By David Scott
Boston Sports Media Watch

The Dice-K negotiation is hardly the only pressing matter currently being undertaken by the Red Sox. Scott’s Shots has learned that the Red Sox and its radio broadcast partner, Entercom, are closing in on a deal that would give long-time voice, Joe Castiglione, a new booth-mate for the first time in 14 seasons.

Scott’s Shots has been informed by two separate sources that ESPN’s Dave O’Brien is the leading candidate to replace Jerry Trupiano, who did not have his contract renewed by the club (and Entercom). “Waaaaaay Back” Trupiano called his last game for the Sox on October 1.

We won’t be tracking the flight of Dave-O, but the move is significant as the Sox (and Entercom) appear to have gone the “national” route to fill the vacancy as they move to their new flagship station WRKO 680 AM (a slate of games will remain at sister station WEEI 850 AM).

Red Sox Executive VP/Public Affairs, Dr. Charles Steinberg, told Shots on Monday, that he was “. . .awaiting word from (Chief Operating Officer) Mike Dee, who expects that we should have clarity this week.” No further information from the Sox is available at this time and Entercom’s Julie Kahn and Jason Wolfe have made it clear in the past that they do not respond to the likes of Shots.

While O’Brien is most likely the choice, the details of the contract would need to be worked out by Entercom (the Sox have right of refusal for talent). We have been led to believe that a finalization of the deal is what is now holding up the announcement of O’Brien as Trupiano’s replacement.

ESPN PR people were attempting to contact O’Brien for us, but as of 4:15 p.m. EST, we had not heard back from O’Brien. We will be sure to update this report when and if O’Brien gets in touch with us.

O’Brien, 43, a Boston native (born in Quincy, lived 12 years in Marshfield) and a Syracuse University graduate, joined ESPN in 2002 after serving as the radio (and sometime TV) voice of the Florida Marlins from the team’s inaugural season of 1993 through 2001. It was during his time in Florida, where O’Brien likely became a favorite of then-Marlins owner John Henry.
Dave O'Brien

O’Brien has been working ESPN’s “Monday Night Baseball” broadcasts and this past summer made his debut as the Disney company’s soccer play-by-play voice, including lead responsibilities on the FIFA World Cup (with play-by-play man Marcelo Balboa). O’Brien has also, in recent years, worked the New York Mets TV package for WPIX, which earned a New York Emmy for its 2005 season coverage.

Also, according to his ESPN bio: “. . .In October 2002, (O’Brien) called ESPN-produced Division Series games on ABC Family. He has also provided commentary for Major League Baseball’s International coverage of the World Series since 2004. . .

“O’Brien worked for WSB-AM in Atlanta from 1987 to 1992. While there, he called play-by-play for University of Georgia basketball, was the school’s football pre-game host, was an evening talk show host and served as a morning and afternoon sports anchor. He was named sports director in 1989, and occasionally handled play-by-play on Atlanta Falcons broadcasts. He also did radio play-by-play on Atlanta Braves games in 1990 and ’91.

“. . .O’Brien received the Georgia Associated Press “Best Sports Play-by-Play” honor in 1988 and 1991 and the Achievements in Radio (A.I.R.) award for Best Play-by-Play for his call of Mark McGwire’s 59th home run in 1998. Also, O’Brien is the play-by-play voice of 3DO’s High Heat Major League Baseball on Playstation 2.”

It is unclear what additional gigs O’Brien would be keeping in addition to the Sox broadcasts for Entercom, but you can bet he’ll try and maintain his ESPN ties. The possibility still exists that Vice President/Communications Glenn Geffner will fill-in for O’Brien when scheduling conflicts arise.

O’Brien, it is believed, is represented by broadcasting agent Maury Gostfrand, who, up until recently had been with RLR Associates. A receptionist at RLR said on Wednesday that Gostfrand is no longer with RLR and that the company does not represent O’Brien (despite his picture still appearing at the website as of Wednesday afternoon. [It does appear to have now been taken down - ***Updated Thursday, 12:49 a.m.***].

O’Brien would join Castiglione, who will be in his 25th year “behind the microphone” on Red Sox radio, during the 2007 season. Trupiano had been with the club for 14 years.

O’Brien’s name would be added to a list of 44 other Red Sox broadcasters who have called Sox games on TV or Radio since 1926 (according to the Sox ’06 Media Guide and information provided to the team by John K. Moynahan, author of “50 Years at the Game, A Sport’s Traveler’s Journey”). The list includes legends like Ken Coleman, Curt Gowdy, Ned Martin, Dick Stockton and Mel Parnell.

Castiglione has not worked with O’Brien, but there is one bit of symmetry we can report: both Joe’s son, Duke, and Dave O’Brien attended the same elementary school in Marshfield. O’Brien is, of course, about a decade older than Duke, who is 33.

. . .O’Brien had some “friction” with former Marlins broadcaster, Joe Angel, according to this story from 2001. (Great side note on Angel, his son Jonathan was Tommy “D” De Luca on “Saved by the Bell.”)

. . .O’Brien should be well-insulated from the inevitable criticism of Boston fans. He took a beating from the Soccer-nistas, who are slightly more virulent than Sox Nation.

David Scott writes from a seaside shanty on the shores of Hull, Mass. And can be reached at shotsATbostonsportsmedDOTcom