Phillies Extra

Ryan Howard was a three-time All-Star and champion of the 2006 Home Run Derby in his legendary run with the Phillies. With the baseball world coming together in Philadelphia for the 96th All-Star Game, Howard sat down with Phillies Extra to discuss his All-Star memories, his expectations for a Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, his outlook on the Phillies' season, Kyle Schwarber's chanc...

Dan Baker has been the Phillies' public address announcer for 54 seasons, the longest active run and third-longest all-time. And on July 14, he will become the first PA announcer to work three All-Star games. He sat down with "Phillies Extra" to discuss his memories from 1976 and 1996 at Veterans Stadium, his favorite names to announce, and more.

Ricky Bottalico spouts opinions each day on sports-talk radio and the Phillies' television pre- and postgame show. But before all that, he had a solid career as a relief pitcher, even representing the Phillies in the 1996 All-Star Game at Veterans Stadium. With the baseball world set to descend on Philly again in a few weeks, Ricky Bo joined "Phillies Extra" to re-live his All-Star e...

Father's Day will hit a little differently this year for Don and Preston Mattingly. After years of working in baseball for different teams, often on opposite sides of the country, they are together with the Phillies as the first father-and-son manager-and-GM combination ever. Preston Mattingly joins Phillies Extra to discuss working with his dad, as well as the Phillies' decision to demote...

Say this for the Phillies: They are what we thought they were, a playoff contender led by two aces atop the starting rotation and a dominant closer. Pitching coach Caleb Cotham joins "Phillies Extra," The Philadelphia Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss the state of the Phillies' pitching, from the success of Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler to the struggles of Andrew Pain...

With 60 years in professional baseball — 41 of them with the Phillies — Larry Bowa is back at spring training. The 1980 World Series shortstop, former coach, and manager joins The Inquirer’s Scott Lauber to talk about top prospect Aidan Miller, Trea Turner’s future at shortstop, the Phillies’ title hopes, and more.

The Phillies are desperate for right-handed hitting. Mike Trout bats right-handed. But Trout also has full no-trade rights and has never asked the Angels to move him. Joe Maddon, Trout's manager for three years, joins "Phillies Extra" to answer the most important question: Why? And will this be the year that Trout asks out? Maddon also shares his thoughts on the Phillies' manager...

As the Phillies continue to seek more production out of the cleanup spot, Rhys Hoskins is coming back to town this weekend with the Cleveland Guardians. Hoskins sat down with "Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss his role with the first-place Guardians, his legacy with the Phillies, and more.

There’s never not a good reason to talk baseball with Terry Francona. But with his current team (the Reds) coming to town Monday, and because two of his former clubs (the Red Sox and Phillies) recently fired their managers, there's no better time to invite the future Hall of Fame manager for a conversation on "Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's baseball podcast.

Despite playing only two seasons for the Phillies, Aaron Rowand left his mark. Literally. Twenty years ago Monday, Rowand smashed into the center-field fence and broke bones in his face to make a catch. And if that didn’t instantly boost his popularity with the fan base, his answer four days later to a question about why he would sacrifice his body certainly did. Rowand joins Phillies Extra to rem...

Hunter Pence's 368-day stint with the Phillies was a study in extremes. Acquired at the trade deadline in 2011 as the missing right-handed bat for a World Series contender, he got dealt a year later by an underachieving team. And with the Phillies in full-on crisis mode this week, Pence sits down with "Phillies Extra," the Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss how quickly a tea...

In Trea Turner and Justin Crawford, the Phillies have two of baseball's fastest players at the top and bottom of their batting order. It's a baserunning coach's dream. Paco Figueroa sat down with "Phillies Extra" to discuss his philosophy on baserunning and how the Phillies might be able to leverage the elite speed of Turner and Crawford to boost an offense that has struggled...

Gage Wood might have pitched the best game in college baseball history 10 months ago. Now, with Andrew Painter in the majors, Wood is the Phillies’ top pitching prospect. The 22-year-old righty joins Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss his strong start to the season.

Scott Boras is baseball’s most famous agent, with clients up and down the Phillies’ roster. He joins Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss Andrew Painter’s impressive debut, Bryce Harper’s mentality at the start of his 15th major-league season, baseball’s looming labor fight, and more.

It's a really big week for the Phillies' amateur scouting department, with two former first-round draft picks making major-league debuts in a six-day span. Justin Crawford played his first game on opening day; Andrew Painter will make his first start Tuesday night. And assistant general manager Brian Barber sat down with "Phillies Extra," The Inqurier's baseball podcast, to d...

Aaron Nola will begin his 12th major league season this week. He has been an All-Star and received Cy Young votes. But after pitching for Italy, a country he has never even visited, in the World Baseball Classic, he said it was "some of the best times I've ever had." Nola sat down with "Phillies Extra" to discuss his WBC experience, the upcoming season, and more.

Justin Crawford always wanted to do everything like his famous father, especially on the baseball field. And when the 22-year-old center fielder makes his major-league debut for the Phillies later this month, Carl Crawford will be there. A four-time All-Star and 15-year major leaguer, Carl Crawford sat down with "Phillies Extra" to talk about his son's formative years in baseball and...

For the second time in three years, Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs is playing for Israel in the World Baseball Classic. He sat down with "Phillies Extra," live from Team Israel's camp in Miami, to discuss why it's important for him to represent his heritage in the tournament. Stubbs also touched on competing for a job with the Phillies, the new automated ball-strike system, and...

Kyle Schwarber had the best season of his career in 2025, with 56 homers and a runner-up finish for National League MVP. What can he possibly do for an encore? Schwarber joins Phillies Extra to discuss his goals for the season, the Phillies' chances of getting over the hump in October, playing for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, and more.

A year ago, Brad Keller was trying to win a job with the Cubs as a nonroster invitee to spring training. Now, he's a key member of the Phillies' bullpen on a two-year contract. And in a few days, he will join the most talented U.S. team ever assembled for the World Baseball Classic. Keller sat down with "Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss how much ha...

J.T. Realmuto just started his eighth spring training with the Phillies. But for a week in January, he wasn’t sure he’d be back. Realmuto sits down with Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss his roller-coaster offseason contract talks, the release of Nick Castellanos, his outlook for the 2026 starting rotation, and more.

When the Phillies report to spring training Wednesday, it will have been 125 days since last season ended on Orion Kerkering's 11th-inning throwing error at Dodger Stadium. How does an athlete – even a major-league pitcher who is 24, with a gifted right arm and a long career ahead of him – move forward from something like that? Kerkering joined Phillies Extra to discuss the path back.

In 2024, Whit Merrifield was the newcomer to a Phillies' roster that was virtually unchanged from the previous season. Now, the retired former infielder joined Phillies Extra to discuss the team's decision to keep the core of the roster intact, as well as his close friend Brad Keller's path to the Phillies' bullpen and why Rob Thomson was his favorite manager.

In less than three weeks, Phillies pitchers and catchers will hold their first spring-training workout. It's a good time, then, to sit down with manager Rob Thomson, who discussed the roster in the aftermath of not signing Bo Bichette, the potential impact of rookies Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter, the value of J.T. Realmuto, and whether the Phillies are better now than at the end of last...

Jesús Luzardo had the best season of his career last year with the Phillies. This is shaping up to be another important year for the 28-year-old pitcher, with free agency looming next winter. Luzardo sat down with Phillies Extra to discuss his interest in a contract extension, his relationship with catcher J.T. Realmuto, and what he can do for an encore after his breakout 2025.