Sox Populi - A Chicago White Sox podcast

Happy Soxivus! We are following up our first year celebrating Soxivus in 2021 with a full two months of festivities in 2022. This week, our companion piece to this podcast is the Best Games of 2022 story that much of this podcast refers to. We’re overjoyed to have Father Soxivus, Tommy Barbee — the man who hatched the Soxivus plan last year — with us on these podcasts. Joining Tommy to discuss worst games are Dante Jones, Jordan Hass, Allie Wesel, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Joe Resis, with the festivities hosted by Brett Ballantini. We discussed each of our Best Games, and in-between those “highlights” we took on some broader issues: It’s a sweater vest/sweater podcast! Note: Whether Worst or Best games, SO MANY of them were with the team at or just off of .500 Look for the offspring cameos! Play Who Caught COVID at Sox Park bingo When you have a .500 season that was drastically disappointing, you are going to have some “best” games that are actually losses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alas, Jim Click is already gone as GM of the Astros, making the hope of trading Rick Hahn (who would be willing to do whatever dumb thing any jerk owner wants) for a GM who knows what he’s doing and can’t be browbeaten a mere fleeting dream. So, SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, move on to talking about players. First, the news the White Sox are interested in A’s catcher Sean Murphy — as are maybe 25 other teams — but have no one they can trade for him and no way to unload Yasmani Grandal that doesn’t involve Tony Soprano. Then, proceeding through several of the predictions about where free agents will end up. Of course, even the few times the White Sox are mentioned as a possible landing spot for a top free agent are just for humor’s sake, because Hahn has said the Sox are more apt to make changes through trades, despite having no one any other team would want who wouldn’t leave a huge hole behind when he departs. Plus, we engage in some mandatory discussion about the team’s previous stupid moves, all the while hoping Pedro Grifol will somehow find a way to overcome them. Oh, and we do offer thanks to AJ Pollock for his voluntary payroll-saving departure. Thank you, AJ! See? Isn’t the offseason fun? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Soxivus! We are following up our first year celebrating Soxivus in 2021 with a full two months of festivities in 2022. This week, our companion piece to this podcast is the Worst Games of 2022 story that much of this podcast refers to. We’re overjoyed to have Father Soxivus, Tommy Barbee — the man who hatched the Soxivus plan last year — with us on these podcasts. Joining Tommy to discuss worst games are Dante Jones, Jordan Hass, Allie Wesel, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Malachi Hayes, with the festivities hosted by Brett Ballantini. We discussed each of our Worst Games, and in-between those “highlights” we took on some broader issues: At what point, among various times in the season (April through September, really) did the color on the mood ring change from “think we still got this” to “uh-oh” to “giving up hope?” A sidebar discussion of the various ways the White Sox were embarrassed nationally by events on and off the field in 2022 The effect Tony La Russa’s health may have had on his erratic decisions, and the erratic performance of the team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, shake off their initial “huh?” reaction to the new White Sox manager and join the mob of fans inspired by Pedro Grifol’s first press conference, whilst quietly hoping he really meant it when he said there would be consequences for players who don’t give full effort. True, there is disappointment there wasn’t a new general manager doing the introduction. Or, a new owner, or a new VP of Baseball Operations or CEO of Parking Passes or whatever it is Ken Williams is called these days. But you have to start somewhere. Excitement for the new guy done, the duo move on to a look at what Baseball Trade Values has to say about the future of the White Sox, given that Rick Hahn showed no indication there will be free agent signings of any importance (except, of course, in the amount of money he blows on stupid signings). Most of the BTV numbers are what you’d expect, from Dylan Cease and Luis Robert at the top to Yoán Moncada and Yasmani Grandal at the bottom. But who would have guessed Lance Lynn has even less value than Jake Diekman or Joe Kelly? How could anybody have less value than those two? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the (still unofficial) news breaking early on Tuesday that Pedro Grifol was the new White Sox manager, members of the crack SSS Breaking News crew saw the Sox logo beamed up into the night sky and assembled to digest the news. Tommy Barbee, Jordan Hass, Allie Wesel, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Joe Resis, Dante Jones and Brian O’Neill circled the Zoom table, with a discussion by sometimes-hatted, sometimes-dancing, sometimes-aching, and pretty much always-joking moderator Brett Ballantini. It’s an hour-plus of SSS takes on the hire, process, and ramifications on bringing Grifol on: Immediate reaction to the news Who really wanted Grifol? (Hint: Rick Hahn, because he has hired a manager he can best work with control) White Sox Baseball 2023: It Could Have Been Worse What’s one positive and one negative ramification of the hire? Brian questions the knee-jerk dismissal of the hire simply because Kansas City didn’t want him; Dante demurs Various panelists at various points are guilty to drinking the White Sox Kool-Aid To that end, Tommy is a bit incredulous (and disappointed) at the volume of positive spins put on the hire, when it’s just going to be same-old, same-old White Sox Baseball 2023: Safe Choices Speed round 1: Do you like this hire? Speed round 2: Was Grifol the White Sox’s first choice for manager? Speed round, final: Are you more or less excited for 2023 after this managerial hire? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Soxivus! We are following up our first year celebrating Soxivus in 2021 with a full two months of festivities in 2022. Last year, we picked managers who could dethrone Tony La Russa in running the White Sox. This week, our Feats of Strength take the form of programming a SoxFest, after the White Sox cancelled their official one for the third straight season. We’re overjoyed to have Father Soxivus, Tommy Barbee — the man who hatched the Soxivus plan last year — with us on these podcasts. Joining Tommy to program our Fest are Jordan Hass, Allie Wesel, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Joe Resis and Malachi Hayes, with the festivities hosted by Brett Ballantini. Read our accompanying Feats of Strength story on programming Soxivus Fest that much of this podcast refers to, please. Reviewing the short-sighted decision to cancel SoxFest for the third straight year — did someone cheap out on putting down the non-refundable deposit on McCormick Place? We can get up in arms about losing SoxFest and chide Rick Hahn for being afraid to face the music, but it’s the hundreds of young fans (and fans who cheer like children, there are many, no shame there) who really lose out On to our SoxivusFest, with Melissa explaining her Run Sox Run activity, which borrows from Herb Lawrence’s ill-fated sprint challenge during the season. We think we would fare better Joe’s Put Away Pitches event challenges fan managers to make the right call on 1-2. Anything better than in intentional walk comes away with a free SoxivusFest T-shirt. Tommy’s Manager Draft cleverly finds a way to cram all of the bad, recycled White Sox manager possibilities into one season, in a sort of college of coaches arrangement. There’s also an Inspiration Station that has to be heard or read to be believed Jordan comes through with two fun ideas, starting with Rick Hahn’s Mild Ride — duller than white bread. Also, there are outfield tryouts, and if participants manage to injure themselves in exotic (but, for the White Sox, predictable) ways, they’ll get a start in 2023 before Oscar Colás Allie stages an intervention for Hahn, with the intention of making him stronger in future trade and free agent negotiations and getting him a true Seat at the Table Malachi puts a twist on the Garage Sale of years past, where creative payment plans are not only encouraged, but expected Adrian Serrano was not able to join the podcast, but did provide events of his own, as well. Additionally, he created our Soxivus 2022 T-shirt available to order at our SSHP store The second half of the podcast — yes, this one is chock-full — addresses the Ozzie Guillén managing rumors. The panel is deadlocked as to whether the White Sox are actually going to hire Ozzie — who, let’s review, left the South Side the first time by announcing his new manager position during a game he was managing for the White Sox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trying to stay awake during what seems like a 5 1⁄2 -year break between LCSs and the World Series, SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, indulge in a little nostalgia. That nostalgia ranges from the prospect of the return of Ozzieball to the new book that casts Frank Thomas as much more Big Jerk than Big Hurt in his playing days (bringing on discussion of other White Sox Big Jerks). Then it’s on to funtime managerial speculation. And a useless suggestion to pick up David Stearns (who just resigned as president of baseball operations of the Brewers) to replace Ken Williams (who apparently is in the MLB witness protection program he is so unfindable) so Stearns can remove Rick Hahn, and that replacement can hire a new manager, who can then hire all new coaches, who can then turn over about half of the roster. Ain’t fantasy wonderful? And, as long as we’re fantasizing, we end up with a lineup that includes Dansby Swanson, Brandon Nimmo, and, of course, Aaron Judge, and a rotation that includes Carlos Rodón and Jacob deGrom. The World Series better start before we add Sandy Koufax, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Soxivus! We are following up our first year celebrating Soxivus in 2021 with a full two months of celebrating in 2022. Ready or not, here we come. We’re overjoyed to have Father Soxivus — the man who hatched the plan last year — Tommy Barbee with us on these podcasts. Joining Tommy to start the festivities is host Brett Ballantini and Jordan Hass, Allie Wesel, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Joe Resis, Chrystal O’Keefe, Adrian Serrano and Jacki Krestel. The official Soxivus kick-off comes here, with the Airing of Grievances: We kick off with the trio of Tommy (Hahn hiding behind La Russa), Joe (preposterous resource allocations) and Jacki (wherefore Rodón QO) with variations on a theme: Boy, were the White Sox general-managed like a clown show in 2022 Next up Chrystal and Adrian spoke of injury mishandling and bad planning Jordan aired her grievance on the utter lack of power on the roster Allie’s grievance relates to the initial trio, but specifically the ineptitude at the trade deadline — and smugness in handling the failure Melissa and Brett had thoughts on how the White Sox perceive us (as fans, web site writers, fellow humans, choose your poison); Melissa with a specific scold for smarmy Steve Stone, Brett repeating his beef with the fan-shaming and disregard that is coming in increasing doses from Rick Hahn and upper management A little bit of SoxFest talk, and an acknowledgement of our podcast-absent grievers Preview of coming Soxivus events, including Feats of Strength, gifts, quotes ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strap in, it’s a bumpy right and rough visit to Planet White Sox these days — but Trooper Galactus sees a possible sunrise on the horizon. He and Brett Ballantini discuss all things South Side in our second episode: An introduction to Trooper’s Should I Stay or Should I Go series, which indeed promises to point to GO when the budget insists STAY It’s not the injuries (that led to the 2022 team’s demise)! A sneak preview of Trooper’s Soxivus Grievance for 2022: Rick Hahn has hamstrung the White Sox for 2023 And finally, the three-point plan — free for the taking, White Sox — that will ensure greater success for those 2023 White Sox Bonus content: Manager talk (shooting for Matt Quatraro, expecting something much less) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recording at a time when each league has played two LCS games, SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, delve into playoff baseball, with the added touch that one of Will’s softball teammates works in the Dodgers’ office and could report on the dirge-like atmosphere after the Padres beat the allegedly best team in the game. Of course, that loss took some heat off the White Sox, who went from the most disappointing team in the majors to just the most disappointing regular-season team in the majors. Admiration for the quality of play in the playoffs, and hope the White Sox have been paying attention to the novel concepts of good defense, solid fundamentals and hustle, eventually gave way to talking about our own team. At that point, enthusiasm went downhill a tad, what with having no faith the Sox front office will be cleared out and that the same dumb decisions will be made with regard to a new manager and player changes. Naturally, any small spark of hope gets rapidly crushed when you look at how much payroll is already obligated for 2023, and how incompetently that money has been spent. But, hey, that’s what being a Sox fan is all about. As the great Bill Veeck put it: “If there is any justice in this world, to be a White Sox fan frees a man from any other form of penance.” Of course, we have Veeck to blame for selling the team to Jerry Reinsdorf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Soxivus! We plan on following up our first year celebrating Soxivus in 2021 (Airing of Grievances, Feats of Strength, Miracles, etc.) with a full two months of celebrating in 2022. Ready or not, here we come. We’re overjoyed to have Father Soxivus, the man who hatched the plan last year, Tommy Barbee with us on these podcasts. Joining Tommy to start the festivities is host Brett Ballantini and Jordan Hass, Allie Wesel, Dante Jones, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Joe Resis. The topic to kick off Soxivus, because it is timely and we likely will have no need to address it a year from now, is the manager search: The Calling of the Managers is running on site now, and addressed in the podcast. Two candidates found endorsements from more than one writer, and they aren’t hard names to guess. Pros and cons of Joe Espada and Sandy Alomar Jr. Tommy managed to destroy Ron Washington’s candidacy with a discussion of Ron Washington’s priors, which found Joe to be choosing another candidate entirely and for little support to remain among everyone else A lively debate of which 2005 White Sox player would make the best 2022 White Sox manager; Brett chose one, which at first blush seemed to terrify everyone on the panel However, once Brett’s vote was validated by swag and resume, the panel came around; your hint? He’s a seasoned and skilled manager — just not in this country What also-ran infielder with a cornpone countenance was one panel member’s first White Sox crush? Speed round: Is there any conceivable way José Abreu ends up on the North Side? Dante in fact has a suitable answer to satisfy both sides of town Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recording on the day three of the division series would end, SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, admire some of the playoff performances, especially by superstars not named Judge. That’s even more especially true for José Ramírez, whose full-out dash to first and second, then third, on a blooper to left in the 10th inning Friday should be shown over and over to young aspiring players. It also should be shown to every player on the White Sox (except Josh Harrison and Elvis Andrus, who are unlikely to be on the team again, anyway), over and over and over until they finally pay some attention and maybe learn that you’re supposed to hustle, not lope around the bases or stomp your feet in dismay or admire your work on a ball that ends up not being a homer. As for White Sox stuff, the two debate the virtue of Ron Washington as a possible manager, the virtue of getting rid of the entire Sox coaching staff — even if it you had to lose Ethan Katz to foist all the others into oblivion. They also debate the likelihood Andrew Vaughn will be able to adequately field at first base and to recover from his slump of the second half of 2022, and, most of all, what in the world Rick Hahn could possibly have in mind when he thinks a team with an empty farm system and no MLB depth could improve through trades. Maybe Hahn could trade himself. Should be able to get a decent hot dog vendor for him if Jerry eats most of his salary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Black chats with Brett Ballantini about the highs and lows of the 2022 Charlotte Knights. Hey, did you know that in approximately 95 of 150 games, the Knights used an opener rather than a proper starting pitcher? Now THAT is some terrific planning from the White Sox front office. See? You’ll learn some stuff! How legit a catching prospect is Carlos Pérez? He certainly has developed a power stroke! Lenyn Sosa and Yolbert Sánchez, prospects heading in different directions due almost exclusively to the bat Kade McClure segued from starter to pen arm, and acquitted himself rather well. Is he the next arm up in the 2023 bullpen? We wedged an AFL preview in at the end, which doesn’t serve you too-too well now a week into game play, but hell, Justin Jirschele is the top prospect there anyhow, and he’s retired OK fine, Brett got Darren to talk some about Terrell Tatum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, lament the probable departure of José Abreu, celebrate the departure of the HOFBP, and fervently wish for (futilely, they know) the departures of Ken Williams and Rick Hahn. They give credit to the HOFBP for overcoming his natural arrogance to make a nice departure speech, but no credit to Hahn for a pathetic set of excuses in his own presentation, showing once again that he’s not just a lousy general manager, he’s an absolutely useless human being. The big look back to the Monday press conference, though, is speculation of what Liam Hendriks meant when he said the White Sox need an authoritarian as manager. That’s scary, coming from an outspoken and very bright and observant member of the team, because it sure indicates a situation in total disarray. There’s some of the usual playing with end of season numbers and regretting the players and their overblown salaries the White Sox are stuck with next year, but you already know that those are horrible, so then it’s on to predicting the playoffs. The smart money will listen to every prediction Leigh and Will make, and then bet the opposite. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somehow, GM Rick Hahn took a press conference dedicated to Tony La Russa’s surprisingly graceful bow from active managing and turn it into a season-in-review shitshow of tone-deaf proclamations and empty promises. Brett Ballantini is joined by Jordan Hass, Allie Wesel, Dante Jones, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Joe Resis to discuss the turn, which we all knew was coming — just perhaps not today, of all days. We had zero additional reaction to the news that Tony La Russa was actually gone as White Sox manager. It was pretty well covered yesterday, so on to the main event! While knowing that Hahn will be spending it perhaps makes it OK for him to temper expectations for 2023 payroll, given the GM’s gaffes, the idea that he’s gonna stitch a silk purse out of this roster and minors system just smells like more “oh well, we tried” sentiment Journalism 101: When the GM piloting the worst stretch of White Sox baseball in at least eight decades that if he didn’t feel he was the right person for the job he’d step aside, you MUST follow up with a question that presses him to tell fans what he feels his strengths are in the job. Because, well, the are NOT OBVIOUS As Joe highlighted, Rick could not stay away from fan-blaming, with the odd response telling us that just two years ago, the management (uh, Rick, you’re talking about yourself) was up for awards, and won a division a year ago, etc. The deer-in-headlights act — as if managers (remember that guy who has YOUR NAME, Rick, Renteria?) and GMs don’t routinely get canned in spite of very fresh successes — is weak As Brett broadly brayed over and Melissa succinctly brought out, Hahn’s habit of talking down to fans in spite of well knowing how intelligent White Sox fans are is simply the wrong play. We in fact dedicate this podcast to you, Rick, in hopes that 2023 can be the Year of Respecting Fans Speed round: Presuming the White Sox remain mired in mediocrity, will the next chant be Fire [MANAGER] or Fire Rick? Dante and Allie went off the board with their answers Super speed round: Another fun guess at who the next White Sox manager will be. No Drake LaRoche this time, at least Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Ballantini had no idea this podcast would be so much fun, not after penning a recap as dark as he can remember reading on these pages. It’s a tribute to such a good cast — Chrystal O’Keefe, Joe Resis, Adrian Serrano, Dante Jones, Allie Wesel and Melissa Sage-Bollenbach — that we could all laugh through the tears stomach pains. The main topic was, what else, Tony La Russa’s rumored retirement announcement on Monday. With no team confirmation as of this writing, approaching 24 hours after Bob Nightengale’s “break” of the news, who knows what we’ll be reacting to tonight during podcast 124. But we’ll be around, talking about the clowniest clown car moment of 21st Century White Sox rooting. Gut reactions to the news that Tony will be gone range from bittersweetness to anger, as we page through our Tony La Russa scrapbook of nightmares Dante gave us an entertaining visual: A “let’s effing go” as he heard the news break on his morning walk We discuss the increasing frequency of the White Sox making fans feel like team and organizational failures are somehow their fault — and the Stockholm Syndrome we are all suffering from as a result Chrystal’s son played a recent game with a goal of “being like Eloy”; three guesses as to whether he ended up hurt One of Allie’s hills to climb is the fact that she “bought into Rick Hahn’s bullshit” The second half of the podcast begins with more of the gut feelings that the end of this utterly unnecessary era of White Sox baseball are generating in all of us; Melissa is feeling foolish and duped, while Dante is determined that the White Sox will not break his soul Three speed round questions to end the podcast: Will this Tony rumor prove real, if so will the White Sox conduct a true managerial search, and which White Sox legend will be the next manager once the front office gives up on the endeavor? There are a few easter eggs thrown into this podcast, and if you like what you hear, support the artists creating our intro music, incidental music, or outro song Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Black chats with Brett Ballantini about the highs and lows of the 2022 Birmingham Barons. Hey, did you know the Barons had a better record without all those blue-chip prospects added as part of Project Birmingham? See, you’ll learn some stuff: How José Rodríguez went from 98-pound weakling to Charles Atlas superman in the course of a couple of months! Davis Martin has lost his potent put-away pitch in the majors compared to Double-A, but hey, he wasn’t supposed to be in the majors yet, anyway The “new Martin,” Sean Burke, underwent an amazing transformation from first half-Bham to second, and holy moly was the second half better The parade of potential second basemen on the South Side continues beyond Popeye, to MLB debuter Lenyn Sosa and Wiffle batter Yolbert Sánchez Oscar Colás seemed to hit the ball farther and farther as the season wore on; what’s the key to him breaking into the majors in 2023? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Black chats with Brett Ballantini about the highs and lows of the 2022 Winston Salem-Dash. Hey, did you know the Dash had a .500 first half of the season, in spite of that ugly final record? See, you’ll learn some stuff: Bryan Ramos: most exciting hitter in the system? Luis Mieses continues his re-ascendance, from bottoming out with a demotion early in 2021 to holding his own at Project Birmingham by the end of 2022 And then, on the other side of things, it’s the dynamic duo that’s not been terribly dynamic, Matthew Thompson and Drew Dalquist; Darren breaks both down and predicts they start at different levels in 2023 Duke Ellis: Does this basepaths disruptor have a future that stretches beyond, say, Triple-A? Adam Hackenberg, No. 2 catching prospect in the system? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and current next room correspondent, Will, give the player of the week crown to Mark Payton because, who else is there for this past week, and, besides, he actually hustled. Beyond that, it’s a look back at the badness, including some horrible numbers for the whole season, a debate on whether it would be a perfect ending to show total mediocrity by ending up 81-81, or if that would be too kind an ending for this team. They delve a little into Trib columnist Paul Sullivan’s list of untradable players (long) and those for whom there might be some decent return (short). Of course, there’s also discussion of the elephant in the room — no, not Lance Lynn, you nasty person — and fervent hope that the HOFBP will not be back next year, whether as manager or in any front office position except Official Handholder to the Chairman. There is also a look forward to Rick Hahn’s end of season press conference, when he will blame everything on injuries, bad luck, phases of the moon and the invasion of Ukraine — everything except horrible decisions by the manager and himself, including, in his case, not only horrible acquisitions and contracts, but deciding that a roster that puts five DHs on the field at the same time was a good idea. (Hahn will not resign at that time, which is very sad.) At least it’s the last in-season podcast, so there is that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Mothership Podcast, starring Brett Ballantini, Chrystal O’Keefe and Joe Resis. The trio that has brought SSS seven separate podcasts — you might know them from Episode 105 (“Steve Stone”), Episode 38 (“Lynnsanity”), Episode 48 (“Fattening Up”) or even Postgame Podcast 2 (“Rodón No-No”) — have many, many things still to cover this season: Hustle — specifically, do the White Sox have any beyond Mark Payton, a Triple-A veteran hungry to get a roster shot somewhere in 2023? An ancillary La Russa topic: Presuming management is not fully to blame for a flaccid 2022, what changed this season to prevent the White Sox from being a factor in the division race? Chrystal brought up injuries to the question above, so we dig deeper there: Is there any way to prevent a repeat of an “injury-prone” team carrying over to 2023? The Tony rumors: We delve into the smoke signals in the front office, that there is a fracture over the question of keeping La Russa for 2023. Could anything have changed on that note in the past two years? We all take a crack at predicting the final two series, and season record, for the White Sox. Yes, .500 seems a pipe dream Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Black chats with Brett Ballantini about the highs and lows of the 2022 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Hey, did you know Kanny was a lot better in the second half with the 2022 draft class, after losing some players to Project Birmingham and Winston-Salem? See, you’ll learn some stuff: Lead story: 2021 second-rounder Wes Kath, and what is imperative to see from him in 2023 This Wilfred Veras guy ain’t bad Ditto DJ Gladney Colby Smelley was a catcher, now he’s a masher The most exciting pitchers in all the system saw time in Low-A this year, so let’s compare and contrast Norge Vera and Cristian Mena And not forget about out-of-nowhere, under-radar standouts like Kohl Simas and Tommy Sommer Is Jared Kelley back on track? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Black teams back up with Brett Ballantini to list out the highs and lows of the 2022 rookie league seasons. Hey, did you know the DSL team was the only affiliate with a better than .500 record? See, you’ll learn some stuff: The unmitigated awesomeness of Loidel Chapelli Jr., and why he won’t return Brett’s phone calls What happened with DSL bonus baby Erick Hernández? Wait, there’s a player who’s better than Chapelli on the DSL White Sox? Is the ACL almost a useless league given the late draft and massive roster? There was at least one significant step-up from the DSL in 2021, and that’s the emerging bullpen force Emerson Talavera What are the chances hit machine Darío Borrero goes from zero professional homers to, like, 30 next year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Mothership Podcast, pirated by Chrystal O’Keefe and friends. Chrystal, Allie Wesel, Dante Jones, Joe Resis, Jordan Haas, and Zach Hayes mourn the loss of a bad season: Positive moments with the recently deceased: DFAs, almost no-nos, surprise acquisitions, and putting Josh Donaldson in his place Guardians social media: Did the White Sox deserve the trolling? (And: Is Dante a jinx?) When did you know the season was over? The most painful sweep of the season Who would you like to see as the manager in 2023 if, by some miracle, the White Sox look outward? Roundtable: World Series matchups? Final thoughts/eulogy for the White Sox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, took a pass on maintaining hope for the 1/1,000 chance computer algorithms give the White Sox to win the AAAL Central (maybe we shouldn’t call it that any more, since Cleveland appears to be an actual major league team), did some of the mandatory lamenting about the horrible quality of baseball and spirit the White Sox showed not just in being swept by the Guardians but the entire season — except right after the HOFBP flew off to get his pacemaker jiggered (a small number of players excepted). And then, they looked toward the future. It not being polite to harp on the need for the death of you-know-who, they called for the immediate firing of Ken Williams, followed by the sequential firings of the entire front office on down to field level, including the coaches (except Ethan Katz, of course). That is what’s known in journalism as a #*%)@$ fantasy. On the field, they considered what to do with a team that currently puts as many as five players in the lineup who should only be designated hitters, promote the idea of having Tim Anderson come and finish the season — at second base — and once again suggest maybe it’s not a terrific idea to have your starters throw more pitches per inning than anyone else. Looking at what could theoretically be instead of what actually is got so exciting they kept going until Mr. Zoom ended the discussion as abruptly and assuredly as Cleveland ended the White Sox season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No. 120 (honestly, for real, it’s podcast 120) has the tone of a wake, naturally. But a fun wake? An unbelievable wake? A wake, with some facts sprinkled in? Attendees Brett Ballantini, Allie Wesel, Dante Jones, Joe Resis and Melissa Sage-Bollenbach invite you to mourn along with us: A review of the impossibly-disappointing Cleveland sweep this week Was this the Worst Case Scenario for the 2022 White Sox season? We’re torn between yes — and no, this is worse than worst-case Has it sunk in that the White Sox truly did fail to win in the middle of a contention window, when the rest of the AL Central had largely conceded to Chicago as the overwhelming favorite? 2023 season projections (i.e., is the DNA of this Tony La Russa White Sox club that of a .500 team, or a division winner?) Instructively, Joe feels the White Sox “won’t crap their pants” Allie interrupted her mental health break from the White Sox to sit in for this program and provides the White Sox their 2023 pocket schedule title in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a podcast today that boasts the best of both worlds. First, it’s some away ballpark talk with Brett Ballantini, Chrystal O’Keefe and Elizabeth Gonzales, the latter two being SSS writers who were at this past weekend’s series at Comerica Park in Detroit. One of these people is old enough to remember Tiger Stadium. And next, the playoffs have come two weeks early, because the White Sox have to treat this week vs. Cleveland as must-win. Here are some highlights: What number podcast is this, anyway? Hey, they don’t pay Brett to count The consensus on Comerica and Detroit en toto is positive — although, hmm, the fans are pretty chippy given they’re rooting for a dead-last place club. Clean it up, Rock City Still, Elizabeth grants Co-co Best Park status, or at least Best in the ALC status, while neither Chrystal nor Brett deem it so As for the White Sox, given Cleveland’s win on Monday putting it four games up, this week’s series is not just must-win, but must-sweep — so the playoffs, indeed, have come two weeks early Chrystal, who promised to keep caring, and keep caring WITH AUTHORITY, if the White Sox won on Saturday in Detroit; and Elizabeth, who is on the White Sox Train until (if) it derails, still acknowledge the South Siders have a hill to climb Advantages in the rotation matchups, which are pitting Cleveland’s top three vs. Chicago’s What role might fatigue play in Cleveland’s attempt to squelch White Sox hopes? Likewise, do the White Sox have advantages in leadership and/or veteran playoff experience that could factor in Final speed round gets goofy: Will José Abreu be back with the White Sox in 2023 — and will he (see Konerko, Paul, ca. 2011) be asked to player-manage? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As promised, it’s Monday morning, and you’ve got a fresh SSS podcast to squeeze tight all day long, with no White Sox baseball. Anticipating the off-day, Brett Ballantini sat in with Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Joe Resis and Jordan Hass to talk about, what else, the White Sox and their playoff chances. It’s more upbeat than you might think! Brett runs down the records and sees two pitching rotations, Johnny Cueto pending, taking each other on at full strength However, there is the gassed factor, with all the games (and extra innings) the Guardians have taken on over the weekend. Jordan sees a possible advantage Joe delivers the rough playoff odds, oof The consensus is that the White Sox will take two of three this week from Cleveland, which is almost certainly too little, too late. There is one dissenter who feels the South Siders with Sox up one close game and lose the series A speed round question: Does Tony come back this year? Again, consensus no, but again, one dissenter. But maybe Brett has a point ... Tony coming back this year, for a game or two, could be seen as his farewell to the game “on his terms” rather than his doctors’ Final speed round, will José Abreu be back with the White Sox in 2023? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the strange starting pitcher decision of Terry Francona providing the White Sox with at least some hope of winning the AAAL Central, SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, thank the Cleveland manager and look forward to the next series, with the Guardians and Twins facing off five times and the Sox getting a weekend in Detroit to hopefully enjoy, even though it’s rumored the HOFBP will be in the stadium to bring the team down. Also upcoming, of course, is a three-game series with Cleveland at the GuRF, which will be a whole set of do-or-die games for the White Sox, with no likelihood Francona will decide to again provide a batting practice thrower on the mound. Naturally, the discussion gets heavily involved with the elephant in the room, the gigantic ego of the HOFBP, who is reveling in his will-he-or-won’t-he game while everyone from players to analysts to fans yell at him (figuratively, at least some of the time) to deposit waste products or remove himself from the porcelain facility ... very much preferably the latter, as far a removal as possible. Oh, yes — also heaps of praise for Elvis Andrus and dreams of how good the White Sox infield could be with Andrus at short and Tim Anderson at second. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well lookee here, someone other than the White Sox, or Rick Hahn, or Tony La Russa made a boo-boo. The launching point for No. 116 is Terry Francona’s odd choice to take Cleveland’s knee off of our chest by pulling Triston McKenzie from Thursday’s start, handing the ball to a far, far lesser call-up and breathing some life into the White Sox. We review that decision, its ramifications, and more: So, really, what was Terry thinking? Allie offers an explanation, but it’s hard to believe the Guardians could provide such gentility For Chrystal, the season comes down to Saturday, when she will be in attendance at Comerica Park. Her number, tragic or magic, seems to be 1 Tim Anderson’s return seems more when than if, so what to do with Elvis Andrus when TA forces his way back into the lineup Could Leury García wear a DFA when Anderson returns? Brett and Joe collab on the numbers, and they say that the White Sox have less than a 20% chance to make the playoffs, and will need to go 13-5 the rest of the way to pass Cleveland — if the Guardians play just .500 ball Zach is hoping to see a strong finish to the season, playoffs or no, so that the front office will not be tempted to dismantle the White Sox core, but at least one of use wants to burn the front office down itself Dante is trying to find faith in the young talent unearthed in 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a while since we’ve brought you a new podcast, and Planet White Sox sees Brett Ballantini hosting longtime commenter-turned-writer Trooper Galactus. As you might imagine, there are opinions: The Tony La Russa conundrum, which is played out just how we imagined The incredible (dumb) luck that saw GM Rick Hahn acquire his two marquee free agent signings. The new market inefficiency is dumpster diving! A peek and Project Birmingham breakout Wilfred Veras, and why it may be OK for him to have significant swing-and-miss As progressive and sexy as it was pitched, is Project Birmingham turning out to be a rash and unwise move? Do the White Sox still have a chance this season? Trooper Galactus peers into the offseason crystal ball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White Sox completed a 5-2 West Coast road trip — and lost a half-game on division-leading Cleveland. Brett Ballantini and SSS writes Jordan Hass, Dante Jones, Allie Wesel, Joe Resis, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Adrian Serrano got together postgame to discuss whether it’s too little, too late — and much else: Now seven games behind in the wild card race, that ship has definitively sailed. However, the White Sox had a strong run and still couldn’t get any closer, ultimately, to the Guardians (thanks, Twins) The dynamics of Miguel Cairo vs. Tony La Russa, and the ramifications of any La Russa return this season; we know at the very least, Jordan is writing no more Tony stories Have the White Sox already found their next manager ... again, without a managerial search (no, not Cairo; but Gordon Beckham may know!) We could know as soon as Thursday whether the White Sox are actually “3 1⁄2 ” games behind Cleveland right now ... but almost certainly, they are due to the tiebreaker A breakdown of the remaining schedule, and whether or not there is enough weak wiggle room in the White Sox schedule to overtake the Guardians Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We joined forces with Elizabeth Gonzales at exactly the right time, after her road trip to Cleveland and now, onto Seattle and Oakland. Lucky us, she’s reporting on the White Sox action on-site, and will be writing up a de facto ballpark review/guide for both. It’s been just a few days since she checked in from Seattle, so now it’s time to talk about the smoking-hot team she’s watched take five of six on the road trip so far. It’s not a cut-and-paste, but once again Lance Lynn and Elvis Andrus were the stars of Saturday’s win What has gotten into these hitters?!? And is Elizabeth the lucky charm? We’ve all witnessed what’s gotten into this team on the road trip, but Elizabeth shares what she’s seen on the field pregame, in batting practice, in the dugout that seem hallmarks of the Sox resurgence Can the White Sox survive the return of Tony La Russa? Impressions of the Oakland ballpark experience: Hardcore baseball, no frills, but more fun than you’d imagine Meeting the Vaughns and Oakland P.A. announcer Amelia Schimmel, high-fiving La Pantera, and helping a family in need, the Irvins Is this the end of the ballpark tour for 2022? (Are you kidding?) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, revel in the White Sox scoring two touchdowns in a game, even if it was against a minor league team. But then, they worry considerably that the era of Miguel Cairo and the success and spirit it has brought is about to end, with the HOFBP saying he’ll be back with the team next week. Only with the White Sox would such a thing be allowed to happen, but when you’ve got Jerry Reinsdorf and two empty suits in charge, that’s how it will go. Will the Sox plummet back to mediocrity on La Russa’s return? We make an educated guess. Also, on the return front, the two agree that if Tim Anderson makes it off the IL, the White Sox need to keep Elvis Andrus and his stellar defense (and surprising offense) at shortstop, and move Tim Anderson to second to give the Sox an outstanding infield. Will that happen? Apparently only the HOFBP knows. Talk then goes to outstanding pitching performances, including Lance Lynn’s discovery that throwing a curve is legal, and on to action happening as the podcast was being recorded — the presumed passage of some major rules changes for 2023. They like the pitch clock, don’t like the restriction on pickoff attempts, and are fine with the restriction on shifting, thought they speculate — you heard it here first — that stadiums are apt to see major alterations on the size of their infield dirt areas depending on the structure of the home team. Infield dirt all the way to the warning track could be coming to a stadium near you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We joined forces with Elizabeth Gonzales at exactly the right time, in-between road trips to Cleveland and now, onto Seattle and Oakland. Lucky us, she’s reporting on the White Sox action on-site, and will be writing up a de facto ballpark review/guide for both. Bonus! Postgame reaction to a Lance Lynn masterpiece, and Elvis Andrus contributing all over the field Getting the first game on this road trip makes it seem like the White Sox are already playing with house money White Sox fan presence showed up in Seattle, and perhaps put jaded M’s fans on their heels! Have fortunes for the White Sox changed from dour to delicious in less than a week? Initial impressions of T-Mobile from Elizabeth: massive, and impressive The key element of a great fan experience? It might not be what you think, and Seattle impressed immediately Does a pop quiz catch Elizabeth on her heels? Coming up: Oakland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While we had several SSS staff members at Saturday’s one-hitter by Dylan Cease, only Allie Wesel was available to break down the experience postgame. Of course, she was the only one of our group to be celebrating a birthday at the ballpark on Saturday as well, so it’s fitting we get her insights on a very special game: Allie brings us right to the moment Luis Arráez slapped that base hit, keeping Dylan from the ranks of the immortals — for now Which SSS writer — texting from elsewhere in the park — gave Allie the early heads-up (perhaps WAY early) that something special was in the works? Brett predicts Dylan’s next start will go 12 innings, given his relatively newfound efficiency, pushing him from great pitcher to one of baseball’s elite Dilemma: On one hand, the need to use the restroom; on the other, history playing out in front of your eyes In just a mere few days, have the White Sox fortunes turned from outside-looking-in to division favorite? Is Sunday’s finale with Minny a must-win? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sure, the White Sox are playing baseball every day, but it’s impossible to ignore the giant vortex sucking all the air out of the room. So SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, spend plenty of time making wild guesses about what the heck is going on with the HOFBP, whilst, with most of the fan base, wishing him well — but a recovery somewhere besides the dugout. That’s if a recovery is really needed — lots of doubts about what’s really going on, and slams at the front office for being its usual useless self in providing information. (One apology from Leigh — it turns out the Mayo Clinic has actually opened a campus in Arizona.) As for actual baseball, recovering to win the final two games of a week when at least five should have been won didn’t exactly win praise, but it’s agreed sweeping Minnesota would do so ... though both scoff at YouTube announcer Yonder Alonso giving the White Sox a 50% chance to win the AAAL Central, which is five or 10 times the chance computer algorithms give. They also agree that probably no team from the division should be allowed in the playoffs at all, but that’s another story. As for the nature of play, Leigh points out that while the White Sox have been bad at booming homers, they’ve also been really bad at lots of things connected to small, or smaller, ball — last in MLB in triples and stolen bases, next to last in getting runners home who made it to third with fewer than two outs, etc. And then there’s the bizarre nature of continuing injuries that simply shouldn’t happen to professional athletes ... with Will proposing a solution every 10-year old is familiar with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a while since we’ve met some SSS players, and this time around, we’re introducing four at once — new writers Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Allie Wesel, Marj Raguso and Elizabeth (mysoxarewhite). Our newest injection of talent into the site sat down with Brett Ballantini to talk bout their path to the White Sox — and about the club we are surfing through the 2022 season with. Grandfathers and fathers — and in at least one case, defying a mother! — help set the stage for Sox fandom Both Allie and Elizabeth were stunned by the atmosphere of the 2021 ALDS Blackout Game 3, while Melissa reveled in the corn-swathed Field of Dreams Game and TA’s dramatics Each woman’s route to SSS, possibly involving presumed pranks Injuries dominate assessments of the 2022 season — and the team’s prospects for the postseason Marj suggests that an outright bad team might be better — or at least less tortuous — than this one-step-forward, one-step-back club we’re watching this year Speed round: most inspiring and most disappointing 2022 White Sox More speed: Favorite baseball movies And, final word: Field of Dreams, thumbs-up or -down? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Honestly, Scott Reichard’s regular theme music cover of Don’t Stop Believin’ just didn’t feel right for this one, so it’s a dry open for Brett Ballantini, Chrystal O’Keefe, Joe Resis and Jordan Hass. This podcast crew came together for a little broader, or higher minded, discussion of White Sox fandom: Expanding on a question that circled the podcast table last week, the vibe check here spoke of our gut feelings as a White Sox fan — how you started backing this team, and how this 2022 club might be disappointing in ways more than mere losing What broke in White Sox culture from 2020 (or 2021, even), to this year? A jaw-dropping conspiracy theory from Jordan, surrounding the La Russa hire We play another round of who to get rid of, if only one: Tony La Russa, Rick Hahn, or Jerry Reinsdorf Also: Will the White Sox end 2022 with a winning record against ... the Kansas City Royals? The panel weighs in, and it’s not looking good Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the slimness-challenged person of the female persuasion merely in her dressing room rehearsing? Is she in the wings, getting ready to come on stage? Or is she in full voice, belting out her signature song for the judges of White Sox Got Talent? Such is the sad discussion all around White Sox fandom land, and especially for SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and (back to) west coast correspondent, Will. Recording a podcast the morning after the debacle of the final game of the Baltimore series will tend a conversation in that direction, and with good reason. Also taking the talk in a negative direction is the way the White Sox as an organization handle injuries and injured players, which couldn’t be much worse if the decisions were being made by a proponent of leeching. Or if the training was being done by a peddler of oil of the cobra. A look at the computers predicting the season is not encouraging, Neither is reality. But it’s still possible the overweight crooner could come down with a bad cold and be unable to perform, isn’t it? And looking far ahead, the 2023 schedule will make things much rougher, and will José Abreu learn that the HOFBP will be back and flee to some organization that is actually interested in baseball? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Outrageous acts demand outrageous podcasts, and six splendid South Side Sox writers (Brett Ballantini, Chrystal O’Keefe, Joe Resis, Zach Hayes, Dante Jones and Jordan Hass) came together in the aftermath of the Michael Kopech Start to discuss our Chicago White Sox: Vibe check — not of the team and its prospects, but of your gut feeling as a White Sox fan Yes, in fact, shit show is two words Where were the coaching staff and catchers while Kopech was pitching injured, pre-game and in-game? Tony wants it both ways: The ability to make repeated rookie mistakes and the respect that a Hall-of-Famer Baseball Person merits The sickening feeling that comes with hate-watching the team you love As prices plummet, Zach and Chrystal look to take in a game together Jordan may not be heading to the park soon, for fear of decapitation How many microbets has Joe won, totaling pennies for the piggy bank? Which of our many audio clips will end up making the Told You So 2022 World Champion White Sox DVD? Quick survey: Who wins the Central? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hard to delve into White Soxery with a straight face after the 21-5 debacle on Thursday, but SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and current next room correspondent, Will, give it a try. First up, of course, the Houston series, with its decent 2-2 split and indecent finish, leading to the big question of what can be so wrong with Lucas Giolito. The duo wonders whether Gio bulked up too much over the offseason and lost the flexibility in his delivery that made him an elite pitcher. On the elite pitcher front, can Dylan Cease really be one when he throws so many, many pitches per inning and thus seldom goes deep into a game? A debate takes place. And, of course, there’s Elvis. Will new shortstop replacement Elvis Andrus do it his way so well Sox fans Can’t Help Falling In Love, or will we be sent to Heartbreak Hotel? Finally, pitching matchups in Cleveland. Unfortunately, it turns out the Bieber they’ll be throwing Saturday is Shane, since they apparently DFAed Justin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This extend-o-matic, fantastic blast of a mothership podcast features Trevor Lines, Joe Resis, Brett Ballantini, Jordan Hass, Dante Jones and Adrian Serrano. On the heels of a four-game series loss to the Royals, and with only three games left in the so-called “easiest” part of the 2022 schedule, it’s time to check back in with the club and its future fortunes. And, in the second half of the show, we assess both immediate and long-term fixes for what is pretty apparent is a dysfunctional organization. Round table thoughts on not even being able to split with the tanking Royals It’s clear that the manager is not an ace communicator, but how could Tony La Russa lead his club into calmer waters? Is Frank Menechino really the issue with the White Sox offense? And is it a launch angle issue — or an “all fields” one? Time to ’fess up — at what point do you give up hope for the season? What are the immediate changes we would make to the White Sox to get back into the driver’s seat and restore hope for 2022? Going beyond that, what are the bigger-picture fixes this franchise needs to embrace to avoid seeing the contention window slam shut as soon as it opened? Final bonus content: What are the odds of a premature, re-rebuild breaking out? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White Sox continue to be mired in mediocrity as they struggle with a part of the schedule a good Triple-A team could cruise through, but SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and current next-room correspondent, Will, dive into the biggest and worst news of the week: The injury to Tim Anderson that will keep the All-Star shortstop off of the field for most, and possibly all, of the 2022 season. Leigh has an answer: Andrelton Simmons. The multiple-Gold Glove winner is a free agent after being released by the Cubs this week, and the White Sox could sure use some defensive help. True, Simmons can’t hit a lick any more. Also true, his OBP is higher than Leury García’s and his K/BB ratio is less than two to one, so at least he puts the ball in play. Of course, no podcast would be complete without moaning about how poorly the White Sox hit, pitch and field, whilst giving thanks for being in a division where a horrible 82 wins might just win it. Even the professional prognosticators see no more than 85 wins for any of the three contenders, and one even has the White Sox as reaching that illustrious number. Meanwhile, as of the recording, five games were still left in the 19-game trek versus terrible teams, with the Sox 8-6 in it so far. Still, Will sees an incredibly uplifting Disney movie about the White Sox as they overcome adversity and a lout of a manager to win it all through friendship and love and all that really good tear-jerker sports movie stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s another mothership podcast, featuring the dynamic Indy duo of Chrystal O’Keefe and Joe Resis, undynamic Brett Ballantini and debut podcaster Jordan Hass. Given the lukewarm water-space the White Sox are occupying these days (and have occupied all year), it is a bit of a challenge to bring even a half-hour of excitement and analysis to you. But, as always, we’ve tried. Buck up, White Sox, sheesh. For a second it seemed like Brett was going to try to channel Bayleigh Von Schneider and turn this into a Soxy Chicks podcast, but lucky for all of you, that car crash was avoided ... ... in part because we enjoyed the podcast debut of Jordan. Appropriate for the club, her first word with us here was: MEH Rotation concerns Is the offense turning a corner? Brief trade deadline musings (yo, they have to be brief, there wasn’t nothing) Bright signs for the White Sox? Quickie predictions on the K.C. series Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was a trade deadline? Some teams improved their rosters? SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and current next-room correspondent, Will, find that an unusual thing to do, just as the White Sox front office does. It’s not like the Sox did absolutely nothing — they got a 35-year-old reliever who had walked 30 batters in 38 innings in 2022 in exchange for a catcher who was one of only two players on a team that is last in the league in defense with strong defensive value. It is notable, though, that that pitcher’s Wikipedia page says that Jake Diekman likes to take long walks on the beach. No mention of piña coladas. Cleveland did even worse, and their GM pulled a Rick Hahn right afterward and said he didn’t want to mess with team chemistry. Right. Somehow, though, commenters on the SB Nation Guardians site bought it. Must be drinking Cuyahoga River water. Minnesota went out and tried to fill holes on their roster by getting a solid starter and two relievers, including an All-Star closer. Shame on them for trying to win. On to the future, the duo talk about the 11 games left in the 19-game stretch of playing what are basically minor league teams, especially post trade deadline. Not that Texas gave anything away at the deadline, but they are being kind to the Sox by not pitching Martin Perez in the series and having Jon Gray on the IL, instead beginning the series with a lefty in his first major league game. With Cleveland playing Houston and the Twins facing Toronto, this is a big chance for the White Sox to surge to the lead. But will they? We make guesses. (For what it’s worth, oddsmakers make them favorites every game, the Twins and Guardians underdogs every game.) The longer question being debated, though, is how many of the next 11 games the White Sox need to win to show they’re a good team, how many just to get by, how many before it’s time for all fans to give up on the team unless the HOFBP is fired. (Hint: It’s a bunch of them, in either case.) Then there’s the question of why the hell the White Sox won’t say what has been wrong with Luis Robert. Medical privacy matter? Or just the usual incompetent WS PR with its complete disdain for the fans? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was Leury García getting picked off third by the catcher on ball four of a walk the quintessential White Sox play of the year? Quite possibly, but SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and currently next room correspondent, Will, heartily agree that it was at the very least symbolic of the way the team plays under the HOFBP. Two games into a 19-game stretch against terrible teams the record is 1-1, creating agreement the White Sox better go at least 12-5 the rest of the way or call it a year and maybe ask if they can go down to Triple-A next season, especially since the terrible teams will be even worse once they dump players at the trade deadline (or earlier, as with Kansas City sending Andrew Benintendi to the Yankees). Do the two trust Rick Hahn or his real boss, the HOFBP, to actually accomplish anything at the deadline? Of course not, even though the latest recurrence of Joe Kelly’s bicep injury — yet another indication signing Kelly was incredibly stupid — shows a strong need for relievers, and the continuing struggles of Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn show a strong need for a starter. In fairness, the expected failure is in significant part because the Sox have so little to trade that any rebuilding team would want, but that doesn’t make accomplishing something impossible, just difficult. There is some ranting about the incredible inefficiency of White Sox pitchers who consistently need as many pitches to get through five innings as opposing starters need to get through seven. Amazingly, no bad language is used. The biggest ranting, though, is about the total failure of the White Sox from office or the HOFBP to be up front and communicative about injuries, especially the “lightheadedness and blurred vision” of Luis Robert, which could be anything from a flu side effect to a very serious health problem. And as for the lack of real hustle and playing through minor injuries that permeate the White Sox lineup (except José and Josh), well, that was a rant where it was very hard to keep the language clean. (Including a reference to superstar Kris Bryant playing with plantar fasciitis, which is very painful, while several Sox have to sit out with tired legs). Despite the temptation, though, they did not go on a lengthy “Fire Tony” chant. Just a fairly short one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite missing draft coverage (pfft, slacker) this year and being fined an undisclosed amount in South Side Sox bux, Darren Black allows Brett Ballantini to revive the farm podcast and drag it into July with a top-to-bottom review of last week’s proceedings: The heretofore unseen (limited assets) logic of taking a gamble on a prep lottery pick in the first round Themes and trends of this White Sox draft What’s the deal with all the pitchers? What’s the deal with the lack of OFs and catchers? A quick look at the sole prep of the White Sox draft, Noah Schultz — and why he might not leave Arizona until 2024 Detailed notes on Peyton Pallette, Jordan Sprinkle, Tim Elko, Jacob Burke, Tristan Stivors, Nick Altermatt, among many others Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there White Sox fans, we’re back with another mothership podcast, featuring Adrian Serrano, Chrystal O’Keefe, Joe Resis, Hannah LaMotta and Brett Ballantini. This time out, we’re mostly centering on the transition to the second half of the season, and the marshmallow-soft schedule that looms on the horizon: Coming out of the Cleveland split, we round up the positives (Yoán Moncada!) and negatives (Lucas Giolito ...) about the team going forward Breaking down the criminally easy schedule from here until mid-August, how many of the 21 games do the White Sox need to win to assert themselves into the dog days? Presuming a playoff run, who will be the team MVP of the second half? Embarrassing or expected: Rick Hahn admitting a dire need for bullpen help at the trade deadline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time for SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and current next room (while he’s in Chicago for rehearsals of his new play) correspondent, Will, to gaze into ye olde crystal ball for the second half of the White Sox season. Unfortunately, a look at the first half is required first. Even more unfortunately, Leigh decided to be a meanie and look at White Sox defense. Sure, we all know they are the worst in the American League at catching and throwing and such things, but did you know that almost half the team that may be on the field at any given moment scores out as individually worse than perhaps the biggest defensive laughingstock of our era, Manny Ramirez? Alas, it is so. We provide some numbing numbers. Which brings us to the point of asking why the hell Adam Engel, who is terrific defensively, doesn’t play instead of people who not only have stone hands and arms but don’t hit any better than he does. It is a mystery. Or would be if the White Sox weren’t managed by the HOFBP. Speaking of playing more, did you know only one White Sox player — José Abreu, of course — has played in more than 74 games of the first 92? Guess we can’t make professional athletes work too hard. As for looking forward, Leigh and Will agree the addition of a starting pitcher is a must, and cite The Athletic’s suggestion of Kyle Freeland or Madison Bumgarner as White Sox fits and excellent options to pursue. Then they mention a third, more obtainable option. Hint: His last name starts with Q. As for the season outcome, they mention the future gazing of ZIPS, PECOTA, ESPN, 538 and South Side Sox ... but what do they then predict? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SSS duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and currently next room correspondent, Will, anxiously await the next fascinating intentional walk call by the HOFBP, with Leigh pointing out it takes a while sometimes for old folks such as the HOFBP and himself to remember a name, such as the name of who is at-bat. Or what team you’re playing. Meanwhile, they dig into the value of the strategy of always losing the first two games of a series, then winning what’s left. Is it effective? Is it disarming opponents? Will it catch on, with all teams trying to lose the start of a series? As for players, they agree Eloy’s return is unlikely to prove much benefit, if any, given he’s 3-for-26 since the dramatic home run return game. They see Seby sinking back to reality, but José continuing to be outstanding and a solid extension candidate, and Lucas Giolito and Johnny Cueto showing the rest of the staff that it really is possible to have a start where you don’t average 20 pitches an inning (you paying attention, Dylan?). But, of course, the cast couldn’t end without a discussion — OK, rant — about the Bob Nightengale column on dysfunction and cliques in the White Sox clubhouse, which certainly appeared to be planted by the controlling owner to try to deflect the blame for the team’s total flatness away from his pet HOFBP. The old adage is that when a team is woeful you can’t fire the players, so you fire the manager. But what happens when you can’t fire the manager? (Hint: You’re sunk.) Which, also of course, led to a call for a ticket-buying boycott until said HOFBP is fired. Which, very, very, sadly, won’t happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices