Remdawg Returns

Jerry Remy will be returning to the Boston Red Sox broadcast booth tonight and not a moment too soon. The Red Sox open a crucial three game series at Fenway Park with the New York Yankees.

Remy was diagnosed with lung cancer in the offseason and required surgery. He was well enough to begin the 2009 season in his spot in the NESN broadcast booth where he has broadcast Red Sox games since 1988. But an infection and pneumonia forced him to take an indefinite leave of absence at the end of April.

Remdawg (as he is affectionately known in Red Sox Nation) made a brief return to Fenway Park on August 12th and disclosed it was primarily depression rather than pneumonia or post-surgery infections that kept him away for so many months. Known for his gregarious and humorous nature this revelation took many people by surprise but his candor has won him praise.

During Remy's absence scores of former big league players turned color commentators worked alongside Don Orsillo including Dennis Eckersley, Dave Roberts, Jim Kaat, Buck Martinez, Frank Viola, Sean Casey and Rance Mulliniks.

Remy, who also played in the majors with the Red Sox and the California Angels for ten seasons, will resume his duties on a part-time basis. Presumably he'll largely be confined to broadcasting home games. Any road games he might undertake would most likely be restricted to AL East cities. In whatever capacity he works his presence will be warmly received.