The World According to Eck.

Boston Magazine has a semi-interesting interview with Dennis Eckersley in their September issue. They hit on the announcing gig with NESN, his vocabulary, kidnapping Joe Morgan, his look, playing golf, Don, steroids, politics, favorite baseball movie, and Jonathan Papelbon. There's nothing too exciting but it's worth a look if only for the picture they included with it.

He does make it sound like he's not done filling in for Jerry for the season:

Re: Working with Orsillo: "He is, absolutely. And I think he's comfortable with me, too. …It's like he can say whatever he wants, because I'm always asking him. In fact, I need to make a point to not do that anymore. Because I'll say something like I'm waiting for him to cosign it, like, "Right, Don?" and he looks at me like, "You're the one who's supposed to know what's going on."

I have grown to really like him, so that's good.

Suiting Up.

I've mentioned before that I hate Yankee games but tonight's just keeps getting better. There will not be a parade of people going through NESN's broadcast booth chatting with Don Orsillo. Tonight playing the part of Jerry Remy will be Mr. Dennis Eckersley. I may have to hope that it doesn't get rained out.

Fine Young Cannibals.

In an interminable week it's important to keep reminding myself that baseball is nearly here. It's almost time to get back into the habit of being sure to get home before 6, finding a comfortable spot on the couch, and flipping on NESN (I was going to write turning on Tom Caron but that's not quite right.) With a notable exception, I find myself generally enjoying the product that they put together.

My favorite companion for Tom has to be Dennis Eckersley. He's very emotive and into the game. He doesn't hold back in his commentary. At times it seems like he was ready to run out there during a particularly hairy game and demand to be give the baseball. Eck does have his gig moonlighting for TBS but when you have the option of Don and Jerry why would you go anywhere else?

When one is forced to watch a game on TBS it gets the ESPN treatment (television muted and Joe C. summarizing a few seconds later), so I'm not too familiar with the commentary regularly provided by Ron Darling. In a conference call to promote Sunday MLB on TBS, though, he sounds like a keeper:

"I think (the Red Sox) have the intangible in (manager) Tito (Terry Francona). He just seems to have his hand on the pulse of that team since he’s been there. He plays that team (oriented) offensive baseball. It doesn’t hurt when you’ve got the reigning MVP (Dustin Pedroia) on your team who is just about as gritty a player as you’re going to get. He’s a guy that refuses to lose. When you have players like that, guys like Pedroia and (Kevin) Youkilis, who will bite your leg and won’t let go. That’s a great combination for a sixth month season.”

So there you have it, Ron Darling's guide to MLB success: a steady diet of gastrocnemius muscle. Also, Eck is going with the home town team to win the division.

More Golf.

Gotta put something up so the last post doesn't stay on the top very long.

Dennis Eckersley will again be headlining the Perkins Golf Tournament to support the Perkins School. A k-12 school for students with behavioral disorders (at least, I'm pretty sure it's this school.) The event will be held on May 12 at the Sterling National Country Club in Sterling. The cost in $175 but it includes an open bar with dinner.

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Yankee Stadium!

Since it seems less and less likely that the much maligned "Dougie and 'Tek Show" (you know that Dougie would demand and receive top billing) will ever come to fruition, I've reharnessed my creative energies to create "The 'Tek 'n' Eck Show." Which, if I do say so myself, is a very good title.

In the show, the two men bond over their mutual hatred of Yankee Stadium. They then proceed to get involved in a whole series of sitcom-y situations. In a classic take on "The Odd Couple" premise, their main shtick is that Eck flies off the handle at the slightest provocation-causing great amusement for the audience-and Varitek has to come in to calm him down and clean up the mess. In return, Eckersley teaches 'Tek to live life outside of baseball (obviously, filming would have to wait until after Varitek retires.) Eckersley would be effusive and bright; Varitek would nervously mumble his lines. And in the end we would all learn something about life, or friendship, or some such. It's comedy gold. And I'm sure Tom Warner is already all over it.