Sox Populi - A Chicago White Sox podcast

Kevin O’Brien is back to chat about division rivals, the Kansas City Royals. Kevin talked about what’s new in Kansas City and what to expect for the upcoming series. Chrystal also asked about the Royals who took part in the World Baseball Classic, and how Vinnie Pasquantino stole the hearts of many while on a larger stage. Lastly, Kevin talked about his visit to Rate Field last season and hot takes for 2026. The biggest: Tony Vitello might not last long with the Giants, given he’s on a similar trajectory as an old friend of the White Sox and Royals — Pedro Grifol. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ladies’ Night Podcast welcomes Ashley Sanders, Live Designer for MLB The Show, for a behind-the-scenes look at how the game stays fresh all season long and what it takes to bring real-life baseball into the virtual world. Plus, we talk Chicago White Sox baseball, highlighting a few bright spots and sharing a positive outlook for the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heather joined Chrystal O'Keefe to chat about all things Orioles. If you don’t like Pete Alonso, this episode might not be for you. But they chatted about his move from the Mets and the good he does in the community. The Orioles had quite the offseason, and have looked good so far this year. Heather also shared her insight on what to expect when the White Sox see the O’s, and what she hopes to see this season in both Baltimore and around the league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a stirring 5-4 sayonara White Sox win in extras, Malachi Hayes joined Brett Ballantini to discuss the highlights. They drilled down into the pivotal 10th inning and noted the extra gear the club found that we haven't seen in years. There was discussion, of course, of the two amazing arms who opened up the game, and the reasoning behind letting Grant Taylor throw only nine pitches in the contest. Finally, it was time to deliver some plaudits to Ozzie Guillén, whose jersey will be retired in August. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In anticipation of the Chicago White Sox home opener Malachi Hayes, Joe Kiang-Resis, Hannah Filippo and Melissa Sage-Bollenbach joined Brett Ballantini to preview the game and review the disappointing first week of South Side baseball. The podcast also includes a brief weather update, predictions for the series outcome and a deeper dive into the malaise and lack of focus that has so far marked the 2026 club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ruth Kapelus returned to chat with Chrystal O'Keefe about all things Blue Jays and helped preview the home opener series with the White Sox. Chrystal and Ruth also got a little romantic about baseball, especially the World Baseball Classic. Plus Ruth shared predictions about Dylan Cease, working through injury worries and woes, and figuring out threats, fears, and keys to the Blue Jays winning the series before sharing her hot takes and picking division winners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ely Sussman of Fish On First joined Chrystal O'Keefe to catch up on all things Marlins. In this episode, Ely talked about Spring Training and rooting interests in the World Baseball Classic, which featured several Marlins players. Chrystal took a temperature check on the 2026 season before moving on to the series matchup. A walkthrough of Marlins pitching and struggles is reminiscent of the 2025 and possibly 2026 White Sox, with a lot of rookies or second season players holding down the fort for an owner who won’t spend money. They also talked about the new rules and first hand experience with ABS. You can find Ely on Twitter and Bluesky, and over at Fish On First. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Dante Jones and Malachi Hayes joined Brett Ballantini in the aftermath of the worst Opening Day loss any of us can remember, a 14-2 drubbing in Milwaukee by the Brewers. However, as much as the loss was like Malachi's recent dental procedure, it is just one of 162 games, so the quartet attempts to focus on the positives both from this game and the season to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chrystal O'Keefe, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Joe Kiang-Resis and Hannah Filippo joined Brett Ballantini to discuss the excitement and dread of a new White Sox season. In addition to surprising predictions, new pocket schedule titles and friends along the way, the group drilled down into a Brewers series preview, White Sox season wins predictions, and determined that it was finally time for the White Sox to escape the AL Central basement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ten brave writers opted in to the South Side Sox staff predictions for 2026, and four of them — Brett Ballantini, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Hannah Filippo and Malachi Hayes — had enough courage to appear on this podcast and defend/explain their picks. In the case of one writer's pick of the north siders as a pennant winners, the decision was utterly indefensible and inducing of gastrointestinal distress. But that aside, we of course put particular focus on the White Sox, from season record to player MVP, and many categories in-between. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Baseball is back, friends! Jordan White returns to start Season 4 of Visiting Dugout, to catch up on all things Brewers and help preview Opening Day and the first series of the 2026 season. We talked about the mostly impressive highlights for the Brewers during Spring Training, trading Freddy Peralta and other offseason moves, and how optimistic Jordan feels about the upcoming season. Post-break, Jordan talked about what to expect from the pitching matchups – like Jacob Misiorowski's triple digit fastballs and 80-90 mph curveballs. Chrystal and Jordan theorized on who the biggest threat could be to the White Sox, chatted about fears heading into the series, and keys for the Brewers to take the series. Before wrapping up, Chrystal took a quick vibe check for the 2026 season as a whole, not just through a myopic lens. Lastly, they discussed the World Baseball Classic and how rancid Team USA appeared to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest episode of Ladies' Night sees Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Kristina Airdo, Hannah Filippo and Allie Wesel dive into 2026 White Sox baseball, highlighting why development and "vibe checks" are a few of the primary storylines to watch. From the big-league bats of Kyle Teel and Colson Montgomery to the potential of top prospects like Braden Montgomery and Noah Schultz, the ladies make bold predictions and break down why this season promises to be anything but boring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first edition of Sharing Sox since baseball has made a 2026 appearance, duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, marvel at the 19-3 run differential in the first two spring games for the White Sox. Then they go into the good possibilities (Munetaka Murakami, middle infield and catcher), the bad (outfield) and the possibly awful (starting pitching), wending their way through names and skills (or lack thereof). The conclusion? The AL Central is going to be so absolutely horrible except for the Tigers that ... well, will keep you in suspense on that. Plus, they take a look at the very crowded middle infield situation ... especially down the road apiece ... and decide who is best just cut loose to seek his fortune elsewhere. Or to maybe, possibly, with a whole lot of luck, bring back an outfielder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Spring Training opens, Kristina Airdo, Hannah Filippo and Chrystal O'Keefe gathered together with Brett Ballantini to get an early take on how the 2026 White Sox shape up: The feeling of having baseball back after a long winter With momentum moving forward into 2026, what are realistic expectations of these White Sox? Why do so many, within the fan base and outside of it, see this team as another 100-loss group? Hannah has been assembling her game schedule, Kristina has gone in for not one but TWO Opening Days, and Chrystal is all-in for Hello Kitty and Emo Nights, but who has made the biggest investment in tickets? The improvements, and setbacks, of this White Sox roster vs. 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three-quarters of our SoxFest coverage team reconvened to review the last event of the offseason, and the second straight White Sox event at the Ramova. Brett Ballantini hosted Kristina Airdo, Hannah Filippo and Chrystal O'Keefe who took some time to celebrate the highlights of the Fest, including: Personal interaction with players, including Anthony Kay and Kyle Teel Grandmaster Miguel Vargas A 100% choreographed Town Hall A continued lack of direction and cohesiveness at a small venue Positive vibes, through the roof Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is year's end, and what better time to look back and the best and worst of 2025, with Chrystal O'Keefe and Hannah Filippo joining Brett Ballantini for the proceedings. The good: Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero, Friday winning, the signing of Munetaka Murakami, some Rule 5 success! The bad: The bullpen and the rapid descent of the franchise to an all-time worst state Plus, some hot takes on Teel and Quero playing together in games and whether the White Sox are a lock to lose 100 or finish in last place again in 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hannah Filippo joins Brett Ballantini to discuss the unexpected holiday bounty of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami signing with the White Sox. The pair address the pros and cons of the move, as well as the anticipated effects the signing will have on the team, roster and front office. And yes, Brett mostly manages proper name pronunciation but, interestingly, turns Murakami's nickname from MoonAY into MoonEE throughout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh off of her journey to the Winter Meetings, Hannah Filippo joins Brett Ballantini to provide details on the Take the Field event. We cover her first impressions and takeaways, team meetings and whether or not the event met her high expectations (A: yep!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Ballantini is joined by our pre- and post-Rule 5 South Side Sox writers, Hannah Filippo and Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, in an attempt to wrap our heads around what just happened with the White Sox at the Winter Meetings. That's not easy to do, as the White Sox gained a prime young arm in Jedixson Paez — but lost one much closer to the majors (and thus a more viable a Rule 5 pick) in Peyton Pallette. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, wrap up the year by praising the White Sox player/team executive of the year (hint: He’s known by just a three-letter first name and some Roman numerals) for his work in getting the team the first pick in next summer’s draft, then admitting they don’t know how to pronounce the name of the most likely player to be that pick. As for actions that have already happened, there’s a polite shrug of the shoulders for most offseason actions so far. The exception being mystification at using up two of your allotted 13 pitcher slots for 2026 on a couple of Rule 5 picks who have never played above Single-A, one of whom only threw 14 innings last year – the mystery basically being solved by, “Well, it’s the White Sox.” Then there’s the perpetual chat about what to do with Luis Robert Jr. and any other trade prospects, by which we mean Kyle Teel. Plus, best wishes for the new year for all White Sox fans, because we need all the best wishes we can get. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 26 of Ladies’ Night Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Kristina Airdo, Hannah Filippo and Allie Wesel share their reflections, standout moments, and what it meant to be part of a night celebrating women in sports. Last Wednesday, they attended the Chicago White Sox’s Game Changers Summit, an event celebrating underrepresented voices in sports. The evening featured a live recording of Sidelined with Brooke Fletcher and Dani Klupenger, who were joined by special guest and Chicago-area native Kylen Mills for a candid conversation about storytelling, representation, and the evolving role of women in sports media. Special thanks to Sheena Quinn, the Sox’s VP of public relations, for inviting us to witness this inspiring discussion firsthand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The season now over for even the good teams, duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, delve into events of November – yes, there are some! We lead off with Justin Ishbia's in-person invitation to the Pope to throw out the first pitch for the first game at the new White Sox stadium (which, of course, does not exist and is unlikely to), though the invite could all just be a con job by the Sox to try to get holy intervention for a few billion bucks from taxpayers. From the Vatican it’s on to trades made November 18, not exactly blockbusters but worthy of note; catching a few thoughts on catchers; the latest prospect rankings, led by Noah Schultz and Braden Montgomery; and winding up with the possibility of no 2027 season and the likelihood the man working the hardest to destroy the season and baseball will be Jerry Reinsdorf, who now seems to not only hate players and fans, but the game itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Ballantini hosted Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Hannah Filippo and Joe Kiang-Resis to review our 2025 season predictions. Yes, forecasts from those not joining the podcast were also lauded ... and mocked. Highlights and lowlights from each prognosticator: Brett: Nailing the rookies and finishing second overall ... but picking the White Sox for 120 losses Melissa: Feeling good about the Yankees ... but thinking Andrew Vaughn would be team MVP Hannah: Picking Miguel Vargas as team MVP ... but finishing second-to-last Joe: Picking Aaron Judge as MVP ... but having Atlanta go all the way Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an audio-only joint, Malachi Hayes joined Brett Ballantini to discuss the inspiring (?) second half of the White Sox season and forecast what's to come for the club in the offseason: First off, the host can't even get the podcast episode correct, ah well Is the improvement in the second half real, or a mirage? There is evidence to support hope as well as cynicism; as Malachi puts it, best to just dip your toe in the waters of optimism, it's the White Sox after all Prediction we can immediately agree on: The White Sox and their lottery luck will find a way to NOT end up with the first overall pick in next summer's draft Second-most intriguing prediction(s): The White Sox will dump Andrew Benintendi or Luis Robert Jr. Most intriguing prediction: Either Kyle Teel or Edgar Quero will be traded Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices