Jason Benetti’s passion for analytics was cited as a factor in his decision to relocate to Detroit originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago.
Jason Benetti talked about what caused his breakup with the Chicago White Sox and how he’s feeling in the aftermath of his shocking decision on Tuesday.
The beloved broadcaster said he “dreaded” the announcement of his departure, which came last week, in an interview with the Athletic’s Richard Deitsch.
“It was really hard emotionally.” On the “Sports Media” podcast, Benetti stated. “I’m an emotional person to begin with, but there are a lot of White Sox fans I’ve become friends with over the course of my time doing these games and growing up loving the team.”You can never take someone’s childhood home away from them.
“Knowing that some people would ask, ‘Why is he doing this?,’ I knew it would be overwhelming.” And I’m encouraged by the number of people who have reached out to me personally. When it was over on Friday morning, I just felt lighter. I was dreading it because I care about so many people in Chicago.
“There were moments the other night before it got announced that I was just really, really sad.”
Benetti first joined the White Sox broadcast team in 2016, as veteran announcer Hawk Harrelson’s career was coming to an end. When Harrelson retired in 2019, he took over as the White Sox’s full-time play-by-play announcer.
Benetti, a rising star in the broadcast world, has called games across multiple sports on a national level in recent years.
Benetti cited his passion for analytics as a factor in his decision to leave his hometown for Detroit.
“[The Tigers] want to have the best television broadcast in Major League Baseball.” And they intend to accomplish this by, first and foremost, ensuring that fans who do not understand analytics have the opportunity to do so if they so desire. But even if they don’t, they get everything they want from the baseball show. Stories about players, baseball fun, strategy, and whatever else comes to mind. They want the ballpark to come alive, and they also want new generation fans to have access to analytics.
“It’s very clear with who they’ve installed in the front office with Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg, and then A.J. Hinch is the manager — a guy who played baseball but also worked in a front office and understands analytics very well, and mixed and matched lineups better than anyone in Major League Baseball last year.”
“However, they also want to have fun.” They, too, want to have a good time at the ballpark. They also want people to come in with a smile on their face every day. I enjoy having fun.
I like to have fun while playing baseball, and while you’re going to miss and hit, the stuff that happens in the ballpark is the most glorious part of the game. And they desire it. They didn’t say we’d put up with it. They stated that we desire it.”
He also admitted there was some friction with the White Sox when it came to national gigs, admitting he gave up football in 2020 because ESPN couldn’t accommodate his baseball schedule.
“The Tigers and I know what I need to do to make Fox happy, and the Tigers know they’re getting in on it.” So it’s simply easier. And I’m not sure it was necessarily representative of the White Sox. It’s just the way things are.”
Benetti was able to work out scheduling conflicts with the Tigers in part because Dan Dickerson, the team’s radio announcer, told them that if they could get Benetti, he would agree to fill in on television whenever needed.
“It chokes me up,” said Benetti. “I mean it’s it’s the most selfless thing you could imagine in this realm.”
The Chicago White Sox’s chief revenue and marketing officer, Brooks Boyer, described Benetti as “one of the very best broadcasters across multiple sports.”
He also stated that the team allowed Benetti to “explore the opportunity with the Detroit Tigers” and that the team is “proud to see Jason continue to live out his dream of bringing the games he loves into the homes of fans in his unique style.”
“We will miss Jason calling White Sox games and wish him the very best on this next chapter of his storied broadcasting career,” Boyer said in a statement.
The team is already looking for a new booth partner for longtime color commentator Steve Stone in 2024, so the search for a new TV play-by-play announcer is already underway.
