So the Sox were able to beat the Blue Jays and more importantly Roy Halladay but the bigger story that trumped it all is the return of Jerry Remy to the broadcast booth at NESN.
So let’s rate his replacements since he’s been gone.
Buck Martinez: A-
Buck is the color man for ESPN so that part of the job came quite easy. He developed a quick rapport with Orsillo. The only reason for the minus on his grade is that he wasn’t a Boston guy. He knows a ton about baseball as a whole but doesn’t have that Boston insight that we get from Remy’s A/A+ night in and night out.
Dennis Eckersley: B
Eck wasn’t as bad as people made him out to be but he certainly wasn’t great. His overuse of the word “cheese” became comical to the point that you’d wait in broadcasts for him to say it. Minus the cheese, cabbage and other words he overused, he wasn’t a bad guy to have breaking down the pitchers. Not so good with the hitters but he gets style points for his 70′s mustache and hair. You could totally see him leave the booth, hop in an IROC-Z with T-Tops and leave the ballpark.
Dave Roberts: C+
Dave tried. Like really tried. But he looked like a guy that went to Men’s Warehouse and picked up a suit and was “playing” broadcaster for the night. He took it to the next level and would try to read copy during the broadcast. While attempting to do so he’d trip on his own words. Given the fact he did a lot of road games and west coast game we won’t get too harsh on him. But he’s a few years doing Royals games before he’ll be ready for real broadcasts.
Frank Viola: C-
I almost went for a D+ here but like Eck he really knows the pitching. “Beckett should bounce a curveball here to get his bearings.” And Beckett throws a curveball in the dirt. Amazing. He loses points for letting himself go after baseball. He looked like a sweaty methhead when they introduced him in the booth in Texas. I thought Kevin Kennedy had really let himself go until I saw the caption saying Frank Viola. Add in a New York accent and it’s almost unwatchable.
Cast of Characters: F
When Remy was first out of the booth they tried this for a couple broadcasts. Sean McAdam, Steve Buckley, Dan Shaughnessy and whatever other beat writer, columnist or scrub that would sit in the booth with Orsillo for a couple innings. It was painful to listen to since these guys are writers. Their attempt at being the color man was a joke.
It makes us appreciate that much more that Remy is coming back on Friday. He’s only part time, so I’m sure that means home games only. Maybe he makes the trip to New York but that’s just a guess. Even if it’s just home games, it’s better than no games.
