A small Twitter dustup broke out around the Phillies and Ghost Energy, and it started with a joke that spiraled fast.
The first spark came from a Phillies fan posting under the name “Bad Pancake,” who jokingly blamed the team’s skid on the Ghost Energy Deck taking over Harry the K’s. From there, another fan, “Paul,” tagged Ghost Energy founder Dan Lourenco and told him to fuck off.
Lourenco fired back with a tweet of his own before making his account private, and that’s where the back-and-forth really took off. The response drew enough attention that Phillies fans were apparently flooding his mentions.
The easiest part of the whole thing to sort out is the bullpen jab. Lourenco wrote, “your bullpen is ass,” and, as the source of this little flare-up puts it, that’s true. The Phillies bullpen is, indeed, ass.
The next part is messier. Lourenco said, “The Phillies were forced to change the name of the deck by Harrys (sic) estate,” but that’s not quite how the source frames it.
Harry’s sons and widow have different views on the situation, as Matt Breen reported for the Inquirer, but Ghost Energy wasn’t involved in the dispute. The Phillies made the decision to rebrand the area and sell it to a corporate sponsor.
Ghost didn’t show up and take over Harry the K’s.
Lourenco also pointed out that “my cofounder is a Philly kid.” That part is true.
Ryan Hughes is from West Chester, and during the dispute he called WIP to say, “We’re excited to not just take over the space, but pay homage to what Harry meant to this city. His name is not going to be forgotten (by us) or in our space.
The name itself was not ours to claim obviously, and for me as a Philly kid born and raised in the area, it was important to me personally that if the space was going to change it was going to go to a brand with Philly roots.”
Then came the line that really rubbed people the wrong way: “we invested to make the Bank better / you’re welcome.” Whether the Bank is better is up for debate, but the Phillies have more money now, and John Middleton made clear he wasn’t bothered by the controversy.
He said the change brings in more cash for a team with a huge payroll. Advertising keeps getting stuffed into every available inch of the ballpark, so the money angle is hardly a mystery.
Still, the source takes issue with that final bit of tone. The complaint isn’t just about the message - it’s about the way Lourenco delivered it, sounding like he expected gratitude. The piece makes clear that Phillies fans do not.
The bottom line: Dan Lourenco wasn’t the one who started it, and Ghost Energy wasn’t the force that killed Harry the K’s. That was a Phillies decision. But Lourenco also came off as a bit of a pompous toolbag at the end of his tweet.
The verdict: everybody should log off.
In Other News...
Phillies Still Have One Major Game 1 Pitching Decision Left
The Phillies got the final-day push they needed to lock up a Wild Card spot, riding Zack Wheelers effort in a win over the Rays and setting the stage for a quick turnaround into October. With the postseason now here, the club is sorting through its Game 1 pitching plan, and the choice carries real weight because Philadelphia has already lined up Cristopher Sanchez for Game 2.
One possibility still on the table is a bullpen game that would lean on Jess Luzardo and Andrew Painter, while Aaron Nola is expected to take the ball on short rest. It is the kind of October decision that can shape an entire series, especially for a Phillies team that wants to get off to a strong start and avoid asking too much of its staff right away. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Rookies Just Made The Playoff Push Feel Bigger
The Phillies latest playoff push has also turned into a first taste of October for three young pitchers and hitters who have spent much of the season learning what it takes to stick. Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter and Alex McFarlane all found their way onto the postseason roster, a notable milestone for players who arrived with promise and then had to earn trust along the way. Crawford settled in after a midseason jump in performance and embraced his role, Painter sharpened his pitching after a minor league stint, and McFarlane emerged as a dependable bullpen option.
For a club built to chase a deep run, the rookie presence adds another layer to the story. These are not just extra bodies on the bench or in the bullpen, but players who helped the Phillies get here and now get to experience the postseason for the first time together. Their celebration reflected how much the moment meant, even if the bigger challenge is still ahead and the real test of what they can handle is only beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Don Mattinglys Phillies Future Still Depends On One More Statement
After a rocky start to the season, the Phillies have steadied themselves enough to lock up a postseason berth, and Don Mattingly has been a big reason why. Since taking over as interim manager, he has guided the club to a 79-55 record, giving the dugout the kind of stability the team needed while the season was still hanging in the balance.
John Middletons praise for Mattingly has been clear, but the owner also made one thing just as clear: the final call on whether the interim label comes off belongs to Dave Dombrowski. So even with the results on the field speaking loudly, Mattinglys status remains tied to one more layer of organizational decision-making, leaving his future in Philadelphia still open as the team turns toward October. [Read more 🡒]