Rating MLB play-by-play and color analysts: The AL Central
By Bill Felber
Chicago White Sox: Jason Benetti, play-by-play; Steve Stone, color
There might be one or two more technically savvy color analysts; Cincinnati’s Chris Welsh comes to mind. Wit being largely a matter of taste, it’s theoretically possible that somebody scores higher than Stone in that category.
But you would be hard-pressed to find anybody who combines all the desirable attributes of an MLB color guy as neatly as does Stone.
He’s been schooled by the best, spending the bulk of his 30-some season career alongside first Harry Caray and then Hawk Harrelson.
For a guy to be tied for that long to those two legends while maintaining his identity and reputation, he must be mighty good. Stone is.
His strengths as an analyst have always been evident: the ability to convey the sometimes subtle in-game strategies in a way that is easy to understand, and to do so with the right touch of wit. He is, in a word, glib.
Benetti is in only his second season as the team’s play-by-play voice. That’s normally not enough time for an announcer to cultivate the audience affinity needed to become his team’s identity. Indeed, Benetti may not have accomplished that yet. But he comes across as at ease with the process.
More to the point, he fits as the perfect complement to Stone, possessing all his partner’s assets of intelligence, oratory, and wit and lacking only the Cy Young Award. They are as close as you get in announcing to a matched set.
Experience: 3
Likeability: 4
Knowledge: 5
Humor: 5
Rapport: 5
Oratory: 5
Total: 27