The White Sox Podcast w/ Chuck Garfien

Ep. 42: Tim Raines opens up about the Hall of Fame, drug addiction and his White Sox career

One of the best basestealers in major league history, Tim Raines comes on the podcast to talk about his baseball career and his new book, "Rock Solid: My Life in Baseball's Fast Lane." Raines opens up to Chuck Garfien about his cocaine addiction as a young player and how it almost derailed his career. In 1982, Raines often played games with a vial of cocaine in his back pocket, and sometimes fell asleep in the dugout. He talks about his incredible rookie season in 1981, how collusion among major league owners cost him millions in 1986, getting traded to the White Sox in 1991, why they couldn't beat the Blue Jays in the 1993 ALCS, how the strike of 1994 prevented the White Sox from a potential World Series and still hurts today, plus what it means to finally be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.

Ep. 41: Hawk Harrelson sits down with Chuck and Guff to talk retirement

On the day that Hawk Harrelson announced he is retiring from the White Sox broadcast booth after the 2018 season, he sat down for an interview with Chuck Garfien and Ryan McGuffey. Hawk talks about his legendary White Sox career, his relationship with Joe West, how umpires will celebrate his retirement and whether he believes he will make it to Cooperstown. Later, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf joins the podcast to talk about Harrelson as well as Jason Benetti, who signed a multi-year extension as Hawk's official replacement. Finally, White Sox insider Dan Hayes comes on to discuss the struggles of Jose Quintana and whether his trade value has been affected by his sub-par season.

Ep. 40: Searching for the truth about Luis Robert with Keith Law and Jesse Sanchez

With the White Sox expected to sign highly coveted Cuban prospect Luis Robert, there are many questions left unanswered about him: how good or great can he be? How do we even pronounce his last name? There have been various opinions to both. In this podcast, Chuck Garfien and Ryan McGuffey interview Keith Law senior baseball writer for ESPN.com and Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com whose reporting on Robert have unveiled two different projections about the 19-year-old outfielder. A high ranking scouting director told Sanchez that Robert "is the best player on the planet." Scouts who have spoken to Law question Robert's hitting and Law passionately defends his sources on the podcast. Then later, Chuck and Ryan answer questions from Facebook Live about what prospects Sox fans are most excited to see play in a Sox uniform.

Ep. 39: Tom Paciorek with classic stories about his baseball career and broadcasting with Hawk Harrelson

With Tom Paciorek ("Wimpy) reuniting with Hawk Harrelson for the White Sox four-game series in Seattle, the beloved former White Sox player/broadcaster talks with Chuck Garfien about some of his favorite Harrelson stories. He describes what it was like to be in the booth during the classic fight between Robin Ventura and Nolan Ryan. Wimpy also looks back at the 1983 "Winning Ugly" White Sox, how he set a record in the longest game in White Sox history, and spills the beans about what he plans on wearing when throwing out the first pitch in Seattle on Friday, and more. Then, Ryan McGuffey and Chris Kamka join the podcast to talk about the sudden rise of Leury Garcia, Rick Renteria owning up to a managerial mistake. Plusl they preview the new CSN documentary "White Sox Cornerstones" about the team's farm system which premieres on May 22nd at 7pm.

Ep. 38: Is Deadspin trolling the White Sox rebuild?

Deadspin editor-in-chief Tim Marchman joins Chuck Garfien and Ryan McGuffey to explain his and the website's fascination with the White Sox rebuild. Plus, Ryan talks about his four-city trip covering the White Sox farm system, his impressions of Yoan Moncada, and then later listen to his interview with Charlotte Knights pitching coach Steve McCatty.

Ep. 37: Is this the real Avisail Garcia? Plus riding the bus with the Birmingham Barons and talking with Tommy Kahnle

After leading the American League in hitting during the month of April, we have to ask the question: Is Avisail Garcia for real? Chuck Garfien, Chris Kamka and Slavko Bekovic break down the numbers and wonder if the new and improved Garcia is here to stay. Then Ryan McGuffey checks in from Birmingham, Alabama where he's on assignment covering the White Sox minor league system. Guff took a bus ride with the Birmingham Barons, the White Sox Double-A team following their win in Montgomery. He spent time with Michael Kopech and the rest of the Barons team. Finally, Dan Hayes interviews White Sox pitcher Tommy Kahnle about his incredible start to the season and what changes he made that helped make him one of the top relievers in April.

Ep. 36: How soon could the White Sox bring up Yoan Moncada?

Ryan McGuffey and Rob Wiatrowski are joined by CSN Chicago.com’s Dan Hayes to discuss his recent weekend visting all four White Sox minor league affiliates. We talk about the players that stood out most and what might be the earliest we see Yoan Moncada.
Plus – the Matt Davidson story would make quite the read and why the Orioles giving up on Miguel Gonzalez has benefitted the White Sox present and possible future.

Ep. 35: Jason Benetti on Avisail Garcia’s red-hot start to the season

Jason Benetti joins Ryan McGuffey and Slavko Bekovic to break down the hottest hitter in the MLB through two weeks: Avisail Garcia. Plus, an update on some of the best performances thus far from the top White Sox prospects and a comparison of James Shields starts from 2016 and 2017. Also, is there a specific reason for Jose Quintana's early struggles as he finally addresses the trade rumors.

Ep. 34: Newly signed outfielder Ryan Raburn joins the show

On the latest edition of the White Sox Talk Podcast, Chuck Garfien interviews newly signed outfielder Ryan Raburn.
Raburn has spent years tormenting the White Sox with clutch hits, so imagine the surprise when the Sox announced the minor league deal. Raburn talks about his success against the Sox and what he can bring to the team.
Later, CSNChicago.com's Dan Hayes joins Garfien to break down the first week of the season. The two talk about Avi Garcia's scorching start and whether the offense will ever give Jose Quintana run support. They also analyze the nice starts from prospects Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Dan Hayes and Zack Collins.

Ep. 33: Which free agents are Rick Hahn targeting over the next three seasons?

Dan Hayes joins Chuck Garfien and Slavko Bekovic to talk about Rick Hahn’s “three-year board” looking at free agents, plus they discuss why teams in the north don’t open up on the road more often and Jose Quintana’s Opening Day struggles.