Ultimately, NESN has their reasons for making the change, and that’s that. Maybe the most telling comment by Orsillo came by way of this tweet from his account on Sept. 2, a link to the Dave Matthews track, “Out of My Hands” a not-so subtle commentary on where things will now lead him. But the news of Orsillo’s ouster was leaked out, as often happens in these cases, and then Red Sox/NESN management got quiet instead of getting out in front of the story. As of publication, NESN hasn't responded.Orsillo clearly has an opening right next door. Had they waited until the season was over, Orsillo still would have had plenty of time to explore another baseball gig. A Red Sox blog with humor and news I remember Don Orsillo’s first game as permanent Red Sox commentator for NESN. Word on the street is that already there have been more than one having back and forth conversations with NESN about him with serious interest in trying to land the coveted broadcaster. Love you guys on NESN. Which brings us to the question of the day: Why, exactly, is Orsillo being replaced? CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. On August 25th, NESN announced that it had hired WEEI Red Sox radio voice Dave O’Brien to be the network’s play-by-play announcer for broadcasts beginning in 2016. I look forward to your comments and can be followed on Twitter via @BizballMaury, © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. The PR nightmare for NESN and the Red Sox has ensued, so much so that over 60,000 (and counting) have signed a Change.org petition addressed to Red Sox principle owner John Henry, NESN, and Fenway Sports Group asking them to keep Orsillo, and that’s on top of fans voicing their displeasure at Fenway Park. But NESN announced that he and Jerry Remy would be taking in-season vacations this year. That has fans mad and bewildered, and it’s hard to say many can blame them. No one is saying, but the question is, did NESN approach O’Brien prior to the expiration of his contract and say that when the time arrived he had the potential to land at NESN? And while NESN is nixing Orsillo in order to go in a new direction with O’Brien, they understand that he’s certainly not bad by any stretch. Losing Don Orsillo marks the end of a Red Sox era New, 38 comments Orsillo has been there for the Red Sox, for us, for the last 15 seasons, and now that will change. Who knows? There is no dirt. Normally a decision like this comes with fan supporters and detractors but one would be hard-pressed to find any supporters in sacking Orsillo out there at this point, sans the brain trust at NESN. And when the opportunity presented itself to bring Dave O’Brien to NESN, we just felt after a great deal of thought and consideration that was the right decision to make.”. Orsillo—currently in his 15th season calling Red Sox games on NESN—is a longtime fan favorite since moving up to the major league broadcasts in 2001 after serving five years as the play-by … We weren’t going to talk about that until October, but he will be with us for sure.”. Who knows?And to O'Brien and his … It’s always painful to do great work, yet see your employer go with someone else. Fine. He was then hired by the Padres to replace broadcaster Dick Enberg upon his retirement at the end of the 2016 season. This move was one they could control. “We informed Don almost immediately when the decision had been made, within a few days. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. Other prior written work of mine can be found at Variety, USA Today, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and Fangraphs. “He’s an excellent broadcaster. Freelance work can be found at the Portland Business Journal and New York Times. Well, apparently the two didn’t think he was that great or his contract would have been renewed. What if there’s a scheduling conflict with NESN? And to O’Brien and his other broadcasting gig, ESPN confirms that he’s still under contract to cover college basketball and select MLB games. A NESN spokesman reiterated what Tom Werner and Sean McGrail had shared with the Boston Herald and The New York Times. Truly saddening. Don Orsillo Dating Jenny Dell . Orsillo will be replaced by Dave O’Brien, who has done Red Sox radio for nine seasons and viewed as a talented guy. Then there was the end of the game, where the Red Sox players worked their own version of the “O Captain, My Captain” ending of “Dead Poet’s Society,” coming out on the field and tipping their caps to Orsillo. Why Did Don Orsillo Get Fired Don Orsillo. From the underwhelming performance of team on the field, to the exit of Larry Lucchino, to John Farell’s lymphoma diagnosis, to the hiring of Dave Dombrowski and the subsequent soon-to-be exit of Ben Cherington, 2015 has been one wild thing after another. Orsillo had been calling Red Sox games for the past 15 years. “Jon Miller in Baltimore for not being enough of a homer”…. And in that, it can be a cut-throat industry. His ability to make fans laugh is one of the things I love most about Orsillo. The inference is, “This guy will be better.” And while it was more than one voice that decided that was the case in signing O’Brien and dropping Orsillo, isn’t it highly subjective at this point? If the Red Sox and NESN were worried O’Brien would eventually land a TV gig in a prominent market, or gain a higher profile at ESPN, well, that would have been a worthwhile fear. Why can’t Eck and D.O. It was nothing against Don. As of publication, NESN hasn’t responded. Other prior written work of mine can be found at Variety, USA Today, Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and Fangraphs. Orsillo would call games on NESN while Sean McDonough called the games on free TV. Assuming Remy is still in the booth next season, it will be interesting to see if the former Sox second baseman has the same rapport with O’Brien that he has had with Orsillo. BOSTON (AP) -- Don Orsillo is out as the Boston Red Sox's television play-by-play voice after this season.. Orsillo wasn't offered a new contract with NESN, and will be replaced by Dave O'Brien. He could blunt the blows raining down on NESN and the Red Sox if he wanted. Sports announcer Don Orsillo waves from the broadcast booth following a video tribute during the eighth inning of a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox … “And I also understand that Don is a great broadcaster, but we felt that starting next year it was worth going in a different direction reenergizing the broadcast. Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner and NESN President and CEO Sean McGrail were both quoted in The New York Times praising Orsillo, and yet doing so in a back-handed fashion. While this is by no means a statement on YES Network and NESN in totality, there’s some ratings numbers that bode well for Orsillo, this current season the possible exception. . After all, without O’Brien being free of his contract with them, he’s not available to sign with NESN. “We love Don,” Werner said. A few days after letting Orsillo know of his firing, NESN brass had a conversation with him and his agent Brad Blank about whether he wanted to announce that he was free right then and there, or wait until the regular season ended with the sides reportedly agreeing that it would occur at the end of the season. They won’t say it’s a case of making a change for change sake, but the way they see it, having O’Brien become available will allow NESN to take things in a new direction, whatever that is. He could switch chairs with O’Brien and do Red Sox radio broadcasts with WEEI. Why Did Don Orsillo Leave . According to a report from WEEI’s “Dennis and Callahan Morning Show,” this will be Don Orsillo’s final season as the play-by-play man for NESN’s Red Sox broadcasts. But someone decided along the way that they were smarter than the fans that welcome Orsillo into their homes. Maybe the best you can say is, in many ways, its show business. Whether it was the famous pizza throw or … While I haven’t spoken with Orsillo, the overwhelming consensus around the matter is that he, of course, isn’t pleased with the move. And yet of all the things that have happened throughout the season, it is the one move toward the end that seems to have befuddled the Red Sox faithful the most. “I understand it has created some controversy,” Werner said. There’s little doubting Orsillo will find a new home, but after 15 years of doing solid work—the words by Werner and McGrail—it’s not like he was looking to leave. Try watching Don wave back and say, “thank you, boys” without losing your shit. Where Is Don Orsillo Broadcasting . He will be on the telecasts. After all, it took a while for Remy to warm up to Orsillo when the two were paired full-time in 2001. Who’s being tapped to cover for him? That’s because the team sucked for most of the year. In a case where NESN, and certainly the Red Sox who own an 80 percent stake in the regional sports network have a large say in such matters, they clearly didn’t expect the firestorm of controversy that has come with NESN not renewing Orsillo’s contract. Orsillo clearly has an opening right next door. It wasn’t.”, As for Remy’s future with NESN, McGrail told me, “Jerry’s in our plans for next season. Reports say Don Orsillo, who has called Red Sox games on TV for NESN since 2001, will not be back next season. Don Orsillo, Red Sox play-by-play voice on NESN, understands why. The response has been as quiet as Fenway Park on December’s eve. Ultimately, ratings are driven by the play on the field, not by those calling the games. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The odd thing is, no one at NESN or the Red Sox have a bad thing to say about Orsillo. “I won’t say it will be perfect from Day 1.”, Buckley: Tom Werner explains why NESN is…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Charlie Baker increases capacity limits at Mass. We haven’t finalized that, but he will be involved.”, “We don’t know yet,” McGrail said. Freelance work can be found at the Portland Business Journal and New York Times. Plus, Remy froze out Josh Maurer when the voice of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox spent a week in the big-league booth earlier this summer. In a Red Sox season marked by so much unexpected change, this was one move that was meant to be scripted. The mistake was going after him in midseason, as there was no way this wasn’t going to get out. No doubt about it: O’Brien is a terrific baseball play-by-play voice. The petition is a noble effort, but O’Brien is signed, and with it, Orsillo isn’t coming back. They seemed to have seriously misjudged the fans when making the decision. There is nothing they will say he’s done wrong. . O’Brien is an exceptionally solid broadcaster, doing work for not only WEEI, but ESPN. When Red Sox play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo was sacked in favor of Dave O'Brien by NESN, it set off a firestorm of controversy … NEW YORK — It was going to be impossible for the Red Sox and NESN to move the popular and talented Don Orsillo out of the television booth without there being a major public outcry. After 15 years the Red Sox play-by-play broadcaster is leaving, to be replaced by Dave O'Brien. “Some of that will develop over time,” said McGrail of a potential O’Brien/Remy tandem. NESN’s full-season average ratings in ’05, ’06, and ’07, were higher than a 10.5 — the 10.5 was the highest rating in the history of YES Network that they achieved on Jeter’s last home game at Yankee Stadium last season. In making the move, long-time broadcaster Don Orsillo got sacked. In speaking with more than one in the broadcast community, the firing of Orsillo has struck a nerve that has been hit before. Orsillo was the television voice of the Boston Red Sox on NESN from 2001 to 2015. why did don orsillo leave the red sox I could see it in his face’ after first inning, NESN’s Boston Red Sox announcers Jerry Remy, Dennis Eckersley adjusting on the fly to calling games from Watertown studio 5/8 Chris Cotillo (MLB Notebook), Visit MassLive.com, Springfield, Mass. They seemed to … Don Orsillo (born December 16, 1968) is the play-by-play announcer for the San Diego Padres on Fox Sports San Diego and for the MLB on TBS. Don is easily one of the best at what he does. Seems like every team struggles with this. Still, the situation could have been handled better — with better timing and a whole lot more candor. Don_Orsillo: I totally agree, and I'm not sure I have a great answer except to say they are guys that are not good enough to be starters or relied upon to set up or finish games. News of Orsillo’s pending departure was another bewildering turn in a season full of them for Red Sox fans, who two years ago celebrated a World … 2020 Natl Sportswriter Of The Year Nominee, BBWAA, MLB, Motorsports, BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 2: Don Orsillo emcee’s, Champions for Children’s Gala at Seaport World Trade Center benefitting Boston Children’s Hospital December 2, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. 2020 National Sportswriter Of The Year nominee. Don Orsillo. Werner used the wrong word there, the simple reason being that Red Sox telecasts on NESN do not lack energy. 2020 National Sportswriter Of The Year nominee. In fact, NESN has asked him on more than one occasion if he wanted to speak to the media about the matter. The refrain from them is often decisions are made by network brass that make little sense. When the offseason gets underway, it’s clear that everyone at NESN and the Red Sox will breathe a sigh of relief, realize that they won’t have to see angry fans in the stands over the course of the offseason, and pray for this whole thing to blow over. The answer, in the opinion of Red Sox chairman Tom Werner and NESN president/CEO Sean McGrail, is that they believe Dave O’Brien, currently the play-by-play man on the radio side, will be an upgrade. He’s worked seamlessly with Joe Castiglione on the radio side, and he does games on the national side for ESPN. NEW YORK — It was going to be impossible for the Red Sox and NESN to move the popular and talented Don Orsillo out of the television booth without there being a major public outcry. Don Orsillo (born December 16, 1968) is the sports commentator play-by-play announcer for the San Diego Padres on Fox Sports San Diego. The Boston Red Sox TV broadcast on NESN will be moving on from longtime play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo after this season, according to the “Dennis and Callahan Morning Show” on WEEI. It has nothing to do with ratings, they said, though Werner and McGrail both concede that ratings are down this season. That NESN has reached out to a half-dozen national and regional networks on Don’s behalf to allow him to not only land softly, but in a prime position. You wouldn’t expect any other reaction.

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