Baseball Broadcaster Impressions: Boston

Continuing the baseball broadcaster impressions project today with a look at the Boston Red Sox announcing teams. 

TV: Don Orsillo, Jerry Remy

I've never heard a pair of broadcasters more suited voice wise than these two for the Boston area. Hell they both feel like they were created on a Good Will Hunting assembly line just to broadcast Red Sox games. And honestly, could you listen to a Red Sox broadcast with the Boston accents? I didn't think so.

Because of their likeness they both have tremendous chemistry in the booth with each other. Amazingly though it's Orsillo that has the giggle attacks (giggling in the booth might seen inappropriate, but I like it because it makes it appear neither of these guys take themselves too seriously) in the booth when something funny happens.



Orsillo with another partner though doesn't have the same feel. He's pretty mundane on the TBS playoff broadcasts and when Remy is out of the booth. I don't know why if it's because he's uncomfortable without Remy, but he just isn't the same broadcaster. No giggling, laughing, or cracking jokes.


Remy doesn't say anything in the booth that is very cutting edge and he doesn't break down the game like others can. He basically just tells you what you already know and he's comfortable with that. And I respect him for this because I've seen other broadcasters uncomfortably try to bring up sabermetrics (ahem Chris Wheeler) and it doesn't work. Remy knows who he is and doesn't try to hard. You gotta respect him for that.

One other note on Remy is that he can go stretches in a broadcast without speaking. When a batter is up, Remy will go silent. You wonder if he's dead or just asleep in the booth because the only voice you hear is Orsillo's. Then the batter makes an out or reaches base and then Remy will speak and you'll know he's not dead or asleep.

If I was ranking the broadcasts I would put Boston in the middle of the pack. This isn't a broadcast you must see or avoid.

Radio: Joe Castiglione, Dave O'Brien

O'Brien I swear forgets he's on radio sometimes because he won't describe what has just happened. And that should be expected for someone who spends a lot of time on TV but for crying out loud will someone remind him he's on radio.

Castiglione like Orisillo and Remy is really Boston with his accent. If you can stomach the Boston accent and his nasally voice then I recommend listening to Red Sox games because Castiglione is fair broadcaster who gets just as excited for the opposing team as the Red Sox and he can be really funny in the booth.