Sox Machine Podcast (Subscriber Version)

Rundown [Intro] The Chicago White Sox starting pitching staff had a 4.39 ERA, which ranked 21st in MLB. However, the starters FIP of 4.89 ranked 29th in MLB. So if the rotation pulled off a minor miracle carrying a better ERA with minimal defensive improvement, what did we like about the White Sox starting pitchers in 2025? [10:59] On the flip side, what we didn't like about the White Sox starting...

Rundown [Intro] A few thoughts on the League Championship series. It seems like Milwaukee could be in big trouble heading to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, after a big Game 3 win in Seattle, could Toronto steal another game to send the series back to Canada? [10:50] The Bullpen Review is to help recap the previous season's production while looking ahead in how the White Sox could improve this unit. Start...

Rundown [Intro] Congrats to James Fegan for completing the Chicago Marathon [4:47] Championship Series Preview: Can Andrew Vaughn continue to be Milwaukee's hero in the postseason? [16:59] ALCS Preview: Blue Jays vs. Mariners - How Toronto focused on improving bat speed helped them overwhelm the New York Yankees. [29:38] NLCS Preview: Brewers vs. Dodgers - Does Milwaukee's regular season success v...

Rundown [Intro] Best of luck to James Fegan who is running the Chicago Marathon this weekend! [2:00] MLB Postseason recap as the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers advance to their respective Championship Series. We've got two Game 5's as Tarik Skubal takes the ball for Detroit against Seattle, and the Chicago Cubs hold their ground at Wrigley to earn a return trip back to Milwaukee. [6:00]...

Rundown [Intro] Catching up on White Sox news, lots of changes on the coaching front, including pitching coach Ethan Katz. What was the driver for not renewing contracts? [6:23] How do we assess Ethan Katz's tenure as pitching coach? [12:46] Are we surprised the White Sox didn't hold on to Sergio Santos? [15:45] Looking at team Stuff+ during Katz's tenure and how the quality of arms could make the...

Rundown [Intro] A big thank you to our supporters at Sox Machine for following the 2025 season with us. [5:08] Colson Montgomery delivered a season highlight with his go-ahead two run home run vs. Washington. [9:31] Shane Smith finishes 2025 on a very strong note by pitching a gem in Game 162. [15:12] Initial assessment of 2025 season. While it was much better than last year, how do the White Sox...

Rundown [INTRO] The Chicago White Sox slide in September has been disheartening. After starting 8-2, the White Sox are 1-11 in their last 12 games. What gives? Why did things suddenly turn sour for the White Sox? [8:12] Series Preview: Washington Nationals [11:19] What's left to play for with the White Sox? [21:11] The Birmingham Barons win back-to-back Southern League titles [29:55] Why Caleb Bon...

The Chicago White Sox hosted a podcast row for their home 2025 season finale. Rundown [Intro] Chicago White Sox Director of Player Personal, Gene Watson, joins Josh Nelson to talk about the 2025 season. What his highlight of the year was, how Watson and Jim Thome help with draft efforts, and breaking down how the White Sox scouts prepare for the offseason. [17:05] James Fegan stops by from the pre...

PSA: Sox Machine will be part of the Chicago White Sox fan appreciation event held in the Craft Cave at Rate Field on Sunday, September 21. Stop by and be part of the show! Rundown [Intro] Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz hosts his end of the regular season press conference. Touching on many topics including highlights of the season, what to do about the catching situation, plans for N...

Rundown [Intro] Chicago White Sox get swept again in Cleveland, and just like in April, they only score three runs in three games. So what gives? Why did the White Sox have a terrible time scoring runs in Cleveland this season? [12:05] Series Preview: Baltimore Orioles. What is the Orioles path forward this offseason? What's the White Sox pitching plan for Monday's game? [23:22] MLB Postseason Rac...

Rundown [Intro] White Sox manager Will Venable comments on the recent run as his team is 25-25 since the All-Star Break [2:52] James Fegan reports from the clubhouse how the players are believing that their recent play can be the new normal. [5:24] In the first half of 2025, the White Sox were 26-55. Since? 31-35 with 15 more games to be played. Is it possible the White Sox can generate some chaos...

Rundown [Intro] The red hot Chicago White Sox have won seven of their last eight games. It's been a great change of pace, even though it feels a bit strange in trying make sense of what everyone is watching. [6:46] With a 23-24 record post All-Star Break, are the White Sox closer to contending than initially thought? While the crew doesn't see a Manny Machado / Bryce Harper situation like in 2019,...

Live Show Recording: September 6, 2025 Guest: Courtney Finnicum, Baseball Isn't Boring Rundown: What do you make of the Chicago White Sox post All-Star Break? Is this level of performance real? Why do you think the White Sox went from one of the worst offenses in baseball before the All-Star Break, to now a Top 10 unit? Colson Montgomery: Is the future star White Sox fans have been waiting for? Sh...

Rundown [Intro] Chicago White Sox had a great time in Minneapolis, which is a rarity. [7:33] Helping drive the offense, outside of monster home runs from Colson Montgomery, are the catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero. Are Montgomery's home runs overshadowing Teel's impressive season? Why the White Sox should continue to figure out a way to have both Teel and Quero in the lineup. [29:11] Series Prev...

Rundown [Intro] Josh Nelson shares the event details Sox Machine is looking to host in 2026 [4:45] Dan Szymborski of FanGraphs.com joins the show to share how ZiPS is viewing key, young White Sox players. Why ZiPS thinks Colson Montgomery and Shane Smith can be 2+ WAR players in 2026. The defensive uncertainty of Miguel Vargas, and which catcher ZiPS prefers between Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero. Also...

Rundown [Intro] Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz shares the news that Luis Robert Jr. is out with a hamstring strain. The odds don't look great for Robert to play again in 2025, but Getz also comments about his upcoming $20 million club option. [5:17] After Getz speaks, Josh Nelson and Jim Margalus comment about Robert's injury. How do you assess his 2025 season? Any chance that Jerry...

Rundown [Intro] Audio from White Sox manager Will Venable about tracking progress in his first season, and how Colson Montgomery has adjusted to life in the major leagues. Montgomery shared why staying short to the ball has been fueling his early success. [5:27] Speaking of Montgomery, he's hit a home run in three consecutive games, and the White Sox have scored 45 runs in their last six games. If...

Rundown [Intro] The series in Atlanta was weird in that the White Sox scored 23 runs in two games, but then got shutout. Also, they lost a game with a huge lead despite scoring 10 runs. Perhaps most alarming is that the White Sox pitching staff is running on fumes. With games in the next 17 days, is there anyone in Charlotte or Birmingham that can help? [17:48] A recap of the White Sox hot hitting...

Rundown [Intro] Chicago White Sox director of hitting, Ryan Fuller, joins the show to chat with James Fegan about what to expect from the bridge league prospects. The conversation touches on what attributes the White Sox are now looking for from perspective prospects, what metrics are important to Fuller, and how he thinks about the recent draftees. [31:21] Recap of the Savannah Bananas playing at...

Rundown [Intro] Martin Perez returns to the White Sox since his injury in mid-April. Where is he at physically and what's the game plan for Perez in the last seven weeks of 2025 season? James Fegan shares what he learned from the clubhouse and Jim Margalus likes the idea on paper of Perez piggy backing off Shane Smith starts. Until there's more injuries or the combination is too redundant that it...

Rundown [Intro] After losing another series to Cleveland dropping to 8-22 vs. AL Central, are the Chicago White Sox concerned about their division record? Or is it still too soon in the rebuild cycle to be overly worried? [5:21] Plenty of roster transactions for the White Sox this past weekend as they are running out of fresh arms. What's the plan to help manager Will Venable have enough arms to f...

Rundown [Intro] Surprise! The Chicago White Sox lead Major League Baseball in home runs hit since the All-Star Break. Has the organization finally embraced Ball In Air offense? [9:55] Following up with James Fegan's column about key metrics to track for the rest of 2025, Luis Robert Jr. did well to hit fastballs against Seattle's pitchers. [15:59] Meanwhile, maybe we should pay more attention to C...

Rundown [Intro] Colson Montgomery is one of the league leaders in RBI post All-Star Break and has seven home runs in his first 25 games. How is Montgomery doing this after a dismal season in AAA? Maybe the source of this swing in development can be attributed to the new bat Montgomery is using? [15:43] Miguel Vargas is heading to the IL. What does this mean for playing time at first base? [23:16]...

Rundown [Intro] The 2025 MLB Trade Deadline is over, and the White Sox only trade Austin Slater and Adrian Houser. White Sox GM Chris Getz shares his thoughts about the deadline, Houser success, and his excitement in keeping Robert Jr. [6:37] Josh Nelson and James Fegan share their reaction to the White Sox trade deadline activity. While Getz is expecting to keep Robert, does that match to Jerry R...

Rundown [Intro] White Sox manager Will Venable speaks about the young players finding success, navigating his first trade deadline as a manager, and Luis Robert Jr. [6:29] Speaking of Robert, James Fegan has the latest health update [10:02] White Sox suffer from a bit of regression from their stellar play as of late [18:22] White Sox trade board updates [20:00] Adrian Houser [24:40] Mike Tauchman...