2 years ago Sean McDonough at the last minute turned down the Mets TV job to stay close to his ill father Will and the Mets hired Dave O'Brien. O'Brien has now accepted the Cubs job which means the Mets and ESPN slots that Sean passed over before are now open.

He has said over and over he wants to do more baseball than 25 Friday night games.

I hope we don't lose him but there is nothing holding him to Boston now.

He deserves it, he's extremely witty and a very good play by play guy. He's got the best liver spots in the game, but he will be missed because he's the only one that gets Remy's goat. Orsillo just lathers his nuts more than anything, but McDonough steals Remy's lunch money and then serves him a shit sandwich to boot.

I'd rather have McDonough doing all the games... but that's not going to happen... so... Happy Trails, Sean.

Goodbye and happy trails to him. He talks way too much during the games. some conjecture and opinion are fine..he goes overboard. I love that he's a local boy and I know it's fashionable not to like Orsillo, who allows himself to be a foil to Remy's sarcasm, but I'd rather hear D.O.

NOOOOO!!!!

I love Sean. I want him to stay very badly. I wish NESN wasn't too cheap to pony up for Sean and make things as they should: Sean and Jerry doing the full NESN schedule. Sean is the heir apparent to Ned Martin, he has the faith of RSN and he understands us.

It will be a tremendous loss to lose Sean.

Best of luck to McDonough if this is in fact the last we see of him in the broadcasting booth here. He did have a tendency to talk a bit much during games, but he was always lots of fun to listen to, and had genuine knowledge and appreciation of the game as well. I first began following this team watching him and Bob Montgomery do games on Channel 38 in the early 90's, and have always enjoyed his telecasts since then. Happy trails!

Why didn't Sean get Orsillo's job? Was it some contractual issue? I don't recall what the reasoning was behind it.

Favorite McDonough moments of the 2004 season:

When he put the handheld radio on WEEI and put it up to the microphone so we could hear Jerry and Joe over the TV. Funny stuff.

When he called Barry Bonds the biggest jerk in sports. Classic.

When he did one of the Yankees games on ESPN and said "...without the expressed, written consent of the Boston Red Sox," instead of "New York Yankees." Hilarious.

oh i remember montgomery talked and talked. i miss when sean and remy did all the fox broadcasts until the end of the 01 season. good stuff. nothing against orsillo, he's fine, but he just doesn't have a grasp of the sox the way remy and mcdonough do. wakefield probably doesn't refer to mcdonough as "announcer boy"

Good luck Sean. You've come a long way since those days of the Hockey East games and pounding beers at the Dugout after the game! He should be missed.

God, what on Earth is wrong with Don Orsillo? I see people bash him sometimes around here, and I just have to shake my head- if you've got a problem with him, you really don't know how great you have it. You don't see guys in other cities, you don't see YES, because if you DID, you'd absolutely love the guy. Even handed, funny, self-effacing, never trying to analyze, just report. He knows when to shut up, he's a nice foil to Jerry, he's got a very appealing voice. What the hell's not to like, exactly?

That said, I love Sean too. I'm not entirely convinced he's leaving though.

Bob Lobel was here in our chat at the end of the regular season (or was it during the ALCS?) and said that Sean was gone. Maybe he's wrong but it appears he's leaving.

Lobel was in the chat the night that Sean essentially said his"farewell" during his last broadcast of the season.

I don't mind Orsillo because he is improving from season to season. I'd much rather have Sean though. As someone mentioned he does know the facts alot better than Orsillo and I do enjoy when he does the games.

We are lucky compared to most teams. There is alot of very boring (A's) announcers or idiots (Kay) out there. Or maybe were just biased.

EDIT: Did NESN prefer Orsillo over McDonough or was it bucks?????? I seem to recall that Sean was very disappointed he didn't get the NESN job.

Well I stand corrected then. Sean was great, and I'll certainly miss him. I'm 100% fine with Orsillo... but McDonough is McDonough- that's who I "grew up on" for Red Sox TV.

Too bad.

that's too bad, Sean's fantastic... one of the few guys with guts to speak the truth, good or bad.

For as long as I remember, the announcers/analysts in Boston sports have been loved by some and hated by others in our intense fandom. The problem is that many folks in New England, especially, have never been subjected to a season of listening to other teams and don't realize how fortunate they truly are.

To me, Sean is like icing on a cake. So long as you dont get a huge 3 inche thick ball of it you'll enjoy yourself. I like Seans "I'm not Remy's bitch" style and he's pretty funny sometimes, but I wouldn't want him everyday.

Is it possible for him to do our friday games and some mets games at the same time? Prolly not....

It will be too bad to see Sean go. I too grew up listening to him. Orsillo is better than 90% of the rest of the announcers in MLB and every Fox and ESPN national guy, but you can't do much better than Sean. Perhaps a little verbose at times, but over the years him and Remy have helped make every loss hurt a little less and every victory just a little more sweet. Best wishes sir.

i will definately miss seany. i am taking sports broadcasting classes and i see alot of great commmentators. sean i believe is right up there. orsillo is good, but sean could be the voice of this generation. i hope he stays, i really really do

I will miss Sean if he stops doing Sox games altogether, but I don't have any problem with Orsillo. I still enjoy channel surfing and hearing Sean's voice doing some random CFB game on ESPN2. I grew up with him on TV38 as well, so it's a little bit of a thrill when I hear him somewhere unexpected.

I do remember the last Friday Night broadcast where McDonaugh was essentially saying he didn't know if he'd be back.

But isn't the Mets primary announcer Ted Robinson? Ted Robinson is an excellent announcer, on par with McDonaugh. I don't see where it says that Robinson is being canned.

Strange that this rumor would start without a link or anything. I mean, it's probably true that McDonaugh is gone but who says he's going to the Mets?

A couple things:

First of all, I think that Orsillo got the job over Sean because Sean came at too high a price tag for the number of games.

Secondly, I like Don Orsillo a lot. I think he does a great job, especially with the "big play" calls. "Johnny Damon leaps... AND MAKES THE CATCH" kind of stuff.

About Sean... there used to be a time when I could change the channel at any time during the year and hear Sean's voice covering any kind of sport. It seemed like Sean was everywhere calling all sorts of big games for just about every sport. These days it's tough to find him anywhere. I know he still does some College Football games and is ever-present during all the NCAA Tournaments, but it saddend me that I don't here his voice more often. I have always thought that it was a waste that Sean only did Friday's for the Sox, so it would be nice to know that Sean got a good gig covering a team for over 100 games a year. I would also like to here his voice more often during college games.

If you are leaving the Sox, then good luck to you.

Last night, ESPN, Providence-Niagra.

He does a lot of ESPN stuff now. I have to say I hear him far more than I used to when his contract was with CBS. He generally does mid-level football, and Big East basketball. He was working with Bill Rafferty last night and it was a great pair and a good game to watch.

Source: Tony Massarotti -- 12/7 Boston Herald

Good luck to Sean. I guess I've been somewhat surprised that he hasn't made it really big on the national scene - years ago, I thought we'd lose him on the Sox games because he'd decide to take a network gig. He was big for a while on CBS (I think), but his star seems to have dimmed in recent years. Maybe a few years in New York will be good for him in that regard.

JD

So so sad. Sean will always be the voice of the Red Sox to me. Growing up with the Sox in the 80s on TV38, he's one of the reasons I'm the insane that I am. I will miss him immensly.

I really liked him when he first started doing games on TV38. My favorite call from him was the one from Sept. 1988 against the Yankees at the Toilet. Boston was way down in a key game against NY. They chipped away with runs in the 7th and 8th, and then took the lead in the 9th when a pinch-hitting Spike Owen chopped one between Santana and Randolph to drive in Burks and Reed. McDonough gave a loud "THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO WHOULD FIELD IT!!" call as the two Choker infielders watched the ball go up the middle.

I didn't hear much of his work from the mid-90's on until these past two seasons. My gosh, every Friday night would just be a joke-fest between him and Remy. The game almost became secondary to their antics. If he cuts the crap and starts focusing on the game, I'm sure I'll enjoy his work on Ch. 11 and MSG.

Damn, this will make you sad

It was probably about the $$$. McDonough is so much better, but Orsillo is cheaper. Why wouldn't they ask Sean if he would come in at less money?

Jerry I love you, but you are wrong on this Sean McD firing. It is time for you to come out publicly and use your clout to save Sean and his job. You said yourself that he was the one who made you who you are today in television. When the tv rights moved from channel 38 to channel 68 they didn't want to bring you along with them. However, Sean publicly told them he wasn't going to do the games unless you came too. You and Sean worked great together and were a true team. I loved all those wally moments, especially when wally got hit by the foul ball and then he had the bandage on. I loved when you guys had the mining helmets on because the booth was dark. Years of moments together and you watched the Red Sox and NESN reduce his role and you said nothing publicly. You watched them take him from lead announcer of 80-85 games down to 27 games a year and only on Friday nights. Sean didn't want to leave, he was fired and you stood by and said nothing. Sean loves Boston and has said that Red Sox games are the only games he calls that he cares what the results of the games are. Jerry, you have said in interviews that you love working with Sean and the chemistry is just there, more than with any other partner you have had. I just wish you would come out and say that the Red Sox were wrong and try to get him back. I understand that on this website this maybe unpopular, but I am speaking for many by saying please step up to the plate Jerry and help you friend Sean out and come out publicly against this move. Jerry has the unique opportunity to speak out publicly and save his friend but he stays silent.To some of you who say that it's not Jerry's place to speak out, then whose is it.

This is horrible. Awful. The Red Sox should be ashamed. I'm aware of the salary discrepancy, but that stuff can be negotiated. To just dump him, late in the year like that after 17 years is inexcusable.

Anybody know who to email/call, whatever to try to save Sean's job? I at least want them to know that Sean McDonough shouldn't be treated like this. He's family and he's been around a hell of a lot longer than Tom Werner.

Sean will be missed.

Turns out that ESPN would not release Dave O'Brien so he could accept the Cubbies job so the Mets gig is not an option for 2005.

Sean could go after the Washington Nationals job.

Yes, I know there is a McDonough thread already, but that's about him going to the Mets and this needs and deserves the immediate attention of Red Sox Nation.

Bottom line: NESN and the Sox need to hear from us. They need to hear that it is unacceptable to treat Sean like this. He's one of US...he's not a Don Orsillo free agent broadcaster. This guy understands the Sox, Boston, he's part of the culture.

I'm just so upset over this...I'm sure the $$$ could have been worked out, the Red Sox didn't even try. Jerry clearly works better with Sean.

Please, do whatever you can to let the Red Sox know this is unacceptable and we're not happy.



Last call: McDonough surprised by Sox ouster


Edit - Added link.

Please DO NOT post entire articles from newspapers on the day that they are published. This is a violation of copyright law.

You may post short excerpts, and you can post the links.

Thanks.

Anni

McDonough was a good announcer but in recent years has seemed to be too intent on doing his own schitck in the booth and taking jabs at the new ownership whenever he could. It seems that he could not get over the fact that JWH and Co. did not worship his father give him access to the team like the previous ownership did.

Sean needs to remember that there is no crying in baseball.

Where the hell are you getting THAT from? Give me an example...

Here's a start:

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/he...@redsox.mlb.com

Man, F you.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I used to really like Sean as an announcer. But ever since he almost went to the Mets I feel like he's been mailing it in. He'd spend more time talking about stealing Judge Judy's munchkins than he would about what was going on in the game. The inane banter is fun every once in a while, but it became a staple of Sean's game.

I'm sad that he's not going to be doing the games anymore, but he really hasn't done a very good job over the past two years.

You two are nuts.

Make it us three, 4B. I totally agree with BJ and B36. I think this was the best thing for everybody, and for McDonough to be surprised about this when plenty of people on this board saw it coming really clearly is odd.

Plain and simple, I really love Orsillo. I'll never understand the flak he gets around here. He's great. We have it really, really lucky- trust me, I've got Extra Innings.

Well, Wil refused to write anything negative about the Yawkey administration even in the face of overwhelming facts to the contrary (racial issues for one), openly stumped for the O'Donnell/Karp group and then treated JWH and Co. like they were carpetbaggers once they were awarded ownership.

Don't get me wrong, McDonough was a good announcer but in recent years he had lost something IMO.

So you three feel that he wasn't even worthy of the Friday Night gig?

What I always liked about him -- and what I think kept him from being more prominent on national broadcasts -- is that he wasn't afraid to criticize umpires/referees. And not just as a "homer" who didn't like any call that went against the Sox. If an umpire had an inconsistent strike zone, he would say so. If an umpire was out of position, he would say so. If basketball referees couldn't make up their mind about what constituted a foul, he would say so.

When do you ever hear this on national broadcasts? The best you get out of most announcers, after a replay clearly shows a blown call, is, "that was a close play." Because they are part of selling the product, and the product seems less attractive if the officials are incompetent.

But let's face it: NBA referees are incompetent. Baseball umpires are much better now than I remember them being 10 or 15 years ago, with a few exceptions, but at that time - when McDonough was doing all the Sox games - there was ample reason to criticize umpires.

To me, it didn't hurt the product, it helped. I turn NBA games off in disgust these days (even though they always suck me back in). Give the NBA a Sean McDonough, who's right there with me in complaining about horribly inconsistent referees, and I'll feel like, you know, at least this guy on TV cares about the game and isn't just trying to sell me a wagonload of snake oil.

Oh well. If McDonough is going to the Mets, I wish him well. New York deserves at least one competent TV guy for one of its teams.

It's not that he isn't worthy, it's that he shouldn't be so surprised.

He cost $5k per game more than DO. His performance has declined over the last few years. I don't think the decline is due to ability. I think that he could bring his A game, but for whatever reason he hasn't been.

I'm not happy he's leaving, I'm just not upset or surprised.

Make it Five...

I have to say that I too, have noticed the drop off from Sean in recent years. I mean I don't need my announcer to be a homer but, it would be nice if he didn't seem to openly hate the team he is broadcasting for. Orisillo is growing on me, at least he isn't Ned and Monty (I have greater appreciation of Ned now but, as a kid they bored the heck outta me).

That being said, I still hate to see Sean go. I would rather see them move him to the radio to replace Trupe. I will preface it with that my voice of the Red Sox is Kenny Coleman he is the voice I hear in my head narrating Red Sox highlights form the past.

I know that might seem like blasphmy around here but, Trupe annoys the hell out of me. He comes across as a loudmouthed blowhard that thinks EVERY inning is HIS inning and that Joe is his sidekick. That and his way back, WAAAY BAAACK fly ball out calls kill me. Kenny and Joe worked great together and now it just seems to me that Joe's skills have suffered because of Jerry.

Just my $.02

I like Sean and wish he was still here, but come on, how could he not see this coming?

one guy does 5-6 games a week and makes a lot less than Sean, who does 1-2 games a week.

the other guy is employed by NESN, which is owned by the team, and is a LOT less critical than Sean.... granted, the fan thinks Sean's critical eye is great, but you can bet the team doesn't.

anyone with half a clue could see where this was going.

He's lucky to have lasted this long, based on his farily scathing criticism of the ownership group during and after the sale of the team.

And while I enjoyed his and Jerry's schtick at times...lately it became just that...schtick.

And what great things does Orsillo provide?
What's wrong with schtick?
What's the purpose of schtick-less play-by-play?
We can see the game, too.
We can read the stats.
We know how the game is played.
Play-by-play is useful to listen to when you need to take a piss.
Or for descriptions when the cameras won't show hooligans on the field.
Otherwise, what's the use?

Having McDonough do play-by-play was like watching the game with your funniest, most sports-knowledgeable friend. He was perfect for Friday nights.

Well, I'm terribly sorry for your loss.

Me; I think I'll live.

I second this wholeheartedly. Trupe's jokes are awful (count how many times Joe has to offer up a fake laugh during the course of a game) & I find his strategic musings to be forced and obvious. I would very much lie to see him go.

Joe C. is the King of the World, IMHO.

Me too. What does McDonough bring that Orsillo can't, besides being there when you were younger? Orsillo is totally underrated. He's great, and since he can't recreate the chemistry between Sean and Jerry, he's created their own style. He's a great foil to Remy, and the broadcasts are great.

McDonough, I suspect, will be fine.

I guess you guys just don't have much of a sense of humor. Those Friday night games with Sean were absolutely great. Total entertainment. All my friends would come over just to watch Sox, even non-Sox fans were like 'who is this guy, this is hilarious...'

See, he understand he was doing Friday night baseball and that's what worked. You guys are saying he went downhill because he used so much humor...but you have to understand that he was responding to his role as a Friday night guy. He is still more than capable of calling a game without all of that, and he does so regularly on ESPN with college basketball and football. If the Sox had employed him full time like they should, he'd be different.

I'm guessing those of you that don't feel this loss didn't grow up with the Sox in the 80s like I did, you're either older or younger...if you are my age, I just don't get how you don't feel this.