Sox Populi - A Chicago White Sox podcast

We made our season predictions for the fourth consecutive year over at South Side Sox, and for the fourth consecutive year, a different writer took the crown. And this year, in fact, the crown is worn by two prognosticators — the veteran Year of the Hamster, and newcomer Enrique Silva. We have a comprehensive rundown of the twists and turns of our 2024 predictions over at SSS, but here are some hi...

Before crashing into White Sox matters, duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, indulge in postseason palaver — especially happy on Will’s part because he got to take part (very small part, but part nonetheless) in the team that won it all. So, much of the discussion is about the complete — and very happy — collapse of the Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series. Yea,...

Soon after the story broke of Jerry Reinsdorf possibly selling the White Sox, thereby sending waves of glee throughout Chicagoland, duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, try to figure out if Reinsdorf had the information leaked in order to try put pressure on politicians to plunge public billions into a monument to himself, or if he just had it leaked (to somebody...

The long road to ignominy is over for the White Sox, but the long road to parsing the reasons for their total failure lives on. Duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, examine the recent national media analyses and yell a hearty, “Amen, brothers!” The two agree it would have been handier if the big shots had torn into Jerry Reinsdorf and how he runs his mess of an o...

Friends, we've made it to the final series of this abysmal and historically-bad season. I feel like Winona Ryder at the end of the 1989 classic "Heathers" if you can picture that. The White Sox started the season against the Tigers, and Walker came on to chat about the Tigers. It's only fitting that the White Sox end the season the same way, and I finish off the second season of Visiting Dugout wi...

On the occasion of the White Sox matching the 1962 New York Mets — yes, an expansion team — at 120 losses, the most since 1899, Brett Ballantini and Melissa Sage-Bollenbach got together to assess our club, past, present and future. Reaction to the impossible happening: 120 losses. A shock, or long-anticipated? A rundown of the other milestones ahead: farthest out of first (56 1/2 games), worst tea...

Chrystal and Grey chat about the upcoming series in San Diego. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, naturally venture onto the subject of an article in The Athletic titled “The Owner Who Thinks He Knows Everything” (guess who), but first Will has a report on attending the White Sox game in Anaheim on Wednesday night (Loss 116). The report? How little the Sox even warm up on the field before a game compared to other teams. Ho...

In the eighth episode of the Ladies' Night podcast, Hannah LaMotta, Delia Ritchie, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, and Allie Wesel discussed several topics related to our beloved — or despised, depending on the day — South Siders. Whether you're a die-hard White Sox fan or not, there's something for everyone. So, sit back, relax, and grab your favorite beverage because the girls hit a home run conversing...

Ed Hand joins to chat about the Red Sox and their upcoming series with the White Sox. The episode quickly runs off the rails but in the best way, and turns into some dudes just naming players. Kidding! Sort of. Here is what we discussed: Grady Sizemore getting angry What's new in Boston? Proposing to Pete Alonso Liam Hendriks and Lucas Giolito Ice cold offense How to secure a Wild Card spot Do we...

The greater portion of White Sox fans goes from cheering for victories to rooting for losses so we can say we were there to see the record of the 1962 Mets broken. Thus duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast correspondent, Will, indulge in deep discussion as to the likelihood that Will might have a chance to be present to see the team he’s been a fan of his entire life officially becom...

There is no way to avoid acknowledging the horribleness of this White Sox season, and as promised in the Saturday podcast commemorating a record-tying 106th loss, Brett Ballantini came right back to acknowledge Sunday's record-breaking 107th with another, and even longer, solo podcast. Points Brett made while talking to himself: All the White Sox have to do now is win out, and Brett nails his pres...

There is no way to avoid acknowledging the horribleness of this White Sox season in real time, sometimes, and this is one of those sometimes. An under-the-weather Brett Ballantini mans the mothership solo to navigate a 106th season loss — tying the all-time White Sox single-season record — on August 31 of the season! Points Brett made while talking to himself: Futility Watch updates Horrid offensi...

The wonderful Tim Ryder joined me again to chat about the state of the Mets. Despite being in third in the National League East, the Mets are closing in on Atlanta and hoping for a Wild Card spot. An invigorating trade deadline added depth to their lineup, Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have been on a roll lately, and overall better baseball is being played in Queens. Here is what we talked abou...

The Tigers are coming to town to face the White Sox, who are fresh off a win. I never thought I'd have a chance to say that again. Friend of the pod Rogelio Castillo joined me to chat about the third series of the season against Detroit, and an update on all things Tigers. Here is what we talked about: What's new with the Tigers Trade deadline thoughts The future and prospects Booth drama Detroit...

The White Sox make their final stop of their Western road trip to Oracle Park to face the fourth-place Giants. Don't let their spot in the division fool you though, the Giants are still in playoff contention. Britt of Casual Diehard joined me again this season to chat about what the Giants are up to and what the White Sox should expect in the series. Here is what we talked about: What's new in the...

Never ones to shirk the major issues of the day, duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son and west coast corespondent, Will, delve deeply into the proposal made public on ESPN this week to cut down on pitcher injuries, increase the time players fans come to see are on the field, and boost offense by forcing starting pitchers to remain in a game for six innings or 100 pitches, whichever comes first, unl...

In the seventh episode of the Ladies’ Night podcast, the dynamic duo of Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Allie Wesel discussed several topics related to our beloved — or despised, depending on the day — South Siders. Whether you’re a die-hard White Sox fan or not, there’s something for everyone. So, sit back, relax, and grab your favorite beverage because the girls hit a home run conversing about all t...

The Astros started the season with an old friend and a terrible record. More than less written off for the season, the team has bounced back in a big way to regain control of the American League West. Thomas of Bourbon & Baseball joined the episode to chat about the Astros and preview the upcoming series at Minute Maid Park. Here is what we talked about: How the Astros clawed their way back to the...

Just below the Phillies sit two teams, vying for second place in the league. The Yankees and Orioles are often tied, but other times it feels like two siblings fighting to be the favorite child. While the Orioles have young talent and will be good for a while, there are two things they don't have: Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. I had the pleasure of chatting with Emily Nyman again this season about he...

With another loss, and another sweep, the White Sox entered territory they hadn't occupied in 68 seasons. After Friday's loss dropped the South Siders to .500 all-time over 124 MLB seasons, Saturday's setback set them as a losing team for the first time in almost exactly 68 years — for the first time since Aug. 14, 1956. Brett Ballantini did a postgame podcast he mistakenly branded as a mothership...

Hey, did you know Sox Populi has become a daily podcast? Me, neither. In fact, it's not. However, with the surprising news that Pedro Grifol had been fired by the White Sox (about a year too late, conservatively speaking), the mothership had to lift off again to discuss the timing, ramifications, and managerial job search. This time, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Chrystal O'Keefe joined Brett Ballan...

The second part of the Crosstown Classic has arrived, this time on the South Side. Both teams are having terrible years, and the White Sox are way worse, but still. While I'm sure fans of both teams will flock to the park for the rivalry, it doesn't seem like people are as excited as usual. I talked to Sara Sanchez about both teams, and how we're feeling about the series and the rest of the season...

In the second installment of TIME OUT with Di Billick, she digs into the appointment of White Sox coach Grady Sizemore as interim manager of the club after Thursday's dismissal of Pedro Grifol. There are fun Grady facts, flyovers, and dog cameos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After another long podcast break, some of the Sox Populi crew (Brett Ballantini, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Joe Resis, Dante Jones) reboards the mothership and takes on some White Sox talk at as low a point for the franchise as any of us have ever witnessed: The 21-game losing streak, and how (or whether) it wore us all down Re-casting the White Sox as a "losing franchise," something it hasn't been...