White Sox TV voice John Schriffen’s nickname for Munetaka Murakami rankles team officials

For a guy beginning the final year of his contract, White Sox TV voice John Schriffen isn’t helping his cause to stick around.

The third-year play-by-play man sent shockwaves through the Sox’ offices this week after he bestowed a potentially racist nickname on Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami during the game Tuesday in Miami, the Sun-Times has learned. The Sox didn’t immediately provide a comment.

In the third inning, Schriffen teased a nickname for Murakami during his second at-bat.

“A lot of fans are coming up with potential names for Munetaka Murakami,” Schriffen began on the Chicago Sports Network broadcast. “I floated a few by him, and if he does something good, something big here tonight, [I] might just break it out. He has agreed to one of them that I think is going to be a real hit with a lot of people.”

Murakami connected on the next pitch.

“That one is crushed into center field,” Schriffen said. “Here comes [Edgar] Quero, he will score easily. An RBI single for the ‘South Side Samurai.’ ”

Schriffen emphasized those last three words, of which analyst Gordon Beckham seemed to approve, following excitedly with, “Whoa! Oh, baby!”

Sox officials weren’t as excited about the possibility of offending viewers. Fans shouldn’t expect to hear the nickname again.