South Side Hit Pen Podcast Feed

Sharing Sox father-and-son team Leigh and Will Allan take a look back at the White Sox 2020 season, and, uh, er, postseason, and do a little crystal-ball gazing as well. As usual, they pretend to know what they're talking about. But at least one wishes Don Cooper a happy retirement and hopes it comes very, very soon.

It's the first playoff game in White Sox history where it's win-or-go-home for both teams, hard though that is to even comprehend...first in their 120 years. They did have a do-or-die in 2008 with the Blackout Game against the Twins for the division title, but that was an extension of the regular season, not a playoff.

Sharing Sox father and son team Leigh and Will Allan are joined by SSHP pitching guru Janice Scurio and more or less hitting expert Eric Loughlin to take a look back at yesterday's Sox win, and look forward to what all hope is another one.

Sharing Sox father and son team Leigh and Will Allan once again pretend they know what they're talking about, as the White Sox head into the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. This time, though, they're joined by someone who actually does know what she's talking about, South Side Hit Pen woman of wit and wisdom Janice Scurio.

Episode 2 of Sharing Sox didn't share episode one's power to create a week of wins, so this time South Side Hit Pen duty geezer Leigh Allan and his son, Will, are bringing in a guest to also pretend what he knows what he's talking about and help propel the White Sox to the division title. Eric Loughlin is a Sox fan, baseball aficionado, and former teammate of Will's on the mighty Steppenwolf Theatre softball team - back when there was softball, or, for that matter, theatre.

This edition is not too proud to accept kudos for creating the perfect week of White Sox baseball, and goes into the next two games with the Twins, the upcoming series with the Reds and Cleveland, the MVP quandary (disagreement there), and the strange machinations that will be needed to line up the White Sox rotation for the playoffs.

Our newest South Side Hit Pen podcast is a family affair, with two generations of White Sox fans, father Leigh and son Will, meeting up to talk on the exciting 2020 season! Questions broached: Is Luis Robert faster than Michael Scott? Will Eloy ever escape the netting? Is Dylan Cease real or a mirage?

Clinton Cole and Brett Ballantini chat about the tale of two teams that has played out through nine games of the 2020 season. The White Sox have streaked into second place, and this pair is HAVING IT. Oh yeah, and La Pantera rocks.

Scott Merkin joins Clinton Cole for a discussion on White Sox Summer Camp, including surprise breakout players so far. The pair also discuss the Schaumburg 16, the final players making the "active" roster for 2020.

Scott Reichard invites co-host Brett Ballantini, and you the listener, into his basement Cheers bar to discuss the goings-on in White Sox baseball: Michael Kopech, a six-man or 3x3x3 rotation, the ongoing pandemic, and the Pale Hose we're most excited to see in 2020.

While Geoff Blum only played for the South Siders for half a season, one at-bat in the World Series etched his name in White Sox history. Sam Sherman spoke about that at-bat, his broadcasting and podcasting career, the players vs. the owners, and so much more.

Julie Brady hops on the podcast to talk about her writing style, gilded debut as a White Sox fan, the Winston-Salem experience, Luis Robert, and — of course — the Rally Chicken.

Lurker Laura jumps on the podcast to talk about the changes proposed to the 2020 baseball season (schedule, draft). And of course, the delicious dessert of the podcast is the unveiling of Laura's diary entries from 2005, her "lost B-Sides" never before published that tell the saga of Carlos Lee, and the triumph of an Opening Day win, and more.

Baseball bracketologist Owen Schoenfeld hops on with Brett Ballantini to talk about his recent piece, breaking down the sleepers of the 2020 season, as well as the core pieces of the club. Additionally, there's speculation on the length of the coming season and the status of the 2020 draft.

Amber Giese hops on the podcast with Brett Ballantini to talk about her debut South Side Hit Pen article summarizing the best and worst of 2020's promotional schedule across major league baseball. We also trace her entry into baseball fandom, and what factors beyond the obvious (Gio González!) that led her to taking on the White Sox as her new No. 2 team.

SSHP managing editor and Future Sox senior editor James Fox hops on to talk with Brett Ballantini about his latest scoop, breaking the Yoán Moncada contract extension. The two also talk about future White Sox extensions, the 2020 starting rotation, and the battle for the 26th roster spot.

Chuck Garfien joins Clinton Cole to talk White Sox spring training and everyone's favorite player, Yermín Mercedes.

Effervescent engagement editor Ashley Sanders hops on the podcast with Brett Ballantini to talk (natch) the dear, departed Yolmer Sánchez. Also, learn about Ashley's road to Sox fandom and persistent tryout for a "boys" baseball All-Star team. Finally, we wrap with some Cactus talk, including the amazing February of Yermín Mercedes and Carson Fulmer's last stand.

Hot off of his SSHP coverage in Surprise, Sean Williams hops on to talk Cactus League and the 4-3 Chicago White Sox. We discuss Luis Robert's secret weapons, Eloy Jiménez's leadership, the turns in fortune for Micker Adolfo and Carson Fulmer, as well as some things to watch for in coming spring training games.

Janice Scurio takes time from her busy podcast appearance schedule to hop back on to discuss her fun White Sox fan-primer piece on South Side Hit Pen, her personal social media practice (and new SSHP mission statement) of LESS MEATBALL MORE SAUCE, a bit of crosstown talk, and storylines from spring training.

Baseball is back! Our guy down in Arizona, Sean Williams, checks in from the Cactus League opener, a 7-2 win for the White Sox. We run down a bunch of standouts from that first game and project a little bit into the 2020 White Sox season.

Sean Williams hops on the podcast coming off of a weekend of Camelback Ranch coverage at the start of spring training. We talk about the impressive hitting displays by many White Sox newcomers, the second base battle, pitchers to watch for 2020, best move of the offseason and what's still missing from the White Sox roster.

The podcast is back with a rollicking episode, featuring new SSHP scribe Keelin Billue. Much was discussed, including dog cameos in SSHP Podcast history, rules of media passes, White Sox PECOTA projections, forgetting Valentine's Day, South Side grittiness, Smash the Fan Next to You in the Face With a Cake Day, the mystery of New Era's spring training hat, panther mysticism, and the small hurdle incident.

Janice Scurio chats with Brett Ballantini about SoxFest 2020, from the sights, sounds and smells to some of the principal players she tracked down and chatted with. Also: were there gift shop steals? were there awesome White Sox Twitter characters?

Leigh Allan hops onto the podcast with Brett Ballantini to talk about the White Sox offseason, with a particular look at how the defense projects in 2020 and whether the ball being de-juiced (if it ends up de-juiced) will affect the team as it competes in a winnable AL Central.

Joe Resis joins Brett Ballantini for a wide-ranging discussion of a busy week for off-field news, from the continuing Houston Astros scandal, the White Sox connection (?), SSHP Hall of Fame results, the Armour Park League for Patreon supporters, and a mini-preview of SoxFest.

Colleen Sullivan joins Brett Ballantini for a robust discussion of the penalties levied by MLB on the Houston Astros. In the second half, we discuss the SSHP Veteran's Committee Hall of Fame ballot, as well as the 2020 Hall of Fame ballot.

The reborn Black Sox Brothers podcast joins the South Side Hit Pen podcast network! Tommy Barbee and Leonard Gore catch up on the White Sox offseason. Learn smart TSA strategies after hearing about big free agent signing news, who's buying a season ticket package, Eloy Jiménez bats ... where?, LuBob vs. La Pantera, and the podcast debut of Peaches.

In what can only be termed a rollicking Hit Pen podcast, Janice Scurio and Colleen Sullivan join Brett Ballantini in the Luis Robert extension aftermath to discuss La Pantera, the innovative "just writing some crap down" research technique, manifesting Yasiel Puig to the South Side with vision boarding and Puigpaganda, a Matt Albers comeback, and more. Follow Janice on Twitter @BallerLibrarian, Colleen @ColleenSullivan, Brett @BrettBallantini and South Side Hit Pen @SouthSideHitPen.

James Fox, South Side Hit Pen managing editor who broke the Luis Robert extension story 10 days ago and confirmed the extension today, jumps on the podcast to talk Robert, the no-risk nature of the extension, and bullpen help going forward. No animals were harmed in the making of this podcast.

On the first half of the podcast, Brett Ballantini and Scott Reichard assess the current state of the Sox, with five free agents on board and a few weaknesses left to patch. Does right field still need attention? How about the bullpen? And finally, Scott comes up with yet another freebie slogan for Brooks Boyer. In the second half, Brett rolls the credits with big thank-yous to the site and staff. Here's to a fantabulous 2020 season!

Brett Ballantini and Joe Resis discuss a scorching Hot Stove week for the White Sox, with the free agent signings of Dallas Keuchel and Gio González. Is the rotation finally Covey-proofed?

Brett Ballantini and Scott Reichard sit down to discuss the aftermath of a quiet Winter Meetings and a dwindling free agent market for the Chicago White Sox.

South Side Hit Pen Episode 2! Editor-in-chief Brett Ballantini and writer Leonard Gore comb over the latest in White Sox news, from the potential Marcell Ozuna signing, to free agent and trade targets in right field, designated hitter and starting pitcher.

Brett and Clint talk White Sox baseball in the debut SSHP Podcast.