Dan Bernstein isn’t celebrating John Schriffen’s exit from the Chicago White Sox television booth. However, the longtime Chicago sports voice believes Schriffen was never the right man for the job.
What We Know: The White Sox announced Monday that they will not extend Schriffen’s contract. He joined the club before the 2024 season on a three-year deal, replacing Jason Benetti. During his first year, the team lost a modern-era record 121 games but made the postseason this past season. Meanwhile, the White Sox have already launched a national search for his replacement. In reflection on his tenure with the White Sox, Bernstein blasted Schriffen for on just how he handled himself on air but also off it.
What They Said: (All quotes via Dan Bernstein Unfiltered):
Dan Bernstein is not celebrating that John Schriffen is no longer calling Chicago White Sox games: “I’m not celebrating [John Schriffen departing the White Sox broadcasts], and here’s why. It reaffirms and rekindles my distaste over the fact that Jason Benetti isn’t the White Sox guy for the rest of his life. Or at least hasn’t been in a position here where he’s got the chance if he wants, as he goes about everything else nationally. If he just wants to have his regular job. It should be here, and should have been here. I’m never going to shake that.”
Dan Bernstein says John Schriffen rubbed a lot of people the wrong way: “[John] Schriffen was an a**hole and pissed off a lot of really hardworking, nice people when he walked in.”
Dan Bernstein on how Chicago media felt about John Schriffen: “Everybody just hated the guy when he arrived, and thought that he was dismissive, arrogant, entitled, difficult, and demanding. [He] eschewed all kinds of good faith, well offered advice. He should never have had this job and wasn’t ready for it.”
Dan Bernstein says John Schriffen didn’t understand the role he had with the White Sox: “It is implicit in the job that you’re a front man for the team. You are an ambassador in how you carry yourself, and that doesn’t mean being a d**k. Nobody wins in this. Nobody wins. At the moment. White Sox fans still lose out on having the best possible broadcast that they deserve.”
Dan Bernstein says John Schriffen turned him away from watching Chicago White Sox baseball: “I barely watched for the better part of those three years. I wasn’t really there. The teams weren’t worth the time, and all the bulls**t wasn’t worth my time. I love Steve Stone. I love him as a broadcaster. Love him as a dude. But it wasn’t enough for me to overcome what I thought were glaring, jarring weaknesses in the quality of the broadcast due to a play-by-play guy that just didn’t get baseball.”
Dan Bernstein will never get over that the Chicago White Sox let go of Jason Benetti: “I’m never going to shake the miss, the mistake, the folly. That was somehow allowing Jason Benetti, a lifelong White Sox fan, a brilliant broadcaster and a prince of a guy to walk out that door for dumb reasons.”
What Remains Unclear: So far, the White Sox haven’t named Schriffen’s successor. Steve Stone will return as analyst, yet his next partner remains unknown. Additionally, it’s unclear where Schriffen lands next after three turbulent seasons. Still, Bernstein believes the stakes reach beyond one broadcaster.
What It Means: Ultimately, Bernstein sees no winners in this outcome. He admitted he barely watched over the past three years, despite his love for Steve Stone. In his view, White Sox fans lost out on the broadcast they deserve. Above all, the move rekindles his frustration over letting Benetti walk out the door.
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