Jerry Remy returns to NESN

JERRY REMY Yesterday

RED SOX : Spring Training 2014
March 3,2014.




c/o The Republican

Jerry Remy's return to the Red Sox broadcast booth was just the way he hoped.

It was all about baseball. That had to be a tonic and perhaps a relief for Remy, who worked the Boston-Baltimore game with NESN play-by-play man Don Orsillo Sunday in Fort Myers, Fla.

"It's great to have back my partner and friend Jerry Remy,'' Orsillo said just before the game. That was the only introductory reference to Remy's absence at the end of the 2013 season and World Series postseason run, and it was done so smoothly and briefly that it could have easily gone unnoticed.

That is how Remy wants to approach this season, which comes as his son, Jared, faces charges for the August murder of his girlfriend. Following an emotional news conference in January that made his return official, Jerry Remy has spoken little about the situation, other than to say he is happy to be in an environment he finds comfortable.

His son's trial is set for October. How that affects the situation remains to be seen, especially if the Red Sox return to the playoffs.

But Remy wants his public presence to be all about baseball, and Sunday was an outstanding start.

He spoke often and with enthusiasm, sounding very much like a man who had missed his job and wanted to be engaged and involved. He also worked in smooth tandem with Orsillo, his partner since 2001.

Upbeat and cheerful, Remy sounded like the Remdawg of old. When it was mentioned that third base coach Brian Butterfield had been up at 3 in the morning to prepare for the game, Remy said, "That's when (Orsillo) was going to bed to prepare for it.''

Relating his own major league career to that of Dustin Pedroia, Remy recounted why he used only two gloves. Pedroia insists on keeping his same one.

NESN will televise 12 spring training games. Remy is expected to be on the air for all of them.

Elle Duncan has taken Jenny Dell's place as sideline reporter. Dell was reassigned by NESN after her romantic relationship with third baseman Will Middlebrooks was made public in January.

Sarah Davis is another new addition. Her role was to speak with fans.