Did Red Sox broadcaster stir up hornets nest?
Cluttered radio broadcasts. Bello with a gem. Snitker next? Rays-St. Pete kaput
Good morning, all! A pleasant Wednesday to everybody.
Did Boston Red Sox radio broadcaster Will Flemming stir up a hornets nest with his comments about ex-Red Sox Rafael Devers? Appearing on the Red Sox flagship station WEEI, Flemming said Devers stiffed legendary Giant Will Clark by being a no-show to learn how to play first base.
You may recall Devers refused team overtures to play first base, while with the Red Sox. Some say his uncooperative demeanor was a major reason Boston traded him to the Giants. Upon his arrival in San Francisco, Devers said he would play any position for his new club, even first base. Those comments seemed to rile up Red Sox Nation, so Flemming’s remarks added fuel to the fire.
Turns out Clark had already addressed Devers’s no-show and was fine with it. Appearing on the No Filter Network, Clark said he understood why Devers did not show up.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, he did not come out early at all. Period, not at all. In fact, he didn’t even hit on the field. Everybody’s like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Will. I’m so sorry…I know what the (expletive) happened. I said, he didn’t want to go out and be at first base and be 20 feet in front of their freaking dugout with what went on in Boston, and now he’s working with me at first base. He didn’t want to have to go through all that (expletive) through the press in the media. So I completely understand.
-Will Clark
As you might expect, Flemming’s revelation went virile, but Clark did not appear perturbed about Devers’s absence. If anything, he gave him a pass. That Clark made his comments last week makes you wonder why this became a story now?
Only time will tell if the trade was productive for both clubs. The Red Sox, obviously, have been burnt dealing Mookie Betts and letting Xander Bogaerts go to free agency. Saying so long to another All-Star in a trade, while he is in the prime of his career, is a sensitive matter around Fenway these days. In the end, though, Devers will rise and fall on his own accord, regardless of what comments are made on radio or in social media.
By the way, as long as we are talking about Red Sox broadcasters, how is this ad to evoke some memories?
Or how about this one?
Those were the days, when baseball broadcasts were not cluttered with ads during the broadcaster’s play-by-play. The Yankees radio broadcasts are particularly egregious in this area. It is not an exaggeration to say there is an ad after almost every pitch.
I get the flagship station is attempting to recoup money for the exorbitant rights fees paid to carry the games, but I wonder if the advertiser is getting any return on the investment? I know I don’t remember the advertisers on these broadcasts. Yet, I can still hum the jingles and name the advertisers on Yankees, Mets and Red Sox radio broadcasts from the 1960s and 1970s. Nothing stays the same, I guess.
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DAN