Report: This is Don Orsillo's last season

Fratboy

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Hopefully this means we get Orsillo for some future postseason games. Do we know if he has any assignments this year?
 

nattysez

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The whole team came out of the dugout after the last out and raised their hats to Orsillo in the booth.  Pretty cool.
 

54thMA

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the1andonly3003 said:
Orsillo called the final half inning solo...classy move by Remy, seeing how today could have been his final game too
It was classy, but at the same time, I think he was spent by that point and couldn't have said a word even if he wanted to.
 

Fratboy

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54thMA said:
It was classy, but at the same time, I think he was spent by that point and couldn't have said a word even if he wanted to.
 
I don't think he was in any shape to speak. Remy was in tears and you could hear him sniffling softly in his mic. Today's was a great broadcast, and I can't wait to hear him again. Dave O'Brien's gonna be good, but there was zero reason to can Don.
 

Gene Conleys Plane Ticket

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Fratboy said:
 
 Dave O'Brien's gonna be good, but there was zero reason to can Don.
 
I'm still so puzzled by the whole thing. Yes, we all know O'Brien's good -- but as a TV pbp guy is he really some kind of quantum leap up from Orsillo? What exactly does he bring to the table that Orsillo lacked? I'm sure there's something -- but is it anything really important or amazing? I've watched plenty of his ESPN baseball broadcasts over the years and always thought he was just fine -- no complaints -- but I can't say I was ever blown away. So why the urgency to get him in the TV booth and Orsillo out? Don't think I'll ever understand it.
 

GeorgeCostanza

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Gresh was filling in for whoever does the Sunday overnight notational syndicated show tonight on 98.5 and discussed the Orsillo situation. Had some very nice things to say about DO and some not so nice things to say about NESN. I know it was Gresh but it was good hearing it get some national play
 

Detts

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soxhop411 said:
https://twitter.com/iamjoonlee/status/650793694329720832
'This is the old lefthander rounding third and heading for home. Goodnight everyone', - Joe Nuxhall.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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GeorgeCostanza said:
Gresh was filling in for whoever does the Sunday overnight notational syndicated show tonight on 98.5 and discussed the Orsillo situation. Had some very nice things to say about DO and some not so nice things to say about NESN. I know it was Gresh but it was good hearing it get some national play
 
Quick Pitch on MLBN included a portion of Orsillo's speech and the players tipping their cap (with the "rounding third and heading home" line) during the game highlights.  Might just be Heidi Watney's influence as the host, but Orsillo's departure is a nationally known thing even if the details behind it aren't.
 

the1andonly3003

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GeorgeCostanza said:
Gresh was filling in for whoever does the Sunday overnight notational syndicated show tonight on 98.5 and discussed the Orsillo situation. Had some very nice things to say about DO and some not so nice things to say about NESN. I know it was Gresh but it was good hearing it get some national play
Gresh found a way back on TSH? oh my!
 

8slim

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Orsillo being fired is an example of some of the the worst tendencies of modern corporate America.  Here's a guy who loves his job, is very good at it, and by all accounts has been a model employee during his tenure.  But someone in management feels compelled to make a splash, or put his fingerprint on a hire, or some other such nonsense, so a guy gets pushed out.  It's life, but it's pointless and unnecessary.
 

Vinho Tinto

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Orisillo has been a total class act since the news was leaked. He was great yesterday and I'm glad that he got the send off he deserved from the players and fans.
 

Orange Julia

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soxhop411 said:
 
Not ashamed to say that i completely started to sob when I saw this. I feel so stupid but the Don/Jerry team has been a constant in my life for a period of time when I was losing everything that was important to me. Don and Jerry were there through pets dying, divorce, being homeless, being sick,  losing friends, grandparents, parent, jobs etc. I don't do well with change. Most folks will have forgotten about all this next year when pitchers and catchers report, and for opening day, but I might just watch the away feeds on mlbtv.com from now on. Or the WEEI feed.
 
I might have to get a screenshot of Tito flipping off the NESN camera as a tattoo though.
 

InsideTheParker

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8slim said:
Orsillo being fired is an example of some of the the worst tendencies of modern corporate America.  Here's a guy who loves his job, is very good at it, and by all accounts has been a model employee during his tenure.  But someone in management feels compelled to make a splash, or put his fingerprint on a hire, or some other such nonsense, so a guy gets pushed out.  It's life, but it's pointless and unnecessary.
Is this any less true about Beyeler being let go? 
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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InsideTheParker said:
Is this any less true about Beyeler being let go? 
 
No, with the caveat that we don't really know if Beyeler was good at his job.
 
With Don, since the majority of his work was judgeable by the listening audience, we knew he was good.
 

8slim

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InsideTheParker said:
Is this any less true about Beyeler being let go? 
 
SJH got it.  I have no clue what the front office evaluation of Beyeler was, and I'm not equipped as a fan to know the entirety of the job to judge if he should have been retained.  So maybe?
 
But as a fan I absolutely know if Orsillo is doing his job well, because his job is almost entirely about pleasing fans.  Seems like the overwhelming majority think he did a good job.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Smiling Joe Hesketh said:
 
No, with the caveat that we don't really know if Beyeler was good at his job.
 
With Don, since the majority of his work was judgeable by the listening audience, we knew he was good.
 
Nick Cafardo said Beyeler was awesome at his job on Thursday. Good enough for me!
 

Montana Fan

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Orsillo was at best OK.  I liked him but found him to be a poor man's Sean McDonough (good personality with less baseball knowledge).  O'Brien is great and I'm going to miss his radio calls.  There's no doubt in my mind that this is a precursor to pushing Remy out.  I am hopeful that we will soon have good a PBP team that isn't contstantly talking about something other than baseball.
 

HomeBrew1901

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8slim said:
 
SJH got it.  I have no clue what the front office evaluation of Beyeler was, and I'm not equipped as a fan to know the entirety of the job to judge if he should have been retained.  So maybe?
 
But as a fan I absolutely know if Orsillo is doing his job well, because his job is almost entirely about pleasing fans.  Seems like the overwhelming majority think he did a good job.
I mentioned this in the other thread, my wife grew up a Yankee fan, she became a Red Sox fan between sometime between 2003-2005 strictly because she enjoyed listening to Remy and Orsillo call the games.  He'll be missed.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Orsillo was at best OK.  I liked him but found him to be a poor man's Sean McDonough (good personality with less baseball knowledge).  O'Brien is great and I'm going to miss his radio calls.  There's no doubt in my mind that this is a precursor to pushing Remy out.  I am hopeful that we will soon have good a PBP team that isn't contstantly talking about something other than baseball.
At best he was ok? I'm assuming OK = average? Can you name 5 never mind 10 better play by play guys in MLB? even at 10 he's better than average.
 

Gene Conleys Plane Ticket

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NortheasternPJ said:
At best he was ok? I'm assuming OK = average? Can you name 5 never mind 10 better play by play guys in MLB? even at 10 he's better than average.
 
When you sample games around the league with MLB.tv, it is shocking how mediocre — or worse — most other announcers are. I tried watching some of a Pirates game recently and, man, those guys sound like they're barely awake. Orsillo, and the Orsillo-Remy team, may not be the very best, but they are among the elite.
 
Actually, I watched a little of a Padres game just to hear how Dick Enberg sounds these days, and amazingly, he's still pretty damn good.
 

54thMA

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Fratboy said:
 
I don't think he was in any shape to speak. Remy was in tears and you could hear him sniffling softly in his mic. Today's was a great broadcast, and I can't wait to hear him again. Dave O'Brien's gonna be good, but there was zero reason to can Don.
Sorry if my post wasn't clear enough; I am 100% with you, Remy was in tears and he couldn't have spoken even if he wanted to.  And you are also correct in that there was zero reason, as in none, to fire Don.
 

curly2

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Gene Conleys Plane Ticket said:
 
Actually, I watched a little of a Padres game just to hear how Dick Enberg sounds these days, and amazingly, he's still pretty damn good.
 
Enberg's had a great career and it's good he's leaving while he's still got it. He stopped doing basketball a few years ago and said the reason was the game was getting too fast for him at his age. Now he's stepping down from baseball before he loses it.
 
It's great self-awareness.
 

donutogre

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Looks like the Don Orsillo tribute train is slowly wrapping up, but I managed to find one of my favorite calls of his:
http://m.mlb.com/video/v3298533/youkilis-elevates-a-homer-over-the-green-monster/?c_id=mlb
 
August 12, 2008. Charlie Zink's only major league start. 10-run Sox first inning (two 3-run Ortiz homers in the first!), but the game was hardly over... at some point Texas was up 16-14 I believe. Youk comes up with two on and gives the Sox the lead that they would finally hold, and I just thought Don made a wonderful call. Easily one of the most ridiculous regular-season baseball games I can ever remember watching.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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NortheasternPJ said:
At best he was ok? I'm assuming OK = average? Can you name 5 never mind 10 better play by play guys in MLB? even at 10 he's better than average.
What are we basing "better" on? Seeing as how this is such a highly subjective evaluation and most people have such little exposure to the other options out there, I think it's tough to ask people to make an argument like that, as if we have some baseline to compare or stats to argue about.

Many of the posts here have cited how DO was there in their youth, or there through hard times in their personal life, or how they connect his voice to magical seasons this team has had over his tenure. Maybe if I got to hear him make the big calls during the playoffs, like Obrien or Castig, I'd be more upset. I dunno. I just know it's not going to effect my viewing habits.

But connections like that are what you're asking someone to compare without any reasonable expectation they would have the exposure to. That's something we can't connect with on another PBP guy. I'm sure plenty of White Sox fans will be sad when Hawk Harrelson retires or Yankee fans when McKay goes and we can sit here as people who listen to a handful of games and say "that guy sucks" but to their fa base they probably have similar feelings. I'm sure many other fan bases as aware as ours don't think much about him being gone and probably are as annoyed with the few games a year they have to deal with he and Remy goofing off as we are with a lot of other guys when we only have one feed available.

I spent about eleven years out of market during DO's time, spent a few years with the package so I caught games and when I moved back and got him every day, I had no complaints, but I also didn't think he was Vin Scully of Jon Miller. As someone mentioned, he made me think of Sean McDonough, who I did grow up with. Granted I may feel more strongly about it had I been around more, but other than thinking he got hosed with the way nesn handled it, I'm having trouble getting worked up over it. I don't begrudge anyone that does, but at the same time I find statements like "name ten better!" to be akin to "name me ten ice cream flavors that are better than chocolate! I bet you can't!" It's got a pretty substantial component of subjectivity to it.

Again, he got hosed because there was no reason to make a change and the whole thing was handled poorly by a tone deaf nesn. At the same time, I think Dave Obrien will be an upgrade and if they can complete the transition with someone as good as Ron Darling (rumors obviously going both ways on that) or someone comparable, I would enjoy my viewing a lot more.
 

the1andonly3003

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donutogre said:
Looks like the Don Orsillo tribute train is slowly wrapping up, but I managed to find one of my favorite calls of his:
http://m.mlb.com/video/v3298533/youkilis-elevates-a-homer-over-the-green-monster/?c_id=mlb
 
August 12, 2008. Charlie Zink's only major league start. 10-run Sox first inning (two 3-run Ortiz homers in the first!), but the game was hardly over... at some point Texas was up 16-14 I believe. Youk comes up with two on and gives the Sox the lead that they would finally hold, and I just thought Don made a wonderful call. Easily one of the most ridiculous regular-season baseball games I can ever remember watching.
am the i the only one who thinks the Mother's Day Miracle should have been included?
 

Erik Hanson's Hook

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Orsillo was at best OK.  I liked him but found him to be a poor man's Sean McDonough (good personality with less baseball knowledge).  O'Brien is great and I'm going to miss his radio calls.  There's no doubt in my mind that this is a precursor to pushing Remy out.  I am hopeful that we will soon have good a PBP team that isn't contstantly talking about something other than baseball.
 
Cool story. You seem to be in the minority, though.
 
Also, is this when we get off your lawn?
 

terrisus

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Not ashamed to say that i completely started to sob when I saw this. I feel so stupid but the Don/Jerry team has been a constant in my life for a period of time when I was losing everything that was important to me. Don and Jerry were there through pets dying, divorce, being homeless, being sick,  losing friends, grandparents, parent, jobs etc. I don't do well with change. Most folks will have forgotten about all this next year when pitchers and catchers report, and for opening day, but I might just watch the away feeds on mlbtv.com from now on. Or the WEEI feed.
 
I might have to get a screenshot of Tito flipping off the NESN camera as a tattoo though.
 
Yeah, this all hit me harder than I anticipated it was going to, for those types of reasons. I know people don't like me making things about me and most people are aware of the stuff that I've had going on during that time, so I won't get into all that. But I guess I never really stopped to think about how much of the overall decline of my life that Don Orsillo has been there for. Thinking back to when he first started reminds me of a time when all the possibilities of the world seemed open to me. And now, meanwhile...
 
Certainly hope for all the best for him.
 

Orange Julia

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My first few years out the New England Market and watching the games on Extra Innings when you got the game feed you got, not the game feed you wanted and I can definitely point to a few sets of guys who truly were awful--probably the worst are the dudes for the Rays. KC is good, Orioles pretty good, but wasn't a big fan of Oakland, Seattle, MFY, Blue Jays (although not the worst) but there's a familiarity with Don and Jerry. Not only did they see me through a boatload of life bullshit, but I saw them through a bunch too. I stuck with Jerry when he had pneumonia and cancer and depression and when his son committed that awful murder, and Don stuck with him, and we cheered Don on when he called some of the post game series because he is OUR GUY.
 
I get that the diehard baseball people aren't interested in the intangibles that the peripheral players like Don and Jerry bring to the whole baseball experience, but that relationship is important to me, and having a negative experience with it will color my feelings for a while.  I may be a neophyte to the minutiae of WAR and sabermetrics, but I am not to the human condition. We want those connections in our lives.
 

DJnVa

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terrisus said:
 
Yeah, this all hit me harder than I anticipated it was going to, for those types of reasons. I know people don't like me making things about me and most people are aware of the stuff that I've had going on during that time, so I won't get into all that. 
 
And yet...
 

DJnVa

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terrisus said:
As opposed to you posting about me in a thread I hadn't posted in, when I hadn't logged in for weeks, and wouldn't log in for weeks after:

Seems you have a bit of a thing going on for me here.
 
Well, you realize that's because that thread was about your M.O. right?
 
You have a SoSH identity. Embrace it my friend.
 

joe dokes

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Considering that it's not his first choice for a job and that he's replacing an all-time great, those are very nice gestures to ease the pains.