The Zo Zone

The Phillies should have been grooming Scott Rolen's successor back in 2000 and Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu's successor back in 2004. But it's good to see the Phils on the ball here attending to more importand things like grooming Harry Kalas' successor.

Yeah, the product doesn't matter, only the sales technique.

I think that Tom McCarthy is the best thing to enter a Phillies broadcasting booth since Kalas was in his 50s. Simply put, the Phillies broadcast team is mediocre to poor, and McCarthy has the potential to be the cornerstone of a new generation of no-nonsense, articulate broadcasters for the guys in red and white pinstripes.

Scott F. on the radio is great, or at least good enough for me. Wheeler was always too chatty as a play-by-play on TV, and had the occassional habit of jinxing the Phillies at critical moments. (Or maybe it just seemed that way in hind sight.) Also, Gary Matthew's "He smoked that one!" catch phrase has got to go. Or be used only every other game.

Bottom line is that the radio is still the better audio broadcast for Phillies games.

Still on the subject, Mitch Williams was terrific as Comcast's post-game analyst. A real surprise.

Put Wheeler and his toupee out to pasture.

In this instance, I would be very happy if the Wheels did fall off.

Send Wheels to the Ironpigs, that's where he belongs.

Did Wheeler see himself as the logical play by play successor to Kalas? If so, this has to really burn his butt. I'm OK with it.

Old truism: be nice to people on the way up, you will surely see them on the way back down.

Mitch Williams did a great job....can he replace Wheels?

I wonder if this is the beginning of the end for Wheels? He was less annoying this past year, but I think that was only because next to Sarge, he had to sound better. The two of them together was brutal, they definitely need to do away with the 3 man booth.

I still can't believe they got rid of Scott Graham. While I like McCarthy I really enjoyed Graham's cheesey style and really felt he was as into the game as I was. Bring the Graham Slam back!

I agree Wheeler needs to go, I hope they move him to the radio full time. I enjoy the other announcers the Phillies have but not rug boy wheeler.

Wheels offers good color commentary, though he's not a play-by-play guy.

Scott Graham was good at the beginning of his tenure with the Phillies, but then got too comfortable and casual. He and LA were awful about talking about their golf game, family, inside jokes, etc.. When Graham was on-topic he was excellent, but in his final year or two with the Phillies he was not often on-topic.

Tom McCarthy - both with the Phillies and with the Mets - is all business. He offers very little off-topic chatter, and his play-by-play is crisp and exciting.

Finally, I agree 100% with Craig that the radio team is better than the television team for the Phillies. But baseball - unless it is ESPN or FOX - is pretty bad on television, no matter what the team.

Franske, replaced Scott Graham, and did a great job. Wheels, is an anylists,he's not the play-play guy that Kallas is. McCarthy must have been offered a great deal, to leave the Mets booth. So what, if Wheels has a bad hair day. There is no one, in this town, that knows more about the Pnillies franchize,than Wheels. Baseball, is all about history and numbers, that live on for generations. So when his annoying twin talks, just wright it off as Wheels being Wheels...

Yeah I really liked Scottie Graham too and have also wondered why he was 86ed. He should be brought back. I'm not a fan of Franske.

McCarthey has a great voice and I'm happy to have him back as well.

Larry Anderson has to stop the whining when things don't go the Phillies way. He goes on and on and on... Also the in-jokes became old, real fast. Sarge has to go. I can't understand the guy some times. ESPN & FOX are fine but Chris Berman shouldn't be allowed to do play-by-play. Too much babbling and over-analyzing stuff. It's become all about Chris as well. When Harry Kalas was the guest during an ESPN Phils broadcast, Harry hardly got a word in for the two innings and we had to listen to Berman's crapola. He didn't shut up. God, that was tough to listen to... I'd like to think America has grown up enough not to want to hear his 'clever play on player's names', too.

Wheels is an OK analyst, but he does beat some things to death - like when there are 2 outs and the 8 hole is up, you can guarantee he will say something about turning the lineup over. Its OK to mention it, but not every single time it happens. I don't like him at all as a play-by-play guy. I think McCarthy and Franzke are pretty good, and if that is who we end up with for play-by-play for the forseeable future, I am OK with that.

The Phillies have far too many people on TV and radio. You need a scorecard just to keep track of who is broadcasting where at any point during a game. Two guys on radio, two on TV. That's all you need. If Harry's not up to 9 innings any longer, someone could go solo for a two innings on radio, or Jim Jackson could pinch hit for those innings.

What does the hiring of Tom McCarthy mean for Scott Franzke? I thought Franzke was brought in with the idea of having him succeed HK. My guess is that Franzke, who I like a lot, is gone when another team offers him their top slot.

Why can't LA do TV with Harry for an inning or two? And how much longer will we be subject to Chris Wheeler?

The Phillies have far too many people on TV and radio. You need a scorecard just to keep track of who is broadcasting where at any point during a game. Two guys on radio, two on TV. That's all you need. If Harry's not up to 9 innings any longer, someone could go solo for a two innings on radio, or Jim Jackson could pinch hit for those innings.

What does the hiring of Tom McCarthy mean for Scott Franzke? I thought Franzke was brought in with the idea of having him succeed HK. My guess is that Franzke, who I like a lot, is gone when another team offers him their top slot.

Why can't LA do TV with Harry for an inning or two? And how much longer will we be subject to Chris Wheeler?

I absolutely do not understand why they'd keep Sarge in the booth. He is absolutely awful to listen to. He adds nothing, and his silly banter with Wheeler in certain game situations had me reaching for the MUTE button all season long. As for Wheeler, he annoys me, but as long as the current front office is around, it looks like we're stuck with him. I liked Graham a lot, and also miss the rapport that Kalas and LA have together on-air.

They do have way too many in broadcasters. I liked Graham but Franske is a comparable replacement. I'd also vote for more LA/Harry in the booth. I'm not down on Sarge, but do you need him with all the others? Someone will have to be going. Wheels seems entrenched but he still annoys me and they can use those wheels to roll him out for all I care.

Maybe they can crowd the booth further by hiring Joe Morgan to provide color on Burrell's speed.

The Phils announcers are decent. Chris Wheeler is sometimes a boor, but Harry, as much as he means to Philly, is getting long of tooth.
I wish I knew how long of a contract Aaron Rowand wants?

Wheeler has annoyed me since he first started announcing for the Phils, what 25 years ago? Apparently, at times, he wasn't appreciated by the other announcers as well. One time when Bo Diaz was frantically going after a passed ball, Wheeler chimes in with, "You can tell that was a foul ball by the way Bo went after it." So Harry asks him, "What game are you watching?" Another time Harry and Richie were describing how Wheeler was quaffing down a plate of food in the next booth. Ashburn says, " He should be using a shovel."

I mention this because I didn't perceive it as good natured ribbing. There seemed to be genuine disdain toward him. Although Harry puts on a good front, the fact that a few years ago he said he wouldn't work with Wheels says all we need to know.

He blabbers way too much about elementary baseball situations that we all learned in little league.

I can't stand it when he uses his buzzwords like, middle in (20 X per game), great job turning over the lineup, or his latest, he back legged that ball. My wife came into the room one night and asked me why I was watching the game with no sound!

Wheels gets no love....I'm a traditionalist and I must admit that Chris Wheeler has grown on me. He is definitely the most knowledgable baseball guy in the organization. He remembers every play from the last 100 years! Also Larry Andersen should be on TV...and let Harry stay as long as he wants, he's earned it!

We need pitching, not more broadcasters.
The Phils sent a survey out a few weeks ago and I would love to know the results of the feedback they got on the broadcasters, since they asked.
I bashed Sarge early in the season but I have to admit, he grew on me as he got into the season. I'm OK with him. I especially enjoyed when he would stand up to Wheeler...not quite "what game are you watching" but he had a few good put downs to Mr. Know-it-All. He did get out of the Captain Obvious mode after a spell.
But as jH mentioned in an earlier post, until Giles, Monty and Co. go, we are stuck with Wheeler.
How Wheels can be nominated for the broadcaster wing of the HOF is beyond me.

Wheels must go!!!

I personally never thought wheels to be god or bad, just kinda there,although he may whine way to much. My buddy on the other hand can't stand him!!! The beauty of watching sports on tv as apposed to watching a movie or show, is that you can mute the tv and listen to music or whatever you want. You only have to watch the game, not listen to it!! Some even prefer to watch the game, mute it,and listen to the game on the radio at the same time, although alot of times one or the other is behind the other. As most would agree, the radio is bettter than watching the game on tv, you get to use your imagination and the game can seem more excititng, if the announcer is good!

It's always been obvious that the other broadcasters like McCarthy. That must have had something to do with him coming back, given the acrimonious Kalas-Wheeler history. I'm in the minority, but McCarthy does absolutely nothing for me at all. In fact, I was delighted to see him go. He always sounded disengaged, devoid of any emotion whatsoever. Franzke was a definite upgrade over McCarthy, especially this year when his teaming with Anderson really worked. The radio broadcasts with just Franzke, Anderson, and Harry's one-inning cameo were much better than T.V. If they were looking for a successor, it should have been Franzke.

wheels is great. anyone that says otherwise has been lulled into phoniness by the contrived packaging of national broadcasts. the persona wheels resonates on the radio embodies the civic spirit and interminable passion of the fan base. stylistically, he is transparent and impulsive and exuberant when warranted. his reactions, reflective of the fan base, are quintessentially philly-- underlied with the cynicism that 25 years without a parade impresses on us but ultimately boosted by undiminished optimistism. and most importantly, he is a huge homer. he wants to win as badly or badder than any of the fans who listen to him. that phanaticism separates our broadcasts from others and makes listening to a phillies game such an engaging experience. anyone who wants anything else isnt a true phightins phan. but i guess those people dont know what that really means anyway.

I think this is great news. I have a HUGE respect for McCarthy-- he has always been articulate, attentive to the game-- and he has a classic voice. He and Franzke are one and the same-- serious broadcasters, not goofballs. Scott Graham was a goofball, too much like the national guys who kill a TV broadcast...Graham would miss all sorts of plays because he was too busy describing his hot dog-eating exploits between innings. He made listening to the Phils like listening to college radio. Give me McCarthy and Franzke and team them up with Sarge and LA. I don't hate Wheels, but don't like him enough to have him stick around. Send him out to pasture so he can hang with Andy Musser (the two were always the weaker broadcasting team).

Chris Wheeler sucks mellon balls...he is obsessed with the bullpen - they are just too tired and Charlie doesn't want to use them 3 days in a row....plus he laughs like a girl...as for you Adam you must be the rug wearer's boyfriend.....

I live in LA (that's Los Angeles, not Larry Andersen) and watch or listen to most games on MLB.com. The announcing team as a whole last season was almost unbearable. I think McCarthy is definitely an upgrade to having Wheels do the middle inning play-by-play on TV. But I am still tormented by the still unexplained casting off of Scott Graham, whom I thought was the best Phillies broadcaster of this decade. McCarthy's okay, but Graham's a lot more passionate. They brought back the wrong guy. The rumor was that Graham had a falling out with one of the other broadcasters. But if Kalas and Wheels can survive their spat and keep going, what's the big deal? Bring back the Graham Slam man next time there's an opening!

I love wheels! Stop being sheep and think for yourselves phils fans, you don't HAVE to hate on wheels......

I love wheels! Stop being sheep and think for yourselves phils fans, you don't HAVE to hate on wheels......

Hey Zo, where's the mention that McCarthy is a local guy/Jersey Boy, Trenton State/College of New Jersey grad?

GET RID of SARGE. He just rambles on about nothing, hard to understand and just plain dull. Harry obviously is slipping, making more than a few mistakes and lost his edge. I have no problem with Wheeler or Anderson except when they have inside jokes, golf stories, let them stick to the or the players.

Wheels is a know it all blow hard who never lets Kalas finish a statement before he has to but in with his so called baseball knowledge. Wheels shut up and go away

How about someone under the age of 50 in the booth.
Harry was 35 when he started with the Phillies.
Mel Allen, 25 when he began in MLB.
Jack, not Joe, Buck 30.

How about someone with some natural charisma to help the broadcast.

You need two guys on radio. Two guys on TV. No switching. No musical chairs. No overcrowded booths. Keep it simple and stay out of the way.

Wheels and Sarge must go. Bring back Scott Graham who has one of the best announcing voices in sports. It's no mistake that NFL Films uses him along with Harry Kalas.

Wheels and Sarge must go. Bring back Scott Graham who has one of the best announcing voices in sports. It's no mistake that NFL Films uses him along with Harry Kalas.

Enough of this Harry is losing it...it will be a sad day when Harry Kalas does not call a Phillies game. His voice is one of the best ever in baseball, and to say that because he will misspeak the count every once in a while that he doesn't deserve to be in the booth is ludicrous.

I did like how Sarge ripped Wheels most of the year about being a wuss with the foul balls up to the booth.

Wheels is just a grump. I'm sick of him whining about the Phanatic. He must have a whole hard drive full of naked pics of Dave Montgomery.

I sure would like to see Scott Graham back in the broadcast booth. I have been a Phillies fan since the early 1960s and in my opinion, he is as good or better than anyone else.

I'd love to know why the Phils got rid of him. Maybe because he was as good as Harry Kalas (perhaps a little insecurity there)?

I watch and listen to all of the Phillies Broadcasts on TV, even when Chris Wheeler is doing the the play by play, the only diffrence is I shut off the audio. He's Bad put him on radio this year and out the door the following year!

I liked the the off topic banter between Graham and LA. Made me feel like I was listening to the game with my buddies.

I don't care who they groom. If it's not Harry Kalas it doesn't matter.

Gets Wheels outta here!

Keep Mathews, Scott F, LA, Harry

Gets Wheels outta here!

Keep Mathews, Scott F, LA, Harry

I think the Phillies should bring back Tim McCarver. I would like my ears to bleed every night instead of once a month. This was the worst broadcast team ever associated with the Phillies. Sarge was terrible and Chris is very irritating. LA doing play by play on the radio is a bad idea. Bring back Scott Graham. Harry can't even follow the ball anymore. He didn't know the Phillies lost that game in Atlanta.

I wish I got to listen to more broadcasts, but I'm no longer in the area - and I thought MLB allowed you to listen to the game only if you bought their entire package, right? If so.... why would I want to listen to, say, Mariners games? I wish they'd let us buy them on a game by game basis (if they do permit this, I'm not aware of it...).

Its amazing how many people dislike Wheeler,
yet the Phillies orginazation refuses to listen to the fans

Different perspective here: I live in Maine and hear/watch the Red Sox all the time. In summers, I always make trips to see my folks in Pennsylvania and watch and listen to the beloved Phils (still my No. 1 team). You'd be AMAZED how much better the Red Sox' announcers are. I tell you, it's not close. (Kalas-Ashburn in their prime were very good.)

During my last trip home, I thought Kalas was losing it (still respect him); Mitch Williams clearly was the best thing the Phillies had. He was candid, different and offered insight. Frankly, I never thought he was a smart player. But he is a smart analyst.

The best local, post-game analyst I've ever heard -- Im 46 and travel quite a bit -- is Dennis Eckersley after Red Sox games. He is amazing and he can be brutal to the Sox, unapologetically. They have a play-by-play team of Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy (former Sox 2B) that is very good, Remy especially.

I don't know Tom McCarthy but the Phillies need new blood during the games. Probably a good move with him is my guess.

I missed Scott Graham on the radio last season. The Phillies live in the extreme ends of my emotional spectrum from April through September, and Scott used to be right there with me, pain clogging his voice ("and the ball game is over") or soaring with joy ("PUT this one in the win column for the PHIGHTING PHILS!") This current crop isn't taking me to the same places.

I heard a lot of great home runs on the radio this past season, but it would have been better with "THAT ball is GONE!"

yo can have Tom Mccarthy

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz!

He is on- I catch a nap!

Probably responsible for mets collapse!- he put them to sleep!!

Seasons greetings!

Mr. Met