Jan. 13--Steve Stone selected the famed Don and Charlie's restaurant in Scottsdale, Ariz., to acclimate Jason Benetti to a popular baseball setting.
Within five minutes of their first meeting, it was the veteran announcer Stone who felt at ease with his new White Sox television partner.
"I think the White Sox hit a home run," said Stone, who will work with Benetti for all 2016 Sox home games with the exception of the home opener and two games against the Cubs on July 25-26.
"He's got a sense of humor, he's smart, passionate and the fact he's a local guy is icing on the cake."
Finding the right partner was essential for Stone and the White Sox as legendary announcer Ken "Hawk" Harrelson, 74, will scale back his schedule and work primarily road games with the exception of a trip to Toronto this season.
Benetti, 32, who works for ESPN and has called games for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, said he appreciated some advice offered by Harrelson.
"Be yourself," Harrelson told Benetti.
Benetti said he likes to "bring everything possible" to a broadcast. That includes advanced statistics, although Benetti stressed he will rely heavily on the knowledge of Stone, who won the 1980 American League Cy Young Award and is regarded as one of the top analysts in the game.
Stone, who has been a Chicago announcing fixture since 1983 with the Cubs and joined the Sox on a full-time basis in 2008, was extremely pleased that the Sox thought it would be wise for Benetti, a Homewood-Flossmoor graduate, to meet him before hiring him.
The two enjoyed dinner at the popular spring training hangout, and Stone's confidence in Benetti swelled.
"(Benetti) understands the White Sox culture," Stone said. "It's really going to come out in the broadcast. Being a local guy ) gives him a leg up. I'm not saying that being from the Chicago area was a necessity, but he understands the community."
Benetti described the opportunity to call home games for his childhood team as "surreal," recalling his younger days when he would play Wiffle ball in the backyard and impersonate White Sox Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.
"It means the world to me," Benetti said.
