SOUTH SIDE STAND UP … and make room for a new play-by-play announcer.
After three seasons, the Chicago White Sox informed John Scriffen that his contract as the team’s lead play-by-play announcer won’t be renewed.
The writing was on the wall. A portion of the fan base had grown tired of Scriffen’s seemingly “manufactured enthusiasm” and perceived lack of baseball knowledge. His decision to skip the White Sox’s playoff-clinching game to attend a UFC event only added to the frustration. Although Scriffen had scheduled off days built into his contract and technically did nothing wrong, the decision reportedly did not sit well with the front office.
According to Dan Bernstein, there were also rumblings that Scriffen came across as “dismissive” and “arrogant” when he arrived, ruffling feathers among members of the White Sox broadcast team. There is some irony in that characterization, given that Bernstein himself has drawn similar criticism from 670 The Score listeners before ultimately being fired after a colorful social media spat over a fish.
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While Scriffen’s tenure lasted only three years, his brief stint was anything but boring.
From feuding with radio stations and delivering outrageous calls to hype up a 121-loss team to growling like a panther, questioning whether a hitter with a 3-0 count had the green light, and unleashing electric “Show Me the Mune” home run calls, there was never a dull moment with Scriffen behind the mic.
Scriffen took plenty of flak during his time behind the mic, but not all of it was deserved. He has an excellent broadcasting voice, and as the White Sox improved, his over-the-top enthusiasm, which seemed almost absurd during the 2024 season, finally had a team worthy of matching it. By 2026, that energy had become a fitting soundtrack to the White Sox’s resurgence, turning calls that once felt out of place into entertaining moments.
He also made a concerted effort to connect with fans, joining tailgates and taking time before games to pose for photos and interact with those in attendance. In my two personal interactions with Scriffen, I came away with a positive impression both times. I was surprised, first, that he was in Lot B an hour before first pitch and, second, by how approachable he was.
But while the effort was clearly there, the results were not.
The timing of Scriffen’s arrival put him in an unenviable position. Jason Benetti, one of the best broadcasters in the business and a Chicagoland native adored by much of the fan base, had just left for Detroit. Meanwhile, the White Sox were in the midst of a historically miserable stretch.
It’s difficult to get any fan base excited about watching a 41-win team, but Scriffen’s antics behind the mic often made an already tough watch an equally brutal listen. He appeared unfamiliar with much of the franchise’s history, including how to pronounce Bill Veeck’s name, and seemed to have only a fundamental grasp of baseball’s finer points.
The contrast between Scriffen’s baseball knowledge and that of his partner, Steve Stone, a walking encyclopedia who has probably forgotten more about the game than most readers will ever know, made for an occasionally awkward pairing. If you took a shot every time Scriffen asked Stone whether a hitter had the green light on a 3-0 count, you’d be blackout drunk multiple times a week.
That knowledge gap became even more glaring when Stone was absent from the booth and Scriffen was left to carry the broadcast himself. His broadcasts with Dan Plesac were fine. But when analysts like Gordon Beckham were in the booth, Scriffen’s shortcomings as a baseball analyst were much harder to overlook.
While it’s easy to pick apart every mistake Scriffen made, it’s important to recognize that play-by-play broadcasting is an incredibly difficult job. Mistakes are inevitable when you’re broadcasting live, especially over the course of a grueling 162-game season. That said, there are only 30 lead play-by-play jobs in Major League Baseball, and the White Sox play in one of the country’s largest media markets. At that level, the expectation is that a broadcaster will bring a high degree of polish, preparation and baseball knowledge to the booth.
Scriffen was improving, and his third season was a clear step forward from his first. But the progress came too late. With the White Sox emerging as one of baseball’s most exciting teams, the organization needed a broadcast voice capable of matching that momentum.
Scriffen will land on his feet. He continues to call UFC events, where his boisterous style is a natural fit, and his high-energy delivery should translate well to national college football and basketball broadcasts.
The White Sox will now turn their attention to finding a replacement.
“John has been a true professional throughout his three seasons with the White Sox, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and a distinctive style to our broadcasts,” White Sox Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer Brooks Boyer said in a statement. “As his contract comes to an end, we believe this is the appropriate time to evaluate the direction of our broadcasts and determine what is best for the organization and our fans moving forward. We are appreciative of John’s contributions and the connection he built with our fan base. We wish him continued success in his future endeavors.”
