On Thursday afternoon, the Washington Nationals revealed that Kevin Frandsen was being hired as their TV color commentator. The news came as a surprise to Phillies fans. The response was both one of excitement for Frandsen in his new role and one of disappointment that he was leaving.
Wow, Franzke and @KevinFrandsen had frantastic chemistry. The radio booth will miss him.
— Ben Silver (@notinconsistent) January 20, 2022
I wonder who the Phillies bring in to replace Frandsen on away games. https://t.co/OMvPQLNDls
Wow, congrats to @KevinFrandsen. He's a star. https://t.co/8LvAZRQDEq
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) January 20, 2022
Kevin Frandsen had been embraced by Phillies fans. His sense of humor in the radio booth was fresh and he was able to stand out from the group of Kevin’s in 2018 (Stocker and Jordan were also both part-time radio color commentators).
By 2020, Frandsen was calling away games in place of long-time color man Larry Anderson.
Now, there’s a hole in the Phillies broadcast team as it is doubtful that Anderson would pick up the away schedule again. But who will step into the former Phillie’s shoes with Frandsen gone?
We were teased with a potential radio debut for the Phillies in the early hours of Friday. None other than Phillies’ fan favorite Shane Victorino has seemingly expressed interest in the role.
HMMMMMM https://t.co/wuhREZnWsW
— Shane Victorino (@ShaneVictorino) January 21, 2022
Like Hulk Hogan at Bash at the Beach 1996, the Flyin’ Hawaiian seems to be the surprise 3rd of Scott Franzke and Larry Anderson.
IS SHANE VICTORINO THE THIRD MAN??? https://t.co/GsEkhtMNjx pic.twitter.com/GJJQmkoLu5
— “Viceroy” Alec Kostival (@KostivalonBase) January 21, 2022
Shane Victorino was a key member of the 2008 World Series-winning Phillies. The 2-time All-Star and 3-time Gold Glove winner with the Phillies would certainly add some to life to the Phillies’ broadcast team.
While with the Phillies, Victorino was beloved for his charisma and exciting style of play, hence Flyin’ Hawaiian. Victorino is best known for his post-season grand slam against potential Hall of Famer CC Sabathia.
10/2/2008: Shane Victorino slugged this grand slam off CC Sabathia in Game 2 of the NLDS, helping propel the #Phillies toward eventually winning the #WorldSeries. #RingTheBell (via MLB) @philliesbell @PhilliesNation pic.twitter.com/i7CtanuPUW
— MLB Daily Dingers (@MLBDailyDingers) January 16, 2022
Time will tell if Victorino will actually be added to the broadcast team. He wouldn’t be the first 2008 Phillie to pick up broadcasting as Jamie Moyer, Jimmy Rollins , Matt Stairs, and Ryan Howard have all found themselves behind the mic at some point, Howard with ESPN.
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