Missing "Wheels"

Last fall as part of a new and lucrative television deal with Comcast, the Phillies dumped long-time broadcaster Chris "Wheels" Wheeler, along with relative johnny-come-lately Gary "Sarge" Mathews. When the change was finally announced over the winter there was little hue and cry from the normally passionate Philly fans. Despite being in the Phillies broadcast booth for 37 years, Wheeler never garnered the fan worship accorded former broadcasters Harry Kalas or Richie Ashburn. In fact, the opposite was true. With the possible exception of Andy Musser, Wheeler was the most disliked Phillies announcer of the last 50 years.

The reason for all the vitriol aimed at Wheeler can be attributed in part to the widely reported feud with Kalas. The feud started with Ashburn believing that Wheeler was out to undermine him and confiding in Kalas. Kalas' second wife also seems to have had a role to play, accusing Wheeler of facilitating Harry's philandering and of undermining Harry "subliminally" in the braodcast booth. Kalas and Ashburn were at a stage of their careers when they were beyond criticism, so Wheeler was the clear loser in this bit of nastiness. Kalas went public with his distaste for Wheeler, a former close friend, saying he was uncomfortable working with Wheeler.

Wheeler was also always open to the accusation that he had never played baseball beyond high school, did not have a classic broadcaster's voice and had a personality that could be prickly. It may not have helped him, either, when Tim McCarver came riding to his defense, saying Wheeler is "one of the finest people I know." McCarver has not exactly endeared himself with the public over the past few years in his Game of the Week duties for Fox Sports.

So there were many reasons for a lack of public outcry when Wheeler was so artlessly dismissed. After watching half a season of Phillies baseball with Wheeler's replacements, Jamie Moyer and Matt Stairs, however, I am ready to say that that I would greatly prefer Wheels were still in the booth.

Whatever his shortcomings, Wheeler was always professional, knowledgeable and articulate. I have been around the game as player, spectator and coach for sixty years, yet I found that Wheeler had insights into the game that were profound and telling. Wheels did his homework. Because he was so close to the team, he had access to special insights. Unlike Tom McCarthy he did not come across as fawning over the players, but gave you what seemed to be the straight dope.

The absence of Wheeler hasn't helped Tom McCarthy either. With Moyer and Stairs learning on the job, it has fallen to McCarthy to set them up for analysis.  McCarthy is very professional, if a bit too saccharine, but he really does not know the game well and sometimes his set ups are awkward. Moyer appears to be working hard at the job, but his only real insights are in pitching and catching fly balls with two hands and he tends to perseverate on whatever is bothering him. Stairs is a great guy who is very inarticulate and does not come off as close to professional in the booth.

So I miss Wheels. It is tough enough watching this team play right now, without also having to listen to two ex-players stumble their way through on-the-job training. Wheels was a pro who enhanced my enjoyment of the game. That is what a broadcaster should do.