Baseball HOFer and NESN Red Sox analyst Dennis Eckersley last night at Fenway Park "received a louder-than-usual cheer from the crowd," which he acknowledged by "flashing a peace sign and patting his heart," according to Peter Abraham of the BOSTON GLOBE. Eckersley, a "popular broadcaster," was the "target of harsh criticism from" Red Sox P David Price over the last month (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/2). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy reports Eckersley has "no interest in meeting" with Price and he has "no intention of changing his broadcasting style." Eckersley: "I’m cool with everything. I’ve moved on. I’m just going to keep doing what I do, which is call it like I see it." Eckersley was a guest in the Red Sox Legends' suite last night and is "scheduled to return" to the NESN booth tomorrow when the Red Sox play the White Sox at Fenway. Price, meanwhile, is "still proud of his outburst" against Eckersley on the team plane last month. Hence, Eckersley has "decided to reject the ball club’s efforts to broker a meeting between the two." Eckersley said, "The support of the fans has been incredible. I am truly humbled. I want to thank the Red Sox organization for their support, too" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/2). Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said he and manager John Farrell spoke with Price about the incident and "apologized for the organization" to Eckersley. Dombrowski said President Sam Kennedy, Owner John Henry and Chair Tom Werner also have "done that." Dombrowski: "What David does, that’s up to him, that’s his feelings, he’s a grown man and it’s up to him how the two of them handle that together” (“The Rundown,” MLB Network, 8/1). The BOSTON HERALD's Steve Buckley writes Eckersley is "not a rip artist" and "doesn’t throw gasoline on fires." He "isn’t caustic or toxic, cynical or negative." He is "honest" and "candid." Buckley: "And, good Lord, he’s fun. Hugely fun" (BOSTON HERALD, 8/2).
