And in the broadcast booth, they've got veteran Jerry Remy, who filled the leadoff role admirably during his seven seasons as a Red Sox second baseman.

Of course, Remy is more of a cleanup hitter these days, in his 15th season calling Red Sox games, as he drives home points rather than runs after the table-setting comments of play-by-play partners Sean McDonough (Channel 25) and Don Orsillo (NESN).

With new Red Sox ownership checking every nook and cranny of the operation, some might have thought Remy would ratchet up the intensity of his exhibition-game commentary this spring.

To the contrary.

''If it were my first year, that might be different,'' he said. ''But after 14 years, I go about my business and do what I've always done. It seems to work with the public.''

Talk about an understatement.

If anyone has a feel for the pulse of Red Sox Nation, it's Remy.

''The fans seem to have confidence in my work and trust me,'' he said.

That includes a lot of the chitchat between the announcers and the seemingly endless promotions and drop-in ads during broadcasts.

''There's enough time for it all,'' said Remy. ''Believe me, they're not all great games.''

Having the honesty to tell fans what they can see for themselves continues to give Remy and McDonough the highest of marks with viewers.

Like Pedro Martinez, Remy has been working on some of his pitches this spring. A week ago Wednesday, he and McDonough were tweaking the setup for their NASCAR promotions, which they'll be doing for the first half of the season because Channel 25 is an affiliate of the Fox Network, which carries Winston Cup racing through early July.

Sox players Brian Daubach and Trot Nixon are scheduled to be part of the deal; however, Daubach expressed apprehension that he'd be traded - like Pete Schourek, last year's player-participant in the pick-this-week's-winner contest.

Remy and McDonough addressed the Daubach situation early in that game, saying that new manager Grady Little had the right accent in case a replacement for Daubach was needed.

''What are you saying - does he look like one of those tire-changer guys?'' asked Remy.

''Nope,'' shot back McDonough. ''He's got that crew chief look.''

Between the banter, the pair speculated on the health of Martinez's shoulder, especially when his velocity was down in the early innings and the Cardinals were teeing off on his fastball.

''It looks as if he's trying to make the fastball sink,'' said Remy.

No subject is off-limits, whether it is player moves, the status of catcher Jason Varitek's elbow, baseball's labor negotiations, or a Fox program they've just promoted.

''Working with Jerry is one of the treats of my life,'' said McDonough. ''Life is good when your main work experience is made joyful because of people like Jerry, [Channel 25 producer] Russ Kenn, [director] Jon Wilson, and [broadcast assistant] Dave Korus.''

Remy is equally comfortable working with Orsillo on NESN. Remy came up with ''The Maestro'' as a nickname for Orsillo, a reference to Orsillo's winter gig narrating ''Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus'' for Pops holiday concerts.

Mostly, though, Remy calls himself a creature of habit.

''I've got a daily routine,'' he said. ''Get up, get the papers, lobby sit, take a nap, then get to the ballpark in midafternoon to do paperwork and prepare for the evening's telecast.''

In the offseason, he's happy to be home and get into a workout routine, hitting the gym daily with wife Phoebe.

''I'm not one to get bored at home,'' he said.

Orsillo sees it a different way. He calls Remy a pro who didn't cop an attitude with the rookie stepping in to do play-by-play in 2001 after Bob Kurtz departed before last season.

''He showed me all the little things about being in the major leagues,'' said Orsillo. ''For me, every ballpark was a new experience. Jerry knew the shortest route from cab to ballpark to broadcast booth - and the shortest way to the field. He knew the best spots to sit on the plane. It could have been awfully difficult if he hadn't taken me under his wing.''

Orsillo brought some luck to the pairing, too.

In his first game as NESN's Red Sox voice, Orsillo got to call Hideo Nomo's no-hitter, with Remy at his side. They also were on the air when Tim Wakefield flirted with his own no-hit bid later in the season. And their final game was Cal Ripken's farewell in Baltimore last October.

Remy, in his own way, is as much of an ironman as Ripken. Once he departs for spring training in February, there are few days off until his season is over. And if he has it his way, that won't be until after the World Series.

Besides his work for NESN and Channel 25, he'll likely do some national telecasts for Fox, and there always is that other gig as a McDonough Groupie, contributing to the afternoon drive show ''The McDonough Group,'' from 3-7 p.m. daily on 1510 The Zone.

Remy wouldn't trade places with anyone.

''I've got the No. 1 job at the ballpark,'' he said.

This story ran on page D16 of the Boston Globe on 3/29/2002.
© Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company.