NESN and the Red Sox are inextricably linked. This applies not only to the balance sheet, as both companies are combined into John Henry’s Fenway Sports Group (although Jeremy Jacobs’ Delaware North also owns 20% of the network), but also to each of our properties. The Red Sox game is the food and NESN is the chef. How is the chef?

Today we begin a multi-part examination of the Red Sox broadcasts, starting with the star of the show, the play-by-play man.

Dave O’Brien

If I could use one word to describe Dave O’Brien as a broadcaster, it would be “disappointing.” He’s professional, he’s experienced and he checks all the basic criteria of a play-by-play player, but that’s all he can offer you. Unfortunately, that makes him exactly the wrong man to star in this era of Red Sox baseball, which was, in a word, disappointing.

If the team were on the field competing for the World Series every year instead of sitting at home in October for the fifth time in the last six years, this would be a different situation. O’Brien could function as a background broadcaster like Jim Nantz if the on-field performance were brilliant, but that’s just not what we have here. Instead, the Red Sox and NESN paired a disappointing play-by-play man with a disappointing on-field performance, and the result has stifled regional enthusiasm around the team.

If the owner is no longer willing to pay to put a competitive team on the field, a cheaper alternative would be to pay and buy out O’Brien’s contract and have a different voice on the broadcast every night. At least there would be a new reason to tune in.

—Matthew Gross

A baseball broadcast consists of many different things, including a television broadcast, a newscast, and a longer conversation in your living room, like a small cocktail party. All of these things need to be at least interesting and, especially in the case of a cocktail party, fun. Now ask yourself this: If you were to go to a cocktail party hoping to have an interesting and entertaining evening, and the last three lead play-by-play announcers from NESN were there, is there any chance that Dave O’Brien is the right one? Would you like to speak to Sean McDonough or Don Orsillo first?

– Dan Secatore

A much the play-by-play announcers are interchangeable. Or very close to it. Dave O’Brien is probably a little above replacement level. His biggest mistake is that the Red Sox sided with the ailing Jerry Remy over one of the few announcers to elevate the play in Don Orsillo.

–Mike Carlucci

This actually comes from my mother and I think it describes OB in a nutshell: You go to an ice cream counter and you see flavors as far as the eye can see. . . You choose vanilla. No disrespect to those who love it, but that’s what I think of Dave O’Brien. Is it tasty? Secure. But it’s far from the most exciting choice on the menu.

—Jake Reiser

My complaint about OB is that he doesn’t get to the point to direct a play-by-play broadcast. Please don’t get me wrong: I love a good anecdote (I said a Good anecdote), and a live broadcast will almost certainly contain unexpected moments when you have to fill dead air. Keyword anecdote! But I have two main problems with how OB uses them:

• He delves into describing something else at the expense of the moment on the field. Please stop yourself and let us know the steps as they happen! That’s actually what you’re here for.
• Second, sometimes the chatter goes so far off topic that it becomes drifting. Me. Crazy.

I’m not saying he initiated it (I mostly blame Kevin Youkilis), but OB indulges in it. A more experienced moderator could skillfully guide the discussion back into the field, but not OB! So we were recently “entertained” when we learned how often the men at the NESN booth get up at night to pee. Yuck. And what does that have to do with it?

More regularly, he allows Youk to rant against players (usually batters and their home run trots, but sometimes pitchers) who are showing emotion. This topic is old and they sound old when they inevitably return here. I find his style hard to stomach and would welcome a fresh voice and style in the dressing room.

—Maura McGurk

It’s hard for me to get upset about O’Brien anymore. If it was a particularly stiff glove that needed a lot of break-in time to be usable, we’ve gotten to the point where it is now. The only nice thing I can say about him is that he is appropriate and genuinely respectful to his rotating guest co-hosts, rather than using them to puff himself up. I’m not sure if it’s an acquired taste, but I can tolerate it without a second thought. It took a while, but we did it.

—Bryan Joiner

Mike Monaco

Mike Monaco is a rising rock star in the industry and it’s only a matter of time before someone makes him an offer that reflects that. In addition to being a super sub on NESN, he also works for ESPN and has experience calling everything from football to basketball to hockey and more. Most recently he called games for the Little League World Series earlier this summer and once again did a great job!

Monaco is young (born in 1993), passionate, well-researched, entertaining, experienced (he also called PawSox games in 2017) and local. With his engaging style, he also represents NESN’s best chance to make amends for the disastrous departure of Don Orsillo, which has left the show in a state of slow decline ever since.

Simply put, Monaco should be the Red Sox’ premier play-by-play man for the next generation, and 2025 would be the perfect time to get him, just as the new wave of prospects hits the majors. It would be a real attempt by the club to turn the page and enter a new era, something this franchise desperately needs. If they don’t take action soon, I fear this golden opportunity to improve things in the dressing room will be missed.

—Matthew Gross

If NESN had to choose an internal candidate for a new play-by-play player, Monaco would be by far the best candidate. If NESN had to choose ANY candidate for a new play-by-play player, Monaco would still be my favorite candidate. Everyone can have enormous expertise and learn more about the club they support. But Monaco is permeated by it. It also takes personality to be on air and to be good at it. I want to be cooking in the kitchen while there’s a game on in the other room and know just by the tone of voice of the commentator if I need to run in and see what’s going on. Monaco knows how to do it. I’m always happy when he steps in for one series or another and would like to hear from him more often.

—Jake Reiser

I haven’t really watched enough Monaco games to form a stronger opinion than “seems good.” But I wouldn’t mind investing in someone who is young and can stay in the job for a long time. In my limited experience, Monaco has a good sense of play calling and banter, and coupled with a good color commentator or three over several decades, you could have a new Don Orsillo. Which should be the goal.

— Mike Carlucci

I just want him to change the pronunciation of his last name to match the principality. Pronounced correctly, Mike Monaco is a badass name.

– Dan Secatore