The White Sox Podcast w/ Chuck Garfien

With White Sox starters leading the American League in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and more, dare we ask the question: Is this rotation better than the one from 2005? Chuck Garfien and Ryan McGuffey are joined by 2005 World Series hero Scott Podsednik to compare and contrast the two rotations and discuss whether the 2021 White Sox can keep this going. Plus, Pods shares a classic Orlando Hernandez story and more.(1:30) - Let's look at the numbers. Plus, which rotation had better stuff?(9:50) - Orlando Hernandez was great in the playoffs. What about the regular season?(13:20) - What both rotations have in common(16:45) - What is the identity of the 2021 White Sox?

With Major League Baseball cracking down on the use of foreign substances by pitchers, White Sox lefty Carlos Rodón discussed the topic with Chuck Garfien. Rodón talks about why he doesn't use any extra substances while he pitches and criticizes the decision to punish pitchers and not Houston Astros players who cheated in 2017 and 2018. The conversation also covers his no-hitter, his increased velocity, the Cy Young-caliber season of Lance Lynn, and more.(2:30) -- It's Chuck's first in-person interview in 15 months(3:15) -- Rodon's no-hitter and near no-hitter(8:00) -- How he's been able to hit 100 mph on the radar gun(11:00) -- His thoughts on foreign substances, Rob Manfred and the Houston Astros

With Nick Madrigal possibly missing the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, what do the White Sox do about second base? Chuck Garfien and Ryan McGuffey discuss the loss of Madrigal, the rash of hamstring injuries that have hit the White Sox, and one name that's already been mentioned as a possible trade target. Plus, they react to Rick Hahn's comments regarding the team's optimism that Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert could both return this season.

After missing three full seasons due to injuries and the pandemic, Jake Burger is back in a big way. Chuck Garfien speaks with the White Sox 2017 first-round pick about his impressive start with the Charlotte Knights and what it means to be playing competitive baseball again. They talk about his first three hits in Triple-A (all home runs), how an unexpected fan found his first home run ball and gave it to him, getting called up to the majors one day, his impressions of prospect Yoelqui Cespedes, and more.(3:35) - Why Burger is surprised by the season he's having with the Charlotte Knights(10:55) - Hitting his first home run in Triple-A and the feeling after it(17:30) - How he's becoming a better third baseman(31:00) - The fan who found his first home run ball wasn't a White Sox fan...

Chuck Garfien catches up with Paul Konerko and Jim Thome for a conversation about their White Sox careers, the art of hitting, and much more. The two White Sox legends get into the nitty gritty about hitting in the big leagues, being teammates, and playing in the “Blackout Game.” They talk about the memorabilia they have inside their homes, and Chuck gives them a pop quiz about their baseball careers. (3:50) - Konerko and Thome talk about the baseball memorabilia they have in their homes(10:15) - Their memories of the "Blackout Game"(12:30) - The art of hitting as told by Konerko and Thome(28:50) - Teaching the game to younger generations(35:34) - Baseball trivia with Paul and Jim

As the baseball calendar flips from May to June, it’s time to assess all that has happened with the White Sox in the first two months of the season and wonder what comes next. Chuck Garfien and Ryan McGuffey break down what they’ve learned about the White Sox, the team's strengths and weaknesses, why they should win the AL Central, what player the White Sox could add at the trade deadline, and more.(2:50) - How many teams are better than the White Sox? Not many(11:00) - Bench players are making a big difference(17:10) - Will the Indians be able to overtake the White Sox?(21:35) - Chuck's trade target for the outfield

With Cubs superstar Kris Bryant potentially on the trading block, MLB.com columnist Anthony Castrovince comes on the podcast to tell Chuck Garfien why he believes the White Sox are the best fit for the former MVP. The guys talk about what kind of trade package it will take to acquire Bryant, if the Cubs would be willing to deal him to the South Side, and more.(3:00) - Castrovince explains why Bryant and the White Sox are the best fit(10:00) - Why the Cubs will eventually trade Bryant this season(16:10) - Will the Cubs be willing to trade him to the White Sox?(22:50) - Who the White Sox might have to give up for Kris Bryant(24:30) - When Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert return affects all of this

White Sox ace Lucas Giolito and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty were teammates at Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles. Now they’re facing off against each other as big leaguers for the very first time Tuesday night on the South Side. Chuck Garfien speaks with their high school baseball coach, Matt LaCour, who tells stories about their prep careers and what it took for them to become elite major league pitchers. LaCour, who is coming to town for the big game, talks about what it will be like being at Guaranteed Rate Field to watch his former pitchers go head-to-head.(2:46) - How did the legendary high school rotation featuring Lucas Giolito, Max Fried, and Jack Flaherty come together?(7:30) - When Matt LaCour first saw that Lucas Giolito had the potential to be something special(10:40) - The time Giolito accidentally hit Max Fried in the face with a pitch in high school(15:20) - The text LaCour received from Flaherty telling him he needs to come to Chicago for the game(20:05) - Watching the growth of Giolito in the majors(35:10) - LaCour on his former pitching coach Ethan Katz coaching Giolito in the majors

In one of the most unforgettable series in recent memory, the battle between the White Sox and Twins was also a dividing line between old-school and new-school baseball. Chuck Garfien, Ryan McGuffey and Vinnie Duber talk about everything from Yermín Mercedes launching a home run on a 3-0 pitch in a blowout to Tony La Russa sticking to the unwritten rules of baseball to the White Sox taking two of three from the Twins in a series that buried Minnesota even further into the basement of the AL Central.1:55 - Summing up a tense White Sox-Twins series7:00 - La Russa - Mercedes fall out16:48 - Throwing at batters for retaliation

The White Sox and Twins were expected to battle it out for the AL Central title, but with Memorial Day approaching, the White Sox are at the top of the division and the Twins are fighting to stay out of the cellar. Can the Twins turn their season around, or will they be forced to make an early surrender and sell before the trade deadline? Chuck Garfien and Ryan McGuffey speak with Twins beat writer Dan Hayes from The Athletic about the Twins' struggles and how the White Sox made it to first place. They also discuss the current playoff and World Series projections for both teams.(3:15) - Why have the Twins been so bad this year?(13:10) - Everything that could go wrong for the Twins has gone wrong(19:15) - Will the Twins pull the plug on the season and trade away players?(25:10) - Current odds to make the playoffs in the AL Central division(30:20) - Is there a chance the Twins can comeback?(38:00) - Current World Series Odds for the AL Centeral