Published by Sox Populi
For fans of the Chicago White Sox.
Listen on Apple PodcastsEd Hand is back to chat about the Red Sox. In this episode Ed talked about his trade deadline hopes for Boston, and how they’ve been red-hot since right before the All Star break. He and Chrystal previewed pitching matchups that changed mid-episode, talked about keys to winning and fears, and shared a lot of David Sandlin love. Before wrapping up, the pair talked about the possible work stoppage and why the Dodgers sometimes ruin everything. Oh, and more emo music. Sorry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joe Kiang-Resis, Malachi Hayes and the reformed, refurbished and revitalized Leonard Gore gathered together with Brett Ballantini to talk over the four moves made at the trade deadline by the White Sox, from good to ... puzzling. By the end, we speed-rounded grades for Chris Getz's first "buying" deadline, as well as whether or not Cleveland and its acquisition of Foster Griffin had a better deadline session than the White Sox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Minors writers Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Joe Kiang-Resis hop on with Brett Ballantini to take a pause from our monthly reviews and discuss the events of the day. Talk of SSS Player of the Month for July Boston Smith, now departed to Seattle, triggered a discussion on whether it was the right time for the White Sox to be using prospect capital to ensure the postseason in 2026 (answer: yes). We spun that into some yes/nos on trades that were rumored but did not happen: Smith and George Wolkow to New York for Freddy Peralta, and Braden Montgomery to Baltimore for Adley Rutschman. Finally, we peered into the crystal ball and predicted the two September call-ups to the White Sox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jason Collette, of FanGraphs and Rotowire, is back to talk about the Tampa Bay Rays. Jason addressed Tampa's trade deadline needs, and how to get by the pesky Yankees and Red Sox, who still find ways to win. Jason and Chrystal talked about pitching matchups for the coming series, and the pros and cons of opening pitchers in previewing the series. They also lauded the ABS system, issues with catchers, cool bobbleheads, and how sometimes sports hurt your feelings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Asher from Pitcher List made his season debut to talk about all things Yankees. He discussed what’s new, including an Aaron Judge health update, what the Yankees need to do at the deadline, and how confident he feels about playoff chances. The duo previewed the series and talked about their mutual love of weird pitchers and Jason Benetti. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Andy Brown is back this season to talk about the Houston Astros. For the first time in more than a decade, the Astros will likely be sellers at the trade deadline, in an everything-must-go situation. But even still, there is some hope for the franchise. Chrystal and Andy previewed the series and talked about the great vibes at Rate Field this season. Andy also shared his hot takes, including how baseball still needs to figure out how to grow the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Levi Weaver, co-writer of The Windup with Ken Rosenthal on The Athletic, joined Chrystal to talk about all things Rangers. Before digging into what’s going on in Texas, Chrystal asked about Levi’s Halloween costume from last year: George Pee-Wee Herman Ruth, which he put together for his Sandlot baseball league. The pair discussed what is needed at the Trade Deadline and how unserious the American League is this year before previewing the upcoming series. Before closing, Levi shared a few baseball takes before diving into an emo debate and praise of seeing Nick Cave live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Do women still have to prove they're "real sports fans?" On this episode of Ladies' Night, hosts Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and Kristina Airdo are joined by Dakota Rouse from the Chicago Women's Sports Club to talk about gatekeeping, finding your community, and why sports are better when everyone feels like they belong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Dante Jones and Malachi Hayes hopped on with Brett Ballantini to discuss the fabulous first half for the White Sox, but more so to focus on the second half and stretch run that could give the club its first postseason berth in five seasons. We discuss how the second half plays out, who ends up winning the division, what the trade deadline will look like, who finishes the season as the White Sox MVP — and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Former voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, current Toronto Star baseball columnist and host of the Deep Left Field podcast, Mike Wilner joined Chrystal to chat about the Blue Jays. Mike discussed what’s new with the Blue Jays, and why he’s not feeling negative about the team. The two also previewed the upcoming White Sox series and talked about what Mike is enjoying this season, as well as the statue being unveiled soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chrystal O'Keefe, Brian O'Neill and Hannah Filippo hopped on with Brett Ballantini to discuss the fabulous first half for the White Sox, but more so to focus on the second half and stretch run that could give the club its first postseason berth in five seasons. We discuss how the second half plays out, who ends up winning the division, what the trade deadline will look like, and who finishes the season as the White Sox MVP — and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It was a little hard to tell at South Side Sox given all of our normal draft features being churned out, but this year marked a wrinkle to our coverage: Actual writers on the ground to cover the event. Melissa Sage-Bollenbach and her son, Sage, were in Philadelphia for the draft, Melissa as credentialed SB Nation media. Now ... did that turn out to be a good thing? And did Sage, donned in a UCLA Roch Cholowsky jersey and White Sox cap, get feasted on by writers and broadcasters looking for No. 1 overall draft choice material? Tune in to learn all of the the ins, outs and power failures of the weekend experience in Philadelphia, as the pair sits down with Brett Ballantini to chat on MLB draft 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, reporting from the 2026 draft in Philadelphia, joined Brett Ballantini to wrap up an extremely impressive effort by the White Sox. We revisit the debate over the No. 1 overall pick (we had both settled on a player other than Roch Cholowsky), Chicago's maneuverings to land Landon Thome, note securing a first-round talent (and Grady Emerson doppelganger?) Cole Prosek at 41, and other highlights — including players taken DEEP in the draft, all the way down to Round 20. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The wonderful Aaron Cameron is back for the second time this season to talk about the Athletics. Aaron shared his experience with seeing the A’s in Las Vegas, as they start to integrate and build hype in the desert. The pair went over trade deadline needs and confidence levels about 2026. Chrystal and Aaron also previewed the series, talked about the game they caught together at the end of May in Chicago, and Aaron shared his hottest take to date — he hates the Home Run Derby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Red Sox media jack-of-all-trades Owen Brown made his Visiting Dugout debut to talk to Chrystal about what’s new in Boston and preview the upcoming laundry series. Owen touched on the April firings, the Willson Contreras suspension, and if the Red Sox will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. The pair also went over what to expect in this series including pitching matchups and fears, before moving on to what’s going on with MLB in general. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Imari McPherson joins again to talk about a familiar team, the Cleveland Guardians. While the pitching matchups in this series will be similar, the White Sox will see the Guardians on the road this time, and for four games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The full squadron of South Side Sox minors writers (Brett Ballantini, Melissa Sage-Bollenbach, Joe Kiang-Resis, Kristina Airdo and Hannah Filippo) assembled to review June and the first half in the White Sox system. We assessed the second-half fortunes for each affiliate, and highlighted some of the system's brightest and most disappointing players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dream is back to talk to Chrystal about all things Orioles. The pair talked about what’s going on in Baltimore, and previewed the series and what to expect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If there's one thing you can count on from Sox Populi, it's that every time the White Sox win a game by 21, we'll be on the air for a postgame podcast. That's our promise. Of course, that's never happened in White Sox history, and there's been just one bigger blowout in all 126 years of play for the South Siders, also against a Kansas City team (the Athletics, in 1955). And the 22 runs scored in the blowout tie for the second-most ever by the team (again, 1955, 29 runs). Game recapper Trevor Land (in his Sox Populi podcast debut) and Hannah Filippo hopped on with Brett Ballantini to talk about the win. And believe it or not, one of the trio STILL is not overly impressed with this White Sox team. Find out who, and give us a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Journalist Vince Guerrieri joined the podcast to chat with Chrystal about the Cleveland Guardians. Plagued with injuries and losing the heart of the order, the Guardians are still lingering at the top of the American League Central alongside the White Sox. Vince talked about the offseason, and how Cleveland owners don’t spend money on free agents, either, as well as his confidence levels for taking the division. The pair previewed the series, and the pitching clinic the Guardians always seem to have. Vince shared the keys to winning, and his fears heading into the series before breaking away and sharing his insight on the rest of the season and the potential labor stoppage in 2027. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices