Jason Benetti = Mario Impemba

[Tenacious D]

I wish we could get “National” Benetti vs “Local” Benetti.  They are two separate announcers.

[Edman85]

Benetti pinch hitting for Brian Anderson (lost voice) on the NCAA Tournament today.

[Hongbit]

43 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

Benetti pinch hitting for Brian Anderson (lost voice) on the NCAA Tournament today.

It will be weird to hear him call college hoop without Bill Walton.  The banter on the old Pac-12 after dark games was legendary.

I bet Jason will throw in a side reference at some point today that goes back to Big Red.

[oblong]

He's calling Michigan and Michigan State

[Sports_Freak]

A lot of fans didnt like Mario and Rod but this is excellent announcing;

 

[chasfh]

I don't miss that roster, but I do miss that D on the home jersey.

[DTroppens]

I'm not a fan of Benetti. He's going to make a list of about 10 things he has listed on a piece of paper fit in regardless if it does or not. And too often the broadcasts go off on crazy tangents that we just don't need them to go on. During last year's losing skids you'd hear Dirks and Benetti yucking it up almost pretending the squad wasn't falling apart almost trying to bring up any subject they could.

And I don't know who's doing this was, but having JK Simmons on every other day as a surprise guest wasn't much of a surprise after awhile. I'd rather they had selected a Tiger fan of 60 years and brought that person in the booth and talk about that person's memories. In fact, why don't they do that. Maybe designate Wednesday games as surprise fan day - someone that isn't a corporate sponsor, a celebrity or a politician. Find people that have had season tickets for 50 years and find some of the "real" fans that never get to a game because their finances can't afford it but watch or listen on the TV or radio "all the time." I'd love this.

The last two seasons in preparation of cable eventually losing the Tigers (yes, I still have cable) I've really transitioned to radio broadcasts again. Until the 1990s that's how I followed most games early in life, and I figured I'd see if I can do that if we decided to get rid of cable or the broadcasts ended up off cable. I've really enjoyed it. I sit on my front or back deck with the radio and our pet parakeet, read some of my old Sporting News newspapers or do whatever. Sometimes we'd be out there until 1 a.m. if the game was on west coast. I even listened to a couple of playoff games this way last year. 

I didn't feel like I was missing out. Sometimes when I came back in I'd watch the replay on in the background of the room as well and maybe see some of the plays I heard and not saw.

It got to a point that there'd be times I'd come in from outside midgame and hurry to turn on the radio so I could listen to it in there forgetting I could actually turn on the television. 🙂

I am not going to lead a riot for his firing, but if Benetti was gone tomorrow, I wouldn't miss him.

[guy incognito]

I don’t have a problem with Benetti, but I’ve long been of the opinion that all other things being equal baseball is a sport better enjoyed on radio than TV. Even side from the announcers, the game and the medium fit so beautifully.

And Dan D. is such a good, comfortable listen. Really, the only complaint I have is when he forgets he’s doing radio and gets so deep into conversation with the analyst that he forgets to paint the word picture or give the score. (I’m also of the opinion that analysts are superfluous on radio. Give me the old Ernie/Paul days of the pxp guy talking directly to the listener and the other *maybe* chiming in on an occasional basis.)

Edited yesterday at 05:27 PM by guy incognito

[chasfh]

On 4/2/2026 at 11:18 AM, DTroppens said:

I'm not a fan of Benetti. He's going to make a list of about 10 things he has listed on a piece of paper fit in regardless if it does or not. And too often the broadcasts go off on crazy tangents that we just don't need them to go on. During last year's losing skids you'd hear Dirks and Benetti yucking it up almost pretending the squad wasn't falling apart almost trying to bring up any subject they could.

And I don't know who's doing this was, but having JK Simmons on every other day as a surprise guest wasn't much of a surprise after awhile. I'd rather they had selected a Tiger fan of 60 years and brought that person in the booth and talk about that person's memories. In fact, why don't they do that. Maybe designate Wednesday games as surprise fan day - someone that isn't a corporate sponsor, a celebrity or a politician. Find people that have had season tickets for 50 years and find some of the "real" fans that never get to a game because their finances can't afford it but watch or listen on the TV or radio "all the time." I'd love this.

The last two seasons in preparation of cable eventually losing the Tigers (yes, I still have cable) I've really transitioned to radio broadcasts again. Until the 1990s that's how I followed most games early in life, and I figured I'd see if I can do that if we decided to get rid of cable or the broadcasts ended up off cable. I've really enjoyed it. I sit on my front or back deck with the radio and our pet parakeet, read some of my old Sporting News newspapers or do whatever. Sometimes we'd be out there until 1 a.m. if the game was on west coast. I even listened to a couple of playoff games this way last year. 

I didn't feel like I was missing out. Sometimes when I came back in I'd watch the replay on in the background of the room as well and maybe see some of the plays I heard and not saw.

It got to a point that there'd be times I'd come in from outside midgame and hurry to turn on the radio so I could listen to it in there forgetting I could actually turn on the television. 🙂

I am not going to lead a riot for his firing, but if Benetti was gone tomorrow, I wouldn't miss him.

This is all defensible, and consistent with some of what I’ve posted about Benetti as well. I get why he is so popular, and I do like him on balance, but he can be grating on me when he lets his cultural muse get the most of him, especially when Dirks is feeding it with his own.

That said, when Benetti stays on point, he is objectively one of the best in the business, especially from a local guy standpoint. I actually wouldn’t mind if Benetti stayed permanently—god knows we can and have done much worse than him, and almost certainly will after he goes—but I don’t think he’s going to be here for much longer, because it seems pretty obvious to me his goal is Al Michaels’ career, which is 100% national on major networks.

[chasfh]

I will say this about the Benetti hire: I think he has done as much as anyone to rekindle interest in the Tigers among the non-diehard part of the fan base. Most people regard it as a pleasure to tune him in, and I can’t help but conclude that he is a key reason the Tigers more than doubled their TV ratings in 2025 over 2024, as more causal Tiger fans discovered him. From that standpoint, it was a genius hire to bring him on.  

[oblong]

It was the kind of move that tells me the organization, particularly Chris Ilitch, is serious about putting a good product out.  

[chasfh]

And promoting it properly.

Chris Ilitch is definitely born-again hard as a team owner.

[Tiger337]

I like Benetti even with his forced humor.  I like Dirks.  They’re difficult to listen to when they’re together.

[Tiger337]

11 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I will say this about the Benetti hire: I think he has done as much as anyone to rekindle interest in the Tigers among the non-diehard part of the fan base. Most people regard it as a pleasure to tune him in, and I can’t help but conclude that he is a key reason the Tigers more than doubled their TV ratings in 2025 over 2024, as more causal Tiger fans discovered him. From that standpoint, it was a genius hire to bring him on.  

He was a good hire, but their ratings are up because they are winning.  Fans will tune in to see a winning team regardless of the announcer.  A good broadcaster can improve ratings a bit, but I don't believe that Benetti doubled the ratings.  

[chasfh]

1 minute ago, Tiger337 said:

He was a good hire, but their ratings are up because they are winning.  Fans will tune in to see a winning team regardless of the announcer.  A good broadcaster can improve ratings a bit, but I don't believe that Benetti doubled the ratings.  

I think I qualified my statement well enough.

[Tiger337]

5 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I think I qualified my statement well enough.

How much do you think ratings would have improved if they brough him on in 2021-2022?

[CMRivdogs]

I survived the likes of Bob Prince, Harry Caray, Chip Caray, Hawk Harrelson.

I can handle Benetti

[NorthWoods]

36 minutes ago, chasfh said:

This is all defensible, and consistent with some of what I’ve posted about Benetti as well. I get why he is so popular, and I do like him on balance, but he can be grating on me when he lets his cultural muse get the most of him, especially when Dirks is feeding it with his own.

That said, when Benetti stays on point, he is objectively one of the best in the business, especially from a local guy standpoint. I actually wouldn’t mind if Benetti stayed permanently—god knows we can and have done much worse than him, and almost certainly will after he goes—but I don’t think he’s going to be here for much longer, because it seems pretty obvious to me his goal is Al Michaels’ career, which is 100% national on major networks.

I think the Tigers are preparing for this by using Dickerson on television while breaking in his replacement.   Will make for a pretty smooth transition if Benetti leaves.

[CMRivdogs]

Just keep in mind Dan's no spring chicken either. 

[NorthWoods]

35 minutes ago, CMRivdogs said:

Just keep in mind Dan's no spring chicken either. 

67.  In announcer years that's like 45.

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, NorthWoods said:

I think the Tigers are preparing for this by using Dickerson on television while breaking in his replacement.   Will make for a pretty smooth transition if Benetti leaves.

I’d be fine with that, although I like Dan as a radio guy.

[guy incognito]

40 minutes ago, NorthWoods said:

67.  In announcer years that's like 45.

For comparison’s sake, that was Ernie’s age in 1985.

[Sports_Freak]

3 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

He was a good hire, but their ratings are up because they are winning.  Fans will tune in to see a winning team regardless of the announcer.  A good broadcaster can improve ratings a bit, but I don't believe that Benetti doubled the ratings.  

Agreed. A really good announcer could improve rating hardly at all compared to a winning team. Same as attendance. People flock out to see a good team....a horrible team? Not so much. Everybody loves a winner. An announcer cracking obscure popular culture jokes? Meh...

[Sports_Freak]

3 hours ago, oblong said:

It was the kind of move that tells me the organization, particularly Chris Ilitch, is serious about putting a good product out.  

Agreed. My opinion of Chris has changed 100%. He really does seem to care about winning, I couldn't have been more wrong.

[CMRivdogs]

2 hours ago, guy incognito said:

For comparison’s sake, that was Ernie’s age in 1985.

True but does he WANT to do it until he’s in his mid to late 70s or later