14 minutes ago, fathom said:

The 3-0 thing is so overblown. Heard Brian Anderson on Brewers broadcasts ask that all the time. Benetti used to ask Stone about 20 questions an inning when they broadcasted together.

I mean Jason was just as clueless as John. Find someone that knows the game a bit. Enough to know that 20 times out of 21 you're not swinging 3-0.

1 minute ago, chitownsportsfan said:

I mean Jason was just as clueless as John. Find someone that knows the game a bit. Enough to know that 20 times out of 21 you're not swinging 3-0.

The only person worse at judging fly balls than Benetti was Bryce Harper this week

Edited yesterday at 10:25 PM1 day by fathom

1 minute ago, fathom said:

The only person worse at judging fly balls than Benetti was Bryce Harper this week

From the booth you just watch the OF, amazing nobody ever helped him with that or he just couldn't figure it out.

4 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

From the booth you just watch the OF, amazing nobody ever helped him with that or he just couldn't figure it out.

Or watch reaction of the hitter

50 minutes ago, tray said:

I don't understand most of the negative opinions about Schriffen. For example, he asked Stone if a hitter should be given the green light on 3-O. What was he supposed to do? Say nothing? OK. After he was criticized for that on-line, he stopped doing it, and that in itself became awkward - catering to the whims of internet sports forum warriors. Then the criticism about not gauging the distance of deep fly balls. Actually he was far better at that then Benetti. Then the "South side, stand up" OK, it was wonky but honestly, I admired the deference to the South side and it took balls to do that. Schriffen walked through the parking lot pregame to interact with Sox fans who were tailgating. Anyone have issues with that? Now, he made mistakes that some found unacceptabl. Others just do not like him personally or hate him for whatever their reasons.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine is that I don't think that he committed a firing offense (including his reference to Samurai swords) but if the majority of posters on this forum dislike him, then he probably should not be signed to an extension. After all, this place is the authority on all matters White Sox and management should defer. I demur.

He's not being fired. Try again.

"Southside Samurai" was eventually copied by mlb.com fwiw.

Plus, you already have the Japanese national/WBC teams called Team Samurai in reference to their fighting spirit/honor/discipline.

Edited 21 hours ago21 hr by caulfield12

3 hours ago, fathom said:

The 3-0 thing is so overblown. Heard Brian Anderson on Brewers broadcasts ask that all the time. Benetti used to ask Stone about 20 questions an inning when they broadcasted together.

If a play-by-play announcer is asking the same question so frequently that it becomes a meme or a cliche, something's wrong with the broadcast.

If John and Steve and the producer think viewers are intently interested in 3-0 count strategy, then Steve should know to talk about it without being repeatedly prompted. If Steve doesn't jump in on his own and John thinks there's value to the viewers in bringing it up, then the burden is on John to tell us why we should care. (Baseball Reference actually tracks each team's swing percentage on 3-0 counts, so that could be an interesting way into the discussion. And even John saying something like,"Yesterday, Vargas swung at a 3-0 pitch, but that was with a big lead" gives viewers context and tees up Steve to talk about how strategy differs in different situations.)

Repetition is inevitable over a 162 game season, but the best announcers are always looking for opportunities to bring new information to the viewers, rather than asking the same question the same way again and again.

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

"Southside Samurai" was eventually copied by mlb.com fwiw.

Plus, you already have the Japanese national/WBC teams called Team Samurai in reference to their fighting spirit/honor/discipline.

The truth is, everything that unlikable people do is going to be annoying. You can’t make that go away.

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by Chick Mercedes

4 hours ago, fathom said:

The only person worse at judging fly balls than Benetti was Bryce Harper this week

It’s true but to Jason’s credit, that seems to be related to the cerebral palsy.

10 hours ago, kba said:

If a play-by-play announcer is asking the same question so frequently that it becomes a meme or a cliche, something's wrong with the broadcast.

If John and Steve and the producer think viewers are intently interested in 3-0 count strategy, then Steve should know to talk about it without being repeatedly prompted. If Steve doesn't jump in on his own and John thinks there's value to the viewers in bringing it up, then the burden is on John to tell us why we should care. (Baseball Reference actually tracks each team's swing percentage on 3-0 counts, so that could be an interesting way into the discussion. And even John saying something like,"Yesterday, Vargas swung at a 3-0 pitch, but that was with a big lead" gives viewers context and tees up Steve to talk about how strategy differs in different situations.)

Repetition is inevitable over a 162 game season, but the best announcers are always looking for opportunities to bring new information to the viewers, rather than asking the same question the same way again and again.

I think this is it in a nutshell.

Hawk and Stone are baseball lifers who just know from experience.

Jason is a sports junkie who researches like crazy whatever he doesn't know.

I haven't gotten either vibe from John

Awful Announcing

John Schriffen's future as White Sox TV voice reportedly...

John Schriffen's contract as White Sox TV voice expires after this season, and CHSN has reportedly begun exploring replacements.

18 hours ago, Green Line said:

You were, buddy

It's honestly hilarious that you took using the guys own forced catchphrase that way. Granted, it doesn't surprise me

3 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

It's honestly hilarious that you took using the guys own forced catchphrase that way. Granted, it doesn't surprise me

You're not nearly as clever as you think you are.

22 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

He's not being fired. Try again.

THIS! He isn't being fired...his contract expired...HUGE difference!

On 10/2/2026 at 1:58 PM, The Mighty Mite said:

I thought Schriffen improved in his 3 years, he was really bad in his first year but by the end of 2026 I thought he was pretty good and should have been extended and would probably improve even more, I liked his exuberance and felt liked he really cared about the Sox unlike Benetti who grew up a Sox fan but I never felt like he cared that much about the team.

I feel the complete opposite. Benetti seemed like he was a fan but he wasn't in your face about it. Schriffen was too over the top, he wasn't a fan but he was desperately trying to make everyone believe he was. Seemed way to fake.

23 hours ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Did he improve? Sure. Do you get the impression he likes the Sox? Yea. Did he deserve another year? No. Even with his improvement he still was bad and I get the impression Stone would have retired rather than work with him again full time. Kinda just is what it is. He's been gainfully employed with his travel expenses all comped for three seasons while taking most of the offseason off from other gigs.

He'll be OK and we'll hopefully find someone better.

You know, maybe they should give one more year to the Schrif Dawg.

1 hour ago, supernuke said:

I feel the complete opposite. Benetti seemed like he was a fan but he wasn't in your face about it. Schriffen was too over the top, he wasn't a fan but he was desperately trying to make everyone believe he was. Seemed way to fake.

Benneti was annoying. Love his story but annoying as f***. Let him whine with the tigers

Hire the guy who is calling the games in this series.

And let Stone retire. I thought Blum was more insightful and objective than Stone.

Edited 5 minutes ago5 min by GreenSox