Sunday, October 25

Welcome to the latest edition of the Phillies Beat newsletter. This version was written by Paul Casella, who has been based in Philadelphia since 2019 and covers the team alongside Todd Zolecki.

PHILADELPHIA -- One thing that Carl and Justin Crawford agree on is that Justin has his dad to thank for his left-handed swing.

The way that came to be, though, is very much up for debate.

"He’s right-handed, but he wanted to hit left-handed because he saw me hitting that way," Carl said in an interview with MLB Network. "He just refused to hit on his right side, because he wanted to hit like me."

That's not quite how Justin remembers it.

“No, no, no. That’s not how that happened," Justin said through laughter. "He made me left-handed.”

Go on ...

"All right, so I was a baby and since I do everything righty, I would always hit righty -- but he would always switch my hands," Justin said. "My mom would be the one to be like, 'Why are you switching his hands?’ You know, just being a mom. And he was like, 'No, trust me, he's gonna thank me one day for this.'"

And was he right?

"Oh, of course. Of course," Justin says now. "Man, I’m definitely glad he made me a lefty. Thank God for that."

Whether Justin hit left-handed just to be like his dad or not, there's no question he followed in Carl's footsteps in other ways. The two not only have a similar skillset, but many of the same mannerisms.

A young Justin not only watched his dad in-person any chance he got, but he spent countless hours on his iPad watching his dad's highlights on YouTube.

"He used to watch me so much that he used to imitate how I run off the field," Carl said. “He was doing this at 2 years old, so I was like, ‘Yo, he’s going to be in the League one day.’”

That prediction came true this season when Justin made the Phillies' Opening Day roster at just 22 years old. The 17th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Crawford raked at every stop in the Minors over the past few years.

He now finds himself in the big leagues playing for the same manager -- Don Mattingly -- that his dad played for with the Dodgers from 2013-15. Justin has talked before about how he remembers walking into Mattingly's office as a little 8-year-old kid on Carl's first day in L.A.

For all the advice and hitting tips, it's also those impressionable experiences that Justin never would have gotten without his big league dad.

"I'm not here without him," Justin said. "Just the whole journey that he brought me on growing up, taking me through clubhouses and allowing me to get an up-close and personal look at it all -- that's honestly what drove me to want to do this."

Now, Justin has already started paying it forward in a way for his younger siblings Ari, Leo, Celine and Carson.

“Justin had a chance to watch me when he was their age," Carl said. "Now he's up there and all the rest of the younger kids -- they’re 10-plus years apart from him -- they’re all looking at him now as if I didn’t even play.”

Carl, of course, didn't just play. He was a Gold Glover, a Silver Slugger winner and a four-time All-Star over a 15-year big league career.

"[Justin is] basically like me up there, so I don’t have a problem with them forgetting," Carl said. "All I’m gonna do is point to him and say, ‘What you see in him is what I was doing.’ So it’s the same thing."

Justin would be thrilled to have a career that turns out "the same" as his dad -- but he's also aiming just a bit higher.

After all, it's that mentality -- like making sure he beat his dad's 40-yard dash record in high school -- that has helped him get to this point.

"He was pretty good, man. The bar is high, for sure," Justin acknowledged. "But yeah, growing up I definitely looked at all his numbers and know what he did. Obviously, I know it won't be easy, but I'd love to surpass them someday."

Well, there's another thing the Crawfords can agree on.

“I hope he beats all of my records. All-Star Games, stolen bases -- everything," Carl said. "I know he can do it.”

Luzardo is hosting his second annual “Cheesesteaks for Charity” event before and during Thursday night’s series opener against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park.

Fans who make a $44 donation -- in honor of Luzardo’s uniform number -- can take a photo with the Phillies left-hander from 5-6 p.m. at The Yard in Ashburn Alley. Those who donate will also receive a voucher for a special ticket discount to a future game.

The event will benefit The Nemours Foundation and its mission to improve the health and well-being of children. Along with the pregame donations, a portion of all cheesesteaks purchased throughout the entire night at Campo’s in Ashburn Alley will go directly toward the cause.

When Tom McCarthy, John Kruk and Co. did their annual broadcast from the stands on Tuesday night, they were joined by a few special guests throughout the night.

There was, of course, the Phillie Phanatic. But there was also Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse and new 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.

It was Gansey who made the biggest impression -- but for the wrong reason.

Asked how he was enjoying his first game when he joined the broadcast to start the fifth inning, Gansey said: “Glad we're out to an 8-0 start, no-hitter still intact ...”

The words had barely left his mouth when Miami’s Javier Sanoja singled through the left side, much to the dismay of Kruk.

Gansey and the 76ers took to social media on Wednesday to issue a formal apology.

“Jesús, what's up man? I apologize for last night. I jinxed you with your no-hitter,” Gansey said. “But you pitched great, got a win -- that's all that matters.”

Gansey sweetened the apology by telling Luzardo he had 76ers tickets waiting for him.

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