Sox Machine

Rundown: [Intro] Exciting news at Sox Machine coming next week [6:10] With Colson Montgomery optioned to AAA, what are the Chicago White Sox plans at shortstop to start 2025? Will they go with a veteran like Jacob Amaya? Bring back old friend Nicky Lopez? Or is it Chase Meidroth getting the first crack? [27:32] Miguel Vargas is batting .400 during Spring Training. Are we buying this performance le...

Rundown [Intro]  Colson Montgomery is back thanks to his back spasms calming down. It looks like he's the frontrunner to be Opening Day shortstop, but what if he doesn't pick up his hitting? What if the back barks on him again? Then what's the White Sox plan at shortstop? [19:08] Position outlook: Outfield . With Andrew Benintendi and Austin Slater doubtful in being ready by Opening Day, what is t...

Rundown [Intro] Josh Nelson provides updates on how the White Sox are performing during Spring Training, and latest injury news. Which isn't looking great for the White Sox outfield and Colson Montgomery [5:21] Dan Hayes of The Athletic joins to share his insights about the Minnesota Twins. What happened with the fallout of Justin Ishbia pivoting from buying the team? How will the Twins try to kee...

Record Date: 2/24/2025 Rundown [Intro] How is Arizona treating James Fegan this week? [4:05] How Will Venable is liking or not liking what he is seeing in early game action [6:54] White Sox adapting to a new pitching strategy of weird throwing angles [12:47] Latest news on White Sox infield position battles with Miguel Vargas getting the nod at third base [17:37] What do the White Sox make of Tim...

Guest: Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic Rundown [Intro] Chicago White Sox sign Mike Clevinger to a minor league contract. Listen to White Sox GM Chris Getz explain his reasoning and plans for Clevinger [7:05] Reporting from Jon Greenberg and Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Justin Ishbia has stopped his pursuit of buying the Minnesota Twins and now is buying more minority shares of the Chicago White Sox [...

Record Date: 2/17/2025 Rundown [Intro] Sound clips from White Sox manager Will Venable, and players Andrew Benintendi and Colson Montgomery on the first day of all players reporting for camp [8:24] How's Arizona? [11:57] Following up from James Fegan's feature about the White Sox Big Data Problem. How the White Sox identified and addressed these gaps, what the desired outcome is, and how it could...

Guest: Keith Law, The Athletic Rundown [Intro] Soundbites from White Sox GM Chris Getz and manager Will Venable after first day of Spring Training [5:12] Jim Margalus has his annual chat with The Athletic's Keith Law about the White Sox farm system. Where the system sits today, why they need more talent, what Law needs to see from Colson Montgomery to restore some faith, and the intriguing Noah Sc...

Rundown [Intro] Does entering the camp feel differently with new manager in 2025 than in 2023? [7:32] Spring storyline: How does Luis Robert Jr. look? [10:57] Spring storyline: Is Colson Montgomery ready for the majors? [13:32] Spring storyline: Can Brian Bannister and Ethan Katz find magic with unlocking starting pitcher potential? [18:04] Fantasy Baseball PSA [18:50] New faces joining White Sox...

Record Date: 2/3/2025 Rundown [Intro] Prospect Week has started at Sox Machine. How are we feeling about the farm system? Does the number of Top 100 prospects move the needle for White Sox fans anymore? [19:36] James Fegan attended Super 60 showcase and shared his insights on the prospect event [24:53] Opening Day Eve show announcement [25:51] Baseball Prospectus released their PECOTA projections...

Rundown: [Intro] You can read how Josh Nelson felt about SoxFest, but James Fegan shares his thoughts about the event [6:43] Drew Thorpe has a setback in his rehab that could impact his ability to be ready for Opening Day [13:09] Noah Schultz is feeling confident coming off his 2024 campaign and why further developing his pitch mix is a focus [16:54] Hagen Smith has several pitches, but he shared...

Rundown [Intro] How's the weather in your neck of the woods? [4:07] Ichiro, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner are voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jim Margalus isn't exactly thrilled with Wagner's selection. Why it's tough to grade closers when it comes to overall greatness. James Fegan also shares his theory on how Ichiro was one vote shy of being a unanimous selection. [18:51] Carlos Beltran an...

Guest: Dan Szymborski, FanGraphs Link to White Sox 2025 ZiPS Projections: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-zips-projections-chicago-white-sox/ Rundown [Intro] Customary to ask "Why does ZiPS hate the White Sox?" [2:45] Why Dan Szymborski expects more wins in 2025 for the White Sox [6:58] Patreon Question: What percentile outcome were the Sox for cumulative team WAR last year relative to your prese...

Rundown [Intro] At this pace, Chris Getz could churn out half the 26-man roster we saw late in 2024. Is this amount of roster churn a good thing? [6:00] Hello, Martin Perez. What the White Sox are hoping to get out of Perez, how long he figures to stay, and why Josh likes this signing [17:36] Hello, Josh Rojas. Why does this signing feel like Nicky Lopez 2.0? Is Rojas the clubhouse leader to be th...

Rundown [Intro] 2024 was a very eventful year at Sox Machine [2:57] James Fegan's favorite moments covering the White Sox including a story about Garrett Crochet's walk-up music [16:25] 2025 New Year's Resolutions for the Chicago White Sox from fans [26:54] James resolution for the White Sox: Play better defense [31:20] Jim's resolution for the White Sox: Show more empathy towards fans [36:38] Jos...

Record Date: 12/26/2024 Rundown [Intro] Mike Tauchman explains why he signed with the White Sox and how being from Chicagoland area helped the decision-making. Also what his goals are for 2025 and how we wants to be a positive influence on the White Sox clubhouse. [12:15] Bryse Wilson signed with the White Sox in his attempt to establish himself as a starting pitcher after pitching the last two se...

Record Date: 12/19/2024 Rundown [Intro] Appreciation of the work Herb Lawrence and Vinnie Duber put in at CHGO covering the White Sox in recent light of the company's layoffs. [12:40] Sports betting market has released 2025 MLB Futures Win total, and the Chicago White Sox are set at 49.5 wins. That would be the lowest projected win total ever, and the crew debates if the number is set right [24:31...

Record Date: 12/12/2024 Rundown [Intro] Why the White Sox felt they had to make this particular deal for Garrett Crochet [5:23] Why this trade return for Crochet feels better than the Dylan Cease return [9:13] How did other pitchers becoming available in the trade market influence timing of deal? [13:42] Kyle Teel: How is the White Sox catcher situation looking now? Do the White Sox still need ano...

Guest: Mike Ferrin, MLB Radio Rundown [Intro] Publishing this podcast episode as quickly as possible after Max Fried signed with the New York Yankees and Nathan Eovaldi is returning to the Texas Rangers. With more starting pitchers coming off the board, are we closer to Garrett Crochet being traded? [5:49] During Chris Getz's media session, the topic of catchers came up as the White Sox will be ex...

Record Date: 12/9/2024 Rundown [Intro] White Sox manager Will Venable talks about his new coaching staff and Grady Sizemore being his offensive coordinator. [4:20] White Sox general manager Chris Getz talks about the new coaching staff, Garrett Crochet trade conversations and strategy, and how he wants to add outfielders and starting pitchers [10:06] Jim Margalus and James Fegan join the show to d...

Recording Date: 12/8/2024 Rundown [Intro] 2024 Winter Meetings generating more news on Day 1 than all of 2023 Winter Meetings [3:00] Dick Allen makes the Hall of Fame, finally. [9:50] According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Juan Soto is signing with the New York Mets for a deal that could pay him more than $800 million over the contract's lifetime. Why this type of deal raises questions about sustainabil...

Rundown [Intro] Sox Machine will be heading on the road to Dallas, Texas covering the 2024 Winter Meetings. The crew shares their favorite memories of past Winter Meetings and what to expect concerning coverage. [13:09] The Chicago White Sox still haven't officially announced their 2025 coaching staff, which creates confusion as to why and raises the open question of how new manager Will Venable i...

Record Date: 11/26/2024 [Intro] It's the Thanksgiving episode which Jim, James, and Josh share what they are thankful for after a historically bad 2024 season [22:16] SoxFest 2025 details and the #108ing Live Show [26:20] We have some trade gossip to chew on as USA Today's Bob Nightengale mentioned the Philadelphia Phillies floating an offer of Alec Bohm and Justin Crawford for Garrett Crochet. Wo...

Rundown [Intro] Josh is back from vacation, and with how trends go with Sox Machine staff spending time away, when Jim takes a break is when Garrett Crochet gets traded [5:12] White Sox hire Ryan Fuller to be their new Director of Hitting. James Fegan shares his impressions of Fuller as Jim contemplates what would be the mark of a good first season [27:06] Austin Slater is the White Sox first free...

Rundown [Intro] Why Jim Callis still loves the Arizona Fall League [3:32] How Colson Montgomery fared during the AFL and what is his future outlook? [14:14] What to make of Tim Elko? [21:12] What did we learn about Grant Taylor at the AFL? [26:42] Who has impressed the most in the AFL? [30:25] What to make of George Wolkow? [40:26] Which teams have the best prospect packages to make a Garrett Croc...

Rundown [Intro] Latest news from MLB's GM Meetings as the Chicago White Sox hire Ryan Fuller to be their new Director of Hitting [3:09] Ex-MLB'er Ian Miller, who worked with Will Venable in 2020 during his time at the Chicago Cubs, joins the show to share his insight working with the new White Sox manager. How Venable helped him with preparation during Spring Training, what Venable cares about whi...