Jerry Remy Signs New Multiyear Deal

E5 Yaz

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While I used to enjoy the Remy/Orsillo silly banter during non-competitive stretches, I'm somewhat disappointed in the extension, and prefer Eck by a large margin, even more so with a talented team where analysis is more important than distraction.
Then, for you, the idea that Remy's likely to miss time this season is good news?
 

Byrdbrain

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While I used to enjoy the Remy/Orsillo silly banter during non-competitive stretches, I'm somewhat disappointed in the extension, and prefer Eck by a large margin, even more so with a talented team where analysis is more important than distraction.
Eck has made quite clear that he doesn't want to do the job full time, if he did I'm pretty sure the job would be his.
 

phrenile

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Wow. I never realized he was still smoking.
Today's CHB article denies it, so it's probably true:
Remy has been a lifelong smoker. Does he attribute his lung cancer to smoking?

“Nobody knows,’’ he answered. “My guess is yes. I was a smoker since I was 16 years old. I’m not smoking now, obviously. It’s a lot easier not to pick up that first one than it is to put down the last one.

I don’t want to preach to smokers. I know that feeling. I know how difficult it is. Just don’t start. That’s the thing to do.’’
 

InsideTheParker

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Remy on NESN right now describing his treatments, can't fly until March first, seems sanguine about his upcoming season. He emphasized his "good luck" in having early detection, i.e., before each tumor has spread, and talked about his interest in spreading the notion of regular checkups. I wish he'd spent a bit of time on encouraging kids not to start smoking in their teens, as he did, but apparently he has done that elsewhere. He said that baseball is a great distraction for him from worries about his health.
 
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koufax37

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Then, for you, the idea that Remy's likely to miss time this season is good news?
No, my comment was a disappointment with the extension.

I consider Remy's health obviously dramatically more important than my personal listening enjoyment, and any day he misses for health reasons is a huge negative and very bad news. I wish him nothing but the best, and hope improving health allows him to broadcast many more games than planned, and I look forward to it.

Separate from well wishing and history and health and personal feelings would be any evaluation of his 2017+ abilities to do his job exceptionally well. I will happily tune in to his broadcasts and have enjoyed him a lot over his many years.

But I also know that the Red Sox can and should have a better in game analyst, and while Eck isn't a candidate for the fulltime job, finding the right person should be a continued priority, likely many fewer years removed from the field, and less often inaccurately stating that we should look for the Red Sox to put something on here, maybe a little hit and run.
 

joe dokes

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But I also know that the Red Sox can and should have a better in game analyst, and while Eck isn't a candidate for the fulltime job, finding the right person should be a continued priority, likely many fewer years removed from the field, and less often inaccurately stating that we should look for the Red Sox to put something on here, maybe a little hit and run.
To be fair, he only does that on every 2-1 count.
 

reggiecleveland

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That's where I am too. I get that ECK does not want it full time, but they should have a better third stringer than Lyons. Tey need a Brian Scalebrine of broadcasting,a guy that go in when needed and do the job without hurting the team. I expect the money sucks and nobody decent wants to wait around for Remy to retire.
 

MuzzyField

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"Money sucks" seems to be a universal theme for all things NESN. For every dollar collected in subscriber fees I'm convinced entire pennies are spent on original programming and talent acquisition/retention. Is Remy at the point where he pays NESN yet?

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the Padres job included a raise for DO.
 

payne8567

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Jul 9, 2007
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O'Brien also receives what is likely to be a hefty salary from ESPN, especially as a graduate from ESPN University. As stated above, the depth issues aren't restricted to the field. It's rather amazing that an executive who knows as much as Werner about media would 1.) not only stick with Remy, but extend arguably the least healthy broadcaster in the industry and 2.) be lacking a solid contingency plan beyond Eck for 40-50 games.

Having said that, they (ownership) put themselves in a tough position with fans after Orsillo left. A large section of the fanbase was displeased and had they brought in a new color analyst to be the 1st off the bench to fill in for Remy, it would have created the perception he was being phased out as well. The illness may be a blessing in disguise in this regard as they have no choice but to replace him (regarding Jerry Remy himself, I hope nothing but a quick and full recovery and I enjoy him in the booth).
 

grimshaw

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O'Brien also receives what is likely to be a hefty salary from ESPN, especially as a graduate from ESPN University. As stated above, the depth issues aren't restricted to the field. It's rather amazing that an executive who knows as much as Werner about media would 1.) not only stick with Remy, but extend arguably the least healthy broadcaster in the industry and 2.) be lacking a solid contingency plan beyond Eck for 40-50 games.
I understand the overall point you are making, but Remy will never retire, and it wouldn't shock me if they were gun shy about whether to extend him or not based on the Orsillo backlash and potential PR nightmare. The contingency plan is Lyons for 100+ games, like it or not. We hate him here overall, but maybe the casual fan is indifferent and reducing Remy's role and having two others on staff doesn't indicate a lack of preparing for the worst.. We're watching regardless.

If Remy, god forbid takes a turn for the worse, I would think Merloni could be a candidate to replace him long term. Not this year because of the EEI thing, but for the future.
 

mauidano

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Remy supposedly got the "all clear" and will be back in FLA this week
For now. Wishing JR the best and really looking forward to any contributions he can make this year. That being said, good God; Steve Lyons for 100+ games? Really?
 

payne8567

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Jul 9, 2007
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For now. Wishing JR the best and really looking forward to any contributions he can make this year. That being said, good God; Steve Lyons for 100+ games? Really?
May have to make heavy use of the alternate audio feature on MLB.tv this season, but great news regarding JR. Hopefully this is a non issue and Remy/Eck can make it through the season without any significant substitutions.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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This is horrible. I thought this ran around spring training though? Or was it still speculation at that point?
I thought the spring training story was that he was getting treatment most of last winter, or maybe that was some other illness. I remember that he was slow to actually getting to calling games in Ft Myers despite being in town most of the spring.

My reaction to this latest news is to ask if he's still smoking? I seem to recall that he hadn't quit after the first diagnosis/recovery. I wonder if that's still the case. As much as cancer sucks and no one should have to deal with it, if he hasn't quit the one thing that is likely to blame for it, my sympathy for him wanes a bit.