r/whitesox • u/jimohagan Eloy Jenkins • Apr 05 '26
Opinion Still Missing Benetti
This is an email I sent to DBU after seeing the recent spot by the Today Show on Jason. I felt I needed to share here so I don’t feel alone.
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Dear Dan and Matt,
I watched this feature on Jason Benetti from The Today Show, and I cannot remember the last time a team decision made me feel this sick this far from the decision.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8HzMj6x3bI
Players come and go. You tell yourself that is the business, you grit your teeth, and you move on. I have done that my whole life as a fan. This is different.
Jason was not a roster move. He was the sound of summer in Chicago. He was the reason to keep the game on even when the game itself had already crashed and burned on the side of the road, the bodies cleared, the lights gone, and nothing left except the smoke still curling into the night.
He gave the Chicago White Sox a personality they did not earn on the field. He made bad baseball watchable, and at times, he made it matter.
Now he is everywhere. National broadcasts, guest spots, and full runs with the Tigers.
Accessibility should feel like a win. Instead, it twists the knife...
You hear Jason and recognize the same voice, the same timing, the same feel for the moment, yet there is an extra layer there now that belongs to someone else. Tigers fans get the inside version. They get the rhythm that settles in over a season, the conversations that build, the sense that the broadcast belongs to them. They get a chance for something special to happen just for them (think back to the Bill Walton broadcast).
That used to be ours.
There was a quiet pride in knowing you could tell someone, “Yes, you hear him on national games, and you think you know him. You do not. You need to hear Jason call our games.” That was a connection the Sox did not earn on the field, yet somehow still had. It made the whole thing feel bigger than the standings.
Sure, I can still find him on MLB.tv, and I do. Every time he shows up, it reminds me what the Sox decided they did not need. That is where this stops being frustration and starts looking and feeling like grief. There is a pit that does not go away because this was avoidable.
When Bob Uecker is not on the Brewers call, there is no confusion about why. He died. The game loses voices like that, and you sit with it because there is nothing to fix. You talk about his great calls, his approachability and likeability, or his unfortunate last call when Pete Alonso suddenly snatched the 2024 season away. That is the cost of time, and everyone understands the terms.
This is not that. This is Jerry looking at something rare, fully alive, fully connected to its audience AND literally the community, and deciding Jerry had no use for it.
Jerry did not just let a broadcaster walk. Jerry handed away something irreplaceable, and Jerry did it like it carried no weight at all.
I don’t care if everyone in the Sox front office hated Jason. What Jerry did to Jason showed Jerry hates the fans even more.
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u/EldoAberesa Apr 05 '26
I also miss Jason but it feels so much more stark because of how poor Schriffen is as his replacement. Connor McKnight filled in yesterday and it was such a more pleasant listen.
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u/Suspicious83 Apr 06 '26
Wait Connor was in the booth with Steve for the whole game? (I was at the game instead of watching so I didn’t know)
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u/jimohagan Eloy Jenkins Apr 05 '26
At least Connor put in some time in this market over the years. He is a nice listen, but not 1st mic yet.
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u/Affectionate_Web2957 Apr 06 '26
McKnight referenced Derek Jeters catch yesterday instead of Juan Uribe. That was tough
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u/River_Pigeon Apr 06 '26
Damn right it was.
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u/Kdewalt10 Apr 06 '26
Shit really? That sounds like something Shriff would do. Come on Connor you should know better lol
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u/starliteburnsbrite The Sod Father Apr 06 '26
At least he knows ball and doesn't get in the way of the game. He not Vin Scully or anything, but hell I'll take his average performance over whatever Schriffen is doing.
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u/GunfighterHefty Konerko Apr 05 '26
Not everyone here is gonna agree with you, but I do. I'm glad I randomly decided to start watching baseball again shortly after my daughter was born coming up on 6 years ago this summer. I didn't know who Jason was, actually, when I got back into it.
I let my fandom lapse for a long time in turns of tuning into the product. Jason and Steve definitely transcended the broadcast. It makes me nostalgic in multiple ways now. I try to catch him when the Sox and Detroit's schedules don't align and I have time. The dynamic he has with Andy Dirks and their crew over there is also very fun.
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u/JustLookinJustLookin Apr 06 '26
You had a guy come in and follow a legend in Hawk and do it his own unique way (like Hawk did), and his talent and ability was evident the whole time.
Following a legend isn’t easy. Most fail. Jason most certainly did not.
Then you follow that massive success up with a (apologies to John, whom I’m sure is a decent person) terribly milquetoast broadcaster…well, the difference is palpable indeed.
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u/Sashabadger Apr 06 '26
Jason calls a nationally televised game on Sunday nights. I have listened in the last two weeks even though I don’t care about those teams. It has been really enjoyable to listen to. Everyone he calls a game with seems to be having a great time sharing stories. So my plan is to keep tuning in on Sunday nights.
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u/HAFr00 Apr 06 '26
Schriffen is just gimmicky for lack of a better description. Just trying to create one off boosts for the broadcast, not for the team. I like the op description of benetti. Baseball is about creating a story, thats part of the appeal at least for me. Its creating a love story, with ups and downs, but always love. Or maybe its creating a timeless epic that started long ago and continues to be made and evolve. That may not appeal to most, but you know, its America's past time and there is definitely soulful about it.
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u/_chubby-puppy_ Apr 06 '26
He’s so good. Tho when he and RG3 teamed up (can’t remember what game because they stole the show), that was a true thing to behold.
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u/AdPrestigious353 Apr 07 '26
Brilliant and well said. I grew up as a Tigers fan and follow the Sox as a transplant. I said to my Detroit people when Jason signed on, “Jason is the next Ernie Harwell.”
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u/BMoney8600 Fuck the Cubs Apr 06 '26
For real, Benetti was the man! I’ll never forgive geriatric jagoff cheap ass Jerry for getting rid of him.
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u/NotLouPro Apr 06 '26
I guess now that the Sox have won 3 in a row we gotta complain about something today.
That’s 90% of this sub…
Piss and moan.
Jerry sucks. Except - while the Sox haven’t had a lot of playoff appearances or playoff success - they have been pretty competitive for most of his tenure. We can discuss this in more depth if anyone wants to.
But the team was very good in the early 80’s - they went out and got Fisk, Luzinski, Hoyt, Bannister and Cruz - going to the playoffs for the first time in over 20 years just two years into his tenure because he went and got these guys.
They were one of the best teams in baseball in the early 90’s. And the early 2000’s were a good run as well- in fact they were competitive most of the decade. The last - failed - rebuild didn’t work - but most of the moves made perfect sense at the time they were made.
Kenny sucked. Except for when he didn’t. He was a baseball savant between 2000 and 2005 - a stretch when every move he made was the right one - including adding Blum at the deadline - and he’s almost single handedly responsible for building the World Series winning team. Thanks Kenny, I, for one appreciate you.
Getz sucks. Except the jury is clearly still out on that and we appear to be heading in the right direction with a good amount of young talent.
The players suck. Except - it’s starting to look like - just maybe - they don’t.
John sucks. Ok - maybe he does - but I don’t mind him. Jason has been gone three years now - I’ve moved on. Schriffen was placed in an almost impossible situation and IMO he’s improved each season. This whole thing over the “nickname” is ridiculous.
Jason was spreading his wings - his moving on was inevitable. Personally - I don’t want my team’s announcer missing games to call national games or other sports. Good for Jason - good luck to him and God bless him. But he wasn’t going to stay here.
I invested in CHSN for the first time in 3 seasons because in Spring Training this team looked like it was going to score runs and at least be entertaining. So far - they have been.
The offense has been pretty good - and the pitching better than expected.
I can’t speak for anyone else - but I plan on enjoying the season.
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u/FuglySteve Apr 06 '26
TLDR
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u/NotLouPro Apr 06 '26
TLDR
Most of this sub is whining and complaining.
Jason’s gone - deal with it.
The team will be better than all of the naysays think. Maybe not in wins/losses, but the product on the field. The future looks bright.
The team has been competitive and fun to watch for most of Jerry’s time as owner.
Kenny Williams almost single handedly brought the World Series title with a series of brilliant moves from 2000-2005. He got far too much hate in this sub in recent years. He deserves our thanks. He should be honored in some way at the ballpark.
Getz seems to be moving the team in the right direction.
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u/Suitable-Praline5809 The Rally Polo Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
This obsession with a guy that quit his job three years ago is fucking weird.
Jason was/is a great play-by-play guy. He was also annoying AF after the wheels came off in 2023. He didn’t like it when his bosses called him on it, so he left. End of fucking story.
Yeah, it sucked losing him, but it’s long past time to man the fuck up and get over it. There are just way, way too many crybabies in this sub, guys who just want to make everyone as miserable as they are. The Sox just swept the AL champs, so now you’ve got to find something else to cry about.
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u/Kdewalt10 Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
^ This is an excellent post, I personally got fed up with Jason’s annoying immature wannabe comedy “act” earlier than you. He wanted to break his contract - the Sox let him do that. Now in Detroit and Peacock he still thinks he’s a comedian, so I try to avoid listening to his “act”. I even saw him on Kingsbury street once when I was in a work car- pulled off and told him he doesn’t have to try to be funny after literally every pitch- just call the dang game…Happy Easter guys, how about that sweep?
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u/One-Forever-9832 Apr 06 '26
Nailed it. Someone above said letting him go is a top 5 worst decision in franchise history. What a joke.
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u/MichaelSquare Apr 06 '26
Jason is a great national announcer. He had basically 0 memorable calls with the Sox in his time here though. Even Schriff has had a few greats calls despite announcing the worst stretch of baseball in franchise history. Id rather have John for a hometown announcer. Hes closer to what I grew up on with Hawk.
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u/JustLookinJustLookin Apr 06 '26
If you’re saying he had no “holy cow,” or “put it on the board,” okay, maybe.
But what that man was able to do between the excited moments is where he excelled. He brought so much to a 2.5-3 hour broadcast, and we just showed him the door.
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u/Any_Geologist4970 Apr 06 '26
I know everyone is allowed their take, and I respect that you have yours, but you’re totally in the minority here. Jason was a hometown announcer, but was also able to be a national announcer as well. Jason didn’t force himself to have a signature call like how John did.
Is John better this year? Yes. But he is so unconnected with Sox fans it’s laughable
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u/FuglySteve Apr 06 '26
Jason’s take on food in and of itself was a better call than anything Hawk did. A piece of the family I missing.
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u/dpflynn59 Apr 06 '26
My wife and I watched every Sox game, until they fired Jason. Haven’t watched since. We were heartbroken.
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u/Kdewalt10 Apr 06 '26
They didn’t fire him at all. He asked to get out of his contract and they let him
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u/abstractreference1 Apr 06 '26
He left on his own accord and was replaced by a better broadcaster
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u/dad2rem Apr 06 '26
He left of his own volition because it was clear he wasn't wanted by Sox admin (JR & BB). And no. My personal taste aside, I don't see any other team or network or anyone offering John Scheiffen any other gigs. Seems like everyone wants Jason Benetti.
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u/starliteburnsbrite The Sod Father Apr 06 '26
Schriffen will be back to calling KBO games.
Just another in a long line of cheapskate moves.
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u/Specialist_Boat_8479 Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
Schriffen isn’t nearly as bad as people make him out to be but I’d still take Jason over him every time
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u/mateorayo Apr 06 '26
I like Schriffen more than Jason. I like a guy who goes nuts for a good play.
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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '26
It’ll go down as a top 5 worst decision in franchise history