Sox Machine

Show sponsored by Gametime. Save $20 off your next ticket purchase using promo code SOXMACHINE. Terms apply. Guest: Ken Smoller, Author of "Last Comiskey" Rundown [Intro] Chicago White Sox are swept again by Minnesota and manager Pedro Grifol can't be happy with how poorly the veterans are playing defense [10:36] Are the White Sox fun bad? [12:54] Andrew Vaughn had five hits against Minnesota. Is he beginning to show signs of life? [14:55] Can the White Sox play a big factor in who wins the AL Central in 2024? [18:44] Series Preview: St. Louis Cardinals [31:20] John Schriffen Minute with Jim Margalus [42:35] New book about the final days of Comiskey Park, "Last Comiskey" author Ken Smoller joins the show to reminisce about the old stadium Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 4/28/2024 Rundown [Intro] Highlights from White Sox GM Chris Getz's press conference before the Tampa Bay Rays series [4:02] Tommy Pham arrives and the Chicago White Sox sweep a series. Coincidence? Probably but Pham can bring a level of professionalism and quality in play that the White Sox are lacking from other veteran position players. [14:03] A very pleasant surprise was Andrew Benintendi serving as a hero for the White Sox with his two-homer game on Saturday. What is Benintendi working on to get out of this slump? [23:58] Erick Fedde keeps dealing for the White Sox as he almost pitched a complete game on Sunday. What's working for Fedde, and can this level of performance maintain? [31:35] White Sox announcer John Schriffen went viral for his walk-off home run call. Are we standing up for Schriffen or sitting down after his first 28 games as TV announcer? James Fegan provides additional insight in how Schriffen is trying to learn as much about the White Sox. [47:25] Series Preview: Minnesota Twins [55:16] Around MLB: New uniforms are coming, what happened to Randy Arozarena, and both the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels are struggling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 4/25/2024 Rundown [Intro] The Chicago White Sox are now 3-22. It's hard to believe how bad things have gotten, but it's believable how it's come to this embarrassing level of play. [5:21] Pedro Grifol's job status. Does it make sense to continue him calling the shots? [13:47] Best friend of the show, Dan Szymborski, wrote a column on FanGraphs about the White Sox chances of losing 120 games. Even if the White Sox do achieve the worst record in franchise history, what would it accomplish for the org? Would things actually change? [24:17] The Andrew Problem (Vaughn, Benintendi) gets worse [33:55] Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays [43:19] The Birmingham Barons are good again and could be a source for hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 4/21/2024 Rundown [Intro] With the Chicago White Sox swept again and clearly the F.A.S.T process is not taking hold, Josh Nelson suggests that Pedro Grifol should be dismissed if another sweep happens again in Minneapolis [10:52] Welcome back, Danny Mendick [17:48] End of the Lenyn Sosa era? [20:40] Reacting to Garrett Crochet's worst start [28:51] Jim Margalus shares his insight traveling to see Noah Schultz this past weekend [40:11] James Fegan interviewed Jacob Gonzalez and previewed that feature story [43:38] Series Preview: Minnesota Twins [53:31] Around Major League Baseball [57:50] James' MLB the Show experience was not the escape from reality he was seeking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 4/18/2024 Rundown [Intro] Jim Margalus shares his deep knowledge of Taylor Swift lore [3:34] The Chicago White Sox won a game! Despite the offense just scoring four runs in a three game series against Kansas City. Why does it feel like a chore trying to watch this offense hit? [13:30] Nick Nastrini MLB debut recap [18:11] Jonathan Cannon MLB debut recap [27:01] Erick Fedde looking like a good signing after four starts [31:04] The White Sox have a Martin Maldonado problem [47:42] White Sox television broadcasts moving to Stadium starting in 2025 [57:32] Philadelphia Phillies series preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 4/14/2024 Rundown [Intro] The 2024 Chicago White Sox set a new franchise low with only two wins in their first 15 games. Where is Chris Getz's head at with this awful start? Why is Pedro Grifol encouraging his players to enjoy playing the game? What's fueling this ugly record? [16:43] Hello, Tommy Pham. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the White Sox are close to signing outfielder Tommy Pham. Why are they making this signing now? In which ways will Pham get at-bats with the White Sox? [33:23] Hello, Nick Nastrini. The young right-handed pitcher makes his MLB debut on Monday versus Kansas City [44:39] Around MLB: Can Detroit / Cleveland / Kansas City make Minnesota sweat in the AL Central? The red hot Milwaukee Brewers and the ice cold Miami Marlins. Plus, Tyler O'Neil is the odd performance of the week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 4/10/2024 Rundown [Intro] Yoan Moncada is now out three to six months. Why do these types of injuries keep happening to the White Sox? [5:39] Is this injury the last we've seen Moncada in a White Sox uniform? [12:25] What's the White Sox gameplan at third base without Moncada? [18:48] Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley wrote about how Jerry Reinsdorf almost fired Pedro Grifol last year but didn't want more dead money tied up in managers. How shaky is Grifol's status with the White Sox? [26:08] Exploring the idea of Charlie Montoyo being the White Sox interim manager [29:55] Gavin Sheets is the White Sox best offensive player to start 2024 [36:08] Dominic Fletcher is heating up [38:45] Michael Kopech dazzles with his fastball against Cleveland [44:51] Debating on who should see more playing time: Martin Maldonado or Korey Lee [51:05] Series Preview: Cincinnati Reds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Air date: 4/8/2024 James Fegan joins Dan Bernstein and Laurence Holmes to talk about the White Sox ugly start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode presented by Gametime. Save $20 off your ticket purchases on Gametime using promo code SOXMACHINE Record Date: 4/7/2024 Rundown [Intro] Thank you to all Sox Machine supporters for allowing us to send James to Kansas City and Jim to Birmingham [4:01] Luis Robert Jr. impact [7:20] White Sox offense is awful to start 2024 [16:36] Problems with the Andrew's: Why Josh feels like Vaughn should be optioned to give him time to work on his timing while Jim ponders what Benintendi does well? [31:25] Jim recaps his visit to Birmingham in what should be a good squad for the White Sox AA affiliate [45:33] Cleveland series preview [52:40] Happenings around Major League Baseball: Oakland moving to Sacramento, pitcher injuries, and what's catching our attention Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode sponsor: Gametime. Save $20 off your next ticket purchase using promo code: SOXMACHINE Rundown [Intro] Garrett Crochet continues to impress as he's getting excellent results from his cutter and four-seam fastball. What should we pay attention to in his next start against Kansas City and when will the Sox start to manage innings workload? [21:00] White Sox are re-signing Mike Clevinger in an attempt to bolster the starting rotation [32:02] What the White Sox could really use is some help hitting the baseball. The offense is slumping to start the season and we are looking for hope in who can help break out of this funk. [42:59] Kansas City Royals series preview [52:09] Speaking of Kansas City, residents voted against extending an existing sales tax. Why this could be a harbinger of bad news for Related Midwest and Jerry Reinsdorf #BlueWireVideo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 3/31/2024 Show sponsor: Gametime - Save $20 off your first ticket purchase on Gametime using promo code SOXMACHINE Rundown [Intro] White Sox get swept at home to start 2024 by the Detroit Tigers. How is Pedro Grifol feeling after the opening weekend, and with three one-run losses, is bad luck partially to blame? [6:39] Good stuff: Garrett Crochet was excellent on Opening Day and is drawing comparisons to 2021 Carlos Rodon [16:47] Good stuff: Luis Robert Jr. had a multi-home run game thanks to his offseason training program [25:14] Good stuff: White Sox shortstops are hitting home runs again [29:45] Bad: Eloy Jimenez is hurt again and Lenyn Sosa is taking his roster spot [40:11] Bad: Benintendi, Vaughn, Moncada, and Jimenez really struggled offensively over the weekend [41:28] Series Preview: Atlanta Braves [49:38] Around MLB: White Sox not alone in getting swept at home, Bailey Ober gets batted around, and Mookie Betts is off to a crazy start [58:17] Announcement: Sox Machine is returning to 670 the Score with weekly segments #BlueWireVideo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Radio Show: Bernstein & Holmes on 670 WSCR AM Date: 3/28/2024 Josh Nelson joins Dan Bernstein, Laurence Holmes, and Leila Rahimi to preview the White Sox 2024 season and recap Opening Day Eve show at Ramova Theater Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Explicit Warning Live show date: 3/27/2024 Rundown [1:10] - Courtney Finnicum of Baseball Isn't Boring Podcast and Laurence Holmes of 670 the Score join Josh Nelson [25:45] James Fegan and Jim Margalus join Josh to talk about the opening series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 3/25/2024 Rundown [Intro] Pedro Grifol is a big culture guy. We'll hear a lot about culture this season when things look bleak for the White Sox. What does "culture" mean in this context and why is it so important to Grifol? [20:26] Kevin Pillar was cut but is now back. Robbie Grossman signed after Pillar was cut. So how does the White Sox bench look just days away from Opening Day? [33:09] Who is going to be in the White Sox bullpen on Opening Day? [41:31] How we feel about Michael Kopech being the White Sox closer? [48:12] Most interesting White Sox bullpen arms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 3/21/2024 Rundown [Intro] Shohei Ohtani is mixed up in some trouble thanks to his translators big gambling debt [12:57] MLB Players have begun a mutiny against the union [24:58] White Sox Food Day recap [31:21] 2024 Preview: Martin Maldonado [44:55] 2024 Preview: Max Stassi [52:27] 2024 Preview: How the White Sox SP rotation will start the season [67:14] James Fegan's conquest to create as many Chris Flexen puns as possible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 3/17/2024 Rundown [Intro] What we did on St. Patrick's Day [2:49] Pedro Grifol being coy who the Opening Day starting pitcher is [9:29] 2024 Preview: Andrew Vaughn [27:17] 2024 Preview: Nicky Lopez [34:28] 2024 Preview: Paul DeJong [43:47] 2024 Preview: Yoan Moncada Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 3/14/2024 Rundown [Intro] Chris Getz speaks about trading Dylan Cease and his hope of what the White Sox got in return from San Diego [9:41] James Fegan shares his insight on the White Sox direction post Dylan Cease era [13:48] How Pedro Grifol's job gets much tougher with a compare and contrast between his style and former White Sox rebuilding manager, Rick Renteria [34:59] Michael Kopech moved to the bullpen [41:50] White Sox rebuilding the starting rotation [48:05] What are the external options available for the White Sox in finding innings? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-WWlt0ORPw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Gametime. Download the Gametime app and save $20 off tickets to sports, concerts, theater, and comedy shows using promo code SOXMACHINE. Record Date: 3/10/2024 Rundown [Intro] Oscars talk as James will be upset about Best Actress award and Jim only watches Bluey [5:10] 2024 Preview: Andrew Benintendi [26:11] 2024 Preview: Luis Robert Jr. [37:51] 2024 Preview: White Sox right fielders [47:39] 2024 AL Central Preview: Detroit Tigers with Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Record Date: 3/7/2024 Rundown [1:41]: In honor of John Schriffen's early catchphrases, Josh pitches the idea of buying the rights to T.I. "Bring Em Out" [4:22]: Michael Kopech had control issues against the Dodgers, and after the performance, manager Pedro Grifol would not commit a starting rotation spot for him. Should Kopech worry about his role with the White Sox? If Kopech is not in the starting rotation, who would be? [20:36] Eloy Jimenez adjusting his hand placement has done wonders this spring. Is it the magic cure to get him back to his 2019 form? [30:27] Josh has another crazy thought: could Nicky Lopez be a 2 WAR player in 2024? [41:44] With the annual steak dinner bet coming up, Josh needs Jim and James to help set the line for White Sox O/U Runs Allowed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices