Notes: LA reduces radio role; Stubbs wins backup job

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- For years, the best way to enjoy the drive home from the Jersey Shore on a Sunday afternoon was listening to Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen on Phillies radio. But then again, any time is a good time to listen to Franzke and LA.

There will be less of LA this year. The Phillies announced on Thursday that Andersen has reduced his role in the radio booth, as he will broadcast only 40 of the team’s 81 games at Citizens Bank Park. Andersen, 68, previously reduced his role to only home games in 2018.

“The Phillies have been very understanding and accommodating in my desire for a scaled-back schedule,” Andersen said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision for me, but I believe my new schedule is a nice middle ground that is a win-win for me, the Phillies and the fans. For the past 15 years, Scott Franzke and I have developed an incredible relationship. We kid each other a lot, but he is one of the main reasons why this decision was so difficult and why I don’t want to completely walk away at this point.”

The Phillies announced March 8 that former Phillies Michael Bourn, Chad Durbin, Erik Kratz and Kevin Stocker would split up the color analyst role on the road. (Former color analyst Kevin Frandsen left the team earlier this year to join the Nationals' TV booth.) The idea was that one of the four might ascend into Frandsen’s road gig beginning in 2023.

Now, Bourn, Durbin, Kratz and Stocker will divvy up 122 games -- 81 on the road and 41 at home.

It provides each more opportunity to grow in the role.

Andersen is entering the final year of his contract, but it does not mean this is his last year in the booth. He could be back for more in 2023.

“Selfishly, I want Larry to work the broadcast with me forever,” Franzke said in a statement. “However many games he can be with me, whether it’s one or 100, it’s always a privilege and a treat. He’s meant the world to me, on and off the air, and that’s probably not a big surprise to anyone. I want Larry to get exactly what he wants out of life and baseball, because he’s earned it.”

Andersen began his broadcasting career with the Phillies in 1998, following a 17-year big league career.

Stubbs will be Realmuto’s backup
The Phillies optioned catcher Donny Sands to Minor League camp, making Garrett Stubbs the team’s No. 2 catcher.

Stubbs, 28, has 87 plate appearances the past three seasons with the Astros. He owns a .485 OPS in that time, but his experience compared to Sands, who has never played in the big leagues, helped him get the job.

“He’s been around a team that’s had a lot of big games,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said of Stubbs.

Sands will share time at Triple-A Lehigh Valley with Rafael Marchan.

Is this the lineup? Maybe
Jean Segura started the third inning on Thursday with a home run. Bryson Stott followed with a single and Mickey Moniak plated Stott with a double into the right-center-field gap. Girardi’s lineup could have been an early preview of the Phillies’ Opening Day lineup, which included Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto in the top five spots.

It means accomplished hitters like Didi Gregorius and Segura could be hitting in the bottom third.

“If we’re going to be good, this has to happen,” Girardi said about hitters accepting their spots in the lineup. “There’s going to be productive situations up and down the lineup. It’s not going to matter where you’re going to hit. … When you have a deep lineup, you can put up big numbers from any spot.”

Harper NFT coming soon
Candy Digital announced the launch of the 2022 MLB ICONS Leadoff Series NFTs. The NFTs will include Harper, Zach Eflin, Matt Vierling, Connor Brogdon and Alec Bohm, with their stats updated daily throughout the season. Those Phillies, including players from the other 29 teams, will be sold in packs being introduced on April 12 and 19 at mlb.candy.com.

Each pack will cost $50 and will contain five NFTs.

Additional Phillies NFTs will be announced in May and June.