The Philadelphia Phillies dominated the Cincinnati Reds with a 7-0 victory on Monday night, but the real entertainment came from the announcing booth.
During the top of the fifth inning, J.T. Realmuto’s double brought Kyle Schwarber home from first base. Given Schwarber’s reputation for lack of speed, it was unexpected that he made it all the way home. Philadelphia announcer Scott Franzke couldn’t resist a quip, incorporating rival player Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves into his call.
“Kyle Schwarber is showing off that sprint speed,” Franzke chuckled. “Who said he ain’t fast? Ozuna never would have scored.”
Predictably, Phillies fans laughed while Atlanta fans grumbled. Franzke, a veteran commentator since 1997 and a fixture in Philadelphia since 2006, is well aware of the rivalry and plays into it for the Phillies faithful.
Ozuna’s hot start to the season, boasting a .338/.404/.713 slash line with nine home runs in 20 games, makes him an easy target. However, statistical analysis from Baseball Savant reveals that Schwarber actually outranks Ozuna in speed metrics this season.
Schwarber boasts a sprint speed of 24.6 feet per second and a running value of seven, while Ozuna clocks in with a sprint speed of 23.9 and a running value of two.
Whether factual or just playful banter, Franzke’s quip added a touch of lightheartedness to the game, showcasing the unique charm of baseball.