Well, this was a much more fun postgame podcast than a week ago, on the heels of a dominating Lance Lynn performance and more Yerminating. The Indianapolis branch office, staffed by Joe Resis and Chrystal O’Keefe, again joined me for the discussion:

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On the heels of a rough, 3-4 trip for the White Sox, South Side Sox girded its collective loins and brightened its collective spirit to band together for a DELIGHTFUL pregame podcast in anticipation of Thursday’s home opener.

So much covered, in so little time:

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Naturally, the White Sox waited until SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, were recording this podcast to put Tim Anderson on the IL, so we talk about him maybe being back for the home opener. Guess that’s what we get for lashing out about the stupidity of ESPN’s apparent love affair with Tony La Russa.

Will attended the Little League game in Anaheim Sunday night — sorry, that’s unfair to Little Leaguers everywhere — and cringes in horror at the memory. Otherwise, of course, this is a paean to Yermín Mercedes, José Abreu being on pace for a 64 grand-slam season, Billy Hamilton’s .300 average, and the great pitching surprises from Carlos Rodón and Michael Kopech.

On the down side, there’s the awful defense to ponder, including wondering whether Nick Madrigal — a favorite of both but in a terrible funk — would be well served to spend time in Charlotte, if only there were a viable alternative. There’s the equally awful offense against righthanders to ponder, including whether Andrew Vaughn would be well served by some time in Charlotte once Adam Engel is back. And, of course, there’s a lot to worry about when it comes to starters other than Rodon and Lucas Giolito.

With any luck, though, by the time you hear this, the Sox 12-game losing streak against righties will be over, given they were facing the No. 6 starter of a terrible team on Wednesday afternoon.

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On Sunday, we had two staff writers and podcasters at the ballgame, chilling together in the Angels Stadium center-field stands, high-fiving over ... four unearned runs on three singles?

Well, no matter, it was live baseball, and while Will Allan wasn’t able to join us (check out his reax to a live game on Wednesday’s Sharing Sox), Bill Meincke hopped on with Brett Ballantini to talk about the experience, and exchange early takes on the White Sox, and other goofiness:

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Hey, look who’s back!

Our resident minor league update grinder and big-club analyst Darren (Black) Jackson hops on the podcast to talk about the near-misses of the White Sox roster. Nearly all of those near-misses have piled into the VW bus and driven north to Schaumburg, where they will work out at the alternate MLB site in hopes of getting into (or back into) the Show, not sent to Charlotte.

Key points in our tour of near-misses and four-A falderal, including a take on the White Sox roster that has proven hilariously bad three games in:

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Someone you might know from this very busy first week of White Sox coverage, Colleen Sullivan — you know, from the gamethread Sullivans, the recap Sullivans, the Know Your Enemy Sullivans, the season preview Sullivans, or even the Meet the Players Sullivans — jumps on the podcast with Brett Ballantini to dress down the rest of baseball, in our “trash the opposition” special.

Actually, not all of our time was spent trashing opponents. There are also some kind words, and one incredibly precise prediction that’s already come true:

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OK, well, that sucked.

Somewhat amazingly, it was three SSSers living in the Eastern Time Zone who managed to limp onto the podcast to discuss that painful, fall-from-ahead loss in Anaheim tonight.

Topics broached:

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We run a full five-pack of SSS writers at you, talking White Sox Opening Day!

Aside from crafty Sun-Times and Vanilla Coke product placements from Chrystal, here’s what went down, as the minutes tick toward opening pitch:

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As the regular season finally starts, SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, naturally delve into predicting what lies ahead, with an explosive device attached to the recording to make sure it self-destructs before they are proven so very, very wrong.

They delve into such questions as:

And even more, probably.

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Super Joseph Resis hops on the podcast to elucidate and defend his thorough 2021 season predictions piece, as well as address our dozen-plus staff predictions on the season.

Here’s what’s in store, as the season creeps one day closer:

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