Remy ceremony Wed. 4/20 at 6:30 on NESN...

Manuel Aristides

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 7, 2009
224
It's such an embarrassment. I'm not a big tribute guy, and I'm too busy to have had the ceremony on my radar these days. But three people, including my aged mother, have texted me today about why Orsillo wasn't part of it. That failure seems to have overshadowed what I assume was otherwise a touching and kind gesture. Somewhere, a Dentist is nodding.
 

yeahlunchbox

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 21, 2008
764
Was there any particular reason it was even done last night? If they did it before this afternoon's game instead he probably would have been able to be there in person.
 

Granite Sox

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 6, 2003
5,054
The Granite State
No reason not to include Orsillo, even if the video came in (relatively) late... C'mon...

Sean was great. Steamer... not so much, though it was nice that the other legends showed up.

Maybe Kurtz wasn't mentioned as his time as Remy's partner pre-dated this ownership group.

And... Hazel Mae and Jamie Erdahl were not present, so Caron's tweet about the sideline reporter reunion was also a little bizarre.

Someone upthread mentioned the lack of air guitar in the montage video... could swear it was in there. Then again, I was at Opening Day when there was also a long montage about Jerry that definitely included the air guitar, and also had a healthy dose of DO.
 

trekfan55

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 29, 2004
11,586
Panama
Lost on the shuffle is that Orsillo could have taken one day off and come for the tribute.

Whether that puts him in the dog house with the Padres organization or not I have no clue, but it could have happened.
 

KingChre

New Member
Jul 31, 2009
130
They don't get the benefit of the doubt with me. Yes, there are others who could have done videos but there is only one guy who was inextricably linked to Remy. And it just happens to be a guy that they canned and subsequently got raked over the coals for doing so.

I think they somehow thought that having the tribute by Orsillo would re-open that can of worms so they cut it out. As if millions of Red Sox fans would just forget about it and not notice.

Another trash excuse from the most tone deaf organization in Boston sports.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,673
Maine
D.O.'s absence was a fleeting question during the ceremony. I, and I'm sure others, assumed when he didn't appear that he couldn't be there due to his professional obligations to the Padres. Totally understandable.

It's a story now because D.O. made it one. Seems like pettiness all the way around to me. We can't all get what we want.
 

Murby

New Member
Mar 16, 2006
1,790
Boston Metro
It’s worth noting the defensiveness in all the Red Sox official & not official statements. It doesn’t square. They more they protest, the more it becomes obvious they messed this up.
 

Van Everyman

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2009
26,991
Newton
@Chad Finn out with a ‘splainer on what happened here:
View: https://twitter.com/globechadfinn/status/1517151694026551307?s=21&t=xcqvW-vP6NfqXPDbfHboJA
Beyond what’s been said here, here’s his take on it:

Given how it ended for Orsillo here, and his lingering disappointment about how it went down even with all the success he’s found in San Diego, it’s understandable fans would suspect the Red Sox were being petty. But it bears noting that Orsillo was a significant part of NESN’s hour-long tribute program to Remy. It’s not as if they are treating him as persona non grata.

Ultimately, the Red Sox should have found a way to show his video, which was roughly 30 seconds long. Sean McDonough, the play-by-play voice alongside Remy from 1988 through 2004 (in a smaller role later on) and the one who tagged him with the “RemDawg” persona, spoke at the ceremony. There should have been a way to let Orsillo acknowledge his late friend, too. And Orsillo should have waited to air his grievance for another day or two. It detracted from what was a remarkable ceremony, which included the return of many of Remy’s teammates from his playing days, including Carl Yastrzemski, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans, and his old double-play partner, Rick Burleson, as well as NESN’s Jim Rice and Dennis Eckersley.
 

Max Power

thai good. you like shirt?
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
7,877
Boston, MA
I'm sure Don felt bad that he wasn't part of things, which is why he went on Twitter and said what he did. He could have handled it better. The Red Sox also could have handled it better and should have told him, "Sorry Don, we're not doing videos" rather than, "your video is no longer needed."

In any case, even if Don were there, Sean McDonough was the right guy to handle the bulk of the event and he did a great job with it. He's the most eloquent speaker among the former teammates and broadcast partners.
 

YTF

Member
SoSH Member
Amazing how we go from "nobody does these things better than Boston" to "what a shitty organisation". Both parties could have made this work. The Sox could have and probably should have facilitated this better by keeping in touch Announcer Boy. Can you get us such and such in a specific time frame so we can include you in this? Even getting a video message "late" should have been an easy enough inclusion as that script was 30 seconds at best. That said are we as a group really outraged by this? The only thing that takes away from last night's ceremony (which IMO was wonderful) is the trashing of the organisation that gave The Rem Dawg such a heartfelt tribute.
 

Jeff Van GULLY

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 13, 2005
4,029
I think it taps into something bigger - there have been many things from Theo to Francona to trading Mookie Betts where the actions of the team served the needs of ownership and nothing else.

You can even add Orsillo’s departure to that list. This ownership group is sometimes tone deaf if I’m being kind and vindictive if I’m not.
This is bringing up a lot of memories about what happened 6-7 years ago...

Not sure how many know this but Dave O'Brien had been angling for Orsillo's job for years and NESN had been planning on moving O'Brien in. He basically back-stabbed Orsillo to get the job. Remember that Orsillo wasn't trying to leave when they booted him.

Unlike Orsillo, O'Brien is not well liked by many in the Red Sox media. I was told this by a number of media members upon O'Brien's ascension in 2016. Everyone saw and understood what went down.

What O'Brien and NESN did to Don Orsillo was a disgrace back then and how NESN and the Red Sox treated him for the Remy ceremony is just a continuation of that. There is a petty vindictiveness threaded NESN/Red Sox/Orsillo's final year and seeing a Sox VP and her husband trashing him is a great highlight of this.
 

ngruz25

Bibby
SoSH Member
Sep 20, 2005
18,971
Pittsburgh, PA
I loved Orsillo and Remy and was thoroughly disappointed in Orsillo's firing, but I'm not sure that he's a reliable narrator here. He's clearly still salty about his departure, as evidenced by his Twitter history. He has a weird habit of "liking" tweets critical of Dave O'Brien. For instance, from just this past week, he liked a Tweet calling for Eck to do games solo:.

View: https://twitter.com/pattymatz2/status/1515514233160716293?t=CqW4a9IVp91JmRpwIpg4Aw&s=19
 

YTF

Member
SoSH Member
I loved Orsillo and Remy and was thoroughly disappointed in Orsillo's firing, but I'm not sure that he's a reliable narrator here. He's clearly still salty about his departure, as evidenced by his Twitter history. He has a weird habit of "liking" tweets critical of Dave O'Brien. For instance, from just this past week, he liked a Tweet calling for Eck to do games solo:.

View: https://twitter.com/pattymatz2/status/1515514233160716293?t=CqW4a9IVp91JmRpwIpg4Aw&s=19
I've no idea what the fuck this post is. Please explain.
 

Leather

given himself a skunk spot
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
28,451
Lost on the shuffle is that Orsillo could have taken one day off and come for the tribute.

Whether that puts him in the dog house with the Padres organization or not I have no clue, but it could have happened.
They could have picked a different day that worked for him if, as they say, his participation was so important and "the first call we made was to Orsillo." Reading between the lines, it sure seems like he said "I'm working that day, but could I do a video?" and the Sox said: "Sure!" and then let it sit for awhile before later on saying "Actually sorry, no, we're not doing videos."

So it probably isn't even fair to say "Orsillo could have taken a day off." It appears that the Sox offered him the chance to participate via video in lieu of appearing in person. If they had said: "No, we want this to be live, only." maybe he would have taken the day. Doesn't sound like he was really given the chance with full knowledge.
 

Delicious Sponge

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 23, 2003
1,350
Boston
Orsillo’s statement was great except I really dislike it when people say things like someone “lost” their fight with cancer, and especially when Orsillo said he never thought Jerry could “lose” that battle.

Cancer isn’t the kind of thing where you die if you don’t fight hard enough.
 

BrotherMouzone

New Member
Aug 2, 2010
141
I've no idea what the fuck this post is. Please explain.
Seems very easy to figure out. Orsillo likes Tweets that are critical of Dave O'Brien, including a Tweet calling for the good ol' days of Orsillo and Remy.
 
Last edited:

trekfan55

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 29, 2004
11,586
Panama
Orsillo’s statement was great except I really dislike it when people say things like someone “lost” their fight with cancer, and especially when Orsillo said he never thought Jerry could “lose” that battle.

Cancer isn’t the kind of thing where you die if you don’t fight hard enough.
Agreed, especially as there are people who choose the path of less pain and suffering (they do not exactly give up either but yes, Cancer is not about a fight)
 

ngruz25

Bibby
SoSH Member
Sep 20, 2005
18,971
Pittsburgh, PA
I've no idea what the fuck this post is. Please explain.
You might have to click on the Tweet to fully understand. Some random person made a comment disparaging DOB and Massarotti and bemoaning how far the Sox booth had fallen from the Orsillo/Remy days. Orsillo "liked" the comment, apparently signaling that he agreed with the sentiment. If you go to Orsillo's "liked Tweets" page, you can find the Tweet I linked.

It's not the first time that Orsillo has done this, but he's so active on Twitter that I don't have the time to go through all his history. If there's an easy way to search it, I don't know it.

Actually, here's another Tweet that he "liked", from April 15th:

View: https://twitter.com/dimitrigeorga/status/1515030453891346437?t=A-p1GjoZkeE4Td5mbY2uYQ&s=19
 

Van Everyman

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2009
26,991
Newton
One thing I saw based on the comments to Pam Kenn’s tweet is that DOB wasn’t involved with this either. And neither was Bob Kurtz (who I have zero memory of). So basically they decided to have Sean McDonough do his piece representing all of announcers who shared the booth with Remy and were still living. And by all accounts, Sean did a nice job.

Personally, I think this is being blown way out of proportion – mostly because the Sox kind of flubbed how they dismissed Orsillo seven years ago and didn’t go out of their way to make sure he was part of this today (by, as Chad says, making an effort to share Don’s video between innings or something). But also because Don is still salty about being dismissed the way he was and passive aggressively tweeted about his video not being included.

Chad’s last line kind of sums this up for me:

In a way, the whole controversy made me wonder what Remy would have said about it. Whenever something ridiculous would happen involving NESN and the Red Sox, I’d inevitably get a text from him that said something along the lines of, “Can you believe this [nonsense]?”

He is deeply missed, which was supposed to be the point.
 

ColdSoxPack

Well-Known Member
Silver Supporter
Jul 14, 2005
2,351
Simi Valley, CA
The only way Orsillo could have participated is with a video. So naturally the Sox said "no videos". Thanks anyway Don, and FU.

Ironically Sean McDonough was given a prominent role even though he was given the bum's rush before Orsillo. They could have shaved 5 minutes off of Yaz' painful trudge in from left field, or have him on the sidelines like the other guys, and let Sean introduce Orsillo's video. But no.
 

YTF

Member
SoSH Member
You might have to click on the Tweet to fully understand. Some random person made a comment disparaging DOB and Massarotti and bemoaning how far the Sox booth had fallen from the Orsillo/Remy days. Orsillo "liked" the comment, apparently signaling that he agreed with the sentiment. If you go to Orsillo's "liked Tweets" page, you can find the Tweet I linked.

It's not the first time that Orsillo has done this, but he's so active on Twitter that I don't have the time to go through all his history. If there's an easy way to search it, I don't know it.

Actually, here's another Tweet that he "liked", from April 15th:

View: https://twitter.com/dimitrigeorga/status/1515030453891346437?t=A-p1GjoZkeE4Td5mbY2uYQ&s=19
Thanks for the follow up. I clicked on the tweet that you first posted, but when I scrolled down just a couple of responses it calls for me to log in to continue viewing. Since I don't have an account I'm unable to continue.
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,304
One thing I saw based on the comments to Pam Kenn’s tweet is that DOB wasn’t involved with this either. And neither was Bob Kurtz (who I have zero memory of). So basically they decided to have Sean McDonough do his piece representing all of announcers who shared the booth with Remy and were still living. And by all accounts, Sean did a nice job.
DOB was sick and not at Fenway yesterday, otherwise he presumably would have been involved in some capacity
 

Petagine in a Bottle

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 13, 2021
11,920
I’m not a Don guy but I get the outrage given his tweet on it and how things ended with him. Even still, I’m not sure this was a conspiracy.

@Chad Finn says that the Sox invited Don to appear in person but that he told them he couldn’t make it. So they discussed the possibility of a video and then some time passed. By the time Don recorded a video the night before the Sox had already decided to have people in person only – and they didn’t want to make an exception for Don with him being the only guy who got a video.

Chad said he thinks it may have been a miscommunication – but it def. seems like Don is kind of stoking the flames here a bit by suggesting he was promised a video and the team reneged. Chad goes on to say that if they were really trying to exclude him they probably would’ve in the tribute from a few weeks ago in which he participated. That seems to make sense to me.

The stuff with the VP and her husband suggests to me that maybe Don has been difficult behind the scenes but who knows.
More than anything, I think this saga is yet another example that Twitter is a terrible way for adults to try to communicate.
 

scotian1

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
16,324
Kingston, Nova Scotia
Last night's ceremony was a beautiful tribute to Remy. It was heartfelt and emotional. Now instead of remembering the tribute it has become something else about someone else and that is very disappointing.
 

TDFenway

New Member
Aug 21, 2016
53
The biggest mistake the Red Sox made was not even mentioning Don by name last night. Just have TC say something like 'Watching back in San Diego tonight is Don Orsillo' and it's covered.

I think it is safe to assume Orsillo got a lot of tweets about his absence and he finally responded.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,673
Maine
The biggest mistake the Red Sox made was not even mentioning Don by name last night. Just have TC say something like 'Watching back in San Diego tonight is Don Orsillo' and it's covered.

I think it is safe to assume Orsillo got a lot of tweets about his absence and he finally responded.
There was no mention of Bob Kurtz either. Or Dave O'Brien for that matter. They didn't really acknowledge anyone who wasn't there in person. I know he worked with Remy for a long time, but why is D.O. so special as to warrant a mention but not the others?

Much ado about nothing.
 

Xander Betts Jr.

New Member
Oct 17, 2018
27

Hyde Park Factor

token lebanese
SoSH Member
Jun 14, 2008
2,789
Manchvegas
D.O.'s absence was a fleeting question during the ceremony. I, and I'm sure others, assumed when he didn't appear that he couldn't be there due to his professional obligations to the Padres. Totally understandable.

It's a story now because D.O. made it one. Seems like pettiness all the way around to me. We can't all get what we want.
Agree wholeheartedly. He couldn't wait a couple of days??
 

LoweTek

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
May 30, 2005
2,183
Central Florida
I thought the ceremony was very well done. I was glad to be able to watch it live (new MLB-TV policy). Orsillo's absence was notable but so were others'. Just a few thoughts and observations:

  • Jerry's wife Phoebe was remarkably composed throughout.
  • McDonough was the right choice for his role in the ceremony.
  • I can't believe the ragging on Bob Stanley. He's not a public speaker and was not there because he was. He was Jerry's best friend. He spoke briefly and sincerely for maybe 15-20 seconds? He came across as genuine and truly heartbroken. Why be critical of his inclusion?
  • Yaz does not look good, even for 82. I hope it was his choice to walk in from left field. For a minute there I wasn't sure he'd make it.
 

YTF

Member
SoSH Member
I thought the ceremony was very well done. I was glad to be able to watch it live (new MLB-TV policy). Orsillo's absence was notable but so were others'. Just a few thoughts and observations:

  • Jerry's wife Phoebe was remarkably composed throughout.
  • McDonough was the right choice for his role in the ceremony.
  • I can't believe the ragging on Bob Stanley. He's not a public speaker and was not there because he was. He was Jerry's best friend. He spoke briefly and sincerely for maybe 15-20 seconds? He came across as genuine and truly heartbroken. Why be critical of his inclusion?
  • Yaz does not look good, even for 82. I hope it was his choice to walk in from left field. For a minute there I wasn't sure he'd make it.
Perfectly stated. I'm guessing/hoping that NESN offered Yaz a golf cart, but can well imagine him refusing it. He's always been the type to do things on his terms.
 

richgedman'sghost

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
May 13, 2006
1,870
ct
They don't get the benefit of the doubt with me. Yes, there are others who could have done videos but there is only one guy who was inextricably linked to Remy. And it just happens to be a guy that they canned and subsequently got raked over the coals for doing so.

I think they somehow thought that having the tribute by Orsillo would re-open that can of worms so they cut it out. As if millions of Red Sox fans would just forget about it and not notice.

Another trash excuse from the most tone deaf organization in Boston sports.
I strongly disagree that Don Orsillo is the only broadcaster linked to Remy. If it wasn't for Ned Martin who graciously took Jerry under his wing and showed Remy how to be a professional, Remy might have been one year and done or gone the way of Jonny Gomes. In his books, Jerry always went out of his way to praise Ned Martin and Martin's patience in teaching Remy the ropes. Jerry always said thar at the beginning he hated broadcasting because he was awful at it
Sean McDonagh also was linked to Jerry. He's the one who gave Jerry the RemDawg nickname. So there is more than one broadcaster linked to Remy.
When I realized that the Padres had a game yesterday I was not expecting to see Orsillo. As others have stated the Red Sox have included Don in their "Remembering Jerry" special that was shown earlier. If Don really wanted to be at ceremony why didn't he ask the Padres for the day off. I'm sure the Padres would have let Orsillo go.
 

waffles.

so good so good so good
Oct 6, 2017
136
Orsillo and Remy were together in the years that I and I would expect most of us watched and loved the Red Sox the most. It would have been so easy to get a video from Don and the fact that they initially were going to do that and then backed out leaves the franchise with a black eye. Of course everyone will move on and forget about it but it is ridiculous they didn't throw a video up for 30 seconds.
 

Granite Sox

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 6, 2003
5,054
The Granite State
DOB was sick and not at Fenway yesterday, otherwise he presumably would have been involved in some capacity
I’m sorry, but the sniffles don’t cut it for DOB to miss this. He better fucking have Covid or worse to miss Remy’s ceremony. He obviously knew the ceremony was last night. He should’ve been there regardless if he felt like shit.
 

mr_smith02

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 29, 2003
4,352
Upstate NY
I’m sorry, but the sniffles don’t cut it for DOB to miss this. He better fucking have Covid or worse to miss Remy’s ceremony. He obviously knew the ceremony was last night. He should’ve been there regardless if he felt like shit.
Covid is going around the organization and he is around all the Red Sox players, the manager, and the Red Sox personnel who have tested positive.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,095
I’m sorry, but the sniffles don’t cut it for DOB to miss this. He better fucking have Covid or worse to miss Remy’s ceremony. He obviously knew the ceremony was last night. He should’ve been there regardless if he felt like shit.
Lots of folks with cold symptoms test negative, then test positive a couple of days later. If Dave O'Brien has cold symptoms, given the surge of cases in the region and in the Sox locker room, far better that he miss the ceremony.