Two weeks ago, Ben Davis was named as the replacement to Jamie Moyer in the Phillies' broadcast booth as color commentator. It is believed that Davis beat-out former Phillies shortstop, Kevin Stocker, who currently works for the Pac-12 Network. Stocker was named as a finalist in a report from Phillies' MLB.com beat writer, Todd Zolecki.
As it turns out, Davis and Stocker were not the only two candidates Comcast SportsNet had in mind to fill the vacancy. In conversation with Bob Brookover of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Phillies bench coach and former manager from 2001-2004, Larry Bowa, revealed that Comcast SportsNet offered him the position this past January:
"They hit me with it in late January. Ruben [Amaro Jr.] said, 'I think I owe it to you to tell you they want you.' I told him before I even talked to them that I don't jump ship. I came on with Ryne, and I know things aren't going good right now, but I don't believe you run away because we're not supposed to win 95 games. I feel like there was a commitment made, and I feel like you have to honor that commitment."
Bowa and Sandberg have a long relationship together that goes well-past the 69-year-old's current stint in red pinstripes as bench coach.
In 1981, the two became teammates in Philadelphia upon Ryne's Sandberg's promotion to the club in early September. That offseason, they were both traded to the Chicago Cubs for shortstop Ivan de Jesus, in what is considered to be one of the most lopsided trades in sports history. They ended up playing together in the Windy City until August 13, 1985, when Bowa was released after hitting .246 in 72 games with just 13 runs-batted-in.
This past offseason, in a phone interview with MLB Network, Phillies' manager Ryne Sandberg praised his long-time friend:
"I have had the pleasure and the entertainment of watching 162 games with Larry right by my side. He must have about six sets of eyes because he doesn't miss anything that happens on the field. That's where it is a luxury for me. To be able to just talk about the game from the first pitch on, and watch the game, we really have fun with that and can be on our toes as moves are needed to be made. He was full of information, and we were on the same page. …
This guy is competitive as can be. The number one thing to say about Larry Bowa is he wants to win."
Bowa has had experience in the broadcasting business, having regularly appeared on MLB Network's "MLB Tonight" from 2011-2013. With plenty of baseball knowledge to relay to the audience after 50 years in the game, he would have been surely qualified to replace Moyer as color commentator.
It is clear, however, that Bowa never really took much thought to the job offer. Indubitably, he and Sandberg are committed to coaching together the team they once played for 34 seasons ago.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is a contributor to Philliedelphia.com.
