Phillies Broadcaster’s Brutally Honest Moment About Booth Partner’s Mets Fan Son Goes Viral: “I Hope He Chokes”

If you’re looking to add a little chaos and character to your broadcast, there’s one name to call: John Kruk. The NBC Sports Philadelphia analyst has built a reputation for saying exactly what’s on his mind, no matter how strange or brutally honest it may sound. And on Sunday, during the Phillies’ matchup with the Diamondbacks, Kruk was in vintage form. With Tom McCarthy’s play-by-play voice in the booth, Kruk pulled up a surprising guest—McCarthy’s son, Patrick. What followed was classic Kruk: unscripted, unfiltered, and fiercely loyal to the Phillies.

Well, it all started with a casual chat in the booth. Tom McCarthy was talking about the Phillies’ partner King Swings, the folks who make backyard swing sets—and before you knew it, John Kruk was off and running. “Is your swing set Phillies-themed?” he asked McCarthy, half-joking but fully committed to the bit.

That’s when things took a turn. Kruk mentioned getting a text from none other than McCarthy’s son, Patrick. The kicker? Patrick happens to be a broadcaster for the Mets. He’d messaged asking for food recommendations in St. Louis during a doubleheader. Kruk couldn’t believe it. Ahh, a Mets guy asking for help from Phillies people, is not something that sits well with Kurk. And just like that, the booth turned into a hilarious, slightly uncomfortable family reunion with a side of baseball rivalry.

“I don’t care what he eats. Since he’s a Mets fan, I hope he chokes a little bit. But since he’s your son, I hope it’s not fatal.”

John Kruk on a text from one of broadcast partner Tom McCarthy's sons: "I don't care what he eats. Since he's a Mets' fan, I hope he chokes a little bit. But since he's your son, I hope it's not fatal." "Thank you, John." pic.twitter.com/y0lgLuYdEr

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 4, 2025

This is something that can be commented on by Kurk only. The rivalries between the clubs in MLB, and hoping for inconvenience to an opponent supporter, are so typical of baseball culture in the US! These harmless banters are what make America’s favorite pastime more interesting. McCarthy knows that, and he replied, “Thank you, John.”

Guess what, when the game is on, it’s no longer a father-son duo; it’s about the rivalries.

And really, this is just another entry in the ever-growing catalog of strange, sharp, and Krukian on-air moments. Yes, with the former big leaguer signing a four-year extension this past winter, you can expect plenty more where that came from. Just a heads-up to anyone loosely tied to the Mets: maybe don’t text him asking for dinner tips. Patrick got it a hard way, albeit with a hilarious touch!

The long history between the Phillies and Mets

The Mets–Phillies rivalry is one of the more heated and enduring rivalries in MLB’s National League East division. Though not always as nationally spotlighted as Yankees–Red Sox or Dodgers–Giants, this rivalry has decades of animosity, close divisional races, dramatic games, and intense fan involvement.

Well, the two teams have faced each other 1000 times since 1966. Guess what, they made a perfectly split 500–500 record over nearly 60 years of head-to-head games. Now, that’s something poetic. You couldn’t script it better for a rivalry. It also speaks to the deep parity and cyclical nature of both franchises. Each has had dominant stretches — the Phillies in the late ’70s and late 2000s, the Mets in the mid-’80s and mid-2010s — but somehow, over the long haul, they’ve completely evened each other out.

It also adds fuel to the rivalry: no one can truly claim long-term dominance. Every win or loss feels like it’s tipping a scale that’s been balanced for decades.

Remember the day, August 16, 2018? Well, the highest-scoring game in Mets history came against the Phillies on this day. Needless to say, it was one of those nights that lives on in rivalry lore for all the wrong reasons if you’re a Phillies fan.

This year, the story remains the same with the Mets sweeping a series against the Phillies. Enough for Kurk to get uncomfortable to get a call from a Mets announcer. But things do change, and that’s what baseball is known for. Let’s see if the Phillies fans can have a last laugh against the Mets in their coming encounters. What do you think?

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