Former players in talks to join NESN booth

[InsideTheParker]

https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2022/02/boston-red-sox-nesn-broadcast-booth-will-middlebrooks-in-talks-to-join-as-color-analyst-kevin-youkilis-discussions-still-ongoing-report.html
I understand that Middlebrooks has an amusing twitter feed, and Youkilis tried out last year, but I wonder why Todd Walker, who was so good in both the booth and the studio in 2017, is never mentioned. Maybe he's not interested?

 

[ColdSoxPack]

I don't remember Todd Walker. Anyone but Eliis Burks.

Edit: We are going to miss Jerry.

 

[Ale Xander]

Would be great if Will’s spouse joins him.

 

[ColdSoxPack]

Would be great if Will’s spouse joins him.

Thought the same thing.

 

[YTF]

I don't remember Todd Walker. Anyone but Eliis Burks.

From what I remember, Walker was one of the better ex-players that they brought in.

 

[yeahlunchbox]

Dustin Pedroia would be perfect in this role as long as they had a long enough delay and someone alert ready at the button. Maybe he can do the west coast games for the team to ease him into the role and let him spend most of his time with his family assuming he's gone back out there.

 

[JCizzle]

Dustin Pedroia would be perfect in this role as long as they had a long enough delay and someone alert ready at the button. Maybe he can do the west coast games for the team to ease him into the role and let him spend most of his time with his family assuming he's gone back out there.

While I agree that he'd probably be awesome, I have to imagine he made too much money to ever consider doing something like this.

 

[RorschachsMask]

Middlebrooks would kill it in this role, hope it happens.

 

[jon abbey]

While I agree that he'd probably be awesome, I have to imagine he made too much money to ever consider doing something like this.

Pedroia made about $120M career, NY just hired Beltran to do 36 games next year and his career earnings were around $220M (10th alltime!). I think it’s more about whether the player wants to stay involved in MLB or not.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

I see Todd Walker a lot doing baseball on the SEC Network, so maybe he isn’t available.

 

[Mueller's Twin Grannies]

Is Lenny DiNardo not coming back? Did he finally cash in that halfsies on a pizza offer?

 

[Salem's Lot]

Dustin Pedroia would be perfect in this role as long as they had a long enough delay and someone alert ready at the button. Maybe he can do the west coast games for the team to ease him into the role and let him spend most of his time with his family assuming he's gone back out there.

Judging by his post retirement interviews, he’s more likely to end up in a dugout in some capacity if he gets back into the game.

 

[YTF]

I see Todd Walker a lot doing baseball on the SEC Network, so maybe he isn’t available.

Should still leave him available for 3-4 months depending on whatever other obligations he might have. I read somewhere that he'd like to coach in the college ranks.

 

[CaptainLaddie]

Is Lenny DiNardo not coming back? Did he finally cash in that halfsies on a pizza offer?

Lenny still has the best musical taste of any Red Sox player of my lifetime, so far as I know.

 

[InsideTheParker]

I see Todd Walker a lot doing baseball on the SEC Network, so maybe he isn’t available.

Are you in the South? I can't find that on my Directv grid.

 

[GB5]

Walker, to my recollection, was the best of the bunch. Timlin, and Burks were the two who really struggled. I am all for Eck. I know they are on MLB network but Sean Casey is great, and Millar on a very limited basis, would have some appeal. No idea what he is doing, but I would like to see Bronson do a game or two. Pedro is fantastic, but he isnt going to want to do it. As much as I have rooted against him and it would drive me crazy, Clemens is pretty good when I have heard him on the radio and a few tv spots. The problem is I assume he is lying every time his lips move. Down the road, David Ross would be fantastic, I believe. Wake would be great. Curious if this would be a decent spot for Derek Lowe?

 

[YTF]

Are you in the South? I can't find that on my Directv grid.

https://www.directv.com/Channels/ESPNU-HD-611

 

[The Talented Allen Ripley]

Dustin Pedroia would be perfect in this role as long as they had a long enough delay and someone alert ready at the button. Maybe he can do the west coast games for the team to ease him into the role and let him spend most of his time with his family assuming he's gone back out there.

While I agree that he'd probably be awesome, I have to imagine he made too much money to ever consider doing something like this.

According to B-Ref, Dennis Eckersley made $27m over the course of his career, and that total is likely incomplete (and would be valued much higher considering inflation). I don't think economic comfort has much to do with ex-players' career motivations.

 

[Max Power]

I remember Todd Walker as being very average. He didn't stand out as doing a particularly good job, nor did he pull an Ellis Burks and fall all over himself. I feel like they could do better.

Eck's obviously the best of the best and should get as many games as he feels like doing. I wouldn't mind seeing them use the rest of the games to give guys like Youk and Middlebrooks a shot. Maybe you'll hit the jackpot with one of them. The only real concern there is that you may miss someone who would grow into the role, like Remy himself did. If we judged him by his first 10 games, he probably wouldn't have stuck around for the next 30 years.

 

[YTF]

Walker, to my recollection, was the best of the bunch. Timlin, and Burks were the two who really struggled. I am all for Eck. I know they are on MLB network but Sean Casey is great, and Millar on a very limited basis, would have some appeal. No idea what he is doing, but I would like to see Bronson do a game or two. Pedro is fantastic, but he isnt going to want to do it. As much as I have rooted against him and it would drive me crazy, Clemens is pretty good when I have heard him on the radio and a few tv spots. The problem is I assume he is lying every time his lips move. Down the road, David Ross would be fantastic, I believe. Wake would be great. Curious if this would be a decent spot for Derek Lowe?

Eck has no desire to go full time. I believe his preference is to do roughly half of the games. Casey and Millar have regular gigs on the MLBN, but does either one of them have much experience in the booth? Clemens? He's a great guest when he does his annual Jimmy Fund stint in the booth for an inning or two, but it's hard to project that into the opening that the Sox have.

 

[cornwalls@6]

Eck has no desire to go full time. I believe his preference is to do roughly half of the games. Casey and Millar have regular gigs on the MLBN, but does either one of them have much experience in the booth? Clemens? He's a great guest when he does his annual Jimmy Fund stint in the booth for an inning or two, but it's hard to project that into the opening that the Sox have.

Like most, I'd love to see Eck grab the gig full time. But you're correct, he does not want to go all in like that. It would be best, IMO, to settle on one good option to do the balance of the games, ala the Celtics broadcasts of the 80's, where it was split, basically home/road, between Heinsohn and Cousy. However, if they really like both Youk and Middlebrooks, then let them split the balance of games. Give them both a chance to grow into the job, and enough with the rotating door of guys who suck at it. Give the broadcast a strong identity.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Wow. I thought that Burks did okay for his first go around. But I also think that Middlebrooks would be a natural.

 

[cornwalls@6]

Wow. I thought that Burks did okay for his first go around. But I also think that Middlebrooks would be a natural.

I thought Burks was a rough listen most of the times I heard him, and I was rooting like hell for him. Too many obvious, milquetoast takes. But, probably not fair to write him off based on a pretty limited sample size, and assume there's no room for growth. I would imagine if we went back and listened to a good sampling of Rem's first year broadcasts, there'd be some pretty brutal stuff there.

 

[mikeford]

I think Wakefield is pretty good on the studio shows. Wouldn't be adverse to seeing if he could do some color.

 

[nvalvo]

There are a few guys — not all Sox affiliated — like Doug Glanville and Lars Anderson who've done some excellent, thoughtful writing about baseball in public; it might be worth seeing what guys like that could do in a booth.

 

[InsideTheParker]

https://www.directv.com/Channels/ESPNU-HD-611

Thanks. I see it now. I haven't found any baseball yet, but if the lockout continues in MLB, I will happily tune in to see some college players.
Oh, I see the schedule now: https://www.secsports.com/article/33253050/sec-announces-baseball-television-schedule I hope to hear me some Todd Walker.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Thanks. I see it now. I haven't found any baseball yet, but if the lockout continues in MLB, I will happily tune in to see some college players.

The SEC has some very good teams and players. The games are a fun watch.

 

[Max Power]

I thought Burks was a rough listen most of the times I heard him, and I was rooting like hell for him. Too many obvious, milquetoast takes. But, probably not fair to write him off based on a pretty limited sample size, and assume there's no room for growth. I would imagine if we went back and listened to a good sampling of Rem's first year broadcasts, there'd be some pretty brutal stuff there.

Ellis Burks didn't know if Andrelton Simmons won a Gold Glove. He paired completely obvious, boring analysis with total ignorance of today's game. He brought zero to the table, unless you wanted stories about the mid-90s Rockies.

 

[Matty005]

There are a few guys — not all Sox affiliated — like Doug Glanville and Lars Anderson who've done some excellent, thoughtful writing about baseball in public; it might be worth seeing what guys like that could do in a booth.

If I am not mistaken, I think they need to be associated with the Red Sox to be able to get this job (I am not sure if that is a rule for all of baseball or just the Red Sox/NESN). And I could be wrong on this too. But with that said, if I am correct, I think Lars would qualify.

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

Youk goes to Phish shows and is big in the craft beer scene and according to that article Middlebrooks has a podcast called Wake and Rake, so maybe the plan is for them to get Dave O'Brien to pound some brews and smoke a bit of the ol' jazz cabbage and loosen tf up.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

If I am not mistaken, I think they need to be associated with the Red Sox to be able to get this job (I am not sure if that is a rule for all of baseball or just the Red Sox/NESN). And I could be wrong on this too. But with that said, if I am correct, I think Lars would qualify.

I think ties to the Red Sox are a primary want for NESN, but I don't think it's a requirement whatsoever. They certainly took whoever they could get when they had to fill for Remy on short notice when he was first diagnosed.

It's important to remember that no one comes into the job perfect. Whoever they get is going to be rough out of the gate, so patience is going to be necessary. Remy wasn't the Remdawg right away. It took years of experience. And even with that, he was a bit of a unicorn. He was a local guy who didn't seem to have aspirations of going anywhere else. If they ultimately want a full time guy to replace him, they may be limited to former players who have hung around/came back to the area after they retired. I suspect that's part of the reason Eck is unwilling to do it. He's not a MA resident, at least not full time.

 

[YTF]

Ellis Burks didn't know if Andrelton Simmons won a Gold Glove. He paired completely obvious, boring analysis with total ignorance of today's game. He brought zero to the table, unless you wanted stories about the mid-90s Rockies.

Yeah, Ellis was rough to listen to and it seemed like the more games he did (especially consecutively) the more difficulty he had. I'd really prefer that we don't see him in the booth again.

 

[bohous]

I like Middlebrooks. Has a fun Twitter account and clearly has a deep baseball knowledge and could talk about it all day. However just skimming through some of his podcast I'm not sure he brings the energy needed to keep a casual fan engaged in a random 8-2 game on a Tuesday night in August. I don't recall hearing Youk last year but seems like a better fit. Good energy and has a good TV/radio voice. I don't know why Millar would leave his MLB gig but I think he could crush it as a regular color guy.

 

[YTF]

I like Middlebrooks. Has a fun Twitter account and clearly has a deep baseball knowledge and could talk about it all day. However just skimming through some of his podcast I'm not sure he brings the energy needed to keep a casual fan engaged in a random 8-2 game on a Tuesday night in August. I don't recall hearing Youk last year but seems like a better fit. Good energy and has a good TV/radio voice. I don't know why Millar would leave his MLB gig but I think he could crush it as a regular color guy.

Yeah, Millar's got a sweet gig and rarely has to leave home for Intentional Talk. Millar might do well in the booth, but I'm not sure I'd like to see him and Eck together as part of the same team. I think it would be too much, each with their own lingo. A couple of times a year might be fun, but he might fair better in another market.

 

[Salem's Lot]

I think ties to the Red Sox are a primary want for NESN, but I don't think it's a requirement whatsoever. They certainly took whoever they could get when they had to fill for Remy on short notice when he was first diagnosed.

It's important to remember that no one comes into the job perfect. Whoever they get is going to be rough out of the gate, so patience is going to be necessary. Remy wasn't the Remdawg right away. It took years of experience. And even with that, he was a bit of a unicorn. He was a local guy who didn't seem to have aspirations of going anywhere else. If they ultimately want a full time guy to replace him, they may be limited to former players who have hung around/came back to the area after they retired. I suspect that's part of the reason Eck is unwilling to do it. He's not a MA resident, at least not full time.

Eck lives in Ipswich for at least the summer months. He’s been quoted as saying that he does not like to travel regularly to do games because he is a recovering alcoholic, and he is concerned that being out on the road for an extended period of time may be a challenge to his sobriety.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I like Middlebrooks. Has a fun Twitter account and clearly has a deep baseball knowledge and could talk about it all day. However just skimming through some of his podcast I'm not sure he brings the energy needed to keep a casual fan engaged in a random 8-2 game on a Tuesday night in August. I don't recall hearing Youk last year but seems like a better fit. Good energy and has a good TV/radio voice. I don't know why Millar would leave his MLB gig but I think he could crush it as a regular color guy.

Youk, like Papelbon and Mo Vaughn, appeared on the pre-game show last season but usually only for a segment or two and always remotely from his home. I don't know if he has any in-game experience. Doesn't mean he can't do it, but nothing he's done so far gives us any indication one way or the other.

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

I don't know why Millar would leave his MLB gig but I think he could crush it as a regular color guy.

I think the main draw would be that you can become a Remy-like institution and the job is yours for life, versus Intentional Talk which may not even be a TV show in five years.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I think the main draw would be that you can become a Remy-like institution and the job is yours for life, versus Intentional Talk which may not even be a TV show in five years.

I can't imagine Millar is overly concerned that IT might go away. Not that it's going to go on forever, but it has been on for 12 years already. It seems to have staying power. That said, I think he'd survive not having that 60-90 minute a day obligation cutting into his time on the golf course.

If Millar was interested in doing regular color commentary, I would think he'd have dipped his toe into that water already.

 

[JBJ_HOF]

From what I have heard, NESN tried to hire Middlebrooks full time, but offered him a ludicrously low salary, which he shot down. They then pivoted to Youkilis and apparently are still trying to get Middlebrooks in here in some capacity. Negotiations are far from done and there are other players involved, basically seeing who will offer services for the lowest price.

 

[Ale Xander]

Negotiations are far from done and there are other players involved, basically seeing who will offer services for the lowest price.

Sounds like NESN SOP

 

[Mueller's Twin Grannies]

I say they get Royce "I Ain't Got My Taco" Clayton.

 

[GB5]

circling it back, Sean McDonough was absolutely fantastic on the radio doing Sox games this summer. He would be a homerun, but obviously has other interests. It would be interesting if he changed his ways if he did a lot of tv games. One thing that was fantastic about his radio calls this summer was that he was very honest and at times critical. I think, he had the mindset to the effect of, I am only doing 10-15 games this summer, I can say whatever I want. He caught the Sox right out of the all star break, when they were falling apart, and I remember laughing hysterically when he was excoriating the Red Sox when they were losing by a dozen runs or so to a hideous Texas team at home. They were kicking the ball all over the field, walking batters, and Dalbec was swinging and missing all over the place. He was very critical. The defense will kill this team if it continues. Dalbec needs to go down and concentrate. In the end, he was wrong, but at least he took a stand that other Sox broadcasters wouldnt dare do.

 

[IpswichSox]

circling it back, Sean McDonough was absolutely fantastic on the radio doing Sox games this summer.

Totally agree, both on overall quality but also on being critical when thoughtful criticism was required. For me it was must-listen radio when Sean was on -- I would sync up the TV and radio to be able to listen.

 

[ColdSoxPack]

circling it back, Sean McDonough was absolutely fantastic on the radio doing Sox games this summer. He would be a homerun, but obviously has other interests. It would be interesting if he changed his ways if he did a lot of tv games. One thing that was fantastic about his radio calls this summer was that he was very honest and at times critical. I think, he had the mindset to the effect of, I am only doing 10-15 games this summer, I can say whatever I want. He caught the Sox right out of the all star break, when they were falling apart, and I remember laughing hysterically when he was excoriating the Red Sox when they were losing by a dozen runs or so to a hideous Texas team at home. They were kicking the ball all over the field, walking batters, and Dalbec was swinging and missing all over the place. He was very critical. The defense will kill this team if it continues. Dalbec needs to go down and concentrate. In the end, he was wrong, but at least he took a stand that other Sox broadcasters wouldnt dare do.

I remember that. It was some of the worst baseball the Red Sox played all year and he was not shy about how bad it was.

 

[Daniel_Son]

There are a few guys — not all Sox affiliated — like Doug Glanville and Lars Anderson who've done some excellent, thoughtful writing about baseball in public; it might be worth seeing what guys like that could do in a booth.

Lars would be an excellent get. For anyone who hasn't, I highly recommend reading his Lars Anderson Discovers Japan series on Fangraphs. He seems like a natural storyteller with some really unique insights on the game.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

I’ll echo the sentiment of several other in this thread regarding Ellis Burks. I really wanted to like him, but he’s easily one of the worst Sox guys I can remember. Boring and clueless.

 

[nvalvo]

If I am not mistaken, I think they need to be associated with the Red Sox to be able to get this job (I am not sure if that is a rule for all of baseball or just the Red Sox/NESN). And I could be wrong on this too. But with that said, if I am correct, I think Lars would qualify.

I was just about to give the counterexample of F.P. Santangelo broadcasting for the Nats, but then I checked and learned that he had been an Expo, so... maybe you're right.

 

[Sad Sam Jones]

There are quite a few around the league who didn't play for the team they work for:

Brian Anderson's playing days with the Rays consisted of a couple of weeks in spring training during a failed comeback attempt.

Tim Belcher fills in on the radio from time to time for Cleveland because he's worked for the team, but never played for them.

Steve Sparks signed a minor league deal with Houston but didn't make the team and retired. Mike Stanton also does some games for Houston.

Rex Hudler never played for the Royals.

Tom Candiotti never pitched for Arizona (granted he was close to retirement by the time they existed, but they also have others who fill in and didn't play for them).

Jim Deshaies was never with the Cubs.

J.P. Arencibia and Jeff Nelson both do some games for the Marlins.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

There are quite a few around the league who didn't play for the team they work for:

Brian Anderson's playing days with the Rays consisted of a couple of weeks in spring training during a failed comeback attempt.

Tim Belcher fills in on the radio from time to time for Cleveland because he's worked for the team, but never played for them.

Steve Sparks signed a minor league deal with Houston but didn't make the team and retired. Mike Stanton also does some games for Houston.

Rex Hudler never played for the Royals.

Tom Candiotti never pitched for Arizona (granted he was close to retirement by the time they existed, but they also have others who fill in and didn't play for them).

Jim Deshaies was never with the Cubs.

J.P. Arencibia and Jeff Nelson both do some games for the Marlins.

Yeah, a tie to the team is a perk but by no means a prerequisite. Networks want familiar names/faces for their audience, but if circumstances warrant, they'll hire the best available person for the job. NESN seems to be going for that "has ties to the team" angle combined with who will work for the lowest pay. Kinda leaves a shallow pool of candidates. Frankly, I don't care if they ever played for the Red Sox if the person is good at color commentary.

 

[jon abbey]

There are quite a few around the league who didn't play for the team they work for:

Brian Anderson's playing days with the Rays consisted of a couple of weeks in spring training during a failed comeback attempt.

Tim Belcher fills in on the radio from time to time for Cleveland because he's worked for the team, but never played for them.

Steve Sparks signed a minor league deal with Houston but didn't make the team and retired. Mike Stanton also does some games for Houston.

Rex Hudler never played for the Royals.

Tom Candiotti never pitched for Arizona (granted he was close to retirement by the time they existed, but they also have others who fill in and didn't play for them).

Jim Deshaies was never with the Cubs.

J.P. Arencibia and Jeff Nelson both do some games for the Marlins.

Yankees had Ken Singleton until he just retired, don’t think he had any connection to the team before.