Joey Votto learned the hard way that baseball has a nasty sense of humor.
During the fourth inning of NBC and Peacock’s Game 3 broadcast between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies in the National League wild-card series, the former MVP looked at a 3-0 Braves lead and called his shot in the worst possible way.
“As good as Zack Wheeler looks,” Votto told play-by-play man Matt Vasgersian, “I do not see the Braves scoring any more runs the rest of the way.”
That prediction didn’t survive the inning.
Wheeler went on to issue a walk, then Ozzie Albies launched a two-run homer, and suddenly Votto’s declaration was out of date before the frame was even finished.
The winner of the game advances to the National League Division Series. Votto does not. His run as an in-game analyst ends with this series no matter what happens, and that was always going to be the case because NBC doesn’t have broadcast or streaming rights beyond the wild-card round.
Votto, a 17-year MLB veteran and former National League MVP, is in his first season behind the microphone after retiring as a player in 2024. He may still pop up with MLB Network as a studio analyst during the World Series, but this part of his broadcasting apprenticeship is about to wrap.
For one moment on Thursday, though, he got introduced to one of baseball’s oldest traditions: say a game is over, and the game usually answers back.
In Other News...
Bryce Harper Trade Talk Puts Phillies At A Painful Crossroads
Bryce Harper has spent enough time in Philadelphia to make even the most speculative trade chatter feel like a jolt, which is why the latest round of offseason rumblings lands so awkwardly for the Phillies. The idea of moving a player who remains central to the franchise picture is jarring on its face, but it also speaks to the kind of roster and payroll questions front offices sometimes have to at least examine, even when the answer is obvious.
Any potential deal would have to pass through Harper himself, thanks to his no-trade clause, and that alone makes the conversation far more complicated than a simple phone call between executives. The scenarios floating around connect the Phillies to clubs such as the Red Sox, Yankees and Athletics, but they also hinge on whether a team would be willing to construct a package strong enough and an extension workable enough to even get the discussion started. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Enter A Defining Winter With One Huge Turner Question
The early exit against Atlanta in the National League Wild Card Series sent the Phillies into a winter that already looks loaded with work. After being knocked out in three games, the front office has to balance several needs at once, from upgrading the outfield to smoothing out bullpen inconsistency, while also keeping a close eye on the development and health of prospect Aidan Miller. On top of that, the club still has to settle on a permanent manager, with Alex Cora emerging as a leading candidate.
Amid all those questions, none may matter more than what comes next with Trea Turner. The Phillies will spend the offseason evaluating his performance and whether a position change makes sense, a decision that could ripple through the rest of the roster planning. It gives this winter a defining feel, because how they handle Turner may say as much about the direction of the team as any signing or coaching hire. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Suddenly Face An Offseason Decision That Once Felt Untouchable
The Phillies are heading into an offseason that suddenly feels heavier than it did just a few months ago. After an early postseason exit and a season that included a rough start before a managerial change steadied things, the front office now has to sort through more than just roster tweaks. The disappointment has pushed a familiar question back to the center of the discussion: how aggressive should this team be when the window is still open?
Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are the names hanging over those conversations, which is what makes the moment so unusual for Philadelphia. Both have been central to the clubs identity and success, but the Phillies also know October misses tend to sharpen every decision, especially when contract concerns enter the picture. Even with the change in direction late in the year, the real test may come now, when the organization has to decide whether to stay committed to its core or consider moving parts that once felt untouchable. [Read more 🡒]