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John Kruk and Tyrese Maxey have such good chemistry, they need to begin their very own podcast. Name it Mad Max and the Krukker.
Kruk and the remainder of the NBC Sports activities Philadelphia broadcast crew — Tom McCarthy, Ruben Amaro Jr., and Ben Davis — referred to as Tuesday night’s dramatic win over the Cincinnati Reds from Part 141 of Residents Financial institution Park.
It was the seventh time the printed ventured into the stands, courting again to 2014, however the first time the crew arrange in left area. As you’d count on, Kruk remained in character because the cranky veteran aggravated by nearly the whole lot — together with the Phanatic’s gyrations — however hit it off immediately with Maxey, the rising Sixers star.
“Sixers followers don’t like… we love Tyrese Maxey” Kruk proclaimed.
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Through the fourth inning, Kruk celebrated the actual fact Kevin Durant plans to remain in Brooklyn, which means there was no probability the Sixers would commerce away Maxey as a part of a deal. Kruk additionally marveled on the measurement of the younger star’s thighs (“If he hits you with a type of issues, you’re achieved.”) and his fast rise to fame in Philadelphia, contemplating his age.
“What are you, 23?” Kruk requested.
”I’m 21,” Maxey responded.
“Christ. 21? I imagine the drawers I’m sporting are older than that,” Kruk shot again. “So you may drink now?”
“Yeah, however I attempt to avoid alcohol,” Maxey mentioned.
“That’s all proper. I’ll have them for you,” Kruk mentioned, fistbumping a laughing Maxey. “However I ain’t bought to play, I simply watch.”
Kruk additionally wasn’t afraid to poke enjoyable at Joel Embiid, who Maxey mentioned will seemingly name because of the duo’s feedback throughout the sport. Maxey mentioned he lately bumped into Embiid in Los Angeles after not seeing him for a few months.
“Him strolling up on me, I’m like, ‘Man, I forgot how tall you had been,’” Maxey recalled.
“Nonetheless ugly, although, isn’t he?” Kruk joked dryly.
“Very,” a laughing Maxey responded.
“There’s a motive he has to put on the masks. I’m simply saying,” Kruk mentioned.
“Precisely. It’s not for a damaged face,” Maxey adopted.
There have been numerous enjoyable moments throughout the broadcast. The crew was talking to a mic’d-up Kyle Schwarber within the second inning when Donovan Solano ripped a double down the left area line previous third baseman Alec Bohm. Schwarber hit the wall laborious whereas chasing down the ball, complaining afterwards, “That wall doesn’t transfer, huh?”
“How’d that really feel?” Kruk mentioned sarcastically.
Later within the sport, McCarthy confirmed a clip of Reds play-by-play announcer John Sadak, a Rowan College graduate and Delaware resident who as soon as referred to as video games for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, stealing a fan — the sort that retains you cool, not those that cheer you on — from the vacant Phillies sales space. Contemplating the Reds’ depressing season, the transfer was like a fastball up the center served as much as Kruk.
“It’s all proper, they don’t have any followers anymore anyway,” Kruk mentioned. “Now they’ve bought one. Season ticket holder.”
Within the sixth inning, former Phillies outfielder Greg Luzinski, identified by his nickname “The Bull,” joined the printed. Luzinski was among the many members of the Phillies’ 1980 team honored earlier this month at Citizens Bank Park, and it didn’t take him lengthy to remind viewers of Pete Rose’s infamous appearance during the broadcast, which was so blue NBC Sports Philadelphia edited it out of the replays of the game.
“No s—,” Luzinski blurted out. “Sorry, Pete Rose! Seven seconds.”
“Yeah, seven seconds for folks to get on Twitter and rip us,” Kruk shot again.
After all, the humor ended within the high of the ninth inning, when a two-out triple by TJ Friedl gave the Reds the lead. Happily for the Phillies, infielder Nick Maton got here via within the backside of the ninth with a walkoff single to present Philadelphia the 7-6 win.
“Now you’re a workforce that has a lot confidence going into the remainder of the season, hopefully it means some good October baseball,” Kruk mentioned throughout the postgame present.
The left area broadcast was a primary for NBC Sports activities Philadelphia, however announcers have beforehand referred to as video games for the community from above the bullpen, behind the Phillies’ on-deck circle, from Harry the Ok’s restaurant, behind the dugout, and from the outfield, the place McCarthy actually snagged a home run hit by Atlanta Braves slugger Freddie Freeman.
It was the first Phillies game called from the stands since 2019, a comparatively depressing affair for Kruk, capped by being compelled right into a poncho when rain started to fall late within the sport.
“I must enterprise to guess that we seem like three instruments,” Kruk mentioned.
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