Jerry Remy Returning to Booth Friday

Beloved Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy will return to the NESN booth Friday night after missing more than three months while recovering from health complications related to lung cancer surgery he had after the 2008 regular season.

"I want to thank NESN, the Red Sox and all of Red Sox Nation for their incredible level of support," Remy said "I'm really looking forward to getting back to work and doing the job that I miss terribly."

The former Red Sox and Angels second baseman will ease back into a part-time role at first. Of course, there's nothing relaxed or laid-back about the atmosphere he'll be returning to this weekend.

The Red Sox will open a three-game series with the rival Yankees at Fenway Park Friday night. With Boston seven games back of New York in the AL East standings, it amounts to a last stand for the Red Sox and their hopes of winning the division.

Remy made a brief appearance at Fenway last week, visiting partner Don Orsillo and Dennis Eckersley, his primary replacement, in the broadcast booth and waving to the fans when he appeared on the center field video screen.

During his appearance, Remy discussed not only the physical health problems that sidelined him, but also the mental ones, admitting that he has battled depression during his recovery.

"Now I'm glad I did it [return to Fenway last week] because it really kind of gets that out of the way and when I do come back on Friday to do a game, it's just a normal day," Remy said. "The Yankees being in town, obviously that's a little bit different, but to get all this personal stuff out of the way I think was a great thing for me last week. But it is a little bit uncomfortable. You know I'm not a player, I'm just a broadcaster. To have that much attention put on you it means people care about you.

"I'm anxious right now just thinking about it. But I'm sure once you get back into the swing of things after an inning or so it will be just like old times, and we'll have hopefully a good game and a little bit of fun."

Remy may be "uncomfortable" with all the attention he's received since taking his leave of absence, but it just speaks to his status in New England, one of the most baseball-rabid regions in the country. Quite simply, Remy has become a rock star in the 21 years he's been broadcasting for NESN.

Red Sox Nation will surely be pleased to have him back.