October 4, 2023 • 10 mins
John Brazer, the Phillies Director of Fun and Games, joined me to talk about last night and how electric everything was at Citizen's Bank Park for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, the Marlins not being ready for the Philly playoff crowd, having Rhys Hoskins back on the field for the first pitch, how far they have to plan things out for the playoffs and the best place to watch a baseball game at CBP!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
It's Mike Jones tonight, just aftereight o'clock. It's first pitch for Game
two with the Phills and Marlins inthe Wildcard Series at Citizens Bank Park and
from the Phillies, John Brazier's joiningus. Hey John, how you doing,
man? I'm good. How youdoing? I'm great, buddy,
I'm great. I'm sure you're allpumped up and excited and tired and all
of it at the same time rightnow, Yes, i am. Every
(00:22):
emotion is going through. I've beenyawning a bunch, but can't wait for
eight to eight. Absolutely, that'swhat coffee and the second game of the
wild Card Series is for, myfriend John. Your unofficial title is Phillies
Director of Funning Games. I gottasay, to make sure everyone has fun
at Citizens Bank Park and all aroundthe city and everything. You have one
of the best jobs in the world, my friend, Well, I appreciate
(00:45):
it. I've been doing it forthirty years, and I did give my
title to myself thirty years ago.So it's been a great ride ever since.
Absolutely, and especially now in timeslike this in October for Red October
when the regular season ended on Sunday, and then you're probably going into full
overdrive getting things done for this weekand hopefully a lot more to come.
(01:07):
Well, I mean, if therun is anything like last year, and
we got a taste of it lastnight, man, this place is the
best. I mean, it's whysomebody was quoted to I think they quoted
to Rob Thompson, one of theopposing managers said it's four hours of hell.
And I was at the ballpark obviouslylast night, and I was talking
to an usher who was right belowwhere the Miami Marlins spouses all sit,
(01:32):
the family sit, and he kepthearing the people say, Oh my god,
this place is bedlam, like thisis mad is how are we going
to win this win? Hear it'sthat crazy. I mean it was loud,
really loud, just from the fromthe start of the introductions throughout the
game. Just it's a tough placeto play a playoff time. Oh my
god. I was watching on TVlast night from first pitch to the end
(01:53):
of the game. I mean,everybody was standing up. I don't think
I saw anybody on TV sitting down. And to hear you saying that to
how loud it is, I mean, I always say Philly crowds, it
could be at Citizens Bank Park,it could be at the Link. Philly
crowds are the toughest home crowds toplay in front of, no doubt,
I agree, and and a lotof people, a lot of the pundits
(02:13):
were saying, well, the Marlinshad a seven to six advantage over us
this year, and I kept tellingpeople and everyone around here were saying,
yeah, but that's not the playoffs. These guys haven't been to the playoffs,
Marlins, and they haven't faced usin the playoffs. They haven't faced
the Citizen Bank crowd, Philadelphia crowd. I mean, the passion is off
the charts. Trey Turner picked thePhillies this past offseason because he said he
(02:35):
basically heard and felt the Philadelphia fansthrough the TV as he was watching the
playoffs, and that's why he wantedto come here. So it's just and
the love for the team too,Mike, is that you can tell these
guys all love each other. Theywhen Ree Hoskins throughout the first pitch yesterday,
Reese was getting cheery eyed. Theteam was getting cheery eyed. You
know. It's almost like it feltlike it's a little dedication to Reese who's
(02:57):
been out the whole year. Butthat just shows that these guys just fight
for each other and you know,have everyone's backs and it's a lot of
fun. I think that was soawesome. You jumped ahead on my question
here, John, I was goingto talk about Reese in just a second,
but we can move forward on that. That was you promised us a
great surprise. That was a reallycool surprise seeing rece out there. And
that's probably the first time he's beenin front of a crowd since he got
(03:17):
injured. Right, Yes, andthen he took batting practice a couple of
days ago and was hitting bombs.That was some Some of the news outlets
feature that, but it's funny.I yes, I was. I was
caught in kind of a firestorm yesterdaybecause everybody was talking about I mentioned that
the first place can be spectacular andthat you know, people will be talking
(03:39):
about the next day. Now,in my mind, it was spectacular,
but I think a lot of peopletook the spectacular to me and is it
gonna be Taylor Swift is going tobe some Rocky Balboa who's gonna be?
And you know, I was thinkingspectacular in my mind because it's you know,
we've never really had an active player, uh you know, who's a
guy in uniform to come out thereand throw out that first pitch and just
(04:00):
with everything what Reese means to theteam and everything means to his teammates and
his playoff success last year and thebat slam. And I got to tell
you it was cool because we showedthe highlights of Reese, you know,
last year's playoffs up on the videoand then Reese came out to a huge
ovation and it was a very touchingmoment. Absolutely. And by the way,
(04:20):
Taylor's busy over in Kansas City withthe Chiefs doing something there, so
whatever, no race was great.And then tonight it's Jamie Moyer. He's
going to be out there, JamieMoyer tonight. Hopefully we won't need John
Kruck, who's going to be doingit tomorrow, so we'll say John can
basically hopefully take a vacation day tomorrow. Yes, Jamie Moyer, the lefty
(04:42):
who you know obviously had a storiedcareer Philadelphia product, and it'll be great
to see Jamie out there tonight.Let's be honest, though, every day's
a vacation day for John Kruck.Come on, he's living a good life
now. He is the best.He's a little tough to work with,
I gotta tell you thirty years ago, but I love that man. He's
a lot of fun. Now.When we have the game tonight, John,
(05:04):
when you're at Citizens Bank Park,are you stationed in one spot?
Are you running all over the place? Are you are you able to watch
any of the game happen or justquick highlights? And then I got to
go to section thirty eight, Igot to run over to two nineteen.
I got to be all over everywhere. Well, it's funny you said that,
because all last year, and evenduring the two thousand and seven through
(05:25):
eleven years, I would go Myin laws have a suite, so I
would go to their company suite andI would basically park myself there and wouldn't
talk to anybody, and would bevery superstient when it comes to phill these
games. I'm sure there's a lotof people in the Tri State area that
feel the same way. But Itell you what, last night, I
think I was so hopped up andanxious. I don't know if I'm anxiety
(05:47):
ridden something, but I kept wanderinglike and if something good would happen,
I'd stay there, anything bad,I'd move on. And I literally did.
I basically paced around the ballpark allnight, so and I did watch
everything. I mean I didn't missa beat, but I was kind of
walking all over the place. Ilove hearing that. Now, what you've
been there at Citizens Bank Park sincethe day opened, and you've seen so
(06:09):
many games and everything. John,what is your favorite place to watch a
ballgame? At? My favorite placein the ballpark? Yeah, I love
you know, honestly, when Ivisit people, my favorite seat, I
mean, I do love love theHall of Fame area because you're up top,
you can get foul balls, you'rekind of looking down above it.
But I got to say that probablythe most exciting part, and to me,
(06:30):
the play part of the ballpark issitting either in the left field or
the right field lower level, youknow, because I think you get the
home run ball, you get theyou get a lot of fun crowd there.
You're not far from ash Urn Alley, So I think I think in
those lower level seats, either onright field or left field, to me,
(06:51):
is the best value. These arethe inside tips from John, who
knows everything about Citizens Bank Park andhaving a good time there and everything so
right or left field in the lowerdecks. You can get those balls if
you how many home run her foulballs have you caught so far? John,
You've had thirty years of trying toget them. Believe it or not,
zero get out of it. WhenI before I took the job with
(07:13):
the Phillies, I actually got aball at Camping Yards. I boxed out
a buddy of mine, spilled overhis beer and grabbed the ball and got
it. It wasn't it wasn't aclean catch. But here at Phillies,
I basically try to avoid the ballsbecause if I go for a foul ball
and I miss it, I'll neverhear the end of it. So that's
basically leave it untouched. That's fair, that's fair. I caught one earlier
(07:35):
this year. We took a tripout to Oakland and I caught it at
the coliseum. And uh, that'smy second one I've ever got. So
I'm up two to nothing on you. John. You got to step your
game up, come on now.And it was a clean it was a
clean catch it, so it wasa rocket right back to us. I
hit it with my palm, Itwent into my seat. My wife got
it so it was a dual effort, but I still made the save.
(07:55):
On the crowd, Yeah, theyweren't paying attention, but I got it,
So it counts. That counts.John, that last last thing.
I know, you got a hecticday. We got to get ready for
tonight eight o'clock, just after eightfirst pitch for Game two with the Phills
and Marlins at Citizens Bank Park.How far in advance are you planning things?
Because you said you got John Kroucklined up just in case. Hopefully
(08:16):
we don't need to see Kruk tomorrownight throwing out the first pitch, But
how far in advance are you planningout things? We've we've we've planned it.
We're pretty much assuming if we goall the way through, we have
now there's certain there. If weget to the World Series, it gets
to a different major League Baseball kindof takes over a lot of the stuff.
(08:37):
So but for the most part,we have everything planned out. I
mean we have to. We weand we start that in July August,
believe or not so. And youeven have to start planning a parade because
you know what, you can't justall of a sudden two days you're two
days maybe two wins out and thenyou're like, oh my god, we
have to do a parade. Soyou know, you start doing that,
you know, as early as possible. So we looked every scenario, and
(09:01):
hopefully the scenario will be two gamesbetter than last year. Absolutely, and
you know what, hopefully tonight theyget it done. They got a couple
extra days rest and move on.It's gonna be a tough series in Atlanta,
but you know what, the Phills, they got the momentum right now,
and I feel like Red October isall on their side for sure.
It is a fun team, andi'd love you know, you got the
(09:22):
star power of Bryce Harper and JT. Real Muto and Castianis and Schwoerbert,
and then you got the young upand coming guys, the Stott and the
Bones and the Marshes, and evenin you get the real rookies like Rojas
and Kirkering and it's a fun teamto root for, and especially the pitching
with Wheeler last night and hopefully Nolatonight. Oh my god, he was
amazing earning. He earned his paychecklast night, and I'm sure mister Nola
(09:43):
will do the same tonight. John. This is great catching up and hearing
about everything. I hope we cancatch up and talk again later in October
if the pills, when the phillskeep going, I'm gonna say when they
keep going for red October, butexactly. I'm looking forward to. Mike
really appreciate it lately. I knowyou've got a lot to do today,
so good luck tonight, and Ican't wait to see you around the ballpark,
(10:03):
my friend. All Right, Mike, take care
It's Mike Jones tonight, just aftereight o'clock. It's first pitch for Game
two with the Phills and Marlins inthe Wildcard Series at Citizens Bank Park and
from the Phillies, John Brazier's joiningus. Hey John, how you doing,
man? I'm good. How youdoing? I'm great, buddy,
I'm great. I'm sure you're allpumped up and excited and tired and all
of it at the same time rightnow, Yes, i am. Every
(00:22):
emotion is going through. I've beenyawning a bunch, but can't wait for
eight to eight. Absolutely, that'swhat coffee and the second game of the
wild Card Series is for, myfriend John. Your unofficial title is Phillies
Director of Funning Games. I gottasay, to make sure everyone has fun
at Citizens Bank Park and all aroundthe city and everything. You have one
of the best jobs in the world, my friend, Well, I appreciate
(00:45):
it. I've been doing it forthirty years, and I did give my
title to myself thirty years ago.So it's been a great ride ever since.
Absolutely, and especially now in timeslike this in October for Red October
when the regular season ended on Sunday, and then you're probably going into full
overdrive getting things done for this weekand hopefully a lot more to come.
(01:07):
Well, I mean, if therun is anything like last year, and
we got a taste of it lastnight, man, this place is the
best. I mean, it's whysomebody was quoted to I think they quoted
to Rob Thompson, one of theopposing managers said it's four hours of hell.
And I was at the ballpark obviouslylast night, and I was talking
to an usher who was right belowwhere the Miami Marlins spouses all sit,
(01:32):
the family sit, and he kepthearing the people say, Oh my god,
this place is bedlam, like thisis mad is how are we going
to win this win? Hear it'sthat crazy. I mean it was loud,
really loud, just from the fromthe start of the introductions throughout the
game. Just it's a tough placeto play a playoff time. Oh my
god. I was watching on TVlast night from first pitch to the end
(01:53):
of the game. I mean,everybody was standing up. I don't think
I saw anybody on TV sitting down. And to hear you saying that to
how loud it is, I mean, I always say Philly crowds, it
could be at Citizens Bank Park,it could be at the Link. Philly
crowds are the toughest home crowds toplay in front of, no doubt,
I agree, and and a lotof people, a lot of the pundits
(02:13):
were saying, well, the Marlinshad a seven to six advantage over us
this year, and I kept tellingpeople and everyone around here were saying,
yeah, but that's not the playoffs. These guys haven't been to the playoffs,
Marlins, and they haven't faced usin the playoffs. They haven't faced
the Citizen Bank crowd, Philadelphia crowd. I mean, the passion is off
the charts. Trey Turner picked thePhillies this past offseason because he said he
(02:35):
basically heard and felt the Philadelphia fansthrough the TV as he was watching the
playoffs, and that's why he wantedto come here. So it's just and
the love for the team too,Mike, is that you can tell these
guys all love each other. Theywhen Ree Hoskins throughout the first pitch yesterday,
Reese was getting cheery eyed. Theteam was getting cheery eyed. You
know. It's almost like it feltlike it's a little dedication to Reese who's
(02:57):
been out the whole year. Butthat just shows that these guys just fight
for each other and you know,have everyone's backs and it's a lot of
fun. I think that was soawesome. You jumped ahead on my question
here, John, I was goingto talk about Reese in just a second,
but we can move forward on that. That was you promised us a
great surprise. That was a reallycool surprise seeing rece out there. And
that's probably the first time he's beenin front of a crowd since he got
(03:17):
injured. Right, Yes, andthen he took batting practice a couple of
days ago and was hitting bombs.That was some Some of the news outlets
feature that, but it's funny.I yes, I was. I was
caught in kind of a firestorm yesterdaybecause everybody was talking about I mentioned that
the first place can be spectacular andthat you know, people will be talking
(03:39):
about the next day. Now,in my mind, it was spectacular,
but I think a lot of peopletook the spectacular to me and is it
gonna be Taylor Swift is going tobe some Rocky Balboa who's gonna be?
And you know, I was thinkingspectacular in my mind because it's you know,
we've never really had an active player, uh you know, who's a
guy in uniform to come out thereand throw out that first pitch and just
(04:00):
with everything what Reese means to theteam and everything means to his teammates and
his playoff success last year and thebat slam. And I got to tell
you it was cool because we showedthe highlights of Reese, you know,
last year's playoffs up on the videoand then Reese came out to a huge
ovation and it was a very touchingmoment. Absolutely. And by the way,
(04:20):
Taylor's busy over in Kansas City withthe Chiefs doing something there, so
whatever, no race was great.And then tonight it's Jamie Moyer. He's
going to be out there, JamieMoyer tonight. Hopefully we won't need John
Kruck, who's going to be doingit tomorrow, so we'll say John can
basically hopefully take a vacation day tomorrow. Yes, Jamie Moyer, the lefty
(04:42):
who you know obviously had a storiedcareer Philadelphia product, and it'll be great
to see Jamie out there tonight.Let's be honest, though, every day's
a vacation day for John Kruck.Come on, he's living a good life
now. He is the best.He's a little tough to work with,
I gotta tell you thirty years ago, but I love that man. He's
a lot of fun. Now.When we have the game tonight, John,
(05:04):
when you're at Citizens Bank Park,are you stationed in one spot?
Are you running all over the place? Are you are you able to watch
any of the game happen or justquick highlights? And then I got to
go to section thirty eight, Igot to run over to two nineteen.
I got to be all over everywhere. Well, it's funny you said that,
because all last year, and evenduring the two thousand and seven through
(05:25):
eleven years, I would go Myin laws have a suite, so I
would go to their company suite andI would basically park myself there and wouldn't
talk to anybody, and would bevery superstient when it comes to phill these
games. I'm sure there's a lotof people in the Tri State area that
feel the same way. But Itell you what, last night, I
think I was so hopped up andanxious. I don't know if I'm anxiety
(05:47):
ridden something, but I kept wanderinglike and if something good would happen,
I'd stay there, anything bad,I'd move on. And I literally did.
I basically paced around the ballpark allnight, so and I did watch
everything. I mean I didn't missa beat, but I was kind of
walking all over the place. Ilove hearing that. Now, what you've
been there at Citizens Bank Park sincethe day opened, and you've seen so
(06:09):
many games and everything. John,what is your favorite place to watch a
ballgame? At? My favorite placein the ballpark? Yeah, I love
you know, honestly, when Ivisit people, my favorite seat, I
mean, I do love love theHall of Fame area because you're up top,
you can get foul balls, you'rekind of looking down above it.
But I got to say that probablythe most exciting part, and to me,
(06:30):
the play part of the ballpark issitting either in the left field or
the right field lower level, youknow, because I think you get the
home run ball, you get theyou get a lot of fun crowd there.
You're not far from ash Urn Alley, So I think I think in
those lower level seats, either onright field or left field, to me,
(06:51):
is the best value. These arethe inside tips from John, who
knows everything about Citizens Bank Park andhaving a good time there and everything so
right or left field in the lowerdecks. You can get those balls if
you how many home run her foulballs have you caught so far? John,
You've had thirty years of trying toget them. Believe it or not,
zero get out of it. WhenI before I took the job with
(07:13):
the Phillies, I actually got aball at Camping Yards. I boxed out
a buddy of mine, spilled overhis beer and grabbed the ball and got
it. It wasn't it wasn't aclean catch. But here at Phillies,
I basically try to avoid the ballsbecause if I go for a foul ball
and I miss it, I'll neverhear the end of it. So that's
basically leave it untouched. That's fair, that's fair. I caught one earlier
(07:35):
this year. We took a tripout to Oakland and I caught it at
the coliseum. And uh, that'smy second one I've ever got. So
I'm up two to nothing on you. John. You got to step your
game up, come on now.And it was a clean it was a
clean catch it, so it wasa rocket right back to us. I
hit it with my palm, Itwent into my seat. My wife got
it so it was a dual effort, but I still made the save.
(07:55):
On the crowd, Yeah, theyweren't paying attention, but I got it,
So it counts. That counts.John, that last last thing.
I know, you got a hecticday. We got to get ready for
tonight eight o'clock, just after eightfirst pitch for Game two with the Phills
and Marlins at Citizens Bank Park.How far in advance are you planning things?
Because you said you got John Kroucklined up just in case. Hopefully
(08:16):
we don't need to see Kruk tomorrownight throwing out the first pitch, But
how far in advance are you planningout things? We've we've we've planned it.
We're pretty much assuming if we goall the way through, we have
now there's certain there. If weget to the World Series, it gets
to a different major League Baseball kindof takes over a lot of the stuff.
(08:37):
So but for the most part,we have everything planned out. I
mean we have to. We weand we start that in July August,
believe or not so. And youeven have to start planning a parade because
you know what, you can't justall of a sudden two days you're two
days maybe two wins out and thenyou're like, oh my god, we
have to do a parade. Soyou know, you start doing that,
you know, as early as possible. So we looked every scenario, and
(09:01):
hopefully the scenario will be two gamesbetter than last year. Absolutely, and
you know what, hopefully tonight theyget it done. They got a couple
extra days rest and move on.It's gonna be a tough series in Atlanta,
but you know what, the Phills, they got the momentum right now,
and I feel like Red October isall on their side for sure.
It is a fun team, andi'd love you know, you got the
(09:22):
star power of Bryce Harper and JT. Real Muto and Castianis and Schwoerbert,
and then you got the young upand coming guys, the Stott and the
Bones and the Marshes, and evenin you get the real rookies like Rojas
and Kirkering and it's a fun teamto root for, and especially the pitching
with Wheeler last night and hopefully Nolatonight. Oh my god, he was
amazing earning. He earned his paychecklast night, and I'm sure mister Nola
(09:43):
will do the same tonight. John. This is great catching up and hearing
about everything. I hope we cancatch up and talk again later in October
if the pills, when the phillskeep going, I'm gonna say when they
keep going for red October, butexactly. I'm looking forward to. Mike
really appreciate it lately. I knowyou've got a lot to do today,
so good luck tonight, and Ican't wait to see you around the ballpark,
(10:03):
my friend. All Right, Mike, take care
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