The Phillies top TV and radio broadcasters both got contract extensions which will keep them in their current roles for at least the next six seasons, according to Todd Zoleki of MLB.com. Tom McCarthy, became the Phillies TV broadcaster following the death of Harry Kalas in 2009 and Franzke took over most of the radio play-by-play responsibilities in 2007 after spending one season as the pre and post-game host for the Phillies.
McCarthy is in his second stint with the team. After doing radio play-by-play along with pre and post-game duties on radio for five seasons, McCarthy joined the Mets radio team only to return to the Phillies in 2008. After Kalas’ death, McCarthy took over TV play-by-play duties full-time.
Franzke joined the radio team in 2006 when McCarthy headed for New York. The following season, he did play-by-play for the first three innings, took an inning off and then returned to do the final four innings of games.
Franzke’s radio partner, Larry Anderson, reduced his responsibilities starting with the 2018 season, primarily covering only home games. Last season, he further reduced his schedule to broadcasting 40 of the Phillies 81 home games. This season, Anderson is reportedly signed up to broadcast approximately 60 Phillies home games.
To fill Anderson’s spot, the Phillies used rotating color commentators. Last season, Kevin Stocker, Michael Bourn, Chad Durbin, and Erik Kratz filled those roles. The Phillies will go with Stocker, a former Phillies infielder, to pair with Franzke on all road games and the home games that Anderson will not be broadcasting.
Meanwhile, on television, McCarthy will continue to have rotating color commentators including John Kruk, Ben Davis, and Ruben Amaro Jr.