25 replies to this topic

[SoxScout]

BOSTON -- Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy, who has taken a three-month leave of absence from the broadcast booth as he recovered from treatment for lung cancer, says he hopes to be back on the air soon.

"I'm doing much better; it's been a long haul for me," Remy told SportsCenter 5's Mike Lynch in an exclusive interview at Fenway Park Wednesday.

"You battle through and you get through it and it's nice to get back to the park where I'm supposed to be," Remy said, after he had stopped in for a meeting with manager Terry Francona.

The iconic Sox broadcaster said he has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from Red Sox Nation. "It's been impossible for me to personally thank them all. The number of cards and kindergarten kids making posters has been overwhelming. It means that for the last 22 years I have been doing something right," he said.

Remy would not put a date on his return. "I hope to get back soon. I think it's coming soon," adding that he had missed several earlier deadlines for his return.

http://www.theboston...121/detail.html

There's a video on the link, he sounds and looks ok.

[Rocco Graziosa]

http://www.theboston...121/detail.html

There's a video on the link, he sounds and looks ok.

It would be awesome if he would return (Dave Roberts has practically ruined my summer) but the fact that there is no date set makes me skeptical. I really hope Remy is healthy, but I'm skeptical of that as well.

Thoughts and prayers ect ect

[The Allented Mr Ripley]

I like Eck as a commentator more than I like Remy. I'll be a little disappointed to see him come back. There, I said it.

I wish him good health, though.

Edited by The Allented Mr Ripley, 12 August 2009 - 05:18 PM.

[cshea]

I've come to enjoy the Dennis Eckersley era in the booth. I hope they can find away to get Eck some airtime in the booth when Remy does return. Eck on the road, and Remy at home would work, but Eck hasn't really gone on the road with them.

Edited by cshea, 12 August 2009 - 05:23 PM.

[Rocco Graziosa]

Just saw an interview with Remy on WBZ. I can't say he looked good. Some weak caughing that didn't sound great. He also said he's battled depression the last few months.

Man I hope he makes it.

[amh03]

Sounds like it's been a bigger battle than just the cancer:

In a conversation with the media at approximately 5:30 p.m., Remy revealed that his return to the booth has been delayed as he has battled depression, but said he expects to return this season.

It will be good to see him in the booth - top half of the 2nd inning.

Boston.com link

[God's Cop]

Just saw an interview with Remy on WBZ. I can't say he looked good. Some weak caughing that didn't sound great. He also said he's battled depression the last few months.

Man I hope he makes it.

Me too. Seeing the interview on NESN his right eye looked fucked up, completely red.

[Redkluzu]

Watching his interview with heidi on NESN is heartwarming. His hair looks thinner as does his face but he's as Remyish as ever saying his doctor told him about his depression, a good thing to do was not to watch Don. And then, in all seriousness he said how hard it is for him to watch the games -- feels like he should be here.

Does plan on coming back this year but doesn't want to give a date since he's missed a couple already.

It will be fantastic to see Remy in the booth and I didn't believe he'd be back so this please no end.

[Soxy Brown]

I'd be very surprised if they threw him back into the booth full bore. Hopefully they'll just replace Roberts with Remy, then have Remy and Eck alternate. That would be ideal.

[since67]

Looks like his problems in the last several months have been dealing with depression......not so much the physical stuff.

[HomeBrew1901]

I like Eck as a commentator more than I like Remy. I'll be a little disappointed to see him come back. There, I said it.

I wish him good health, though.

I was just about to post this. I never thought I would say it but I like Eck a lot better than Remy, mainly because Orsillo is better with Eck and the game is more enjoyable.

[mt8thsw9th]

I think it would be in his best interest to retire. Long live Eck.

Ooh, when can Eck start hawking merchandise??

[HomeBrew1901]

Poor bastard sounds really nervous to be in the booth right now.

Edit: Really honest though, I can appreciate that. And admitting how nervous he is right now.

I'll admit that it is nice to see him in the booth though. A 3 man booth may not be that bad.

Edited by HomeBrew1901, 12 August 2009 - 06:30 PM.

[SeanBerry]

Maybe Remy is depressed because he has more time to speak to talk to his son.

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Just occurred to me that there's is an ideal target date for his return to the booth...Thursday August 27 or Friday August 28. It would be fitting. Somewhat like Gerry Callahan's return a couple years ago (although if I recall correctly, he didn't reveal that cancer was the cause of his absence until the following year's Radio Telethon).

[mabrowndog]

I'll admit that it is nice to see him in the booth though. A 3 man booth may not be that bad.

I came in to toss up this very concept for discussion. They obviously have good camaraderie, and having Eck and Remy each offering insights from both a pitcher's and hitter's standpoint seems really intriguing.

However, I think it would only work for the balance of this season. A clogged booth could grow tiresome very quickly once the novelty wears off. The Yankees had Frank Messer, Bil White and Phil Rizzuto together from 1971 through 1984. They were awful, and even Yankee fans I've known over the years have whined about their non-stop pointless drivel (though I happen to believe it's because all three of them sucked ass). And it got even worse during that trio's final two years when Bobby Murcer joined in to form the occasional quartet. Of course, they usually rotated into the radio booth so the cacophony wasn't always in play. The NESN guys would have no such duties. Since Eck is loathe to travel during the season, maybe using a trio only at home games would work.

In the end, I'm with Rip. If it comes down to a 2-man booth, I'd take Eck over Remy in a landslide.

[8 and 9 in Left]

Sounds like it's been a bigger battle than just the cancer:



It will be good to see him in the booth - top half of the 2nd inning.

Boston.com link

I think he'll be back and be fine. In reading the article, it seems clear that the cancer part was licked (with obvious caution going forward), but that the mental part has been the real struggle for him, which was exacerbated by whatever infection he had earlier this year. He'll get over that, get back in the booth, and be fine.
And put me in the Remy > Eck camp. I can only hear variations of "cheese" so many times.

[OilCanShotTupac]

having Eck and Remy each offering insights from both a pitcher's and hitter's standpoint seems really intriguing.

I really like the Mets booth with Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling for this same reason.

I have never been a big Remy fan, but I was really moved by his appearance in the booth tonight. He didn't flinch at all from talking about his depression; he was very straightforward and humble. Good for him.

[Spacemans Bong]

Here's some pop psychology: If Remy is getting therapy and learning to overcome his depression, do we get the funny, honest Remy back? Because I think most Eck > Remy people choose Eck because he wasn't so clearly miserable as Remy has been for a couple years now. If we get "inane banter" Remy back, then it's a win-win.

[The Allented Mr Ripley]

I think I prefer Eck because he and Orsillo have better chemistry than Remy and Orsillo. It may not be as simple as Eck vs. Remy.

[TheYellowDart5]

I think I prefer Eck because he and Orsillo have better chemistry than Remy and Orsillo. It may not be as simple as Eck vs. Remy.

The problem with Eck, though, is that he's stated before that he doesn't really have any interest in traveling for road games.

If keeping Eck means having to keep, say, Dave Roberts around to do road games, then by all means, give me Remy.

[8 and 9 in Left]

I have never been a big Remy fan, but I was really moved by his appearance in the booth tonight. He didn't flinch at all from talking about his depression; he was very straightforward and humble. Good for him.

I had a heart attack back in 2006 (age 40) that came totally out of the blue. In my experience, by far the hardest part of recovering and getting back to normal was the mental part. I'm not surprised that that is what has delayed Remy's return, and I agree that it's good he has spoken about it.

[Rocco Graziosa]

I had a heart attack back in 2006 (age 40) that came totally out of the blue. In my experience, by far the hardest part of recovering and getting back to normal was the mental part. I'm not surprised that that is what has delayed Remy's return, and I agree that it's good he has spoken about it.

Good for you. Thats seriously awesome. Thats said, I honestly thought Remy looked sick in both his channel 4 interview and his stint on NESN tonight. Am I the only one that saw this?

[Sille Skrub]

This is simply fantastic news.

Smoke 'em if you got em!

[HriniakPosterChild]

... I honestly thought Remy looked sick in both his channel 4 interview and his stint on NESN tonight. Am I the only one that saw this?

I had a similar thought during the game, but when checked my DVR, I thought a lack of TV makeup might explain his appearance. He did say twice that he was feeling well physically.

(I live outside Boston, so I did not see the WBZ interview.)

[Blacken]

The problem with Eck, though, is that he's stated before that he doesn't really have any interest in traveling for road games.

I seem to remember him saying that that wasn't the case. I don't remember where, but I think it was linked here.

If keeping Eck means having to keep, say, Dave Roberts around to do road games, then by all means, give me Remy.

I would sacrifice a nun to have a three-man booth at home and Remy on the road, if in fact Eck doesn't want to do road games.