Orsillo out at end of the year

[Youk Of The Nation]

They're popular. 1/2 ain't bad. Don't think they're good enough. NESN isn't playing to their strengths. Unstated goal is to distract fans from the game, get attention on themselves and plug products. No problem.

 

Give 'em both toy bazookas to shower the crowd with free gifts - bobbleheads, balled up t-shirts, dunkin' donuts, used game worn underwear, you name it.

 

Orsillo likes food more than baseball? Okay, have him host an in-game cooking show. Invite famous chefs to instruct as Orsillo learns the finer points of culinary arts. Put up a split screen. Then have him test the food. The more exotic, the better. Sauteed cow testicles with a jujube glaze. Pablo could join the fun in between innings and lose weight running up and down to get back into position. Will he make it in time? The suspense would be intolerable.

 

Remy got an affinity for alcohol? Have him chug a beer during the 7th inning stretch. Fans can join in. Increase beer sales. Sponsors would love it. Then, throw the empty bottle out of the booth. The lucky fan gets bonked on the head receives a free Remdawg T-shirt. Plugging two products in one go. Could even plug the hospital they send the fan to.

 

During the game, fans put up cards - instead of a K, a bottle of beer, for each one Remy downs. Increase betting and interest by gambling on which inning Remy passes out. As he gets drunker, watch Remy loosen up, tell us how he really feels about the umps, the errors. That would be worth the price of admission alone. Must see TV. Now that's entertainment.

 

You've moved from beating the dead horse to ordering a missile strike on it.

[Dojji]

That's awesome. Visiting other mlb fan websites, here's what they had to say 'bout their announcers:

 

"As others have said, if you live outside the [insert team here] viewing area, you get the "privilege" of watching other teams' announcers. Some people have no idea how bad it gets. Aside from Scully, [insert names here] are the best."

 

Not hardly. Several fanbases absolutely hate their announcers.

[Gringo]

Orsillo-Eck is the way forward you NESN doorknobs

[pruneface]

You've moved from beating the dead horse to ordering a missile strike on it.

 

It amazed me how Patrick Stewart made playing a frenchman on STNG work without any effort to sound french. Lack of effort paid off. Same can't be said for Remy and Orsillo.

[pruneface]

Not hardly. Several fanbases absolutely hate their announcers.

I agree. Not hardly.

[mvp 78]

It's nice to see that everyone is realizing what garbage NESN is.

[SoxnCycles]

They're popular. 1/2 ain't bad. Don't think they're good enough. NESN isn't playing to their strengths. Unstated goal is to distract fans from the game, get attention on themselves and plug products. No problem.

 

Give 'em both toy bazookas to shower the crowd with free gifts - bobbleheads, balled up t-shirts, dunkin' donuts, used game worn underwear, you name it.

 

Orsillo likes food more than baseball? Okay, have him host an in-game cooking show. Invite famous chefs to instruct as Orsillo learns the finer points of culinary arts. Put up a split screen. Then have him test the food. The more exotic, the better. Sauteed cow testicles with a jujube glaze. Pablo could join the fun in between innings and lose weight running up and down to get back into position. Will he make it in time? The suspense would be intolerable.

 

Remy got an affinity for alcohol? Have him chug a beer during the 7th inning stretch. Fans can join in. Increase beer sales. Sponsors would love it. Then, throw the empty bottle out of the booth. The lucky fan gets bonked on the head receives a free Remdawg T-shirt. Plugging two products in one go. Could even plug the hospital they send the fan to.

 

During the game, fans put up cards - instead of a K, a bottle of beer, for each one Remy downs. Increase betting and interest by gambling on which inning Remy passes out. As he gets drunker, watch Remy loosen up, tell us how he really feels about the umps, the errors. That would be worth the price of admission alone. Must see TV. Now that's entertainment.

 

You know what's more pathetic than a Remy/Orisllo team?

Suggesting that a guy who's been more successful at his job than you'll ever be at yours, drinks on the job, without providing any proof.

 

Actually, it's way past pathetic.

[Bellhorn04]

Comparing other announcers to Vin Scully is kind of pointless. It's an unreachable standard - like comparing other guitarists to Jimi Hendrix.

[sk7326]

Comparing other announcers to Vin Scully is kind of pointless. It's an unreachable standard - like comparing other guitarists to Jimi Hendrix.

 

I'll also note that Vin's schedule has to help in the quality as well ... it doesn't mean that Scully wouldn't be amazing without it (duh), but who wouldn't be helped by less travel?

[sk7326]

You were especially lucky to miss Hawk when he covered the Red Sox in the late Seventies, before defecting to the White ones.

 

I remember reading about that time in Gammons' Beyond the Sixth Game (which is a very underrated book - not quite as good as Halberstam's Breaks of the Game, but in terms of covering a sport before a massive paradigm shift) ... Hawk was basically angling for the Red Sox GM job at that point, so he was really bitter and hypercritical ... which is stunning to think about compared to the pom poms he busts out now.

[sk7326]

It's nice to see that everyone is realizing what garbage NESN is.

 

I'll take some issue with this. I don't know a regional sports carrier that doesn't have lousy original programming. It applies to YES!, MASN, what have you. The flagship teams ARE the only thing worth watching. The parts of NESN's Bruins coverage that does not start with J and end with "ack Edwards" are excellent (you're not going to do much better than Brick).

 

And Pruneface is more or less completely wrong about Don and Jerry for the most part - unless he can name a 2-2 game in the bottom of the 9th where they are giggling about a guy in the crowd (the famous pizza incident was during a 6-1 game in a 2007 Josh Beckett start, which during that season was a lead pipe cinch). When I'm at a dull baseball game, I watch the kiss-cam too. The NESN pre and post games are not bad, although the analysts vary widely.

 

But yeah, the rest of the programming is pretty terrible.

[pruneface]

You know what's more pathetic than a Remy/Orisllo team?

Suggesting that a guy who's been more successful at his job than you'll ever be at yours, drinks on the job, without providing any proof.

 

Actually, it's way past pathetic.

I'm suggesting he start drinking on the job. Improve things. Putting words in my mouth. Try this. Bonus point you come up with an adjective means way past pathetic. Start with pathos, go from there. Much admired in classical culture.

 

How you know remy's better at his job? Got any proof? Don't need a helmet when you ride. Saves on expenses.

[pruneface]

I'll take some issue with this. I don't know a regional sports carrier that doesn't have lousy original programming. It applies to YES!, MASN, what have you. The flagship teams ARE the only thing worth watching. The parts of NESN's Bruins coverage that does not start with J and end with "ack Edwards" are excellent (you're not going to do much better than Brick).

 

And Pruneface is more or less completely wrong about Don and Jerry for the most part - unless he can name a 2-2 game in the bottom of the 9th where they are giggling about a guy in the crowd (the famous pizza incident was during a 6-1 game in a 2007 Josh Beckett start, which during that season was a lead pipe cinch). When I'm at a dull baseball game, I watch the kiss-cam too. The NESN pre and post games are not bad, although the analysts vary widely.

 

But yeah, the rest of the programming is pretty terrible.

More or less completely wrong. Explain how you can be more or less complete in anything and go from there. They should do the pizza type incident more often. Aren't commited enough. Gets people talking. Programming is designed to sell s*** people don't need but end up buying. Nesn could do a better job providing incentive. Have only really hot people kiss and plug a diamond or really ugly people to plug plastic surgery. Got Regrets? Have another beer.

[Bellhorn04]

I remember reading about that time in Gammons' Beyond the Sixth Game (which is a very underrated book - not quite as good as Halberstam's Breaks of the Game, but in terms of covering a sport before a massive paradigm shift) ... Hawk was basically angling for the Red Sox GM job at that point, so he was really bitter and hypercritical ... which is stunning to think about compared to the pom poms he busts out now.

 

Hawk's act is just weird. I wasn't watching at the time, but someone said that on Shaw's home run the other night Hawk's play-by-play call was 'Get foul! Get foul!'. And of course we've all heard him do ridiculous stuff like that. It doesn't even qualify as homerism, really. Even homerism is a little more subtle than that. It's more like slob comedy. To think he's been able to do this for decades without anyone calling him out on it is kind of amazing.

[Bellhorn04]

More or less completely wrong. Explain how you can be more or less complete in anything and go from there. They should do the pizza type incident more often. Aren't commited enough. Gets people talking. Programming is designed to sell s*** people don't need but end up buying. Nesn could do a better job providing incentive. Have only really hot people kiss and plug a diamond or really ugly people to plug plastic surgery. Got Regrets? Have another beer.

 

You seem bitter. Sports is escapist entertainment, NESN is a commercial venture trying to make as much dough as possible, and there are lots of other options for following the games.

[sk7326]

More or less completely wrong. Explain how you can be more or less complete in anything and go from there. They should do the pizza type incident more often. Aren't commited enough. Gets people talking. Programming is designed to sell s*** people don't need but end up buying. Nesn could do a better job providing incentive. Have only really hot people kiss and plug a diamond or really ugly people to plug plastic surgery. Got Regrets? Have another beer.

 

Monty Python a long time ago recognized that the subtleties of the British class system was ripe for great satire. They also recognized that a Roman centurion named after a male sex organ was funny too. No reason to deny either.

 

You don't hear the announcers doing silly stuff when the game gets tense. For all the high minded finger wagging at the pizza incident or the boob grab, note that they did not actually miss calling any of the action.

[a700hitter]

Monty Python a long time ago recognized that the subtleties of the British class system was ripe for great satire. They also recognized that a Roman centurion named after a male sex organ was funny too. No reason to deny either.

 

You don't hear the announcers doing silly stuff when the game gets tense. For all the high minded finger wagging at the pizza incident or the boob grab, note that they did not actually miss calling any of the action.

One of my favorite goofy moments in a Red Sox broadcast involved John O'Hurley (Peterman on Seinfeld) was interviewed in the stands with his new wife. It was their first wedding anniversary and they decided to take in a Red Sox game to celebrate. During the interview O'Hurley mentioned that although they had been married for a year, his wife still had that "new wife smell." Orsillo and Remy weren't able to broadcast for a couple of innings. I think it took them a full inning to catch their breath from laughing so hard. For the remainder of the season fans would show up with signs saying things like: "married 10 years, but she still has that new wife smell." It was a little Monty Python-ish.

[SoxnCycles]

I'm suggesting he start drinking on the job. Improve things. Putting words in my mouth. Try this. Bonus point you come up with an adjective means way past pathetic. Start with pathos, go from there. Much admired in classical culture.

 

How you know remy's better at his job? Got any proof? Don't need a helmet when you ride. Saves on expenses.

 

Call it an educated guess.

 

Nothing is more tedious than an elitist pretending to be otherwise.

 

Advertising is evil...

Joking around during a game is evil...

 

Spare me..

 

The "you're all just mindless sheep" act is played out.

Try something new.

Edited August 28, 2015 by SoxnCycles

[mvp 78]

I'll take some issue with this. I don't know a regional sports carrier that doesn't have lousy original programming. It applies to YES!, MASN, what have you. The flagship teams ARE the only thing worth watching. The parts of NESN's Bruins coverage that does not start with J and end with "ack Edwards" are excellent (you're not going to do much better than Brick).

 

And Pruneface is more or less completely wrong about Don and Jerry for the most part - unless he can name a 2-2 game in the bottom of the 9th where they are giggling about a guy in the crowd (the famous pizza incident was during a 6-1 game in a 2007 Josh Beckett start, which during that season was a lead pipe cinch). When I'm at a dull baseball game, I watch the kiss-cam too. The NESN pre and post games are not bad, although the analysts vary widely.

 

But yeah, the rest of the programming is pretty terrible.

 

CSNNE has better programming and they only have the C's. NESN puts zero effort to anything not on gameday.

[a700hitter]

I'm suggesting he start drinking on the job. Improve things. Putting words in my mouth. Try this. Bonus point you come up with an adjective means way past pathetic. Start with pathos, go from there. Much admired in classical culture.

 

How you know remy's better at his job? Got any proof? Don't need a helmet when you ride. Saves on expenses.

I enjoy your unique point of view. It is quite entertaining, even though we have different opinions of the Remy/Orsillo team. Ignore the personal criticism from our resident psycho misanthrope. Edited August 28, 2015 by a700hitter
typo

[sk7326]

CSNNE has better programming and they only have the C's. NESN puts zero effort to anything not on gameday.

 

That is true - although I wonder how much of that comes from just the history with the old Sportschannel and FOX Sports. NESN - even going back to the 80s - almost never had any sort of reasonable "SportsCenter" type of show. Sportsdesk is not bad, but sort of passe these days with the interwebs and all.

[SoxnCycles]

I enjoy your unique point o view. It is quite entertaining, even though we have different opinions of the Remy/Orsillo team. Ignore the personal criticism from our resident psycho misanthrope.

 

Still too chickenshit to deal with me directly.

What a shock...

[SoxnCycles]

I'm suggesting he start drinking on the job. Improve things. Putting words in my mouth. Try this. Bonus point you come up with an adjective means way past pathetic. Start with pathos, go from there. Much admired in classical culture.

 

How you know remy's better at his job? Got any proof? Don't need a helmet when you ride. Saves on expenses.

 

" 'Bout the only prep Remy and Orsillo do is raising a glass or lifting a fork."

 

Doesn't sound like a suggestion to me.

Can't keep track of your own ramblings?

[SoxnCycles]

CSNNE has better programming and they only have the C's. NESN puts zero effort to anything not on gameday.

 

Tell me you're not including Felger and Mazz in that assessment.

[mvp 78]

Tell me you're not including Felger and Mazz in that assessment.

 

Radio shows played on tv suck, but it's better than whatever nonsense is showing on NESN at that time. NESN has the opportunity to take over the sports market in New England by having Sox and B's games. However, they just pee down their legs when it comes to other programming. Whenever they find good talent, they are utilized so poorly that they look elsewhere to further their careers.

[SoxnCycles]

Radio shows played on tv suck, but it's better than whatever nonsense is showing on NESN at that time. NESN has the opportunity to take over the sports market in New England by having Sox and B's games. However, they just pee down their legs when it comes to other programming. Whenever they find good talent, they are utilized so poorly that they look elsewhere to further their careers.

 

Radio shows pretty much suck, period.

 

I never considered watching NESN or CSNNE if there wasn't a game on.

[mvp 78]

Radio shows pretty much suck, period.

 

I never considered watching NESN or CSNNE if there wasn't a game on.

 

Which they could fix with real programming.

[SoxnCycles]

Which they could fix with real programming.

 

I can't think of a sports-related show I'd go out of my way to watch.

I can find what I want to read about teams, games or players on the 'net.

[sk7326]

I can't think of a sports-related show I'd go out of my way to watch.

I can find what I want to read about teams, games or players on the 'net.

 

When I was a kid - it might have been Sports Final locally or the 90 minute Sportscenter on ESPN. But yeah the info is so pervasive now that it is a tougher slog. What I wish NESN or CSNNE did was a real "sicko sports fan" show, your equivalent of NFL Matchup on ESPN. Sure you can put it on at 2:30 in the morning and force me to DVR it, but I am sure there is a market. Hell, the league's own TV channels don't do it enough.

[Orange Juiced]

Guys, I like Orsillo as much as anyone else. But I'm old enough to remember McDonough, Ned Martin, and even Dick Stockton. Others here go back even further than that.

 

It's a bummer that Orsillo is getting the boot. It really is. But Dave O'Brien is one of the very best play-by-play guys in the nation, and obviously he's a Red Sox guy (been doing the radio side of things for a while now). So watching the Sox on NESN will (if they are any good) continue to be a very enjoyable thing. I feel bad for Orsillo, I really do. But from a fan's perspective, O'Brien is absolutely awesome.