Sox Machine Podcast (Subscriber Version)

Rundown

• [Intro] Thoughts on the World Series as it heads to Los Angeles tied one game apiece. Early on it seems clear that the Toronto Blue Jays have to get to the Dodgers bullpen earlier. With how the starting pitching stacks up, can the Blue Jays win at least one game in LA to get the series back home?
• [9:33] First Base Review: It seems the debate to start 2026 is "Who should get more of the playing time at first base: Miguel Vargas or Lenyn Sosa?" What can the White Sox do to help Sosa defensively? Can these two help get the White Sox closer to league average offense in 2026?
• [24:10] Second Base Review: What does Chase Meidroth need to accomplish to settle the question if he’s the White Sox long-term plan at second base?
• [36:46] Shortstop Review: The position belongs to Colson Montgomery, as long as he's healthy. If Montgomery does miss any time, who are the best backup options? Is this an area where the White Sox could look for outside help?
• [44:25] Third Base Review: Who is the White Sox primary starting third base before the offseason begins? Miguel Vargas doesn't grade as a good defender at the position, Curtis Mead didn't show much offensively, and Bryan Ramos is out of options. Is this a position of need for the White Sox to find outside help?

Rundown

• [Intro] James Fegan is back and shares what his experience was like running the Chicago Marathon
• [7:05] Our World Series preview as Seattle suffers another heartbreak, George Springer's big moment, Shohei Ohtani coming off one of the best performances ever, Vlad Guerrero Jr. crushing this postseason, and our series predictions.
• [24:43] Two bold managerial hires with the San Francisco Giants bringing Tony Vitello from college baseball, and Kurt Suzuki agreeing to a one year contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
• [39:20] White Sox Catchers Review: With how well Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero hit, do the White Sox have a Top 10 catching unit in baseball? Also, it automatic that both Teel and Quero are with the White Sox to start 2026? What kind of possibility is there of one being dealt to help address other areas in the roster?
• [50:31] White Sox Outfielders Review: This is a unit that sorely needs to be addressed as only five outfielders are on the current 40-man roster, and both Mike Tauchman and Derek Hill could be non-tender candidates. What kind of outfielders should the White Sox target this offseason, and what are the odds Jerry Reinsdorf shocks the world by signing a big free agent?

Rundown

• [Intro] The Chicago White Sox starting pitching staff had a 4.39 ERA, which ranked 21st in MLB. However, the starters FIP of 4.89 ranked 29th in MLB. So if the rotation pulled off a minor miracle carrying a better ERA with minimal defensive improvement, what did we like about the White Sox starting pitchers in 2025?
• [10:59] On the flip side, what we didn't like about the White Sox starting pitchers in 2025.
• [18:00] Are Davis Martin and Sean Burke guarantees in making the starting rotation next season?
• [20:55] Any concerns of a Shane Smith regression for 2026?
• [26:06] Yoendrys Gomez made 12 starts for the White Sox this past season. How should the White Sox handle Gomez going into next season?
• [30:42] After sifting through the current White Sox starters, Josh Nelson begins building out his whiteboard of rotational depth. This practice includes determining when Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith join the team.
• [42:30] The hope for how the White Sox starting rotation could look like at the end of next season
• [45:43] If the White Sox are stuck in the clearance aisle when shopping for starting pitching help, which free agents could fit that spending limit?

Rundown

• [Intro] A few thoughts on the League Championship series. It seems like Milwaukee could be in big trouble heading to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, after a big Game 3 win in Seattle, could Toronto steal another game to send the series back to Canada?
• [10:50] The Bullpen Review is to help recap the previous season's production while looking ahead in how the White Sox could improve this unit. Starting with what we liked from the White Sox bullpen in 2025.
• [17:55] What we didn't like about the White Sox bullpen in 2025.
• [20:40] Does Will Venable believe in closers?
• [28:38] Will the White Sox revisit the idea of having Grant Taylor start games?
• [33:24] Looking at Roster Resource's projected eight-man bullpen for the White Sox in 2026.
• [39:25] Brandon Eisert has dramatic splits at home vs. away.
• [43:51] Josh sets up his 2026 bullpen whiteboard and is looking at two openings to find new pitchers
• [50:46] Jim pitches the idea of the White Sox pursuing Arkansas pitching coach, Matt Hobbs, as Ethan Katz's replacement

Rundown

• [Intro] Congrats to James Fegan for completing the Chicago Marathon
• [4:47] Championship Series Preview: Can Andrew Vaughn continue to be Milwaukee's hero in the postseason?
• [16:59] ALCS Preview: Blue Jays vs. Mariners - How Toronto focused on improving bat speed helped them overwhelm the New York Yankees.
• [29:38] NLCS Preview: Brewers vs. Dodgers - Does Milwaukee's regular season success vs. Los Angeles carry over to the postseason?
• [35:55] Chicago White Sox only have three players entering arbitration this offseason: Mike Tauchman, Steven Wilson, and Derek Hill. What are the chances that any of those three get tendered a contract?
• [44:54] The Savannah Bananas announced their 2026 World Tour, which includes stops in Chicago and Nashville. The Bananas playing a series at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, which seats over 100,000. If the Bananas can draw over 100,000 for one game, will MLB attempt to do the same in the near future?

Rundown

• [Intro] Best of luck to James Fegan who is running the Chicago Marathon this weekend!
• [2:00] MLB Postseason recap as the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers advance to their respective Championship Series. We've got two Game 5's as Tarik Skubal takes the ball for Detroit against Seattle, and the Chicago Cubs hold their ground at Wrigley to earn a return trip back to Milwaukee.
• [6:00] Travis Sawchik wrote a feature story for Driveline Baseball about how power ages for MLB hitters. What he found was a bit surprising as bat speed decreases, power numbers dip, and even plate discipline typically doesn't improve with more experience. The prime power years appear to be ages 22 to 26. So why are MLB teams not being more aggressive with callups to take advantage of a player's athletic peak? And for aging hitters, why Air Pull% is key metric for staying power.

Rundown

• [Intro] Catching up on White Sox news, lots of changes on the coaching front, including pitching coach Ethan Katz. What was the driver for not renewing contracts?
• [6:23] How do we assess Ethan Katz's tenure as pitching coach?
• [12:46] Are we surprised the White Sox didn't hold on to Sergio Santos?
• [15:45] Looking at team Stuff+ during Katz's tenure and how the quality of arms could make the next pitching coach's job tricky. If the level of talent doesn't improve, can they succeed where Katz couldn't?
• [32:12] Arizona Fall League will start soon but unfortunately Braden Montgomery is dealing with an ankle injury.
• [36:44] Who to track in the AFL?
• [39:51] What's the playing time strategy for Hagen Smith in the AFL?
• [44:02] The 2025 Chicago White Sox Roster Quiz. Josh, Jim, and James attempt to name all 62 White Sox players.

Rundown

• [Intro] A big thank you to our supporters at Sox Machine for following the 2025 season with us.
• [5:08] Colson Montgomery delivered a season highlight with his go-ahead two run home run vs. Washington.
• [9:31] Shane Smith finishes 2025 on a very strong note by pitching a gem in Game 162.
• [15:12] Initial assessment of 2025 season. While it was much better than last year, how do the White Sox make up the difference between their actual record (60-102) and their expected record (71-91)?
• [25:31] Thoughts on Will Venable's first season as White Sox manager
• [30:28] Michael A. Taylor retires
• [34:04] Sox Machine Fantasy Baseball Champions announced
• [35:10] 2025 Season Awards: White Sox MVP
• [43:19] 2025 Season Awards: White Sox Best Pitcher
• [48:15] 2025 Season Awards: White Sox Most Improved Player
• [53:21] MLB Postseason Predictions: Jim has the Mariners over Phillies, Josh has the Padres over Blue Jays

Rundown

• [INTRO] The Chicago White Sox slide in September has been disheartening. After starting 8-2, the White Sox are 1-11 in their last 12 games. What gives? Why did things suddenly turn sour for the White Sox?
• [8:12] Series Preview: Washington Nationals
• [11:19] What's left to play for with the White Sox?
• [21:11] The Birmingham Barons win back-to-back Southern League titles
• [29:55] Why Caleb Bonemer was selected as Baseball America's White Sox MiLB Best Player
• [37:39] Around MLB: It should be a very chaotic ending to determine who wins the AL East and Central.

The Chicago White Sox hosted a podcast row for their home 2025 season finale.

Rundown

• [Intro] Chicago White Sox Director of Player Personal, Gene Watson, joins Josh Nelson to talk about the 2025 season. What his highlight of the year was, how Watson and Jim Thome help with draft efforts, and breaking down how the White Sox scouts prepare for the offseason.
• [17:05] James Fegan stops by from the press box to share insight from his conversation with Brian Bannister. Why the White Sox feel that Hagen Smith is back on track, and why the Sox want Jonathan Cannon to stop throwing his sinker in pregame warmups.
• [29:21] Chief Marketing Officer, Brooks Boyer, joins Josh in podcast row. How the White Sox marketing tackled promoting a 121-loss team, what the stadium plans are, CHSN broadcasts, and why they stopped wearing black at home this season.