Just wild about Harry

Just to clarify, I love Harry Kalas. Anyone who reads this blog knows I don't think he is the problem in the announcing booth. But Keith Groller takes things a tad too far in this from the Allentown Morning Call.


Some have suggested lately that Kalas has lost something off his fastball.

Because, sadly, he has.


And sure, he may mix up a count here and there, or go into a premature home run call on a ball that barely makes the warning track.

But so what, right? It's not like he's announcing the game or telling listeners what's happening. Sheesh.


When the dignitaries, including manager Charlie Manuel, and players Brett Myers and Geoff Jenkins, were introduced at the dinner, Kalas received the biggest ovation.

Well sure. Probably because he is the voice of our childhood, of the Phillies' glory days, of [emotional gulp] 1980. It links us to the past and when we hear it, we remember Schmidt, Carlton, and, well, winning playoff games. Right Mr. Groller?


Probably because Kalas doing Phillies games is one of the things we've come to count on in a time when guys who were once our heroes (Michael Vick, Roger Clemens etc.) tend to let us down, or ultimately disappoint us before exiting the local stage (Allen Iverson, Terrell Owens, etc.).

I guess not. Look, first of all, Michael Vick = Hero? Or Owens? Really? I'll concede that Roger Clemens probably was to some fans, and likely Iverson too. But I call shenanigans on Vick and Owens. Plus, Groller actually describes what Vick did and Clemens is accused of doing as simply "letting us down." And it's his metaphor. Lastly, was anyone really disappointed when Owens left? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?


"Unlike players, broadcasters tend to stay with their teams without moving around very much," [Kalas] said. "You had Jack Buck in St. Louis, Bob Prince in Pittsburgh, my friend Vinny [Scully] who's still with the Dodgers. You get tied to a city, tied to a team..."

Excellent point. Probably because Harry made it, not Keith.


When he mentioned the IronPigs, Kalas said how wonderful it was for the Lehigh Valley to have a team again and predicted an International League title for the new team.

As if he was going to say, "boy, will they suck."


Kalas is also optimistic about the future of the team he works for.

As if he was going to say, "boy, will we suck."


But whether it be an extra-inning win on a Ryan Howard home run or a heartbreaking defeat on a Brad Lidge blown save, Phillies fans don't want to hear the news from anyone but Kalas.

The uncalled for cheap shot at Lidge notwithstanding, I wouldn't mind hearing the news from Scott Graham. He's got mad skills.


Since [Richie] Ashburn's passing, Kalas has had numerous partners in the booth. He misses getting the chance to do more innings with Larry Andersen, who has Ashburn's quirky sense of humor. He also misses Scott Graham, who was unceremoniously released by the organization before the 2007 season.

Like I said.


"These things happen in baseball," Kalas said. "I try to stay away from the internal affairs and inter-office dealings and try to just come to the park and call the game."

Except for that whole Chris Wheeler thing in 2004, he didn't add.


Kalas will be back here doing TV for the Phillies-IronPigs exhibition game on March 30 and there's no better way for Coca-Cola Park to be christened than with Kalas bellowing "That ball's outta here!" on the first Pigs poke over the fence.

I hate to admit it, but I have to agree.

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