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NBC Sports Philadelphia May Have Underestimated How Mad Phillies Fans Would be About Taryn Hatcher’s Departure
By Matt Schultz
Published:
A lot of Phillies fans were bummed that Taryn Hatcher departed NBC Philadelphia at the end of 2025. The broadcast has been using Digital Media Producer Spencer McKercher for some of the field reporting segments she used to do, and the online feedback is what you would expect:
First things first: It’s not McKercher’s fault that people are mad. He was put in a pretty impossible position. He’s been a digital producer for the network for a while now, and with Taryn leaving, he’s being asked to fill some big and popular shoes. Look at Kate Scott replacing Marc Zumoff as an another example.
Maybe NBC didn’t want to bring Taryn back at the price it would’ve taken, and figured they could save a buck by having Spencer fill in – and that, in my opinion, is where the problem lies: NBC Philadelphia cheaped out, and they’ve upset the online fellas. The fellas are lashing out. Heaven forbid, but we could be in danger of a full-blown fellas uprising with the support of angry female fans:
Maybe NBC Sports Philadelphia, and the Phillies by extension, since they have a say in this, underestimated how much the fans liked Taryn, and how mad they’d be to see someone else – anyone else – doing her job. Sparking this kind of frustration seems to be a trend with NBCSP. They bring on talent, allow them to develop, and then right when audiences feel a connection with them, they’re dropped (presumably) for financial reasons. They’ve had a lot of changes and cuts over the years. As Kinkead reported back when Taryn’s departure became official, there were internal grumblings about decision making:
- Sources at NBC Sports Philadelphia were really annoyed with the departure of Jim Salisbury and Corey Seidman, or, more specifically, annoyed that management let those two get away. Funny enough, Salisbury just returned to the station this week and that news was well received, so they bring back some crucial baseball knowledge. Maybe Jim ends up taking Hatcher’s place sitting there next to Topper in the dugout before the games.
- People over there seemed to be miffed in general about some of the staffing decisions that have been made behind the scenes. Separately, it was pointed out to me that the person running the website “basically just stopped working” before taking another job. That management gig now belongs to Brooke Destra, who was previously a digital content creator and laid off back in 2021. LinkedIn says she returned in 2022.
So what’s the solution here? How can we keep the fans from organizing and executing a strategic coup? I think it’s simple: NBC Philadelphia should bring Taryn back. Even if it’s in a part-time capacity, the fans would be pumped to see her back on the broadcasts. I think Spencer should stay too. I think the two of them should break bread live on the air. The online fans need to see that Taryn and Spencer aren’t enemies, but friends. It’s our best hope at soothing the fury. All we can do is hope it works, that the fellas listen, and – with a little luck – put down their swords.
Only NBC Philadelphia can stop this. Prayers up that they answer the call.
Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…)