Jason Benetti credits his love of analytics for motivating him to relocate to Detroit.
The article Jason Benetti credits his love of analytics for motivating him to move to Detroit first ran on NBC Sports Chicago.
On Tuesday, Jason Benetti talked candidly about the events that led to his split from the Chicago White Sox and his feelings following his unexpected choice.
This beloved broadcaster said he “dreaded” the news last week that he was leaving in an interview with Richard Deitsch of the Athletic.
“It was really hard emotionally.” As stated by Benetti on the podcast “Sports Media”. “I’m a pretty emotional person, to start with, but over the years of attending these games and growing up with a deep love for the team, I’ve become friends with a lot of White Sox fans. Where someone grew up is something you can never take from them.
“I anticipated an overwhelming response because I knew some people would ask, ‘Why is he doing this?,'” Furthermore, I am really encouraged by how many people are contacting me directly. I simply felt lighter after Friday morning when it was over. I was terrified of it since I have a lot of friends and family in Chicago.
“The night before it was announced, there were times when I was just incredibly depressed.”
At the beginning of 2016, as legendary announcer Hawk Harrelson’s career was coming to an end, Benetti joined the White Sox booth. After Harrelson retired in 2019, he was the White Sox’s full-time play-by-play man.
Known as a rising star in the broadcast industry, Benetti has called national sporting events in a number of sports in recent years.
When asked what motivated him to move from his hometown to Detroit, Benetti said it was partly because of his love of analytics.
“[The Tigers] aim to have Major League Baseball’s best telecast. First and foremost, they aim to provide fans who are not familiar with analytics with the chance to do so if they so choose. However, if they don’t, they also get everything they desire from the baseball game. Tales from the field, good times at the ballpark, tactics, anything at all. In addition to wanting the ballpark to come to life, they also want modern fans to be able to utilize analytics as a touchstone.
“A.J. Hinch, the manager, is a man who played baseball and worked in a front office, so he has a deep understanding of analytics. He also mixed and matched lineups better than anyone in Major League Baseball last season. It’s very evident who they have installed in the front office with Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg.
But they also wish to enjoy themselves. They wish to have fun at the ballpark as well. They also want people to come in every day with a happy smile. Yes, I enjoy having fun. I do enjoy having a good time when playing baseball, and while there will inevitably be hits and misses, the best part of the game is what happens in the ballpark. They also desire that. They made no mention of tolerating that. “We want it,” they declared.
In addition, he disclosed that there was some conflict between him and the White Sox regarding national appearances. He acknowledged that he gave up football in 2020 because ESPN could not work around his baseball schedule.
“I know what I need to do to satisfy Fox, and the Tigers are aware that they’re going to have to agree to that.” That makes it simpler. Furthermore, I’m not sure if it accurately represented the White Sox. It’s just the way things are.”
In large part because radio announcer Dan Dickerson told the Tigers that if they could land Benetti, he would agree to fill in on television whenever needed, Benetti was able to work out schedule conflicts with Detroit.
“It suffocates me,” Benetti exclaimed. “I mean it’s it’s the most selfless thing you could imagine in this realm.”
“One of the very best broadcasters across multiple sports,” according to Chicago White Sox chief revenue and marketing officer Brooks Boyer, is Benetti.
He added that the group is “glad to see Jason continue to live out his dream to bring the games he loves into the homes of fans in his unique style” and that Benetti was given permission to “explore the opportunity with the Detroit Tigers.”
“We will miss Jason calling White Sox games and wish him the very best on this next chapter of his storied broadcasting career,” Boyer stated.
As the team searches for a replacement for longtime color commentator Steve Stone in the booth in 2024, the search for a new TV play-by-play announcer has already begun.
