Sox Populi - A Chicago White Sox podcast

On this episode of Like Father, Like Stat, Mike Malcom-Bjorklund and James Bjorklund go around the diamond on the White Sox offseason. Position by position, they discuss whether the Sox should spend or stand pat. The pair covers catcher depth and Kyle Teel’s development, the options at first and second base, Miguel Vargas at third and Colson Montgomery at short. Then it’s on to the outfield and where money should be spent, the starting pitchers the Sox should target, and the bullpen. They finish with an AL Central preview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who deserves another season on the South Side? In the first full episode of Like Father, Like Stat, Mike and his son, James, take a deep dive into the Chicago White Sox's upcoming offseason, examining the team's pending free agents, arbitration-eligible players and the difficult decisions facing the organization heading into 2027. Combining old-school baseball instincts with modern analytics, the father-son duo debates which players have earned another opportunity, who might be moving on and what the White Sox should do to build on their 2026 season. While they expected plenty of disagreements, the eye test and the numbers brought them closer together than anticipated. Still, there's no shortage of lively conversation, predictions and a little father-son banter as they attempt to answer one important question: Who should be wearing a White Sox uniform in 2027? Same blood. Same Sox. Different takes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two generations. One team. Two different perspectives. In the debut episode of Like Father, Like Stat, a father and son share their passion for the Chicago White Sox and the game of baseball. Mike and his son, James, take listeners back to where their White Sox fandom began, sharing childhood memories, favorite players and the moments that made them lifelong fans of the South Siders. They also reflect on the 2026 season, discussing their favorite moments, biggest surprises and what made this year's White Sox team memorable. Along the way, listeners get to know the personalities behind the microphones. You know, the one who grew up trusting the eye test and another who embraces baseball's evolving world of analytics. It's a little nostalgia, a little baseball debate and plenty of father-son conversation. Same blood. Same Sox. Different takes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Ballantini flies solo on this look back at Game 4 (Chris Getz's choice to roster just 12 pitchers, the possible gift handed to the White Sox with Stephen Vogt's "bullpen management late on Thursday) and ahead to the deciding Game 5 (available pitchers, getting to Gavin Williams, and on whose shoulders does the pressure sit). In the end, the best pitcher throwing is Chicago's Sean Burke, on regular rest. Advantage: White Sox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, that game suuuuuuuucked. Nevertheless, Joe Kiang-Resis and BrettBallantini broke down the ugliness, poked a hole in José Ramírez worship, forecast the pitching matchups for Game 4, and wondered whether any White Sox batter would ever shorten his swing with two strikes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Hannah Filippo and Malachi Hayes join Brett Ballantini in previewing a possible clinching game in Chicago, as the White Sox won the first two games in Cleveland and sending all prognosticators home crying. We take a look at the dueling openers in Game 3, forecast how the game will play out, our MVPs at this point in the ALDS, and players we think will surprise in Game 3. We also speculate on who the "big name" throwing out the first pitch for Game 3 will be — and acknowledge that the biggest obstacle to a sweep might be the penchant for ice cream in the White Sox clubhouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A stirring win by the White Sox in Cleveland brought Joe Kiang-Resis, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Brett Ballantini together to review all the ups and downs, from a rough open to Sean Burke's record-setting mastery as the bulk arm to timely hitting that rallied Chicago to the win. Along the way we muse over Game 3's prospective pitching lineup, the controversial (over?) managing moves from Will Venable, predictions for Game 3 and, in a twist, what you should do if you find somebody's wallet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flying solo and thus talking as much as ever, Brett Ballantini previews Game 2 of the White Sox-Guardians ALDS. Given the relative dominance over Cleveland of opener/starter Anthony Kay and bulk arm Sean Burke and Chicago having solved Gavin Williams to a large degree, the pitching matchup looks much more favorable for the South Siders than Game 1. Similarly, the White Sox back more feistiness into the lineup vs. righthanders, so subbing in Sam Antonacci and Tristan Peters for Randal Grichuk and Brenton Doyle changes the complexion of Game 2. After winding up with some observations about getting the AL/White Sox gettng an early-in-series vs. late extra day off, poof, the podcast is over. Was it just a dream? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What ho, lookee here, it's Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Joe Kiang-Resis and Brett Ballantini gathering to take in a dominant win by the White Sox in their ALDS vs. Cleveland. The trio discusses Grant Taylor's enormous effort en route to a four-innings save, the reawakening of big boppers Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery, the impressive three-game postseason run by the White Sox during which they have not trailed, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leonard Gore and Brett Ballantini met up to preview Game 1 of the ALDS pitting the Chicago White Sox against the Cleveland Guardians, covering the gamut of Saturday's game, including: Why Cleveland's pitching advantage might not be so much of an advantage What's the White Sox plan of attack vis-a-vis openers and bullpen usage? The importance of having a strong top of the first inning Has a team ever knocked starting pitchers out in the first inning of three straight playoff games? Who wins Game 1 ... and who takes the series? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices