The Texas Rangers played the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, but Rangers TV analyst Mike Bacsik saved the day’s sharpest criticism for fans of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Rangers and Reds were tied 3-3 heading into the ninth inning when Rangers Sports Network cameras panned around Globe Life Field to showcase the still-excited Texas fans who stuck around to see how things would play out. That elicited a seemingly random remark from Bacsik about the good people of Philadelphia.
“Everybody who came to the game is still here,” he said. “Unlike Philadelphia, where 40 percent leave the building at this point, no matter what the score.”
Damn, Mike. Did someone spit in your cheesesteak?
Turns out, there was context for why the former MLB pitcher (who spent a year in the Phillies farm system) took a shot at Philadelphia fans.
The Rangers and Phils opened the 2026 season with a three-game series in Philadelphia. In the second game, the Rangers led 3-0 at the top of the ninth inning and had limited the Phillies to just one hit on the day at that point. As Rangers Sports Network cameras showed fans shuffling out of Citizens Bank Park in droves, Bacsik and broadcasting partner Dave Raymond took notice.
“This is just amazing,” said Raymond. “This place is emptying out as they go to the ninth inning in a 3-0 ballgame. And these Phillies fans are like, ‘Ugh. I don’t know. What, Schwarber, Harper, Bohm in the ninth? OK, whatever.’ And off they go.”
“They did it on Opening Day, too. I mean, they were up 5-0, but I was thinking, ‘you’ve stuck around for eight innings. One more inning?’ But hey, maybe that’s a Philly tradition,” added Bacsik. “I used to watch The Goldbergs, which is a show based in Philly, and the dad would always leave no matter what sporting event in Philadelphia early. So, maybe they’re just doing what the Goldbergs do.”
“Well, they’ve seen their team produce one infield hit today. So, it also might be a little referendum on what they feel about the first eight innings,” added Raymond.
Sure enough, Philadelphia ended up tying the game in the ninth inning before losing in extra innings. The score on Friday (3-3) must’ve reminded Bacsik of that comeback in front of a Phillies crowd that had thinned out by that point.
Unfortunately for Bacsik and Rangers fans, they would have been better off following suit and leaving before the Reds’ at-bat in the ninth inning.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.