BANGOR- Joe Castiglione and Dave O’Brien have worked together in the Boston Red Sox radio booth for nine seasons. That will end in 2016 as Dave O’Brien will head to the television side of things to be the play by play announce for NESN. Castiglione will be entering his 34th season as voice of the Red Sox.
Castiglione and O’Brien were together on Thursday night for the 12th annual WZON’s hot stove night at the Cross Insurance Center on Monday night. Comedian Bob Marley opened the evening.
The broadcasters talked about David Ortiz going into his final year, the acquisition of David Price, trading for Craig Kimbrel, and much more.
Castiglione and O’Brien believe Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is not done making moves. Both also believe the Red Sox are the favorites to win the American League East. O’Brien even predicted who is going to be the Red Sox designated hitter in 2017. He thinks Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista will be that guy when he becomes a free agent after the 2016 season.
Castiglione is hoping the addition of Price will take the pressure off Clay Buchholz and Rick Porcello. The additions of Kimbrel (who has the most saves in baseball in the past five seasons) and hard throwing Carson Smith (who they got from Seattle in a trade involving Wade Miley) could make the bullpen the strength of the team, after it was a weakness last season. Castiglione and O’Brien agree that Koji Uehara will be happy to fill any role he is asked to do.
We still have two months until pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers, but it was great to have baseball talk in Bangor for one night in December. It will not be long until we see if Hanley Ramirez comes to spring training with a good attitude and ready to play first base, if Dustin Pedroia can stay healthy, if Jackie Bradley JR can hit big league pitcher, if Eduardo Rodriguez can continue to improve, if Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts can be all stars as O’Brien predicted, and if the Red Sox can go from worst to first again.
