White Sox TV voice John Schriffen apologized Wednesday to Rob Friedman of Pitching Ninja for a remark he made the night before about the popular X account that caught the attention of a team executive.
“For the record, John Schriffen apologized to me,” Friedman posted on X. “He meant nothing by it other than that he doesn’t use Twitter/X any longer…and said he was a big fan. He said it just came out awkwardly.”
During the Chicago Sports Network broadcast of the Twins-Sox game Tuesday, Brooke Fletcher reported on Sox rookie Shane Smith crediting “baseball Twitter” for giving him ideas to improve his changeup. Twitter is now called X.
“Baseball Twitter, this has become a popular thing,” Fletcher said. “A lot of guys turn to it to experiment and try new things with their pitches.”
Schriffen then invoked Pitching Ninja.
For the record, John Schriffen apologized to me.
He meant nothing by it other than that he doesn’t use Twitter/X any longer…and said he was a big fan. He said it just came out awkwardly.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 2, 2025
“Pitching Ninja is a real thing, and it’s become very popular,” he said. “But if that’s how you wanna find some info, go for it. It won’t be my source, but …”
Schriffen trailed off with a laugh, and his dismissive tone didn’t sit well with at least one Sox executive. Senior advisor of pitching Brian Bannister replied to Friedman on X, posting, “Keep up the great work Rob. Our sport needs more people that celebrate the awesomeness of what these guys can do. You’re one of the best things to ever happen to baseball.”
Schriffen, in his second season as a full-time major-league broadcaster, hasn’t posted on X since Aug. 3, 2024. He drew plenty of criticism in his first season, including another poorly communicated remark when he called out “all the haters” after a game-winning home run in April.
His next broadcast was scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, but the game is in a rain delay.