The White Sox Podcast w/ Chuck Garfien

Chuck Garfien speaks with former Oakland A's infielder Chad Pinder who is now in his first season as manager for Class-A Kannapolis. Chad talks about driving in the game-winning run against the White Sox in the 2020 Wildcard Series to joining the White Sox organization as a first time manager and why. Plus, how the Cannon Ballers are on the attack this year, leading the entire minor leagues in stolen bases. He gives his impressions of top prospects Braden Montgomery, George Wolkow, and Caleb Bonemer plus under-the-radar prospect Javier Mogollon and why he has a lot of faith in the White Sox future.

Chuck Garfien and Ozzie Guillen answer questions from White Sox fans. What are the positives they’ve seen comparing 2025 to 2024? When will the White Sox be contenders again? When will Tim Elko be called up? Should Cam Booser be the closer? Who was Ozzie’s biggest rival as manager? And more!

It took a lot for Shane Smith to get here. A pandemic wiped out one season. Tommy John surgery ended another. Chuck Garfien speaks with Smith about his baseball journey, how he ended up with the White Sox in the Rule-5 Draft, the pitch mix that has fooled the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez, how much his parents have meant to him in his career and more.

It didn’t take long for Chase Meidroth to make an impact with the White Sox. Chuck Garfien speaks with CHSN field reporter Brooke Fletcher about the rookie infielder who made history in his MLB debut and prevented history by breaking up Garrett Crochet’s no-hitter in the 8th inning against his former team. Chuck and Brooke share stories about conversations they’ve had with Chase, what other people are saying about him, they give their early thoughts about Will Venable as manager and more.

Dan Plesac knows pitching. He pitched 18 years in the majors and follows every team in the majors on MLB Network. He joined Chuck Garfien on the podcast to talk about White Sox rookie Shane Smith who has dominated the Guardians and Twins in his first two major league starts. They also discuss how Dan grew up a diehard White Sox fan, his unfulfilled dream of pitching for the White Sox, the current rebuild and hope for the future, calling 21 White Sox games later this season and more.

Chuck Garfien and White Sox field reporter Connor McKnight discuss the White Sox slow start to the season. They share what they’ve liked and haven’t liked so far, the biggest overreactions to what’s happened, which players are flying under the radar, early season hot takes and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with outfielder Travis Jankowski who asked out of his contract with the Cubs during spring training to sign with the White Sox. The 11-year veteran talks about what attracted him to the South Side, the kind of baseball the White Sox will play this year, his relationship with manager Will Venable, making the best catch of his life when he robbed Andrew Vaughn of a game-winning home run last season, the loudest voices in the White Sox clubhouse and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with White Sox catcher Korey Lee about Sean Burke, Shane Smith and a starting rotation that has been on fire to begin the season. Lee also talks about his new and improved batting stance and mechanical change, Andrew Vaughn’s impact on his career, what manager Will Venable has brought to the team and more.

Chuck and Ozzie are back together, talking all things White Sox in this 2025 season preview. What advice would Ozzie give to new manager Will Venable? What should your expectations be for this season? Is there a chance the White Sox surprise people in 2025? Is a breakout season coming for Lenyn Sosa? Plus, they discuss Luis Robert Jr., Sean Burke, Miguel Vargas, Ozzie’s bold prediction for 2025 and much more.

What will happen with the White Sox in 2025? Chuck Garfien, Connor McKnight and Brooke Fletcher are looking into the future to make predictions for 2025. Who will be the best offseason addition? Who will be the most improved player? Who will be the best prospect of the year? When will Colson Montgomery make his major league debut? How many wins? Plus, bold predictions, hot takes and more!

With Opening Day just one week away, Chuck Garfien sits down with GM Chris Getz to get a pulse of the team and what’s happening behind the scenes with the White Sox as they get ready for the season. Getz explains why he believes this rebuild will be different than the last one, Will Venable’s affect on the team in his first year as manager, the player the White Sox received in the Garrett Crochet trade the Red Sox didn’t want to give up, current trade talk for Luis Robert Jr., if Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith could make it to the majors this season, if the White Sox will surprise people in 2025 and much more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with White Sox insider and field reporter Connor McKnight about his new job covering the team. They then talk about 10 players who have been spring training surprises in camp: Brandon Drury, Miguel Vargas, Shane Smith, Penn Murfree and William Bergolla and more!

Chuck Garfien speaks with White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth about his knack for getting on base, his favorite stat in baseball, his favorite player, winning baseball, his love for hitting with two strikes, getting his uniform dirty, his dream of reaching the majors and more.

Chuck Garfien and White Sox sideline reporter Brooke Fletcher react to the news that shortstop Colson Montgomery will not make the team out of spring training. Chris Getz and Will Venable explain why Montgomery will begin the season in Triple-A. Plus, who might be the starting shortstop on Opening Day? Then, Chuck speaks with Dylan Cease after he faced the White Sox almost one year to the day that he was traded.

Chuck Garfien speaks with pitcher Justin Dunn, a former first round pick and top prospect who is trying to make a comeback with the White Sox. They talk about Justin’s upbringing in New York, his younger brother Ryan who is a rookie with the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant coming to watch him pitch in a Cactus League game last week, Justin not giving up his dream of pitching once again in the big leagues and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with White Sox pitcher Sean Burke about growing up pitching in cold weather in Massachusetts, coming back from a shoulder injury last season, wanting to be “a horse” in the starting rotation this year, the future Hall of Famer he wants to pitch like in the majors, giving White Sox fans hope for the future and more!

You won’t find 5-foot-6 second baseman Rikuu Nishida on any White Sox top 30 prospect lists, but the 23-year-old Japanese leadoff hitter has played a big role on every minor league team he’s played on since the White Sox drafted him in 2023. Last season, his 114 runs scored led all of the minor leagues. Chuck Garfien speaks with Nishida, Sergio Santos, Noah Schultz and Jacob Burke about everything that the Sox under-the-radar prospect brings to the table.

Chuck Garfien sits down with pitcher Davis Martin at spring training to talk about the “kick change” pitch he started throwing at the end of last season and how it has become a game changer for the White Sox right-hander. They discuss the impact veteran Martin Perez is having on the clubhouse, why Sean Burke is a pitcher to watch this year, his impressions of Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith and more.

Chuck Garfien celebrates the 1,000th episode of the podcast with a salute to White Sox fans for listening to the pod since its launch in 2016. Then, he speaks with 2005 World Series MVP Jermaine Dye who comes on the podcast for the very first time and answers questions from White Sox fans. Dye shares inside stories about the 2005 World Series, if he believes they are overlooked nationally and his favorite teammate from that season. Plus, Dye talks about speaking with Colson Montgomery at camp about hitting, why he retired early from the game and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with new White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman about his decision to sign with the White Sox, his fighter mentality at the plate, growing up in the Chicago suburbs, his love for the game and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with CHSN’s Brooke Fletcher who has joined the White Sox broadcast team as a sideline reporter. They talk about the many connections between her family and the White Sox, starting with Brooke’s dad, Scott Fletcher, who played for the White Sox in the 1980’s and 90’s. Brooke shares stories about how and why she became a sportscaster, her road to the White Sox, her new job and more.

Chuck Garfien catches up with Tim Anderson in Arizona to talk about his White Sox career, his struggles the last two seasons and his new opportunity with the Los Angeles Angels. Tim talks about how problems off the field in his personal life affected his play, the changes he made this off-season, his bond with Angels manager Ron Washington, his willingness to play outfield if necessary, the Angels starting the season at the White Sox on Opening Day and more.

Josh Rojas saw firsthand how the Arizona Diamondbacks went from losing 110 games in 2021 to advancing to the World Series two years later. He speaks with Chuck Garfien about how seasons can go off the rails like it did with the White Sox last season and what it takes to quickly turn things around. He talks about why he focuses so much on his defense, what he’s doing to improve his offense, his quest for a starting job with the White Sox and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with bench coach Walker McKinven about what he does behind the scenes before and during games that will put the White Sox in a better position to win 2025. He talks about his relationship with new manager Will Venable and how he is bringing what was successful with the Milwaukee Brewers to the White Sox. Plus, catcher Omar Narvaez explains why McKinven is responsible for turning his career around as a catcher.

Chuck Garfien speaks with new White Sox pitcher Martin Perez who explains why the World Series champion signed with the White Sox and believes they will surprise people after losing 121 games last season. Plus, why he considers himself a leader, the importance of having a good clubhouse, what will be Will Venable’s greatest strength as a manager. All that and more on The White Sox Podcast w/ Chuck Garfien.

Chuck Garfien speaks with prospect Braden Montgomery about getting traded to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet deal this offseason, overcoming a broken ankle at Texas A&M in June, the importance of bringing energy to the field and being a great teammate, his desire to reach the majors this season and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with pitching coach Ethan Katz about Jonathan Cannon’s emergence last season, the new pitch that might change the arc of Davis Martin’s career, the wow factor coming from Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, the pitcher who made the biggest impression on the first day of spring training and more.

With the White Sox starting spring training in Arizona, Chuck Garfien is at Camelback Ranch asking Sox Machine’s James Fegan 10 pressing questions about the White Sox heading into camp. Among the topics: what will be the starting infield on Opening Day? Who's going to be the closer? Will Luis Robert be traded during spring training? What prospect will have the biggest impact this year? The player no one is talking about now, but will at the end of camp. How many wins will the White Sox have in 2025 and more.

With many of the White Sox top prospects invited to big league camp for spring training, Chuck Garfien gets a preview of what’s ahead, speaking with Paul Janish about all of the big names (Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, Colson Montgomery, etc.) and others to watch during the Cactus League. Paul explains what they’re doing to make sure this rebuild works, and reveals which former White Sox players will be coming to camp to do some spring training coaching.

If the White Sox end up trading Luis Robert Jr., Reds beat writer Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Inquirer believes the White Sox and Reds are a perfect fit. Chuck Garfien speaks with Gordon about why the Reds need Robert, who the White Sox could get in return, what held up trade talks last week, what will it take for the two sides to make a deal, when a trade could happen and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with catcher Edgar Quero about his journey from Cuba to the United States, the importance of learning English, modeling his game after Yadier Molina, and how he dreams of playing in the major leagues every night he goes to sleep. Plus, Chuck shares one stat the White Sox should be much better at this season.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 2005 World Series, Chuck Garfien hosts a panel at SoxFest with Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, Jose Contreras and Harold Baines. They talk about the four straight complete games in the World Series, how Garcia guaranteed they’d win it all after Game 2 of the World Series, Buehrle drinking beers before getting the save in Game 3, the announcement that the White Sox are making a Buehrle statue to be unveiled this summer and more!

White Sox legend Mark Buehrle might be a long shot to eventually be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame, but MLB Network’s Brian Kenny believes that he belongs in Cooperstown. Brian joins Chuck Garfien to discuss Buehrle’s case for the Hall of Fame, why the perception of his career improves over time, and if he’ll ever find his way into the Hall of Fame.

Chuck Garfien speaks with Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com and MLB Network to make sense of what happened with the White Sox last season and why they should be better this season—and how much better. Plus, Anthony gives a bold prediction about the White Sox in 2025.

Since 2025 marks the 125th year of the White Sox franchise, we’re bringing former White Sox players onto the podcast throughout the year to talk about their time on the South Side. Today, it’s Ray Durham who played on the White Sox from 1995-2002. He made two All-Star teams, scored over 100 runs in six straight seasons and had the longest run at second base for the White Sox since Hall of Famer Nellie Fox. Chuck Garfien speaks with Ray about his White Sox career, the shock of being traded in 2002, missing out on the 2005 World Series, playing with Frank Thomas and Ozzie Guillen, being Barry Bonds teammate in San Francisco and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with former White Sox pitcher Sergio Santos about how the Birmingham Barons won a Double-A championship last season in his first year as manager. Santos also breaks news on the podcast saying that he’ll be the White Sox Triple-A manager next season in Charlotte. Santos talks about Noah Schultz and how close he is to the majors, how Edgar Quero improved as a hitter and catcher, the difference maker that is Rikuu Nishida and much more.

As the radio voice of the Portland Sea Dogs, Emma Tiedemann was in the broadcast booth calling games for new White Sox prospects Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez. She speaks with Chuck Garfien about what all three of them bring to the table. Emma also talks about her rise in the broadcasting business and her grandfather Bill Mercer who used to call White Sox games with Harry Caray in the 1970’s.

With 2024 thankfully coming to a close, it’s time to look ahead to next year and the future for the White Sox. Chuck Garfien takes questions from White Sox fans covering all sorts of topics like the realistic expectations for 2025 and when the White Sox will be contenders again? Chris Getz, Jerry Reinsdorf, trading Luis Robert Jr. and Andrew Benintendi. Also, the White Sox prospect with the highest ceiling and much more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with Red Sox beat writer Alex Speier of the Boston Globe to get Boston's opinion of the Garrett Crochet trade. Speier gives the inside scoop about how the trade went down behind the scenes, who the White Sox are getting in Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez, and what people in Boston think of the deal. Chuck reads tweets from Red Sox fans about the trade, Alex shares inside stories about the Chris Sale trade from 2016, they talk about the second White Sox-Red Sox trade of the winter which brought left-handed reliever Cam Booser to Chicago and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with new White Sox prospect Kyle Teel about coming to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade and how close he thinks he is to reaching the major leagues. They discuss what it's like being a catcher, the big hitting adjustment he made last season in Triple-A, and how he becomes a DJ in the clubhouse after every win. Kyle shares his favorite baseball memory as a child, the best advice he ever received from a coach and much more.

How did the White Sox do in the Garrett Crochet trade? Chuck Garfien speaks with ESPN baseball insider Kiley McDaniel for his thoughts on the trade which he correctly predicted right before the Winter Meetings. McDaniel used to work for FanGraphs and four major league teams. He explains what the White Sox are getting in Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez. Plus, how does this return compare with the Chris Sale trade from 2016?

Soon after GM Chris Getz traded Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox for four of Boston’s best prospects, he came on the podcast to talk about the deal with Chuck Garfien. Getz explains how the trade came together and who the White Sox got in return in catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez. He also gives a trade market update on Luis Robert Jr. and more.

Chuck Garfien speaks with Will Venable at the Winter Meetings about how things will be different in 2025, what he learned from former White Sox manager Rick Renteria as a player and more. Chuck also sits down with former White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy who was Venable's teammate in San Diego. New bench coach Walker McKinven talks about why he left the Brewers to help jumpstart the White Sox rebuild and Chuck talks about the White Sox adding Mike Tauchman, Garrett Crochet trade rumors and more.

Chuck Garfien is joined by Scott Podsednik to bring you all the White Sox news from the Winter Meetings. Chuck shares what he’s hearing about Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr. trade rumors. He speaks with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi for the latest on Crochet. Chris Getz talks about the trade interest for Crochet and Robert. Brewers manager Pat Murphy explains what new bench coach Walker McKinven will bring to the White Sox and more.

The Winter Meetings began in Dallas, Texas with the announcement that former White Sox MVP Dick Allen is headed to Cooperstown. Chuck Garfien was in the room with the Allen family when they received the big news. Chuck speaks with Richard Allen Jr. about his late father finally becoming a Hall of Famer and he also talks with Dick Allen biographer David Fletcher about Allen’s impact with the White Sox, which team hat Allen will be wearing on his Cooperstown plaque(White Sox or Phillies) and more.

Chuck Garfien pays tribute to White Sox legend Bill Melton who passed away at the age of 79. Chuck talks about the impact Bill made in his life and the lives of White Sox fans from many generations. Chuck plays back conversations he had with Bill about winning the American League home run crown in 1971, teaching Michael Jordan how to hit a baseball, doing post-game shows together for over a decade and more.

With Dick Allen up for the Hall of Fame on Sunday, we're bringing back two memorable conversations Chuck Garfien had with his former White Sox teammate Goose Gossage who doesn't hold back explaining why Allen belongs in the Hall of Fame. Gossage talks about how Allen took him under his wing as a rookie in 1972 and tells stories about some of his most majestic home runs. Later, Chuck states the case for Allen to join Gossage in Cooperstown.

White Sox broadcaster Steve Stone is back on the podcast, talking with Chuck Garfien about why everything went wrong with the White Sox in 2024, the hiring of Will Venable and the kind of baseball he hopes to see from the White Sox next season. Plus, the one team to watch in the trade market for Garrett Crochet. Then it's a conversation about Stone's former White Sox teammate, the late Dick Allen who is up for the Hall of Fame on Sunday. Steve shares stories about the iconic slugger and explains why he should be in Cooperstown. Chuck also plays some of his 2021 interview with Goose Gossage who is a fierce supporter of Dick Allen getting into the Hall of Fame.

Chuck Garfien speaks with Director of Player Personnel Gene Watson for an inside look at what's happening behind the scenes with the White Sox rebuild. He talks about the kind of players the front office is looking for and what it will take to make the White Sox winners again. They discuss Colson Montgomery's desire to stay at shortstop, the struggles of Miguel Vargas, and the hiring of new manager Will Venable. Plus, what he learned being a part of three previous rebuilds with the Padres, Marlins and Royals, and more.

Barnstorming across a segregated United States from 1908-1940, pitcher John Donaldson won over 400 games and collected over 5,000 strikeouts, but his baseball career became lost in history until historian Pete Gorton came to the rescue. Chuck Garfien speaks with Gorton who has spent the last 20 years uncovering Donaldson's extraordinary career. Donaldson later became the first official black scout in the majors with the White Sox, scouting Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks. He's up for induction into the baseball Hall of Fame in December.