Futuresox Podcast

Mike Rankin and James Fox reacted to the White Sox's announcement of Pedro Grifol as the organization's manager. In an introductory press conference, Grifol and general manager Rick Hahn spoke on expectations and a new attitude surrounding the clubhouse. Mike and James listened back to a number of quotes from the aforementioned Sox representatives. Later, the show provided details about the rest of the coaching staff and who likely fills in as the new hitting coach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox introduced Jeff Feyerer, a new contributor to FutureSox and Sox Machine, to discuss the latest on the Chicago White Sox's managerial search. Is Ozzie Guillen the top candidate? Later, the group shared their versions of the White Sox offseason plan. Mike, James and Jeff detailed positions of strength the organization may be able to deal from.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox welcomed on Ryan Johansen of johansenbaseball.com and winreality.com to discuss his time with the Chicago White Sox. Johansen worked with current hitting coordinator Andy Barkett and assistant general manager Chris Getz to help implement the information gathered through technology in player development. Later, Mike and James provided an update on the White Sox managerial search as well as reacted to the news of Sox Fest's cancellation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox welcomed on Chicago White Sox hitting instructor Devin DeYoung, who is assigned to develop talent in Arizona for the franchise. DeYoung shared insight on organizational hitting philosophy and how new technology is being implemented in their teachings. He also explained the value of 'Project Birmingham' and what it means for players who were challenged at the double-A level for the first time in their respective careers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox welcomed on Herb Lawrence of CHGO Sports in Chicago. The group reacted to rumors that included managerial candidates and uncertainty toward Jose Abreu's return to the south side in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox reacted to the Chicago White Sox's end-of-season press conference, which included an announcement that Tony La Russa retired as manager. That led them to discuss all that's ahead in the offseason and what to expect in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox welcomed on 'Beef Loaf' of FromThe108.com to get his assessment on all that went wrong with the Chicago White Sox in 2022. The group discussed roster issues, individual player inconsistencies, front office disconnects and much more. With the White Sox failing to reach the MLB postseason for a third consecutive year, the show looks ahead to 2023 and what needs to happen in the offseason for Chicago to get back on the winning track. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox welcomed on Jim Margalus, the managing editor of Sox Machine, to discuss his experience watching the Chicago White Sox double-A affiliate in person. The group then pondered the types of results needed to consider 'Project Birmingham' a success. Later, the show looked ahead to key roster positions that will be top of mind for the Chicago White Sox in 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox welcomed on Pittsburgh Pirates triple-A broadcaster and JustBaseball.com contributor Jack McMullen to talk about the future of Major and Minor League Baseball. McMullen shared his first-hand experiences watching the soon-to-be implemented rule changes coming to MLB, which include larger bases, a pitch clock and a restriction on infield shifting. Later, the group discussed the future of Minor League Baseball as the organization looks to unionize for the first time in its history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox react to White Sox manager Tony La Russa stepping away from the team due to medical reasons. They also provide an update on 'Project Birmingham,' as the top White Sox prospects continue to work in double-A. Later, Mike and James discuss several names who will be participating in the organization's instructional league this fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin welcomed on Chicago White Sox beat writer James Fegan of The Athletic to provide insight on the newly constructed "Project Birmingham," which consists of a number of notable prospects playing in Double-A. Fegan also describes his first-hand experiences covering an underachieving White Sox team, as well as ponders the future of Jose Abreu. Later, James detailed the scouting, drafting and signing process of White Sox first-round draft pick Noah Schultz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The FutureSox team released its midseason top 30 prospect list at SoxMachine.com. Mike Rankin, James Fox, Steve Hasman and Josh Nelson gathered to highlight the strengths of the system, celebrate multiple MLB top 100 prospects and detail individual profiles of some of the most promising prospects the organization has to offer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox welcomed White Sox writer and scout Bill Mitchell of Baseball America to provide perspective on the latest top 30 Chicago White Sox prospect list. Mitchell shared insight he gathered from scouts and executives from around Major League Baseball and detailed strengths and weaknesses of players like Norge Vera, Jose Rodriguez, Bryan Ramos, Colson Montgomery, Kohl Simas and Matthew Thompson, among others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox opened the show by reacting to the Chicago White Sox trade deadline, which featured general manager Rick Hahn trading for left-handed reliever Jake Diekman. Then, James welcomed on amateur scout Brian Sakowski of Perfect Game baseball to discuss the best players from the 2022 White Sox draft class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox praised the top prospects of the Chicago White Sox farm system as FutureSox prepares its 2022 midseason top 30 list. Keith Law of The Athletic included shortstop Colson Montgomery in his top 60 prospect list in Major League Baseball, while Bryan Ramos just missed. What does that mean for Oscar Colas? Later, Mike and James highlighted the influx of pitching the White Sox added in the draft and explained how it impacts the system. Also, Cristian Mena, Norge Vera, Matthew Thompson, Luke Shilling and Jared Kelley are impressive. Where do they rank among the White Sox' top 15? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox welcomed on senior writer Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline to discuss the Chicago White Sox 2022 MLB Draft class. Callis was candid about amateur scouting director Mike Shirley's draft strategy and also provided projections of the Sox's top three pitching selections in the draft. Later, Callis evaluated White Sox prospects including Norge Vera, Jose Rodriguez, Lenyn Sosa, Cristian Mena and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox reacted to the Chicago White Sox's first 10 draft picks of the 2022 class. For the first time in over 20 years, the organization decided on a prep pitcher. How significant of a change is amateur scouting director Mike Shirley's philosophy and what does it mean for the franchise moving forward? Later, Mike and James ponder where to rank the newly acquired talent among the organization's top 30 prospects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox completed their 2022 MLB Draft preparations by speaking to Joe Doyle of ProspectsLive.com. Doyle detailed the strengths of the class overall and provided several names that could land at pick No. 26 for the Chicago White Sox. Doyle also provided his perspective of the organization's draft strategy over the past two years under amateur scouting director Mike Shirley. The trio highlighted a number of prospect updates, as well, which included top 100 White Sox prospect Colson Montgomery. Mike and James made sure to carve out some time to voice their frustrations about the big league club, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox took a trip around the American League Central to learn about White Sox division foes ahead of the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft. Rogelio Castillo of Tigers Minor League Report & Woodward Sports in Detroit, Alex Duvall of Royals Farm Report, Seth Stohs of Twins Daily and Jeff Ellis of Locked on Guardians provided insight on their respective team's organizational philosophies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Mike Rankin and James Fox welcomed on Midwest MLB Draft scout Burke Grander of d1baseball.com to provide a national perspective on the managerial tendencies of Tony La Russa, the significance of Carlos Rodon's departure, as well as standout prospects that may fall to the White Sox in July's upcoming Rule 4 Draft. Before that, Mike and James took time to relieve some stress regarding the major league ball club. They also discussed the promotion of top prospect Colson Montgomery to advanced-A, among other topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy