John Kruk was miserable in the stands during Phillies’ blowout win

If John Kruk enjoyed calling Wednesday’s Phillies game from the stands of Citizens Bank Park, he certainly hid it well.

In a first for NBC Sports Philadelphia, Kruk and fellow broadcasters Tom McCarthy and Ben Davis called every pitch of the 11-1 win over the Chicago Cubs from the seats in Section 117, Row 1, right behind the Phillies’ dugout.

While the Phillies were blowing out the Cubs during Charlie Manuel’s first night as the team’s interim hitting coach, Kruk appeared less-than-jovial calling the game from the stands, especially when the former Phillies slugger was forced to wear a poncho after rain began falling in the ninth inning.

“I would have to venture to guess that we look like three tools,” Kruk said, adding, “I don’t know if you know this, but plastic doesn’t breathe.”

“Thank you, Johnny,” McCarthy responded. “Science with Kruk.”

Kruk was also forced into an Indian headdress while the Phillie Phanatic gyrated behind him as “YMCA” by the Village People played throughout the stadium.

“I got his big, fat rear end in my head. I can’t move,” Kruk complained.

“That’s not his rear end,” Davis shot back.

Despite Kruk’s apparent misery, the broadcast did have some upbeat moments, including an interview with injured Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen and former broadcaster Chris Wheeler, who was removed from the booth in 2014 after 37 years, and officially retired in 2017.

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The behind-the-dugout broadcast was a first for NBC Sports Philadelphia, but the broadcast team had called the game from above the bullpen, behind the Phillies’ on-deck circle, from Harry the K’s restaurant, and from the outfield, where McCarthy actually snagged a home run hit by Atlanta Braves slugger Freddie Freeman.