Now in his 10th season as a television analyst for Red Sox games, Lenny DiNardo is a household name for Rhode Island baseball fans. The former Red Sox pitcher, who won a World Series ring in 2004, began his broadcast career after hanging up the cleats in 2013, and has become a trusted source of insightful commentary.
Born in Florida, DiNardo now makes his home in South Kingstown. He sat down with Ocean State Media political reporter Ian Donnis to discuss life in Rhode Island and how he made the transition from player to broadcaster. And of course, they also chat a bit about baseball.
Interview highlights
On the Red Sox early-season struggles
Lenny DiNardo: You know, coming into this season, I thought they were going to win 90 games. I thought they were going to be better overall than last year. And you knew it was going to be based on run prevention; that’s how they were going to win ballgames. The pitching’s been great. It’s only gotten better throughout the season. But the hitting, the offense, has really been dismal. The offense hasn’t quite been there. In today’s day, 2026, you have to be able to hit a home run, and they haven’t been able to do that consistently.
On baseball’s rule changes designed to speed up the game
DiNardo: It’s just making it more watchable for a younger generation; a younger generation that is so in tune to social media and instant gratification. I find myself, when I watch a game; if I go make a sandwich and I come back, it’s the next inning. Two runners have scored. There’s a lot that has happened. But prior to the rule changes, I could go make that same sandwich, and you’re in the same at bat. It just seems like it’s such a different pace of play. It’s more NBA basketball-style pace of play versus what it was before.
On gambling advertisements during baseball games
DiNardo: It’s tough because I grew up in that generation watching Pete Rose and his downfall, and now the commercials basically are showing, “Hey, go bet. Go bet on this. Here’s the parlay,” or whatever it’s called. I’m not a bettor. I don’t even know how to play poker or anything like that. But it’s just, I don’t know if hypocritical is the word, because it’s looked down upon so much as far as players and betting. Every year you have somebody that takes a downward turn because they bet on this or that, but we’re promoting it so much to the younger generation. So are we saying it’s good? Are we saying it’s bad? It’s very confusing to a younger generation, I’ll say that.
On the transition from being a player to being a broadcaster
DiNardo: I remember in ’17, my first year broadcasting, I felt like a deer in the headlights. Every time they were counting down in my ear, “We’re about to go on”, it was a little bit of a panic mode. But now the heartbeat is slow. I feel confident [in] what I’m about to talk about as far as the team’s concerned. And like anything else, the more reps you get, the better at it you get.
On living in South Kingstown
DiNardo: It’s a beautiful state, first of all. It’s the size of Marion County, (Florida). Rhode Island is the size of that county. We’re relatively close to the beach. We have really beautiful hiking trails. Providence is the big city up in northern Rhode Island. So the school systems where we’re at in South Kingstown are great. My kids love the teachers. (I’m) very happy here, and that’s what makes me happy. You come home from work and you see a bunch of smiling faces, and a lot of that has to do with the community.
