Broadcast team gets makeover

The Red Sox aren't done introducing new members of the organization.

Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was introduced Thursday by the team and yesterday the team and Entercom Radio announced Dave O'Brien and Glenn Geffner will be joining Joe Castiglione in the broadcast booth in 2007.

O'Brien, who will continue working at ESPN doing "Monday Night Baseball," and Geffner, who broadcasts minor league games for NESN, will alternate play-by-play duties. The two fill the void left by announcer Jerry Trupiano, whose contract was not renewed after partnering with Castiglione for 14 years.

Castiglione said of his former partner: "I had 14 great years with him, and I'm sure he'll do well whatever lies ahead."

But Trupiano wasn't so sure.

He said he knew after last season that nothing was guaranteed.

"But I was holding out hope that they'd keep things as is," Trupiano said yesterday. "Then it just dragged on and on, and 2 1/2 weeks before Christmas, they let me know."

Jason Wolfe, of Entercom, said he and Red Sox chief operating officer Mike Dee reached the decision on the new personnel.

"I have great respect for Jerry," Wolfe said. "This process took a long time. Ultimately we decided this was the way to go."

Most of the Sox games will be carried on WRKO (680), with the exception of Wednesday night and weekday afternoon games, which will air on WEEI (850), said Wolfe, vice president of Boston programming for Entercom, which owns both stations. The pre- and postgame shows will air on WRKO, he said.

Wolfe said the split between Geffner and O'Brien hasn't been determined. Meanwhile, he heaped praise on the new crew.

"Joe returns for his 25th season calling Red Sox games, and is a consummate professional and a great individual," said Wolfe. "Dave has done 'Monday Night Baseball'; grew up in Boston, and has great passion for the Red Sox. Glenn has broadcast experience from Triple A up to the majors."

Added Dee: "Dave is a rising star on the national level, and Glenn is a walking encyclopedia of baseball knowledge."

O'Brien, a native of Quincy, has held a variety of jobs at ESPN since 2002, and was the voice of the 2006 World Cup soccer tournament broadcast by ABC. Previously, he had worked for the Mets, Braves, and Marlins, and also called college football and basketball games.

Geffner has spent nine of the past 16 years broadcasting, including doing fill-in work for the Red Sox in 2005. He most recently worked as vice president of communications for the Red Sox.