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Quiet the chorus of cheers, quiet down, now. I know everyone's elated about Chicago's newest, freshest, dopest manager in town...wait, what, Tony La Russa? So, yeah, Jon and James react to the La Russa being 'the guy' in Chicago. How did this move come about? Was it the right move? What part, if any, did Rick Hahn play in this addition? And how many mai tais has James had since hearing the news?! Follow James on Twitter: @JRFegan Follow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Join The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/southside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we aren't idly chatting about Jimmy John's, Jane the Virgin, college football or any number of quasi-cumbersome, time-stalling topics, we're discussing White Sox baseball, and who better to talk about disappointment than with Jon, James and special guest, White Sox play-by-play announcer, Jason Benetti! The trio talk the obvious first, mai tais and getting plastered as well as Jason's daily grind now post-Sox season. What did Jason think about Renteria's late-season in-game decisions, and aside from the forgettable moments, how did it feel to announce contests where stakes were higher than they have been in past years (3:00)? The group discourse shifts to Chicago's coaching hunt and rumors that Tony La Russa is a prime candidate to fill the team's vacant manager role (10:15). Do the rumors hold water? Who else could assume Chicago's position as head honcho? Why is James green with avarice (13:45)? Without fans present, how did Jason draw the requisite energy needed to call Lucas Giolito's no-hitter, and in general terms, where did that passion come from throughout the year in a season like this one (16:30)? What struggles were present when broadcasting remotely (20:30), and how did Jason manage team expectations and the transition from a rebuilding Sox organization to playoff contenders (26:15)? What was it like calling games with Steve Stone (28:45)? Plus, is there an added sprinkle of excitement in covering games now that Chicago has moved from a team remodeling themselves to being in the same breath as contending teams (33:45)? Oh, and what's a White Sox podcast without college football talk and random ramblings while I'm not being paid by the hour? In all seriousness, thank you to Jason for hopping on today, and to you all for sticking with us through the season. It's been a weird year, but this show has, hopefully, provided a much needed get away for you amid more weighty matters. Jon, James and myself wish you all good health and thank you for your continual support, so please keep liking, rating, commenting, subscribing, reading, listening, sending money to my GoFundMe and everything else you all do so that we can continue making this...podcast is too generous of a word...audio stream of conscious that happens to, occasionally, talk about the White Sox. Season two of WSB is in the books, we'll talk to you all before too long. With desperation in hopes you'll help me keep my job, Producer Cam Follow James on Twitter: @JRFegan Follow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Follow Jason on Twitter: @jasonbenetti Join The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/southside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chicago White Sox made a series of moves to their coaching staff, parting ways with both manager Rick Renteria and pitching coach Don Cooper. Jon and James discuss the factors at play in these decisions and look ahead to who Chicago could hire to fill both vacancies. Follow James on Twitter: @JRFegan Follow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon and James are balancing the books Dave style to figure out how much money the White Sox can save this offseason on expiring contracts and potential non-tenders (1:00). Then the guys set their sights on Schaumburg, Illinois where top pitching prospects Matthew Thompson, Andrew Dalquist and Jared Kelley spent the last few months making up for lost time. Did the talented trio get enough development time in this weird 2020 season? (11:49) Finally, we check in on the teams who are still playing in the 2020 Postseason. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James is livin' life! He's guzzling down mai tais while crafting GIF of Tim Anderson's adjustments at the plate. There's no better way to spend a "vacation"! Yeah, so, James created a series a GIF that he embedded into his feature highlighting Anderson's critiques ahead of the wild-card row with Oakland (2:00). What tweaks did the 27-year-old make ahead of playoff time and how does it contribute to his name among Southsiders? Rick Hahn is set to address the media sometime this week, what questions can we expect the Sox's GM to field (8:00)? TRADE MACHINE TIME! Jon's looking to pitch his Sox trade idea while James is looking at his watch wondering where his waiter is with his next mai tai (13:00). Follow James on Twitter: @JRFegan Follow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Join The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/southside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The A's were just lucky Yolmer was on normal rest. He would have torched Oakland...if weren't pulled within the first 2/3 innings. Jon and James cruise through Chicago's season-ending loss to the Athletics in the wild-card round (:30). Why were there so many pitching changes? Was this all according to plan? Is there a decision that could have altered the result? Talking about Ricky's job security has become a reoccurring segment (2:45). Maybe that's how we'll start every show going forward, idk. A hobbled Eloy and Crochet, who was injured in-game, would have been nice if they remined healthy...and NO, I am not stating the obvious (13:45). J&J, Jon and James, not to be confused with Jimmy John's, which is quite delectable, attempt to summarize Chicago's 2020 season and look ahead to what lies ahead (19:30). Follow James on Twitter: @JRFegan Follow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Join The Athletic for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/southside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Silver lining: the White Sox are playing postseason baseball for the first time in over a decade! So it's best to avoid ruminating on Chicago's epic collapse wherein seven of the last eight games were lost (:30). OK, we give, we give! How do the speedbumps and pitfalls at the regular season's end foreshadow what's to come? Jon and James make more concessions by reacting to Sox discourse and discuss Rick Renteria's job security (5:00). It's apropos to move Throw Back Thursday to Tuesday because Oakland sports several names familiar to Sox fans (11:30). In order to move forward, we have to go back. Back to Jimmy Cordero's fully thought out decision to plunk Wilson Contraras in the regular season's final stage (15:30). AJ&J also chat about Giolito and McCann's souvenir no-hitter rings as well as local television ratings and announcers (20:00) before dishing out their series predictions (28:30). Follow James on Twitter: @JRFegan Follow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Losing five of your last six games in the thick of postseason seeding while your division's crown is on the line is a bold move, Cotton. But that's exactly what the Chicago White Sox are doing. Jon and James attempt to diagnose Choke-ago's woes as well as share their thoughts on Sox players' reactions to this pressure-packed, near-climax to the season (1:00). What can we take away from Abreu's comments (12:00)? J&J chat about updated postseason matchups and where the Sox fall come October (14:30). Garret Crochet is one of very, very few positives buoying the collective White Sox fandom's sanity (20:15). Was Gio Gonzales the right call to pitch at the end of game two in Believeland (23:00)? Robert's rugged stretch continues (24:45). Follow James on Twitter: @JRFegan Follow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Experience The Athletic's award-winning journalism for yourself at just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/southside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cleveland's seen better days, though Detroit deserves some thanks, yet they're vying for a spot in the postseason. Chicago is set to engage Cleveland in a four-round bout, and joining Jon and Jimmy Boy to break the AL Central contests is The Athletic's esteemed Indians scribe, Zack Meisel (:30). Zack, in his infinite wisdom, explains Cleveland's fall from gleeful, non-contact, winning celebrations and playoff security to uncertainty and a near Mt. Everest-sized collapse. James highlights the expectations for the Palehose's quad, including the ailing Indians being perceived as a final, pre-postseason hurdle (8:00). The keyboard peckers punctuate their chat by discussing the clubs' pitching matchups (13:30). If we had a nickle for every time we mentioned the starting rotation, we'd own a Jimmy John's by now (19:15). Plus, where does Dylan Cease fit into the fold? Who's more likely to hold Sox fans' hearts hostage in MVP voting, Anderson or Abreu (26:30), and what's going on with Robert (29:30)?Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenbergFollow Zack on Twitter: @ZackMeisel   Try the award-winning journalism The Athletic offers for just $1 a month! Visit: theathletic.com/southside  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Champaign, beer, other alcoholic beverages (considering you're of age), water, Capri Sun, I don't care; just spray whatever harmless beverage you have, because the White Sox deserve to be showered with praise after earning their first postseason berth since 2008! Jon and The Athletic's Chicago White Sox playoff corespondent, James Fegan, describe the bubbling emotion after Chicago took three of four games against Minnesota to secure a playoff bid (:30). OK, now that that's taken care of, the Palehose have their sights aimed at the AL Central title (6:30). The guys gaze into their crystal TV set to see the Sox's potential match up (14:15). To further jump into the postseason pool, the Sox scrivener and Jon wade through the club's potential three through five starters (22:45). Oh, how could I forget? A less than thought out Notre Dame segment (31:00)!Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg  $1 a month for award-winning sports coverage? No way. Ha, yes way! Experience The Athletic for just a buck a month by visiting: theathletic.com/southside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ah, the University of Notre Dame, a paralleled education institution where the student body's mood is generally dictated by the football team's success. The lows are low and highs...well, it's mostly all low. Just look at the 2013 natty. Yikes. Jon and Fighting Irish alum, James, examine Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada's plate discipline, specifically, how manipulating their hands has improved their at bats (5:30). *Insert timely breaking news sound effect* Dallas Keuchel has been placed on the 10-day IL (9:45). With Keuchel seemingly unavailable the next two series, is concern for his injury greater than what was initially thought? Was Reynaldo Lopez's stint in Schaumburg long enough to make a meaningful tweak to his game? Let's make an excuse to talk about Notre Dame and its football team (13:30)! Andrew Vaughn continues to develop at the Sox's satellite camp in hopes of earning a big league spot in the near future (21:00). James brown noses his boss by opining Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert's chances at hitting 300, hell, let's make it 500 career home runs (28:30).Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it safe to say the White Sox's dance game be weak? Without Zack Collins, semi-coordinated, out-of-step routines are but a shell of themselves. All right, let's broach everyone's favorite topic, the pitching staff: Dallas Keuchel was limited in his last start because of back pain and Alex Colome, though effective, has a recovery routine equivalent to the time it takes James to score in FIFA (a long ass time), among other red flags. What are Jon and James' opinion of the Sox dinged up hurlers as we head into the home stretch of the regular season (2:45)? What's the difference between a warlock and wizard? I guess it doesn't matter because Lucas Giolito's changeup is seemingly vanishing in front of opposing hitters to the point where magic is a valid explanation (11:00). James details Yoan Moncada's persistent struggle with post-Covid-19 symptoms (17:30). Plus, a look ahead to Chicago's remaining divisional series with the AL Central title at stake (22:15).Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sox dynasty is forming! Just you watch! Chicago will be known as the creme de la creme of all professional sports leagues once they've dispatched Kansas City...Pittsburgh...and Detro...I'll stop now. Reynaldo Lopez, once again, failed to produce at least two innings of work against Minnesota, and was pulled from the series finale after recording just five outs (:30). Jon and James try to diagnose the reason behind Lopez's shortcomings before ranking the three through five starters' upside (4:00). OK. You Bizners win. Let's talk about Ricky's bullpen management (8:15). We learned that the Sox learned some valuable lessons from the Twins series, did you (14:30)? Go ahead and spit shine the ol' MLB crown, because it's coming home to Chicago after the next three series...and only those three series, we're not taking into account anything else (23:30).Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We'll always have Jarrod Dyson to remind us of this year's trade deadline. Jon and James take inventory of the Sox and other clubs after the trade deadline (:30). Why weren't the Sox disposed to making more trades? Do we find their lack of deals disturbing, young Bizner? Yolmer and Madrigal are back, yay (6:30)!! Why was there a meeting of the team's elder statesmen (10:15)? Was there merit to the Sox dealing for Clevinger, and was Kopech ever going to be really traded (14:00)? Lastly, J&J give you the 411 on the Twins (16:15).Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On an abnormal night at Guaranteed Rate Field, where the park's power cut out, a burning smell wafted into the press box and short ribs weren't served, Lucas Giolito made baseball history. Jon and James react to Giolito's no-hitter against Pittsburgh and the weight of history that accompanied the last throws (:30). The guys dive into Giolito's 2018 game-changing transformation, and his ironclad bond with James McCann (8:00). James details Rick Giolito's, Lucas' father, viewing experience as the innings grew shorter and the anticipation swelled (12:00). Plus, how did the rest of the Giolito clan watch Lucas make history (18:45)? Follow James on Twitter: @jrfeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aside from winning the pennant, an AL Central title, or an MVP award, what better scene is there than the White Sox hoisting the Crosstown Cup for the first time since 2016 *Chef's Kiss*? Jon and James skip the blather and bounce directly into their takeaways from the Sox/Cubs series (:30). Jon Lester's stuff has reached the not-good-enough-to-get-away-with-mistakes tier and it showed. Abreu, Eloy and Luis were all dialing long distance (7:30). Which players should comprise Chicago's All-City team taking into account this series (13:30)? Dallas Keuchel keeps demonstrating how reliable he is (23:30). Plus, why did Renteria allow Cease to pitch through the sixth inning (26:45)? Oh, and Chicago plays Pittsburgh next, fwiw (29:30).Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just hand the pennant to the Sox now. Did you not see how they dismantled Detroit?! What?! Detroit is the opposite of good? OK. Jon and James are conducting the White Sox-Won't-Lose-Another-Game-Train (not really) and their first stop is at Tim Anderson station (:15). How elite has Anderson been since his return to the line up? Is his smoldering bat just a few degrees cooler than Fernando Tatis Jr. as the world's current, best hitter? The South Side's spitfires finally strung together a series of encouraging starts (13:00). What was working for Giolito in his career-high day? What are James' thoughts about Dane Dunning's debut (15:30), and what about Dylan Cease and Gio Gonzales (18:30)? The guys take a peek at this weekend's Crosstown Cup, including the probable starters (31:30).Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Someone needs to pay DJ Kahlid overtime after the Sox's monstrous fifth inning home run hoedown against St. Louis on Sunday. Aside from the jaw-dropping homer exhibition, the Sox only narrowly avoided a sweep against a team that hadn't played a game in over two weeks (:30). What does this near catastrophe at the hands the Cardinals mean for Chicago? Although the team is playing .500-caliber baseball, is Ricky on the hot seat (7:30)? Regardless of the answer, why should/shouldn't he be the target for criticism? A multitude of issues have washed over the Sox so far this year, but which is the biggest cause for concern (17:00)? Lastly, the White Sox carry a rigid attitude on access (25:30).Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We may never escape Marc Carig's sneer and haughty gaze from his West/East coast media ivory tower (call back to last episode, so take a listen if you missed it, Bizners), but that won't stop us from persevering and chatting about the Sox! Dallas Keuchel spoke his mind and the truth when he addressed his teammates and commented on some players "kind of going through the motions" (:30). Was a reality check necessary, and is Keuchel's haranguing enough to galvanize the Sox? The "Energizer bunny, baby", Tim Anderson's, return to the offense could not have come at a better time (7:45). Plus, is Anderson still the best option at leadoff right now? How will the Sox adapt to all their bullpen injuries (13:00)? Could we finally see Garrett Crochet? With the Sox playing in Chicago through August 30th, could this homestand be the panacea for the Sox's inconsistent play (20:00)?Follow James on Twitter: @JRFeganFollow Jon on Twitter: @jon_greenberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior baseball writer for The Athletic, Marc Carig, is a Pale Hose stan. Because of this, James is compelled to ask why? Why would a West/East coast (he travels when there isn't a global pandemic) media savant be enamored by the Sox? Tune in and enjoy the ride, Bizners. Follow James on Twitter: @JRFegan Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Listen to Marc's podcast, Beyond the Scrum: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-scrum-the-baseball-stories-we-didnt-write/id1500667276 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices