Sox Populi - A Chicago White Sox podcast

For our “bonus” SSS on the Farm podcast (24), Darren Black and Brett Ballantini discuss the best of the White Sox system, through the lens of this season’s South Side Sox MVP votes. Let’s jump right in! José Rodríguez is the unqualified winner of our Player of the Year honors, and there’s honestly not a lot more that can be said about his 2021 In a full season, Kade McClure just edged out Norge Vera’s 19 innings in 2021, so you can imagine which pitcher found himself the subject of more discussion Only three pitchers made our raw cut for the All-Stars, which is nuts beyond the terrible year White Sox pitching prospects had. How quick does Darren choose position players pitching to round out an All-Star rotation? Darren will be back for more Farm podcasting, once he’s out of brief hibernation after the AFL and before this whole minor league mess starts up again Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Farm podcast 23 we’re hitting the rookie leagues for some review, two teams with almost identical (bad) records. Arizona finished 25-34, 13th of 18 ACL teams, while the DSL White Sox were 26-33, tied for 33rd of 46 teams. But, there were some stars and some breakout performances. This podcast is a companion piece to Sean Williams’ ACL review and Darren Black’s take on the DSL season, so, enjoy those along with the chatting. Has the out-of-nowhere Wilfred Veras immediately become the top first baseman in the White Sox system? More Misael González talk The pitching was ... not good. And made worse by Thursday’s news that Tanner McDougal will be out for 2022 after Tommy John surgery Colson Montgomery and Wes Kath met expectations Norge Vera is aiming for Winston-Salem to start 2022, and might easily leapfrog to the top pitching prospect spot in the organization Worth asking again: Why don’t the White Sox max out their farm clubs? More players, more wins, right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finally, we come to the biggest disappointment in the White Sox system, great taste, no filling Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Ballyhooed as the gem of the system this spring, the CBs fell flat almost immediately, and ended the year with an almost statistically-impossible -275 run differential. Seriously, in 119 games, Kannapolis was outscored by 275 runs — 2.31 runs per game! Well, so what if our Low-A club opened a beautiful, new ballpark, with a new name and logo — and inexcusably flopped, at 40-79? There were prospects of note, and Darren Black and Brett Ballantini discuss them over 20-plus, fun-filled, commercial-free minutes: Have you read Darren’s season review piece? Well, it is live alongside this podcast, so go get yourself some. Let’s skip right past José Rodríguez, who started his incredible ascent in Kannapolis this season, and focus on mini-Popeye, Bryan Ramos — who in at least one sense is a more impressive prospect than Rodríguez The biggest surprise, at least among guys who came into the season with modest expectations (and/or came into the season not even playing in Kanny): Misael González Breaking down the triumvirate of talented starters (Matthew Thompson, Drew Dalquist, Jared Kelley), all who disappointed. What happened, and what is our reasonable level of hope for these three going forward? A brief review of season coverage records, as one of us is a good-luck charm, and one is not. And, a preview of coming attractions (yes, there are still two more Farm podcasts before the Rule 5 draft podcast, WOO HOO!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast 69, nice. The companion article that Joe Resis, Zach Hayes and Brett Ballantini address in the podcast was, again, the brainchild of Tommy Barbee. All three writers submitted entries for their top beef of the season, but we also cover the other six grievances as well. Here are some highlights: Zach spins a detailed yarn about his Feat of Strength, biblical in nature, with gore, bat racks, and a potentially peaceful overthrow of La Russa Adrian Serrano could not participate in the podcast, but wants to make it clear he did not kill Southpaw Seriously, could a clydesdale (Leigh Allan’s suggestion) manager better than at least the worst of White Sox managers? Affirmative Would Robby the Recapper be a better manager than La Russa? At least one of us says yes Joe is the only one of us to suggest a player-manager, and it’s a winner Brett explains his choice of a reunion for and redemption of Ricky Renteria Hamster selects the elefante in the room, Ozzie Guillén Brett laughs himself to tears, left so verklempt the tape runs out on him at the end fo the podcast There is more Soxivus to come, so tune in next week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Stolnis, Kris Willis and Ashley MacLennon set the table for the World Series showdown between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros! Presented by T-Mobile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Same Kanny hat for Darren Black, same black shirt for Brett Ballantini, and this pair comes back to chat on the Farm to talk Winston-Salem Dash on their weeklong wrap of the White Sox system. Have you read Darren’s season review piece? Well, it is live alongside this podcast, so go get yourself some. The Dash wasn’t the worst team in the system, but they did finish farther out of the race than any other White Sox. That, my friends, was no small task in 2021. Here’s how we broke down the 43-76 Dash: Coud Darren find something to say about the system MVP, José Rodríguez, that hadn’t already been said? Luis Mieses and Harvin Mendoza reclaimed legit prospect status after early setbacks and demotions to Kannapolis. What do they need to do from here to stay on the radar? What’s the proper temperature setting when it comes to excitement about Yoelqui Céspedes: scalding, hot, lukewarm, or cool? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, Darren Black and Brett Ballantini reassembled, put their Farm uniforms back on for continuity, and are hitting up the Birmingham Barons on their weeklong wrap of the White Sox system. Have you read Darren’s season review piece? Well, it is live alongside this podcast, so, dig it. Birmingham finished with a winning record — to wit, 15 more wins in 10 fewer games than the Charlotte Knights — and won its division. Yet still, they finished poorly, needing one win in six games in the last series of the season to make the playoffs — and failing that. Here’s how we broke down the 62-56 Barons: Was Jameson Fisher the team MVP? Well, yeah, by reader MVP votes. But that was a more a product of the best Barons not having a full season in Birmingham than Fisher’s individual excellence. Woof, did Yolbert Sánchez turn it on once he got his “age promotion” to Double-A Kade McClure sort of backed into Pitcher of the Year status in the system, but he made his bones for 2021 at Birmingham Carlos Pérez seems like he might be a promising catcher? Who can actually catch? Why am I uptalking this into a question? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As other teams mosey on through the playoffs, the White Sox head into the silly season of speculation on matters small and large, and SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast corespondent, Will, take a look at some of it. There are a few chuckles along the way, because most of the speculation is downright nutty — though they do agree if you want to pretend you can trade a guy who can’t function unless it’s the ninth inning and your team has a one- to three-run lead and it’s between 68 and 76 degrees and the wind is blowing in from right center at 8-15 mph with his $16 million contract for anything useful, you might as well decide you’ll get Mike Trout. And Shohei Ohtani. Elsewhere, there’s the usual looking for a second baseman and a right fielder. Why, let’s get Corey Seager to go with Trout! Need a backup catcher who can actually, oh, maybe, catch (unlike even our first-string catcher, whose framing has fallen to mediocre at best, and has never been much good at that blocking or throwing stuff)? Buster Posey seems a natural! Then there are more serious possibilities, such as whether Carlos Rodón should, or will, accept a qualifying offer (Will says yes, Leigh says no — Scott Boras knows the answer). Which leads to possible starting pitcher additions — Max Scherzer seems like a fine idea, and just as realistic as hoping the Easter Bunny leaves an ace in our basket. Speaking of baskets, we all know there will only be a small one as long as Jerry Reinsdorf has his tight fist on the purse strings, which will leave the rest of us as basket cases. That’s the fate of White Sox fans. But, hey, the offseason is for dreaming, so let’s all dream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Black and Brett Ballantini are back “on the Farm,” with a weeklong wrap-up of the White Sox system. First up are the Charlotte Knights, and Darren’s season review piece is live alongside this podcast. While the Knights were stunningly bad, with the very worst record in all of Triple-A, several successful prospects were shipped up from North Carolina to make an impact on the 2021 White Sox. Here’s how we broke down this 47-81 club: It would have been a neck-and-neck battle for team MVP, but Gavin Sheets’ success in Chicago left the crown to Jake Burger Lost in the incredible start and strange in-season Tony La Russa and retirement dramas are the fact that Yermín Mercedes had his worst season in a long time — at the wrong time Shout-out to Mike Wright Jr. and John Parke! Darren’s gentle reminder: Triple-A records mean nothing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast 68 has to be the best South Side Sox podcast ever, from theme music to Soxivus wailing. Wow, it packs a hilarious punch. The companion article that Joe Resis, Brett Ballantini, Adrian Serrano and Zach Hayes address in the podcast was the brainchild of Tommy Barbee. All five writers submitted entries for their top beef of the season, but was also cover the other seven grievances as well. Here are some highlights: Adrian talks about moving the goalposts, and why it’s fair to criticize a 93-win season Ringmaster Barbee addresses front office-manager kismet, and why it’s Groundhog Day once again heading into the offseason Joe, upset at the lack of a solution in right field, notes that two 2021 free agent possibilities last winter are still playing the LCSs right now Zach laments the business as usual modus operandi that fuels the front office Brett truly didn’t copy Joe, but expresses his discomfort with the White Sox punting its chance to acquire an impact bat last winter Hamster’s mockery of the managerial interview process seemed to get some kudos in terms of a sweet beef among the writers who did not show up and audibly wail over the 2021 Whit Sox And it’s a preview of things to come, but we will be addressing Feats of Strength rather soon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, the White Sox are out of the playoffs. Some of us wanted a White Sox/Red Sox series. Alas, that won’t happen this year. We’re putting on a brave face and hoping Boston knocks Houston out, so Keelin and Chrystal invited Red Sox writer Bayleigh Von Schnieder on the podcast for a chat. Who is Bayleigh? Meet a talented Red Sox writer, and learn about her Boston roots and why she loves baseball. You can find her on Twitter (@Fraulein89), on our sister site Over the Monster, and at Overtime Heroics. Astros/Red Sox ACLS preview: How will Boston deal with Houston? Bayleigh shares her thoughts and where she’s at in terms of confidence with her team. Fan gatekeeping: After the John Cusack incident at Sox Park, why are we still encouraging this behavior? And why is it worse for women? Women don’t owe you anything, especially pertaining to baseball in 1932. Tweeting about domestic violence: In light of Jeff Passan’s “heartwarming” tweet about Atlanta overcoming so much, think before you tweet or praise players who have a history of domestic violence and abuse towards women. How do we feel about spending, trades, and Tony La Russa: Bayleigh asks the tough questions — and we all reflect on the Chris Sale trade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of the whomping the White Sox took from the Astros in the ALDS, most every writer or commentator is talking about what a shelling it was and how bad decisions by the HOFBP were instrumental in the team’s demise. But SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, say the collapse was ordained in early summer when warnings from Steve Stone and many others went unheeded and the White Sox starting pitchers were horribly overused. (Listen to the numbers on abuse of Carlos Rodón, if you don’t believe us). They again raise a bunch of details they’ve mentioned before (and pretty much no one else has) about how much more Sox starters pitched than the staffs on any other team in baseball, both in number of innings, and, more importantly, number of pitches, given the quintet’s remarkably low efficiency and consequent high number of pitches per inning. Not that there weren’t terrible bullpen decisions during the series, and not that the HOFBP hurling idiotic accusations about the Astros intentionally hitting José Abreu five innings and three appearances after José Altuve was hit — on the seventh pitch of an at-bat, no less — wasn’t just one more display of what a classless, arrogant jerk he is. Do they say absolutely anybody, including a reasonably trained rooster, could have managed the White Sox to the AAAL Central title? Sure. Do they call for the HOFBP to be fired? Of course. Do they think there’s any chance that will happen? Of course not. And not that there wasn’t a lot of ranting about Astros and cheating and such, though the two disagree on whether cheering when Altuve got hit was over-the-top fan nastiness (other fan nastiness being perfectly fine). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, this isn’t the podcast we wanted to record, despite it being the one we knew would come eventually. Zach Hayes dashed back from the ballgame, Joe Resis scrambled to find his mic, Jacki Krestel paused her baked pasta, Chrystal O’Keefe made fart noises and Brett Ballantini and Darren Black decide where there were going for dinner, in an ACTION-PACKED half-hour of happy times and warm thoughts. No, of course that ain’t it. The Sox got rocked for the third time in the series, and there were thoughts on that, and other things: How did this great rotation end up throwing one less masterpiece in the playoffs than the 2020 ragtag clown staff? Blame to go around, but what aspect of the team contributed most to the series loss? Tony La Russa: impressions at season’s end Zach shares the atmospheric differences between Blackout Game 3 on Sunday and Blackout Game 4 today The best parts of the 2021 season, for each of us What to look for this offseason from South Side Sox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Monday’s rainout of Game 4, we found ourselves with some time to preview the rescheduled Tuesday tilt, so naturally Chrystal O’Keefe and Zach Hayes jumped on with Brett Ballantini to do just that. A whole buncha stuff happened since our last podcast, oh, approximately three hours earlier, so we got right to it: Momentum in the series and how the unexpected day off on Monday impacts it Lance McCullers Jr. vs. Carlos Rodón in Game 4, potentially the pitchers’ duel this series has been waiting for Ryan Tepera’s postgame remarks on Sunday night came off as a bit half-cocked, but really, can you trust a thing Houston says or does after the insidious cheating scandal that spanned the end of the last decade? Zach’s impressions of the Blackout Game Sunday (so good, he’s headed back for Game 4), and whether or not he feels he earned a hold or save as one of 40,000 screaming, blacked-out White Sox lunatics After chill dude who, hard to believe or not, claims to back both Chicago baseball teams John Cusack is accosted by an ignorant and mouthy fan who apparently applies that profound lack of knowledge to White Sox writing somewhere, we discuss the misbegotten notion of fan gatekeeping. During the playoffs, of all times No guarantees, but yeah, we’ve got our three most successful game recappers on the case for Game 4 Perhaps Brett forgets Chrystal’s name again Music from SSS writer Scott Reichard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trying to rush this up because hey, it’s early a.m. and boy oh boyo that was a long game. And a helluva game! Di Billick, Adrian Serrano and Brett Ballantini got together postgame in the wee hours, to discuss this super-fun win. Highlights of what we discussed, before Adrian had to hop on the El to make it to the park in time for Game 4 (slight exaggeration, perhaps, but just slight): For all the stats at hand, does Brett remember the exact final score? No, Brett does not remember the final score We discuss all the heroes of the game, with quotable stats: Tim Anderson, Leury García, Yasmani Grandal, Michael Kopech, Ryan Tepera and Aaron Bummer. The Great Grandal Controversy (or: A Great Defensive Team Decides to Throw a Ball Directly Into a Runner Then Cry Foul) Oh, hey, how about another hero: Tony La Russa What we’re looking for from Carlos Rodón in Game 4, and how the bullpen lines up behind him Impressions of the Blackout Game, 2021 Edition — and the measure impact it had on players Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two games down in the books for the 2021 ALDS, and yes, the White Sox are two games down. That said, it’s Blackout Night! And we wear black and Sox Park not to mourn, but to kick some ass. Host Brett Ballantini is joined by Jacki Krestel, who tonight will be one of just a few thousand folks in the park also to have witnessed Blackout Game I back in 2008. That good juju alone should make this a 2-1 series. After an excessive delay, but in a nick of time, this podcast also marks the debut of SSS writer Scott Reichard’s intro music, and if it doesn’t get you fired up for tonight, nothing will. Here’s some of what Brett and Jacki covered in our preview of Game 3: The roll luck — BABIP or otherwise — has played in the series so far The likelihood of that luck reversing with the series now in Chicago Particularly with Dylan Cease announced as Sunday’s starter, the senselessness of leaving Michael Kopech on a cold slab in the bullpen for Games 1 and 2 in Houston The ridiculousness of some social media claims, be they degrading the South Siders as a vastly inferior team to Houston, or that “fans” should not be allowed to criticize the White Sox You will never guess who convinced Jacki to get to the ballgame tonight — a convert from the North Side! Blackout Game memories — and how vastly different this 2021 White Sox team is from the 2008 division champs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This was a rough game to revisit, but a promise is a promise, and Zach Hayes, Adrian Serrano and Brett Ballantini got together postgame fulfill our playoff mission: a postgame podcast after every game. So, here’s how this one broke down: It was shaping up as a classic game ... until about two-thirds the way through At what point will we see Hall of Fame Baseball Person, Tony La Russa? Pick your favorite mishap of Game 2 Has La Russa given the Astros a huge gift with his bullpen management in Houston? Did Michael Kopech make the postseason roster? Picks for Game 3 starter among Dylan Cease, Carlos Rodón and Kopech Hey, Zach is heading to the Game 3 Blackout, Adrian Game 4 if played, so we take a quick measurement of how awesome that experience is going to be Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was not an inspiring playoff opener, but Zach Hayes, Joe Resis, Jacki Krestel and Brett Ballantini got together postgame to break down what happened, and how things can change going forward: Good Vibes Krestel turned into Bad Vibes, but by podcast end, she was back to at least OK Vibes Was it the offense, or Lance Lynn? Happy Zach Hayes — say what! Did Dusty Baker give the White Sox a gift with his bullpen management? In working some at-bats and starting to break through late, is the offense really as ramshackle as the box score might indicate? E tu, A.J.? All four of us predict Game 2 wins, although Jacki might be a bit more tipsy tomorrow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So here we are, on the doorsteps of the playoffs, mere minutes from ALDS Game 1, and who better to share in the anticipatory glory than your best White Sox friends in the whole wide world: Adrian Serrano, Joe Resis, Colleen Sullivan and Brett Ballantini? The quartet recognizes this game is so important, a whole new White Sox podcast has been created: the South Side Sox Pregame Podcast. Dig in, as the moments tick down to first pitch: What affect will José Abreu’s flu symptoms have on a crucial Game 1? Brett travels in time! Pros and cons, Lance Lynn starting Game 1 over Lucas Giolito Adrian travels in time! Who knew Seby Zavala could be so important to the White Sox’s playoff hopes! Possible uses for Dallas Keuchel in the postseason — and yes, nearly all of them involve the train at Minute Maid Park Carlos Correa, cheating scandal hero? Yes, Joe travels in time! Which locker room does Dallas walk into when the White Sox arrive at the ballpark in Houston? Bet you can’t guess who’s most nervous about the series — in fact, two of us couldn’t even muster a series prediction Colleen Sullivan absolutely travels in time Wave to Colleen at Game 3, Adrian at (the probably unnecessary, due to White Sox sweep) Game 4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talent from all around SB Nation come together to preview the MLB AL Playoffs as John Stolnis, Ashley MacLennon and Andrew Mearns debate all the biggest topics and make their predictions! Presented by T-Mobile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Funny how at playoff time, wonder twins Luke Smailes and Trevor Lines have come together to activate their powers as Dugout Metrics, once more! Yes, we’re all together again, for the first time since the trade deadline. Brett Ballantini asks the questions, some of them dumb: Obligatory temperature check on the regular season; even the metrics fellas are plenty pleased From a players’ standpoint, what’s the difference between playing a crucial game on the road vs. home? Did you read that question above? The gentlemanly Luke let Brett know in the politest way ever how dumb his question was. Still, Brett leaned in and doubled down with a question of day games vs. night games Asked for the regard in which they held both Dallas Keuchel and Reynaldo López, the pair agreed, in an answer that was actually sort of shocking, given how it could limit the roster What is the best-optimized White Sox lineup, and what has Tony La Russa actually been doing right with his batting order this season? Ever-debonair Luke even gets his webcam to freeze in handsome fashion Will there be a beanball war between old-school managers La Russa and Dusty Baker? Predictions for the ALDS — one of us calls it tight, the other two think it will be an easier series than anticipated Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The postseason is finally here, and SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, peer into the old crystal ball — or, where the Astros are concerned, crystal trash can — to foresee the future, because foreseeing is the only way to see the future. They start out putting together the White Sox 26-man roster, with 12 pitchers, 14 position players, and no one with the initials DK, but a surprise someone with the initials DM. Then it’s on to setting the pitching rotation, with a disagreement on who should be No. 2 and 3. No disagreement, though, on who to blame if one of those starters is weak from incompetent overuse during the regular season (hint: he has rings he’s happy to show any arresting officer who happens along). Finally, of course, they get to predictions for all the playoff series, including any that happen to involve the White Sox. Whole bunch of disagreement there, but for the best of reasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast 67 is our best ever, and that’s not just because we all learned how to properly hydrate and sing a new campfire song. This pirate broadcast began with Chrystal O’Keefe, Jacki Krestel and Joe Resis signing on with Brett Ballantini for some chat on the 93-69 White Sox, before we were interloped first by Adrian Serrano, then Di Billick. But Di did come with song. Here are some highlights: Impressions of a 93-69 campaign, and how much did the White Sox exceed expectations? Will a lack of “chaos” in the playoff grid — no ties/tiebreakers to be played — affect Chicago’s path to a title? Sing “The Dallas Keuchel Song,” with Di Billick Despite losing the last game of the Sunday, the White Sox finished hot and seemed to jell best at the very end of the season. Can momentum play a factor, through three off-days? True story: Houston’s pocket schedule this season replaced its team name with “Garbage Can-Kicking Little Baby Bitches” Why guitars are the hottest new wall decor among the SSS set And yes, it’s true, more coverage than you can shake a trash can at is on its way for the playoffs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

King of Prep Brett Ballantini, who 1) forgot the podcast episode 2) ran off-camera/mic during the podcast 3) let the “tape” run out on his outro, hosted No. 66 on Thursday with delightful guests Darrin Brown, Zach Hayes and Jacki Krestel. We touched on the Blackout Game anniversary, and looked ahead to the Houston playoff series. Here’s the highlights: Two guests not only were at the Blackout Game in 2008, but presented their towels Did Brett leave the room to retrieve his towel? Perhaps Did Jacki have a treasure trove of other promotions from the souvenir box? Perhaps Was Darrin alive for the Blackout Game? Perhaps Will we ever learn why Zach was punished at the time of the Blackout Game (though he is blessed with great parents, who allowed him to watch the playoffs even under house arrest)? Once again, we debate the wiser choice for No. 1 starter for the White Sox in the postseason. And once agin, we are deadlocked between Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito Who is player we anticipate seeing break out this postseason and potentially carry the White Sox to a first-round upset? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time since 2008, the White Sox are AL Central champions! And because it was so super-sweet to enjoy this moment, after 13 years, we doubled up on postgame podcasts! Brett Ballantini, Zach Hayes, Tyrone Palmer, Joe Resis, Jacki Krestel, Chrystal O’Keefe, Celeste Radogno and Tommy Barbee got together after the White Sox lost the nightcap of today’s triumphant doubleheader to talk about the journey: The biggest podcast, eight SSS writers, in site history! More reactions to the clinch f-i-n-a-l-l-y h-a-p-p-e-n-i-n-g A distinct lack of reactions to Brett’s Seuss party hat (however, the crew pretty much Blacked Out the podcast, hint, hint, Sox Who’s the pick for Game 1 ALDS starter? From this panel, a distinct advantage goes to Lance Lynn over Lucas Giolito More Tony La Russa talk; no, we are not sold However, Good Vibes Jacki Krestel insists on enjoying the moment and diagramming the playoffs tomorrow, when buzz of the clinch is killed Memories of clinches past How to employ the top White Sox pitching weapon, Michael Kopech? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time since 2008, the White Sox are AL Central champions! Brett Ballantini, Di Billick, Zach Hayes and travellin’ Trevor Lines got together in-between games of today’s doubleheader to talk about the journey: Reactions to the clinch f-i-n-a-l-l-y h-a-p-p-e-n-i-n-g Yes, Brett did crack out the Seuss party hat Who’s the pick for Game 1 ALDS starter? From this panel, slight edge to Lucas over Lance How much credit does Tony La Russa get for this division win? And is he a better manager than Ricky if he simply avoids constipation in a deciding playoff game? Is starting the ALDS in Houston going to pose problem? And no, you can get up off the ground, Zach, not only because Eloy will have to play defense in front of the choo-choo train Did Trevor ever find his bourbon, or his bucket of chicken? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The main issue this week for SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, is starting pitching for the playoffs, starting with extreme doubt the White Sox can survive Houston without a healthy Carlos Rodón, who has been by far the best starter versus the Astros this season. Lucas Giolito has also been good, but no one else has even been close to adequate, so fears abound. A look at starters’ performances against Houston this season is scary. So is looking at Lance Lynn against them in recent years. That led to discussion of the overuse of starters, especially Rodón — who had pitched only 40 innings in the past two years — by our HOFBP. And that led to the incredible inefficiency of Sox starters, by far the worst in MLB in pitches per inning. Will wants to shut down the starters the rest of the regular season. Leigh thinks that’s overkill. Before getting into starting pitching, or even delving into the poor White Sox record in the second half (below .500!) and terrible record in one-run games (HOFBP?), the two talk about what Jason and Stoney have been talking about, since the TV casters have seemingly dropped their concern about the The Three True Outcomes destroying baseball and started stressing how important home runs and strikeouts are. Go figure. And that still left time to bemoan the horrible deadline decisions by Rick Hahn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Black and Brett Ballantini took a few weeks off (!) but are back with the Farm podcast. With Birmingham, Winston-Salem, Kannapolis and the ACL White Sox all finished for the year, we took a look at good and bad surprises from the 2021 season. The curious case of Birmingham Barons late collapse out of the playoffs, including the first rainout clinch in recent history or memory Another bit of a 40-man primer, provided by Darren, re: Micker Adolfo There was no worse team in the system, May aside, than the Dash. Wow. Hey, remember Bryce Bush? Jared Kelley, and Kanny’s tragic tripod of terror rotation utterly flaming out in 2021 You know, everybody’s a Bluto or a Sweet Pea next to Popeye On that note, AZL/ACL whisperer Brett deems Terrell Tatum 2022’s Popeye And yeah, let’s talk about Darren becoming an Oakland fan, along with his dog, Connie Mack. Perhaps once he receives his official Bash Brothers™ steroid party pack, our core updater will return to White Sox fandom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the White Sox head into the final 18 games of the regular season, SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, gaze into ye olde crystal ball and see an immediate future mostly full of teams that wouldn’t even be in the major leagues if relegation existed. That, of course, bodes well for the effort to gain home-field advantage in round one of the playoffs, especially since the Astros still have to face Oakland six times and Tampa Bay three. The conversation then ventures into the more murky depths of the horrible inefficiency of White Sox pitchers, especially the starters, as evidenced by the nifty, 184-pitch game on Tuesday night, which was roughly a month’s worth of pitches for Mark Buehrle. That led to discussion of the old idea of pitching to contact (hello, Greg Maddux!) and Will enjoying a nice rant about how pathetic it is that pitchers these days seem to think going 3-2 on every hitter is a great strategy, and how detrimental it is to the game. That left plenty of time to talk about keeping Eloy Jiménez from hurting himself in the outfield, the importance of getting Adam Engel back from the IL, and using a six-man rotation the rest of the season (spoiler: We support it). Oh, yeah — also a little chat about whether to pick up Craig Kimbrel’s $16 million option for 2022. Very little chat — just two big capital letters and a bunch of exclamation points. Plus a bunch of praise for TA, YG, and LR. All of which didn’t even leave time to express dismay over having Zack Collins back in town, and the fact Rick Hahn left the Sox in the lurch, stuck with either Collins or Seby Zavala as backup catcher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As off-day became idle day, a couple of SSS yuk-sters came together to record. Di Billick is back on the mothership with Brett Ballantini, with a primary focus on Monday’s dive into the psyche of White Sox fans (and, you betcha, herself) in these bountiful times. But the two find time for other stuff, some funny, and some just perplexing. Sitaspell, take yer shoes off: Let’s talk about two profane dads, one lighter (Di) than the other The pros and cons of Tony La Russa steering the White Sox into October Does Di’s husband owe us an apology for 2006? Let’s review: RBI totals are severely reduced without baserunners Ear worm: Did Di do the voiceover for the commercial break you just heard? (If you found yourself with a sudden desire to enroll in school, yeah, probably.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s up with the White Sox lately? Have you torn your hair out at Tony’s getaway day lineups? Are you cool as a cucumber because a clinch is in the near future? No matter your mood, we’ve got a treat for you: MLB.com’s Justice delos Santos joins Janice for a jovial conversation spanning from covering baseball with on-field access to his Harold’s order when he’s in Chicago. Based in the Bay Area, Justice covered the White Sox series in Oakland for Scott Merkin last week, and had a bunch of stuff to say about where the Good Guys are headed this last month of the regular season. Justice shares his earliest memories of his love of baseball, including watching a DVD from 2002 to the point where he rattled off Barry Bonds facts in the grocery store, at four years old. A recent graduate of the University of California-Berkeley, Justice recalls an English class he had with none other than our very own Andrew Vaughn — and tells the details of their reunion in Oakland this past week. With a handful of guys on the shelf, Justice gives us an update on Tim Anderson’s hopefully-soon return to the lineup. Justice wrote last week that he thinks Dallas Keuchel is headed in the right direction, despite a rough stretch in his recent starts, and he explains why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s edition of Sharing Sox, SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, delve into the strange and wondrous world of the intentional balk — and the unintentional balk in its many manifestations as well, including manifestations that are clearly illegal but never called any longer. First, though, there’s the question of the massive inefficiency of White Sox starters when it comes to pitches per inning, an inefficiency that puts all of them near the worst — and one of them dead last among qualified pitchers (we’re looking at you, Dylan). How much will that inefficiency impact how worn-out those pitchers are by playoff time, especially given they’ve thrown many more 100+ pitch games than any other team? Only The Shadow knows. Well, maybe The Shadow and The HOFBP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Resis steps into the hot seat to sit down again with Brett Ballantini in a discussion of the past Royals series, and the White Sox prospects the rest of the way, and into the playoffs. It’s Brett and Joe’s sixth podcast talking to one another, stretching back over these past three years, and for none of the previous five did we think we’d be sitting pretty in early September just waiting for the season to play out and the playoffs to begin. Here’s what you’ll enjoy on No. 64: Brett’s perplexing Chicago Bulls dashiki The White Sox’s perplexing weekend in Kansas City Is there a member of the starting rotation we feel good about heading into October? Good cop Resis preaches calm in light of disappointing second-half results, pointing to the absence of Tim Anderson as a big factor in a stagnant offense Joe is a data analyst, or at least he plays one on South Side Sox; find out why he invokes Hawk Harrelson on two separate occasions in a half-hour podcast Props to Indy; without the Indianapolis Field Office of SSS, the White Sox would not be going to the playoffs, plain and simple Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the final stretch of the season, and SSS duty geezer and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, lean into lyrics from The Fantastiks to ponder the month ahead for the White Sox and how best to set up for the playoffs (spoiler: It involves staying healthy). With the Sox just a half-game behind the Astros for the second seed and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs (yes, we are assuming the playoffs — short of all the players with Cuban connections deciding to fly off to Havana for the month, that’s going to happen), the talk goes to the nice fact that the Astros have a much tougher schedule going forward, including a trip to San Diego this weekend. Pitching draws a lot of the conversation, from the strange but nice resurgence of Reynaldo López to resting starters to getting the bullpen in shape. Also, the two express wonderment that the Pirates were kind enough to throw high fastballs to Gavin Sheets Tuesday night, which may help show why, even beyond payroll, Pittsburgh is perpetually mired in last place in the NL Central. And, also on the wonderment front, they talk about the strong play of Leury García lately, and the bizarre disdain José Abreu and Yoán Moncada get from large segments of the Twitterverse. With all that, they somehow failed to mention Yasmani Grandal at all. And they decided to cancel the October series against the Tigers and end the season in September. Which would be a good idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Black and Brett Ballantini are back with the Farm podcast, talking over the September call-ups, catching depth, and the utter lack of starting pitchers in the system. Sound fun? Have a listen: Another take on the incredible Romy González, stressing the significant jump he took and the challenge of his defensive positioning That said, if Tim Anderson doesn’t get hurt, does Romy get the call-up? Darren says that the loss of Luis González wasn’t so bad, even if the White Sox ended up DFAing Jake Lamb a month later Has Seby moved ahead of Zack Collins on the permanent catching depth chart? Darren has a specific tell that indicates the answer on the White Sox end is yes Taylor Varnell retired, and we bid farewell, and note that there isn’t really a starter of significance as you move down the entire system ... until Norge Vera in the DSL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A tasty trio of White Sox analysts — Darren Black, Joe Resis, and Zachary Jeremiah Boom-Boom Hayes — join Brett Ballantini in a discussion of the final month of the White Sox season, and more! Peruse the exciting details of this podcast: The “State of the White Sox” — ensconced in first place, but motoring toward the postseason? How do you juggle health in the stretch run against the need to stay competitive? Is jeering the Cubs punching too far down these dark, northside days? Our 5/6ths season White Sox MVPs ... sorta really just one choice, but we still came up with three Javier Báez and the wisdom of the thumbs-down rallying cry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Di Billick Day! Here we go, it’s another new stellar addition to the South Side Sox family, quadruple-threat Di Billick. You can get to know Di better with her Meet the Players, and by listening to this here podcast. She’s also working the recap for today’s game, and has a first feature up, lip-reading today’s starter, Lance Lynn. We covered a lot here over an hour, in a really fun conversation: How booking a Chicago Cubs commercial could have broken up a marriage Can you find a better guy than Mark Buehrle? Absconding with souvenirs from Comiskey Park during its final season Both Brett and Di elect elotes as their go-to White Sox food; Elotes Devotees, if you will The bubble-gum L tradition that celebrates yearly tragedy at Wrigley Field Why has Di joined up with South Side Sox? Natch, because she can no longer sing about pee to a sold-out crowd every Saturday night Di’s love-to-hate relationship with Field of Dreams centers solely on one factor: Kevin Costner Actor Di Billick: “Actors are a dime a dozen ... what is the skill, pretending?” You’ll never guess who young Di high-fived at Midway Airport after the World Series win Cubbie stink: real or imagined? Ethan Katz: hero The early moment, like, a year early, when Di predicted the 2005 White Sox World Series win ... and so, what was her prediction for 2021? It’s not novel that Di didn’t want Tony La Russa as White Sox manager ... but who she’d like to see in the White Sox dugout next, oh yes, that’s pretty novel! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan again joins his son, Will, as a west coast correspondent, and they take a look at the latest tough two-week segment of the White Sox schedule. Well, OK, the only tough two-week segment of the White Sox schedule. The two have spoken often as to how this stretch would show just how good (or not) the Sox are, and guess what! It showed pretty much nothing, at least on a team level. That’s in part because a 7-7 split doesn’t demonstrate much, but also because all four of the series in question had oddities. The White Sox were missing Yasmani Grandal the whole time, Carlos Rodón much of the time and Tim Anderson for a few games; the Yankees were missing pretty much their entire team; the Sox nearly killed the A’s best pitcher in the second inning of the second game, leading to a devastated opponent; the Rays handed the White Sox one game with uncharacteristically horrible defense and then first Dallas Keuchel and then the entire Sox staff decided to return the kindness doubly; and the Toronto series was more boom-and-bust than a gold rush. Which brings us to That Other Team in Town. Will it be a sweep for the White Sox? Will it merely be two out of three? Will the Sox fulfill Will’s prediction of one game with a five-dinger barrage? Of course, there’s still time to talk about the wonderfulness of the starting pitchers (mostly), the horribleness of the relievers (mostly), and to celebrate not only the return of Yasmani Grandal, but the fact it means we won’t have to watch Zack Collins try to play baseball any more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the South Side leg of the Crosstown Classic. Our neighbors to the North head down to Guaranteed Rate Field this weekend for a three-game set that will be sure to thrill the masses. Our beloved White Sox look to claim the coveted Crosstown Cup, something I’m not sure even exists any longer, at least physically. Though the history of the intra-city rivalry has been filled with cheap jabs and sneers from both sides of town, we’ve definitely noticed that things are a little different this year. Joining in on this observation and adding further insight is our friend Sara Sanchez, from our sister site Bleed Cubbie Blue. There are plenty of frustrations on both sides of town, but for different reasons. Sam and Janice discuss the feast-or-famine trends with the White Sox offense, while Sara lambasts the Cubs front office for a horrendous trade deadline. It’s been a while since a good ol’-fashioned Crosstown trade; the trio examines Craig Kimbrel, Codi Heuer, and Nick Madrigal, as well as a brief retrospective on the José Quintana trade. Where does Madrigal fit into the Cubs’ infield, and the Cubs’ future? Has Kimbrel been misused on the South Side? Sara weighs in, having watched plenty of Cubs and Red Sox baseball. What’s at stake for both ballclubs in this series, besides the collective mental well-being of both fan bases? In the spirit of friendship, Sam, Janice, and Sara share what they love about the other side of town. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Black and Brett Ballantini are back with the Farm podcast, talking over recent injuries depleting the system, as well as three bright spots, all at the same position — and no, for once, it’s not designated hitter! The highlights: The serious lat injury to Jonathan Stiever reduces the starting depth in the system to essentially zero If the White Sox had to have just a few standout players in the system this season, thank goodness those standouts are middle infielders like Romy González, Yolbert Sánchez and José Rodríguez A little bit of Yoelqui Céspedes chatter, who has his eye, like Romy, on Chicago in 2022 The Arizona Complex League team has a lousy record and not much pitching, but the bats are alive there Darren offers his picks for September call-ups this season (just two this year). One recovers from a mysteriously lingering injury, the other represents the last upper-level arm left in the system Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now, you might think that Brady & Radogno sounds like a legal firm. It is NOT. In fact, the only one on this podcast legally allowed to provide legal advice is the host. But you would not want to follow it. However, Julie Brady and Celeste Radogno have more than just legal studies in common. They are White Sox fans! Also, ace writers with a taste for both the wry and the absurd. If Brett Ballantini was smarter, he’d be studying law with them. Or, maybe just fixing the game snax. Julie was kind enough to pause her relentless Minor League Update writing, and Celeste her move south, to chat with Brett about the White Sox of mid-August 2021, and more: Three laypeople’s takes on Lance Lynn’s belt removal during Wednesday night’s ballgame Given one of the three was currently encircled and perhaps even threatened by corn for miles and miles, how’d we assess the Field of Dreams game last week? As seen dozens of times on Twitter @DestroyBaseball, Julie offers the origin story of Maroon 5: The Menacing Did Celeste really melt the internet with a photo of a footlong hot dog? Do tube steak fundamentalists really exist? Both Julie and Celeste have been to live games, Celeste in four major league parks this season. What were the experiences, given the continuing pandemic? Oh, it’s a leading question, but is it possible that MLB could do a worse job marketing the game to anyone beyond stool bros? There is a unanimous answer to whether these three would remain White Sox fans if a family like the Ricketts controlled the ballclub Pet cameos: Chico Marx yes, Vinny no. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Both SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son, Will, are west coast correspondents this week, as Leigh and his wife visit Will and his wife and the duo take time out to record the show. Top of the news, of course, is the horrible injury Oakland ace Chris Bassitt sustained Tuesday when hit by a 100 mph line shot by Brian Goodwin. That got the geezer thinking back to probably the most famous case of a major league pitcher taking a shot to the head, that of Herb Score. Score, who came up with Cleveland and later pitched for the White Sox, was destined for greatness ... Rookie of the Year, led the majors in strikeouts two years in a row, perhaps the best young pitcher ever ... when hit by a rocket by Gil McDougald of the Yankees in 1957. Score recovered, but was never the same. What can be done about such injuries? The two discuss, but solve nothing. On a happier note, the discussion turns to the renaissance of Reynaldo López and the many possibilities for the back end of the rotation in the playoffs. Plus, they raise the question of how much chance you take on starters wearing out if you press to get the top seed in the American League. That one, they solve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week off, Darren Black and Brett Ballantini are back with the Farm podcast, with talk about recent losses in the system, and a deep dive into how the 2021 draft class debuted in Arizona. Here’s the stuff: Based on winning percentage on Darren’s 50-90 coverage record this year, Black is the Winston-Salem Dash. Brett comes closest to the Birmingham Barons, baby The losses of Luis González (to the San Francisco Giants on waivers) and Zack Burdi (to parts unknown) What the promotion of Mike Wright says about the stretch-run plans for the White Sox, and whether it prevents or eases Michael Kopech into the starting rotation for September or the playoffs Are there any parallels between José Rodríguez and Luis Robert? IF there is going to be an Arizona Fall League (hasn’t been announced yet), who does Darren and Brett draft for the team? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a game! We tried to do a spot-podcast last night, but everyone in SSS HQ was still high on what was the wildest and most thrilling (and, given the TV ratings, popular) regular season game in ages. So, the pivot involved me offering to join Sharing Sox for their Friday podcast, then just bullying my way into hosting the thing. Thanks to the Allans for their graciousness. For the first time since February, Brett Ballantini, Leigh Allan and Will Allan got together to talk. Was there corniness? You be the judge: Three generations of fans are represented on this podcast, so how did the spectacle sit with each? Tim Anderson’s value to the White Sox cannot be measured in mere WAR Why calls to replace Liam Hendriks as White Sox closer after last night’s blowup are hasty Does Carlos Rodón’s injury render the Dallas Keuchel vs. Dylan Cease debate for the playoff rotation moot? Where we all fall on the Rodón injury Panic-o-Meter Joe Buck swooning over Tony La Russa was to be expected. Foisting Tony love on Liam, however, is a bridge a bit far Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was shaping up to be a bloodbath, but just two Field of Dreams naysayers has the guts to show up for this podcast and attempt to convince Brett Ballantini that the film is trash. Colleen Sullivan and Jacki Krestel wax acidic on the film; in the end, no one shifted their stances. Here's a corny taste of this episode: Zoe Krestel the Wonder Dog makes an appearance, and Brett is convinced the canine is on Team FoD with him What is the excitement level over this very odd, midseason game? Is there concern over how Carlos Rodón is able to finish out 2021, given his heavy workload/Cy Young-caliber start? In a world where every other movie release is a superhero yarn, why is it so hard to suspend disbelief for a sports fantasy movie? The It's a Wonderful Life comp Colleen's synopsis of the movie is brutal, but not entirely inaccurate Colleen and Jacki both seem fixated on Moonlight Graham attending to the choking child vs. calling the paramedics — as if an ambulance is on-call to fish hot dog bits out of someone's throat in rural Iowa We agree that the end of the film, including "have a catch" (cringe) and car traffic, is pretty cool overall Seriously, why was Ray Liotta so important to this film that he not only is shoehorned in as Joe Jackson (!) but allowed to bat right-handed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve been on the internet in the last five years or so, you've no doubt come across, and more than likely fallen in love with, the YouTube series Hot Ones, hosted by the lovable Sean Evans. Sean is not only, for my money, one of the best and most innovative interviewers and media personalities of our time, but he also happens to be a big White Sox fan. This isn’t some casual celebrity fandom, Sean is dialed-in, and about as much of a diehard fan as you’ll find. Sean was kind enough to join the show in what is sure to be our spiciest episode yet. We talk about how a kid from Evanston, surrounded by Cubs fans, ended up with a love for the Sox. We gets Sean’s thoughts about the current roster, and if he thinks Rick Hahn did enough to bring another World Series to the South Side. We also get a peek behind the curtain as to what is took to bring what started as an obscure concept for an interview series all the way to the media empire that it has become. Sean has been parodied by SNL, collaborated on a shoe with Reebok, and most recently became a toy, but today, he joined North Side Sox for what is quite possibly our favorite episode yet. Hope you enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the heels of a stirring sweep by the White Sox at Wrigley this weekend, Joe Resis, Chrystal O’Keefe and Zach Hayes talk with Brett Ballantini about the series (this weekend, and their favorite moments of crosstown play), as well as some peeks ahead specific to roster construction and the postseason. Among the highlights: Ah, the joy of a sweep that just a week or so ago didn’t seem like it would be so easy César Hernández has been a beast What does everyone need to see from the White Sox between now and the postseason that might calm some jangled nerves? Chrystal’s favorite crosstown moment? Oh, just her wedding day Joe was digging A.J. in 2006 Zach opted for the Zambrano-Lee fracas in the dugout, and a Paul Konerko hitting masterclass Brett? Carlos Lee’s walk-off salami, baby As the pandemic persists, smart takes from our panel on how/when/why to attend full or large-capacity games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s another fabulous day for us at South Side Sox, as we get to introduce the second of our two most recent additions to the staff, whip-smart Celeste Rodogno. (Just maybe don’t play sports against her?) We even snuck up a story of hers early, before this intro day, with a very strong debut about: a calendar. She hops on with Brett Ballantini to talk about injuries sustained as a young athlete, her route to White Sox fandom, and the 2021 club. Some highlights: Vinnie the Wonder Dog The time junior high basketball opponents ganged up on Celeste to break her hip, then laughed about it (tough? yeah, Celeste didn’t leave the game) Celeste’s final pitching performance was a perfect inning — one that left her fingers tingling and her arm dead for days Her reaction to SSS’s offer of writing space? 1. They’re trying to sell me something 2. Is this a pyramid scheme? 3. Sure, sounds cool We trace Celeste’s route to fandom, which is also detailed at her Meet the Players survey, also up on site this morning Celeste’s White Sox memory constant? Not Southpaw, Nancy Faust, or fireworks — but Gene Honda How many people to you know who can still wear the first shirt they ever wore to a game, as a kid? Stay tuned for more on that one What’s behind the malaise the White Sox have played with since the All-Star break? Brett develops an on-the-spot theory as to why only hitters are getting hurt on the 2021 White Sox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a fabulous day for us at South Side Sox, as we get to introduce one of our two most recent additions to the staff, the delightful Jacki Krestel. (Well, OK, delightful now, but you didn’t want to dig in against her when she was staring you down in the batter’s box years ago.) She hops on with Brett Ballantini to talk about her playing career, route to White Sox fandom, and the 2021 club. Some highlights: Somewhat unbelievably, recent research indicates that Jacki faced fellow SSS writer of recap renown and Know Your Enemy fame, Colleen Sullivan. The two played on high school rival clubs. We don’t know the outcome of their matchup ... yet We trace Jacki’s fandom, which is also detailed at her Meet the Players survey, also up on site this morning What was louder: Game 2 of the 2005 ALCS, or the 2008 Blackout Game? Both Jacki and Brett still have their blackout towels. Brett is on active kitchen duty, to this day Jacki was confident the 2021 White Sox would be good, but what has surprised her most about this season? Jacki’s dad, who encouraged her and her sisters into ballplaying careers, had a pretty clever mantra for the importance of pitching, and it certainly applies to this 2021 White Sox team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the post-trade deadline edition, SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, rant about how MLB is killing itself with so many teams simply tanking and, especially, the AAALCentral becoming the AAL Central. That’s a benefit for the Sox, but terrible for baseball. The duo even have a solution, which will never, ever, come to pass — European soccer league style relegation, where bottom teams get sent down. Too bad it will never happen. Leigh breaks from his mold to actually praise Tony La Russa, giving the HOFBP credit for running out a sort of bullpen game Sunday to give his tiring starters much-needed extra rest, something he’ll need to do several more times before October. Then Will leads the rants about the horribleness of the ownership and front office of That Other Team in Town, actions and inactions of which, while again beneficial to the Sox, are completely disgraceful. And that’s coming from White Sox fans who hate TOTIT. Then there’s a cry to keep Seby Savala and send down Zack Collins when Yasmani Grandal comes back. Plus, the wonderfulness of the Next Man Up actions of the Sox offense, especially since the expected stars are all slumping badly ... but how many Next Men can there be? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices