Marc Narducci is on Wheelers payroll.

Wheels a better analyst that LA? Ha!

[SunMo]

talking strictly baseball, Wheels is probably better than LA, but it's not just about the information you giving, but also how you are giving it.  Wheels is a whiney, arrogant suck up.  LA is less whiney and less arrogant, and less of a suck up.

[MDS]

you've got to be kidding me. that was about the worst article ive ever read.

[stalker]

This is not to destilupfrontate Andersen,

This cracked me up. I sure am glad that racist crackhead is no longer here.

[Sgt PSN]

you've got to be kidding me. that was about the worst article ive ever read.

You must not have read the entire article otherwise you would have seen this brilliant gem.

This is not to destilupfrontate Andersen, who obviously knows the game and has done a solid job. However, knowing the game and explaining it to the audience are two different things.

 

[Sgt PSN]

This is not to destilupfrontate Andersen,

This cracked me up. I sure am glad that racist crackhead is no longer here.

No love for SUF anymore?  What'd he do, kick your ass and steal your pipe?  Maybe he sold you some low quality rock?

[Rome]

The latest tally in Philly.com's "L.A. versus Wheels" vote:

Which Phillies announcer would you prefer to see teamed with Harry Kalas?
   
Larry Andersen:  1443 votes (90%)

Chris Wheeler:  158 votes (10%)

Ooops.  It looks like nine out of ten respondants disagree with Marc Narducci.  Big surprise there.

[PhillyGirl]

As if we all needed another reason to despise Tim Worrell:

Worrell: Phillies fans 'seem happy being miserable'
By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Phillies fans might recall Tim Worrell as a relief pitcher who habitually wore the dour look of a man who had just sucked a lemon during most of his tenure in red pinstripes.

Or they might recall him as the guy who asked to be placed on the disabled list for "personal psychological reasons" 2 months into last season, collected about a million bucks while sidelined and then forced a trade to the Diamondbacks.

They probably would not have recognized the jolly fellow who was horsing around with his new Giants teammates recently at Scottsdale Stadium after signing a 2-year, $4 million free-agent contract this winter.

Even when asked if he had a moment to discuss his impressions of Philadelphia, he continued to smile. He also continued to walk toward the door. "That's past. Looking forward," is all he had to offer.

Worrell, however, wasn't as brusque with the Sacramento Bee. He made it clear that, on the whole, he'd rather not be in Philadelphia.

"Philly is a tough place to play when things go right," he told veteran Giants beat reporter Nick Peters. "I'm a West Coast guy. I grew up in California [Pasadena] and I live in Arizona. It's a different mentality back there. I don't want to say it's wrong, but I'm just not used to it.

"It was a night-and-day difference, a shock to my family. [Philly fans] want to win, but they seem happy being miserable."

Worrell, 38, made it clear that he was exempting the Phillies organization and former general manager Ed Wade from his thumbs-down review.

"[Being traded to] Arizona was a favor, and [Wade] made it happen," he said. "He was very good to me. I have nothing bad to say about the Phillies.

"They went out of their way for me. I don't think you ever solve problems, but my mind was clear enough to concentrate on doing what needed to get done. In Philly, it was tough to focus when a lot of stuff was going on."

Worrell gave up 12 runs in his first 11 innings last season. Opponents batted .423 against him in that stretch. When he was traded, his earned run average was 7.41. Not surprising, he was loudly booed for his efforts.

For the Diamondbacks, Worrell was 2.27 in 32 games, including 0.90 in his last 18 appearances.

He steadfastly has declined to talk in detail about the problems that caused him so much distress, but painted a grim picture in the story that ran in today's editions.

"Other things, personal and external, were becoming more important than the game," he said. "There was no nervous breakdown, but I was heading that way. Things were eating at me and tearing me up.

"It's not that in 12 years [in the big leagues] things never affected me personally, but I couldn't get my job done. In the end result, I knew why I wasn't getting the job done. I knew there was a reason... I'm giving up two-run homers and felt like I was killing the team. That's why I went up to [Wade] and told him, 'I'm trying everything I can do, and I'm not turning the corner here.'

"My style of pitching has a lot to do with attitude, and my approach wasn't right. I needed time to go and fix it."

Now he's fixed it. And he's clearly happy he's no longer in Philadelphia.

And that's one thing he and Phillies fans probably can agree on.

What a farging wuss.

[ice grillin you]

"Philly is a tough place to play when things go right," he told veteran Giants beat reporter Nick Peters. "I'm a West Coast guy. I grew up in California [Pasadena] and I live in Arizona. It's a different mentality back there. I don't want to say it's wrong, but I'm just not used to it.

translation: i wear panties...like avacado on my pizza...and want to play in a city where the fans dont care how bad i suck

[PhillyGirl]

HA!

I mean, I'd understand if he played really well for the Phils for a few years and had one bad stretch that he was upset about, but dude....YOU SUCKED ASS! Shut the farg up and enjoy your desert heat.

[PhillyGirl]

More news

Sore elbow puts Bell on bench
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. - A half-hour before the Phillies played their first intrasquad scrimmage of spring training, the infielders assembled on the half field outside of the clubhouse to practice. Infield coach Bill Dancy smacked grounders to Jimmy Rollins at shortstop, who fired them to second baseman Chase Utley, who relayed them to Ryan Howard at first.

Next to Rollins, reserve infielders Alex Gonzalez and Abraham Nunez awaited their turns at third base. Neither took balls anywhere else because both started the intrasquad game at third.

Because David Bell was hurt.

Again.

Thirty minutes later, Howard didn't play, either, but he just had a 103-degree fever from a cold that is circulating through the clubhouse. He is expected to play today if he is better.

Bell might be a little longer in returning to full participation.

Bell missed yesterday's full workout and game with a sore left elbow that hinders his swing. It was the first day of what has become an annual occurrence.  PG note....hinders his swing? I wasn't aware that it got much more "hindered" than it did last year.

Bell's balky back cost him time in 2003 and in the spring of 2005. Shoulder and knee problems cost him time in the spring of 2004. He entered this spring less bulky, which, with his devotion to preventative measures, might contribute to his absence of back pain so far.

So, how did the latest injury happen?

Manager Charlie Manuel hypothesized that the injury came about through overuse while Bell prepared for the season, exacerbated when full-team workouts began on Tuesday. Manuel said he won't use Bell until Bell is fully recovered.

When that might be remains unknown.

Team athletic trainer Jeff Cooper does not talk to the media. Bell talked to teammates and equipment representatives yesterday before the workout began and was gone when the clubhouse reopened.

Back on the hill

Cole Hamels yesterday threw off the mound for the first time since August. Hamels, the team's first-round pick in 2002, has a chronic back issue that cost him most of last season and has put him behind the other pitchers this spring.

He threw 25 pitches - 23 fastballs and two of his trademark changeups. He did not hold back. He was delighted.

"It was everything I expected it to be," he said. He felt no back pain, though there is a lingering tightness.

"He threw the ball very well," pitching coach Rich Dubee allowed. "We'll see how he [feels today]."

Hamels said he will next throw off the mound Wednesday. Without setbacks, Hamels said, he could start pitching in games in 2 weeks.

Phillers

Jon Lieber is scheduled to start Friday against the Yankees in the Grapefruit League home opener at Bright House Networks Field... Rheal Cormier gave up a long double to Matt Kata in the intrasquad game. Cormier pitched a little longer than the other pitchers, since he is slated to leave the club later this week and join Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic... Abraham Nunez made a sweet play to his left at third to get speedy Bobby Scales at first base... Lefthander Gio Gonzalez, part of the trade that sent Jim Thome to the White Sox, looked impressive in his inning. He is slated for Double A Reading... Catcher prospect Jason Jaramillo fired a strike to throw out Joe Thurston tying to steal second.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Tim Worrell = big vadge

David Bell = bigger vadge

Him being hurt is good though. It means that Nunez or Gonzalez can steal his job.

[PhillyGirl]

Nah, I'm pretty sure I think Worrell is the bigger vadge here.

Bell is, no doubt, in the vadge category....but Worrell lapped him.

[ice grillin you]

bell seems like a good guy...he just sucks


worrell sucks AND is bitchmade

i get booed so i lock myself in my bedroom for a month and cry over pints of ben and jerrys