Phillies Extra

An All-Star lineup of guests has joined The Inquirer's baseball podcast since it launched in February. Because it's the holiday season and the last "Phillies Extra" episode of the year, we've put together a "Best of 2025" show to revisit some of our favorite conversations, from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to Mike Schmidt and John Middleton, and many others.

For two decades, Scott Franzke's voice has been the soundtrack of the summer for Phillies fans. And his radio calls of some of the best moments in franchise history are legendary -- from Jimmy Rollins' walkoff double in the 2009 NLCS to Bryce Harper's "Bedlam at the Bank" homer in 2022. The longtime play-by-play announcer joined "Phillies Extra" to talk about the team's offseason and much more.

Cole Hamels is among the greatest pitchers in Phillies history. He's also on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. It's the perfect time, then, for him to join us again on "Phillies Extra," The Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss the honor of being on the ballot, the Phillies' offseason so far, his work with Phillies pitchers, and much more.

What's it like to be an executive at baseball's winter meetings? Jim Duquette, a former general manager with the Mets and Orioles and now the host of a show on MLB Network Radio, puts us in the rooms where everything happens. He also discusses the Phillies' offseason, including the chances that Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto return in free agency. It's all on "Phillies Extra," the baseball podcast from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Luke Murton just completed his first season as the Phillies’ minor league director. He joins Phillies Extra to discuss the state of the farm system, including the 2026 expectations for Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter, and Aidan Miller, as well as less heralded players to monitor.

Joe Maddon is a three-time former Manager of the Year, manager of the hex-breaking 2016 Chicago Cubs, and one of the sharpest minds in baseball. He’s also a native Pennsylvanian. And he joined "Phillies Extra" to discuss the state of the Phillies, Kyle Schwarber's evolution into a complete hitter, how to pitch Bryce Harper, and much more.

As the offseason begins and the Phillies sort through their roster, they will focus on trying to improve an offense that went cold again in the postseason. Hitting coach Kevin Long sat down with Phillies Extra to assess Bryce Harper's season and discuss his future, handicap Kyle Schwarber's chances of re-signing, the progress made by Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh, and more.

Dusty Wathan just completed his 20th season in the Phillies' organization, the last seven as the third base coach and catching instructor on the major league coaching staff. Wathan joined Phillies Extra to discuss the controversial bunt play in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, J.T. Realmuto's remarkable longevity behind the plate and upcoming free agency, and more.

It's always a good time to sit down with former Phillies slugger Greg Luzinski. But it's particularly timely this week, as the team marks the 45th anniversary of its first World Series championship. The Bull discusses his starring role in the 1980 NL Championship Series, his career with the Phillies, the current team's struggle to get over the postseason hump, the power of Kyle Schwarber, and more.

The Phillies' season is over. Larry Andersen is the perfect guest to help us make sense of what happened in the divisional round against the Dodgers because he has seen it all in 17 years as a major-league pitcher and 28 as a Phillies broadcaster. Andersen sits down with The Inquirer's Scott Lauber on the latest episode of "Phillies Extra" to discuss how the Phillies lost and what comes next.