Will Flemming, the Red Sox radio play-by-play announcer since 2019, has faced growing criticism for his style of game calling, most recently drawing national attention following Sunday’s lopsided Red Sox-Yankees game. During that broadcast, Flemming described Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm as a “bush-league player” and suggested that Red Sox pitcher Jovani Moran should “drill” a New York batter in retaliation—comments that sparked backlash on social media. Flemming later apologized on the platform X.com, acknowledging that he “could and should have used different words” and that the moment got the better of him.
The incident brought longstanding concerns about Flemming’s approach into sharper focus. Listeners have expressed displeasure not only with his controversial remarks but also with the overall tone and style of his broadcasts. Critics argue that Flemming’s commentary often prioritizes personal opinion and tangential stories over straightforward, objective play-by-play narration. His broadcasts have been described as resembling a sports-talk podcast more than a traditional radio game presentation, frequently featuring digressions about his personal life or experiences at Yankee Stadium, sometimes at the expense of detailed game analysis.
A common fan complaint is that Flemming frequently predicts plays rather than accurately calling what actually happens. For example, in a Saturday game, Flemming described a Red Sox center fielder’s misplay in a way that initially seemed to anticipate a scoring play for the Yankees, only to have the outfielder recover with a strong throw that resulted in an out. These types of calls have led some listeners to question the reliability of his in-game judgments.
Additionally, Flemming’s broadcast style often includes heightened emotional reactions and repeated emphasis on particular moments, such as a controversial no-catch ruling involving Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela during Sunday’s game. The call, upheld after a replay review found the play inconclusive, was repeatedly challenged by Flemming, who maintained Rafaela had made the catch instead of shifting focus to other factors influencing the game’s outcome.
Despite these criticisms, Flemming’s voice and rapport with analysts like former Red Sox player Will Middlebrooks have been noted as positive aspects of his work. However, some observers feel the broadcast occasionally sidelines analysts in favor of Flemming’s monologues, which may further detract from the game itself.
Critics suggest that a more traditional, concise, and accurate approach to play-by-play would better serve listeners and align with expectations for a baseball radio broadcast. Flemming’s recent comments and style have renewed calls for him to recalibrate his delivery to provide clearer, less opinionated, and more factual coverage of Red Sox games.