Kruk signs on for new Fox Sports Net TV show

By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com

John Kruk got an offer he couldn't refuse.

Popular with both the major leaguers he mingled with at the Carpenter Complex in the early days of spring training and the prospects he encountered when minor league camp opened and in the course of his duties as a minor league coach at Reading, his return to baseball was going well.

Then television came calling.

Kruk's last day in a Double A Phillies uniform will be next Wednesday at New Britain.

After that, he'll move to the Los Angeles area, where production on a show to be carried on the Fox Sports Network will begin in July.

"I enjoyed the coaching part," said Kruk, 40, whose droll sense of humor made him a national celebrity when the Phillies went to the World Series in 1993. "But I'm the first to say that I'm doing it for the money. You hear people say it's not about the money? That's bull. I'm doing it for the money."

It's also true, however, that he wasn't completely enamored of the minor league lifestyle beyond working with the players.

"The traveling," he said. "My wife [Melissa] and I want to start a family. During the winter, we talked about the future and TV always had some appeal to me."

After retiring from the White Sox in 1995, Kruk did a series of commercials for Fox promoting its baseball coverage. He always made several appearances on "Late Night With David Letterman" while with the Phillies. He also was involved in a short-lived local cable show with Mitch Williams last year.

"He auditioned in spring training, and we encouraged him to do that," Phillies general manager Ed Wade said. "Not because we wanted to lose him, but because we wouldn't have dreamed of trying to make him pass up this kind of opportunity.

"He was a great addition to our staff and showed a genuine interest in coaching. I thought the big-league guys benefited from being around him and so did the minor leaguers. He brought a special chemistry to the job.

"There are probably some people who thought it was all about chemistry, but he's a very knowledgeable baseball guy. Now he'll get to communicate that to millions of viewers instead of a few minor leaguers.

"And we're the worse for it."

Added Mike Arbuckle, director of scouting and player development: "John's done a great job in the short time he's been with us. He related well to the young players. We hate losing him, but we certainly understand his decision."

Arbuckle said that the Phillies are evaluating their options to replace Kruk, but that no decision has been reached. *

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