The White Sox Podcast w/ Chuck Garfien

Ep. 72: Aaron Rowand says Luis Robert could be a superstar

After spending last week in the Dominican Republic working with White Sox prospect Luis Robert, Aaron Rowand comes on the podcast to give us the inside scoop about the Cuban outfielder who the White Sox signed last season for $26 million and could very well be their centerfielder of the future. Video of Robert on the internet has been scarce, so Rowand fills in a lot of the gaps talking about his bat, defense, speed and personality. Rowand, now the White Sox minor league outfield and baserunning instructor, also raves about Eloy Jimenez and Micker Adolfo. Plus, he gives us an off-the-radar White Sox prospect who fans should pay more attention to in the future.

Ep. 71: White Sox Talk Podcast live at Reggie’s Bar with Jason Benetti

We took the White Sox Talk Podcast to White Sox fans for our first remote podcast at Reggie’s Bar in the South Loop. White Sox play by play announcer Jason Benetti joined the crew for to talk about taking over for Hawk Harrelson and what the White Sox will do this off-season. Will they trade Jose Abreu or Avi Garcia? When will Eloy Jimenez and Michael Kopech make their White Sox debuts? Benetti, Garfien, Hayes, McGuffey and Kamka predict what free agents the White Sox will sign this winter and a whole lot more.

Ep. 70: White Sox top prospect tells story of horrific car crash that almost ended his life

After starting the final game of the season for the Charlotte Knights (the White Sox Triple-A team), Tyler Danish was driving to his home in Tampa, Florida when he was hit by a semi-truck in a 23-car accident in Jacksonville. In his first interview since the accident, Danish explains to Chuck Garfien what happened that night, why he thinks he survived the crash and how the experience has changed his life. The White Sox second round pick in 2013 also talks about his baseball career, his struggles in the minor leagues, making his first major league start for the White Sox in 2017 and his hopes of being part of their future.

Ep. 69: White Sox and Cubs in same division? The mind-blowing proposal by Baseball America’s Tracy Ringolsby

If MLB decides to add 2 expansion teams in the future(Montreal and Portland are reportedly the favorites), the league would likely have to realign. How should they do it? Esteemed baseball writer Tracy Ringolsby comes on the podcast to talk about his fascinating proposal in Baseball America that has the baseball world talking.He regionalizes the entire league, putting the White Sox and Cubs in the same division along with the Cardinals, Brewers, Astros, Rangers, Royals and Rockies. The other 3 divisions would have rivals like the Yankees/Mets, Giants/A's, and Dodgers/Angels playing in the same division as well. How about 4 wildcard games and a 156-game schedule with every team getting a day off every week? Ringolsby explains his plan on the podcast. Chuck Garfien, Dan Hayes and Ryan McGuffey then break it all down and explain why it should strongly be considered in the future.

Ep. 68: The Chicago Tribune’s John Kass, ”Searching for a safe space in Cubslandia”

With the Cubs back in the NLCS, White Sox fans have had to deal with another post-season of Cubs this and Cubs that. How does one escape it? Diehard White Sox fan John Kass of the Chicago Tribune comes on the podcast to talk with Chuck Garfien about his recent column entitled "Searching for a safe space in Cubslandia." Kass talks about how he's dealing with the Cubs success and how White Sox fans can find this safe space. He tells the story about taking the White Sox World Series trophy into a Chicago Tribune board meeting in 2005 to rub it in the faces of the Trib's executives who were all Cubs fans. Kass talks about how he watches the Cubs in the playoffs, the Chicago media coverage of their playoff run and how Cubs fans will react if they don't repeat as champions. Garfien and Kass also discuss the White Sox rebuild, the Cubs losing in 2003 and why Kass will be calling Cubs Pre and Post host David Kaplan in the middle of the night if and when the Cubs are eliminated.

Ep. 67: White Sox Fans Take Over the Podcast

To celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the podcast we opened the show up to our listeners to ask all the questions and choose all the topics in this All-Request White Sox Talk Podcast. We hit a wide variety of topics ranging from possible White Sox trades, Tim Anderson's future, Rick Hahn's best and worst deals, making Carlos Rodon a reliever and many more. Every fan who had his/her question randomly selected wins a prize: everything from a Frank Thomas rookie baseball card to a Hawk Harrelson Alarm Clock.

Ep. 66: What happened with the White Sox in 2017 and what happens next?

With the 2017 season in the books, Chuck Garfien, Dan Hayes, Ryan McGuffey and Chris Kamka take a look back at what happened with the White Sox in 2017 and look ahead to moves the White Sox might make this off-season and into next season.Garfien, McGuffey and Kamka look back at the predictions they made back in Marchand compete for a prize off the Jason Benetti/Steve Stone prize shelf---a broken White Sox gnome. Then they all discuss what deals the White Sox could make during the off-season. Plus, who will be the White Sox center fielder and third baseman in 2018? When will Michael Kopech be called up? Who will start Opening Day? Why Rick Renteria is the long term answer as White Sox manager and a whole lot more.

Ep. 65: Scott Podsednik brought to tears reflecting on his 2005 World Series home run

Twelve years after hitting one of the greatest home runs in baseball history, Scott Podsednik comes on the podcast and reveals that the top moment of his baseball career profoundly changed him forever--both for better and for worse. In an interview with Chuck Garfien, the former White Sox outfielder talks emotionally about his walkoff home run from Game 2 of the 2005 World Series. He reflects back on his 9 years in the minor leagues and how he almost quit baseball before making it to the major leagues. Podsednik also tells the story of being on Saturday Night Live after the 2005 World Series, appearing on Weekend Update with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. He tells untold stories from the 2005 playoffs, what it's like to be a baseball hearthrob and more.

Ep. 64: How Jason Benetti traveled over 1,000 miles to call 3 different games in less than 24 hours

How do you call two White Sox games and one college football game over a thousand miles away in less than 24 hours? Ask Jason Benetti. The versatile broadcaster came on the podcast to talk with Chuck Garfien about his crazy journey over the weekend when he called a White Sox/Royals game, flew to Tallahasse overnight to broadcast the Florida State/N-C State football game the following day and then returned that evening to Chicago to be on the mic for the White Sox/Royals once again. Benetti takes us inside his weekend, which was actually much wilder than anybody thought. Then Jason talks about the White Sox futures of both Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia, and when Eloy Jimenez might make his White Sox debut. Benetti and Garfien, who both went to Homewood-Flossmoor High School close the podcast expressing their desires to go back to their roots and call a Homewood-Flossmoor basketball game this winter.

Ep. 63: Did Harry Caray run Bill Melton out of town? Melton tells all about his baseball life

Bill Melton's baseball career is the stuff of legend--some for what happened on the field, but also for what happened off of it. The former White Sox slugger speaks with Chuck Garfien about winning the 1971 home run crown on the final day of the regular season--this after partying on Rush Street in Chicago into the wee hours the night before (8:00). He had a huge public battle with then White Sox play-by-play announcer Harry Caray (23:00), he partied at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Club (27:00), hung out with Frank Sinatra (30:00), fought with his former Angels manager Dick Williams (40:00). Melton tells these stories and many more about the wild days of playing major league baseball in the 1970's. Plus, you'll hear a lost interview from 1971 when Brent Musburger interviewed Melton right after he became the home run king.