It's time for NESN to retire Dave O'Brien. He is so lazy and unengaged it is distracting. You gotta feel bad for Will Middlebrooks, OB's color sidekick for the last few games. In the Sunday Sox-Yankees game. O'Brien raved about the Yankees' top prospect, shortstop Anthony Volpe, but didn't notice when Marcelo Mayer, the Sox' most exciting prospect since Devers, replaced Christian Koss at shortstop. Middlebrooks, who is quite solid, noticed and raved about his potential. Later, when Mayer came to bat, O'Brien referred to him as "Koss," then corrected himself (or was corrected by somebody in the truck) by mispronouncing Mayer's name. Other Red Sox minor leaguers would make plays without O'Brien even knowing their names, or making any effort to tell us who they were. At one point he engaged with his typical banter with Middlebrooks about the fact that Middlebrooks was about to return home to Mass. just in time for the big snowstorm. Middlebrooks charmingly talked about how he was looking forward to seeing his young kids. A few innings later O'Brien noted that he himself was on his way home to face the snowstorm, while Middlebrooks would be basking in the Florida sunshine. Middlebrooks diplomatically pointed out that he also would be back in Mass. In a previous game, O'Brien said the Twins would be a strong team this year because, among other things, they had the defending AL batting champ, Luis Arreaz. The Twins traded him to the Marlins in January in one of the off-season's most high-profile transactions.
