WEBVTT - Sox Machine: ALDS Game 1 Postgame 0:00:00.350 --> 0:00:03.790 Howard, my dad was T-boned by a utility vehicle and 0:00:04.050 --> 0:00:06.890 is in surgery now. What should I do? 0:00:07.320 --> 0:00:09.820 I'm sorry to hear about that. It's really great that 0:00:09.860 --> 0:00:11.700 you're getting him the medical care and treatment that he 0:00:11.740 --> 0:00:14.480 needs right now. These are three important things that I 0:00:14.500 --> 0:00:17.239 think you need to know. Injuries are unexpected and turn 0:00:17.280 --> 0:00:20.480 lives upside down. I'm Howard Ankin, and I'm here to help. 0:00:20.960 --> 0:00:22.640 If you or a loved one have been hurt at work, 0:00:22.900 --> 0:00:26.739 or in a car, truck, or ride share accident, call 312-6-MILLION. 0:00:27.080 --> 0:00:29.380 Injury law made personal. That's Ankin Law. 0:00:43.490 --> 0:00:48.980 From your favorite source for Chicago White Sox talk, delivering news, interviews, analysis, 0:00:49.130 --> 0:00:53.020 and more. This is the Sox Machine Podcast with your hosts, 0:00:53.200 --> 0:00:55.000 Jim Margulis and Josh Nelson. 0:00:55.100 --> 0:00:59.160 Hello, folks. Welcome to the after party as the Chicago 0:00:59.200 --> 0:01:02.380 White Sox just won game one of the American League 0:01:02.420 --> 0:01:06.160 Division Series. I'm Josh Nelson. This is the Sox Machine 0:01:06.220 --> 0:01:09.830 postgame show presented by Aiken Law. And, of course, part 0:01:09.890 --> 0:01:12.419 of the Foul Territory Network as we are streaming live 0:01:12.440 --> 0:01:15.670 from the Removit Theater. After the White Sox just won 3-0, 0:01:16.220 --> 0:01:22.130 the comments section, you guys are already... going crazy, and 0:01:22.350 --> 0:01:26.740 it's just great to see, and everybody's so excited after 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:31.080 this huge win for the White Sox. It was one 0:01:31.180 --> 0:01:35.260 heck of a party here at the Remova Theater, and 0:01:35.340 --> 0:01:37.839 Brian Bruin puts it best, Grant Taylor. We're definitely going 0:01:37.860 --> 0:01:42.730 to be talking about Grant Taylor. What an amazing performance 0:01:42.790 --> 0:01:46.810 by Grant Taylor, and yeah, well said. One down, two 0:01:46.870 --> 0:01:51.220 to go. For the White Sox. As they are now 3-0. 0:01:51.240 --> 0:01:54.530 To start this postseason. And just to catch up. Again 0:01:54.570 --> 0:02:00.230 the White Sox winning 3-0. And a fantastic job. On 0:02:00.250 --> 0:02:03.150 the pitching front. For the Chicago White Sox. To only 0:02:03.190 --> 0:02:06.470 allow 3 hits. It started with Hagan Smith. In which 0:02:06.520 --> 0:02:09.700 Hagan Smith retired the first 8 batters. For the Chicago 0:02:09.760 --> 0:02:13.100 White Sox. He ended up losing his control. And he 0:02:13.160 --> 0:02:16.300 walked 3 straight batters. And we talked about that in 0:02:16.320 --> 0:02:20.500 the pregame show. That was a concern for Higgins-Smith entering 0:02:20.520 --> 0:02:24.600 this game. But then Will Venable, after the bases were loaded, 0:02:24.660 --> 0:02:26.920 went to Brian Hudson, and Hudson was able to get 0:02:26.960 --> 0:02:28.920 that key out to get out of that jam, the 0:02:28.960 --> 0:02:32.300 bases-loaded jam for the Guardians. And then Jordan Hicks came in, 0:02:32.419 --> 0:02:38.340 and Hicks is just throwing heat. I think StatCast had 0:02:38.400 --> 0:02:41.960 him at 102 miles an hour for one of his fastballs. 0:02:42.300 --> 0:02:44.300 He did end up walking a batter, so he only 0:02:44.360 --> 0:02:47.460 went two-thirds of an inning He did pick up two 0:02:47.520 --> 0:02:51.180 strikeouts before Will Venable went to Anthony Kaye to get 0:02:51.340 --> 0:02:55.350 out of another jam. Kaye, the very first pitch that 0:02:55.389 --> 0:02:58.050 he threw, he gave up a double to Travis Bazzano. 0:02:58.090 --> 0:03:00.769 So he ended up getting himself out of his own 0:03:00.850 --> 0:03:05.870 jam that he created. after that double. But then Kay's 0:03:05.880 --> 0:03:08.770 been very good against the Guardians this year. He went 0:03:08.889 --> 0:03:11.669 one in the third inning, just allowing the one hit 0:03:11.690 --> 0:03:16.710 to Bazzano and then walking one batter. But then Grant Taylor, 0:03:16.970 --> 0:03:20.000 and we'll talk more about him as managing editor of 0:03:20.040 --> 0:03:25.660 Sox Machine, Jim Margulis joins me in a moment. Just outstanding. 0:03:25.840 --> 0:03:30.640 One of the best postseason players reliever performances ever in 0:03:30.700 --> 0:03:35.790 white socks history. I'm not exactly sure. What would even 0:03:35.930 --> 0:03:40.770 beat this? I mean, four scoreless innings, only two hits allowed. 0:03:40.790 --> 0:03:43.850 It did not walk a batter and struck out six. 0:03:44.430 --> 0:03:51.070 And he did this on 42 pitches, 42 pitches for 0:03:51.170 --> 0:03:56.510 grant Taylor. That is just insane. And as key Fleur 0:03:56.570 --> 0:03:59.080 puts it in the comment section, The White Sox are 0:03:59.120 --> 0:04:03.260 basically operating with a 10-man bullpen and only two dedicated starters. 0:04:03.520 --> 0:04:06.760 Do they have two dedicated starters right now? It very 0:04:06.780 --> 0:04:10.850 well could just be one dedicated starter for the Chicago 0:04:10.890 --> 0:04:15.170 White Sox and Sean Burke and then 11 other pitchers. 0:04:15.970 --> 0:04:21.380 But just a fantastic performance by Grant Taylor and the 0:04:21.420 --> 0:04:24.770 White Sox pitching staff to only allow three hits to 0:04:24.790 --> 0:04:27.180 the Cleveland guardians today. And we did talk about the 0:04:27.220 --> 0:04:31.820 walks and the pregame show for the white socks. As 0:04:32.740 --> 0:04:34.620 we knew that that was going to be a little 0:04:34.640 --> 0:04:36.700 bit of an issue in the past. It's been an 0:04:36.800 --> 0:04:40.380 issue for the white socks pitchers on typically they average 0:04:40.420 --> 0:04:43.000 about four walks a game today. They ended up walking 0:04:43.080 --> 0:04:46.589 five batters for Cleveland. So I'm sure that manager will Venable. 0:04:46.610 --> 0:04:48.690 We'll stress that to the pitching staff that you have 0:04:48.730 --> 0:04:50.910 to be careful with the guardians of the walks. There's 0:04:50.930 --> 0:04:53.730 too many free passes and, But the White Sox only 0:04:53.790 --> 0:04:58.070 allowed three hits today to the Cleveland Guardians. And when 0:04:58.110 --> 0:05:01.650 we take a look at the win probability graphic, you know, 0:05:01.670 --> 0:05:05.110 the Guardians started really strong. Parker Messick, give him a 0:05:05.130 --> 0:05:08.610 cap tip. He was really getting the White Sox batters 0:05:08.670 --> 0:05:11.510 guessing the first three innings where he picked up six strikeouts. 0:05:12.110 --> 0:05:16.719 And five of those strikeouts were looking for the White Sox. 0:05:16.980 --> 0:05:19.479 So there was a lot of guessing the first time. 0:05:19.740 --> 0:05:22.680 And let's say like the second time through the order. 0:05:23.450 --> 0:05:28.420 Until Munataka Murakami came up to bat. And that is 0:05:28.560 --> 0:05:37.370 our Fox 1 moment of the game. MLB on Fox 0:05:37.430 --> 0:05:39.370 is streaming on Fox 1. The Race to the World 0:05:39.410 --> 0:05:41.510 series has started. We have your front row seat to 0:05:41.529 --> 0:05:44.229 the wildest walk-offs, lights out pitching, and clutch plays all 0:05:44.250 --> 0:05:47.849 season long. Follow every can't miss matchup as teams battle 0:05:47.890 --> 0:05:50.770 for a spot in the bow season, then stream the 0:05:50.770 --> 0:05:55.650 2026 National League DS National League Championship Series and the 0:05:55.710 --> 0:05:59.109 World Series on Fox one at home or on the 0:05:59.150 --> 0:06:03.619 go live or on demand. Never miss a moment. Stream now. 0:06:03.720 --> 0:06:07.060 Start your Fox one three day free trial on Fox 0:06:07.320 --> 0:06:11.630 one dot com. And that moment of the game for 0:06:11.650 --> 0:06:16.120 the Chicago White Sox is Munataka Murakami's two-run homer. And 0:06:16.380 --> 0:06:19.160 in the first inning, Miguel Vargas drew, I thought, a 0:06:19.200 --> 0:06:22.419 pretty tough walk against Parker Messick to really drive up 0:06:22.460 --> 0:06:25.020 that pitch count. I had him at 23 pitches for 0:06:25.060 --> 0:06:27.740 Messick in the first inning. And that was a great 0:06:27.779 --> 0:06:31.020 job by Munataka Murakami to hit a single to center 0:06:31.110 --> 0:06:36.170 field to continue adding pressure to Messick. So Munataka Murakami 0:06:36.290 --> 0:06:39.000 was ready to go Against Messick and maybe was one 0:06:39.020 --> 0:06:41.310 of the few White Sox hitters that was ready to go. 0:06:41.890 --> 0:06:45.460 To face the Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher. But then that second. 0:06:46.270 --> 0:06:51.630 At bat. What an absolute bomb for Munataka Murakami. A 0:06:51.610 --> 0:06:55.770 440 foot shot. This place behind me absolutely went crazy. 0:06:55.920 --> 0:06:59.660 I posted the reaction video on social media. We're getting 0:06:59.720 --> 0:07:03.100 a lot of feedback from Munataka Murakami's fans all the 0:07:03.140 --> 0:07:06.940 way out in Japan. They're very excited. And what a 0:07:07.060 --> 0:07:11.060 great moment for Murakami. That is now Murakami's second home 0:07:11.120 --> 0:07:14.090 run against Parker Messick this season. 0:07:14.690 --> 0:07:14.830 And. 0:07:15.980 --> 0:07:19.080 was really the driving factor for a lot of this game. 0:07:19.140 --> 0:07:22.250 And this is why home runs are so important in 0:07:22.260 --> 0:07:26.730 the postseason, because they can dramatically change the direction of 0:07:26.790 --> 0:07:31.989 a game. Because after that inning... Before then, the Guardians 0:07:32.010 --> 0:07:34.630 had the bases loaded. They had a great opportunity to 0:07:34.690 --> 0:07:37.090 bust the game open with a big two-out hit, but 0:07:37.130 --> 0:07:40.370 they couldn't find the big two-out hits today with runners 0:07:40.410 --> 0:07:42.310 in scoring position. That's going to be the thing for 0:07:42.330 --> 0:07:45.670 the Guardians. They had good opportunities to score runs against 0:07:45.710 --> 0:07:48.890 the White Sox, but they just could not capitalize. And 0:07:48.930 --> 0:07:51.950 then to turn around and have Murakami hit that absolute 0:07:52.070 --> 0:07:55.190 bomb of a home run, what a gut punch to 0:07:55.210 --> 0:07:58.000 the Guardians, but what a huge boost for the Chicago 0:07:58.060 --> 0:08:01.450 White Sox to take that lead. And it did appear 0:08:01.510 --> 0:08:04.070 at one point later in the game that Tommy Pham 0:08:04.090 --> 0:08:06.090 was going to have a three-run homer, but that was 0:08:06.130 --> 0:08:09.170 a great defensive play by Angel Martinez at the wall 0:08:09.210 --> 0:08:11.710 to rob Pham of extra base hits. So it really 0:08:11.730 --> 0:08:14.880 looked like that Murakami's home run was going to be 0:08:14.890 --> 0:08:16.920 the deciding factor. And it really ended up being because 0:08:16.940 --> 0:08:19.860 the White Sox pitching was just absolutely fantastic. But yeah, 0:08:20.000 --> 0:08:24.640 congrats to Munataka Murakami, his first MLB postseason home run, 0:08:24.720 --> 0:08:27.200 I am sure. And based on social media, so many 0:08:27.770 --> 0:08:29.950 fans in Japan who have jumped on the White Sox 0:08:29.990 --> 0:08:34.150 bandwagon are just ecstatic right now with that big moment. 0:08:34.190 --> 0:08:38.109 So congrats to Munataka Murakami for delivering today in game 0:08:38.309 --> 0:08:42.570 one for the Chicago White Sox. The other big moment 0:08:42.890 --> 0:08:48.660 is Kyle Teal's mad dash to home. And what a 0:08:48.780 --> 0:08:53.219 daring sprint. So up two to nothing. And take it 0:08:53.260 --> 0:08:55.559 a look again at the win probability calculator. 0:08:55.580 --> 0:08:56.540 And with. 0:08:58.280 --> 0:09:01.990 Teal at first base after drawing a tough walk. Colson Montgomery, 0:09:02.010 --> 0:09:04.650 what do you want to call it? Gets one off 0:09:04.670 --> 0:09:07.580 the end of the bat. And Jose Ramirez is not 0:09:07.660 --> 0:09:11.610 at his typical position at third base. And Montgomery's double 0:09:11.640 --> 0:09:14.370 just trickles down the left field line and just keeps rolling, 0:09:14.390 --> 0:09:16.770 which buys enough time with two outs for Kyle Teal 0:09:17.350 --> 0:09:20.590 to make a mad dash. And maybe it was too 0:09:20.650 --> 0:09:23.849 risky for Justin Jersley to send Teal home, but it 0:09:23.970 --> 0:09:26.270 ended up being the right call. Even though the throw 0:09:26.410 --> 0:09:29.870 beat Kyle Teal at the plate, Austin Hedges could not 0:09:29.950 --> 0:09:32.770 hold on to the throw and Teal was able to 0:09:32.809 --> 0:09:35.550 slide in safely for the third out for the third run. 0:09:36.120 --> 0:09:40.720 A big run at it, especially late on, because typically 0:09:41.059 --> 0:09:44.700 to feel more comfortable about how a team is standing. 0:09:44.720 --> 0:09:47.700 I always feel like if you can get the four 0:09:47.740 --> 0:09:50.880 runs and then it requires a grand slam, then I 0:09:50.920 --> 0:09:54.230 start feeling OK. But with the White Sox having a 0:09:54.270 --> 0:09:57.290 three run lead and getting deeper and deeper into the game, 0:09:57.370 --> 0:09:59.970 I just didn't know if the Guardians really had enough opportunity. 0:10:00.059 --> 0:10:03.319 offense today against the White Sox pitchers to make a 0:10:03.360 --> 0:10:07.290 comeback late but that was the other big moment was 0:10:07.330 --> 0:10:12.670 Kyle Teal scoring all the way from first base We 0:10:12.710 --> 0:10:14.570 are going to take a quick break for a word 0:10:14.610 --> 0:10:17.150 from our sponsors, but coming up next, let's talk more 0:10:17.170 --> 0:10:20.829 about the White Sox pitching and how Hagan Smith fared. 0:10:21.000 --> 0:10:24.160 And of course, let's all rave about Grant Taylor. Keep 0:10:24.200 --> 0:10:28.140 feeding us your comments and your thoughts about game one 0:10:28.380 --> 0:10:31.160 with the White Sox winning three to nothing. A great 0:10:31.220 --> 0:10:33.540 way to start the American League Division Series as we 0:10:33.559 --> 0:10:36.580 continue to stream live from the Rimowa Theater, the Sox 0:10:36.600 --> 0:10:39.520 Machine Post Game Show brought to you by Inked Law 0:10:39.840 --> 0:10:40.760 and Foul Territory. 0:10:44.270 --> 0:10:46.750 In case you need a lawyer, here's my business card. 0:10:46.870 --> 0:10:50.420 I'm attorney Howard Ankin. You or someone you know has 0:10:50.460 --> 0:10:53.460 been hurt at work. Ankin Law can get the medical 0:10:53.480 --> 0:10:59.099 bills paid, the lost wages reimbursed, and the compensation you deserve. 0:11:00.200 --> 0:11:02.170 We're one of the largest filers throughout the state of 0:11:02.210 --> 0:11:04.630 Illinois of workers' compensation claims. 0:11:05.090 --> 0:11:05.850 We're here to help. 0:11:06.390 --> 0:11:11.930 Call 312-6-MILLION. Injury law made personal. That's Ankin Law. 0:11:13.040 --> 0:11:16.230 White Sox fans, catch me, A.J. Pruszynski, on Foul Territory 0:11:16.690 --> 0:11:20.809 every weekday, 12 to 2 Central Time, after Sox Machine. 0:11:20.830 --> 0:11:23.290 We'll talk White Sox. We'll talk all the teams. Come 0:11:23.330 --> 0:11:25.090 here for a fun time the way baseball should be 0:11:25.130 --> 0:11:26.250 covered on Foul Territory. 0:11:26.290 --> 0:11:26.650 See you there. 0:11:27.910 --> 0:11:30.290 Thanks, A.J., and you can visit the Foul Territory store 0:11:30.390 --> 0:11:33.589 at FoulTerritoryShop.com to pick up your new White Sox shirts, 0:11:33.809 --> 0:11:37.450 Sam Antonacci, Muta Takaburakami after his big home run today. 0:11:37.850 --> 0:11:40.970 Tristan Peters. And now they also have a new chase. 0:11:41.030 --> 0:11:43.449 My drop shirts after his big home run in the 0:11:43.470 --> 0:11:46.460 American league wild card against the Houston Astros. And of 0:11:46.510 --> 0:11:50.580 course the white socks being celibate for Sean Burke, you 0:11:50.620 --> 0:11:54.200 can get this new shirt all in the foul territory shop, 0:11:54.360 --> 0:11:58.420 officially licensed gear from the MLB players association. They also 0:11:58.440 --> 0:12:00.400 have socks machine gear too. So if you need a 0:12:00.440 --> 0:12:03.540 new socks machine shirt or coffee mug, you can visit 0:12:03.740 --> 0:12:09.410 the foul territory shop.com. And again, again, The postgame show continues. 0:12:09.830 --> 0:12:14.830 White Sox winning 3-0, getting six hits today. And take 0:12:14.850 --> 0:12:17.170 a look at the box score for the Chicago White Sox. 0:12:17.210 --> 0:12:22.010 Murataka Murakami went 2-4. Miguel Vargas went 1-2, but Miguel 0:12:22.050 --> 0:12:24.809 Vargas also drew two walks. A great day at the 0:12:24.850 --> 0:12:29.130 plate for Miguel Vargas, especially after he went 0-9 against 0:12:29.190 --> 0:12:33.089 the Houston Astros. Colson Montgomery had a great day at 0:12:33.110 --> 0:12:36.880 the plate. He went 2-3. with that RBI driving in 0:12:36.920 --> 0:12:41.060 Kyle Teal all the way from first base. Kyle Teal 0:12:41.160 --> 0:12:43.900 drew a walk, and he scored on that run. Tristan 0:12:43.920 --> 0:12:46.370 Peters had a pinch hit base hit. He went one 0:12:46.380 --> 0:12:49.270 for two, pinch hitting for Randall Gritchick. We did not 0:12:49.470 --> 0:12:53.670 see Andrew Benatendi in today's game. Sam Antonacci came in 0:12:53.750 --> 0:12:57.430 late for Tommy Pham, in which Tommy Pham had some 0:12:57.470 --> 0:12:59.810 bad luck as he flew out to left field, and 0:12:59.850 --> 0:13:02.380 that ended up being a two-plan for Miguel Vargas as 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:05.710 he got thrown out of first base. Again, a terrific 0:13:05.750 --> 0:13:09.390 defensive play by Angel Martinez for the Guardians. The White 0:13:09.429 --> 0:13:15.040 Sox went 0-4 with runners in scoring position. So kind 0:13:15.080 --> 0:13:19.080 of a weird game with the Guardians going 0-3. Neither 0:13:19.160 --> 0:13:22.540 team was able to get a base hit with runners 0:13:22.580 --> 0:13:26.449 in scoring position. But that's why the home runs are important. 0:13:27.230 --> 0:13:30.709 Murakami's two-run homer being a big difference. And then Kyle 0:13:30.750 --> 0:13:33.190 Teal scored all the way from first base off Colson 0:13:33.210 --> 0:13:38.400 Montgomery's And his double. Great to see Montgomery really picking 0:13:38.460 --> 0:13:40.740 up in this postseason and getting those sits and try 0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:43.670 to gain more confidence at the plate. The White Sox 0:13:43.690 --> 0:13:46.910 could definitely use that. But on the pitching front, what 0:13:47.050 --> 0:13:51.040 a fantastic pitching performance by the Chicago White Sox. And 0:13:51.100 --> 0:13:53.940 I am curious to know, moving forward, on how the 0:13:53.980 --> 0:13:56.760 White Sox are going to be using Hagan Smith. Because 0:13:57.300 --> 0:14:00.820 I feel comfortable that he's good for 35 pitches in 0:14:00.880 --> 0:14:04.290 his outings. He retired the first eight batters. But it 0:14:04.350 --> 0:14:07.390 just seemed like when he got past pitch 35, he 0:14:07.450 --> 0:14:09.829 ended up losing his release point. He was having a 0:14:09.850 --> 0:14:14.479 difficult time as far as locating... His fastballs especially just 0:14:14.740 --> 0:14:17.580 was losing on both sides of the plate. And his 0:14:17.620 --> 0:14:21.740 slider can sometimes be a pitch that he steals strikes early, 0:14:21.820 --> 0:14:24.990 but he really wants to use that diving below the 0:14:25.020 --> 0:14:28.270 strike zone to induce whiffs and get those strikeouts. So 0:14:28.290 --> 0:14:30.670 when he ended up walking, the bases loaded. That was 0:14:30.710 --> 0:14:33.850 kind of a bummer, and I was really worried of like, wow, 0:14:33.970 --> 0:14:36.410 what a great performance by Hagan. I hope this doesn't 0:14:36.450 --> 0:14:38.979 go sideways for him. But the White Sox were able 0:14:39.020 --> 0:14:41.760 to get out of that jam. Same thing with Anthony Kaye. 0:14:41.820 --> 0:14:44.180 I was a bit concerned about how Anthony Kaye was 0:14:44.240 --> 0:14:47.220 throwing when he was first coming into the game. Again, 0:14:47.280 --> 0:14:49.400 he has made it known throughout the season he really 0:14:49.460 --> 0:14:53.360 doesn't like the opener. He really wants that fresh start 0:14:53.460 --> 0:14:56.260 to come out of the bullpen and start the game. 0:14:56.480 --> 0:14:59.440 So I think we're still learning what kind of reliever 0:14:59.480 --> 0:15:02.830 that Anthony Kaye could possibly be during this postseason. But 0:15:02.850 --> 0:15:05.830 he's had such great success against the Guardians this season, 0:15:05.890 --> 0:15:09.040 so I'm sure we'll see him multiple times again. I 0:15:09.090 --> 0:15:11.190 don't know if he will get a start. Again, we 0:15:12.390 --> 0:15:14.310 joked about it. If you just joined us, as again, 0:15:14.350 --> 0:15:17.090 I'm Josh Nelson of Sox Machine. We are streaming live 0:15:17.110 --> 0:15:19.330 from the Remova Theater for this postgame show as the 0:15:19.370 --> 0:15:22.610 White Sox won game one, three to nothing over the 0:15:22.650 --> 0:15:27.100 Cleveland Guardians. And with Anthony Kaye, it'd be interesting to 0:15:27.160 --> 0:15:29.640 see what his usage is. Because again, he's had a 0:15:29.700 --> 0:15:33.440 lot of success. And does Will Venable have confidence for 0:15:33.480 --> 0:15:35.180 him to go multiple innings? He didn't have a lot 0:15:35.200 --> 0:15:37.360 of confidence in Anthony Kaye at the end of the season. 0:15:38.020 --> 0:15:40.620 to face a lineup a third time. So we'll, we'll 0:15:40.660 --> 0:15:45.860 see on his usage and with Grant Taylor, I don't know, man, 0:15:45.920 --> 0:15:49.400 moving forward. Like what do you do? Like 42 pitches 0:15:49.460 --> 0:15:55.190 in four innings. That's awesome. Six strikeouts on 42 pitches, 0:15:55.190 --> 0:15:59.630 34 of them were strikes. And I just loved the 0:15:59.670 --> 0:16:03.430 way that Taylor started each at bat with that awesome 0:16:03.510 --> 0:16:07.300 curve ball that he was throwing. And just stealing strikes 0:16:07.360 --> 0:16:12.190 against the Cleveland Guardians. Now to join me to provide 0:16:12.230 --> 0:16:15.630 his reaction to the game is Sox Machines Managing Editor. 0:16:15.850 --> 0:16:20.290 It is Jim Margulis. And Jim, welcome to the post-game show. 0:16:21.100 --> 0:16:23.660 As you just wrote the game recap for us over 0:16:23.760 --> 0:16:27.000 on SoxMachine.com. I already talked about the big plays already. 0:16:27.100 --> 0:16:31.290 Murakami's big home run. I want to ask you about 0:16:31.310 --> 0:16:35.150 Grant Taylor. All these years of us covering the White Sox, 0:16:35.230 --> 0:16:39.310 and again, 13 seasons. This is really our first postseason 0:16:40.310 --> 0:16:44.170 wins that we are enjoying here. The Wild Card Series win, 0:16:44.210 --> 0:16:46.590 and now the White Sox winning game one of this ALDS. 0:16:47.150 --> 0:16:52.520 I don't recall ever a dominant reliever performance like Grant 0:16:52.560 --> 0:16:55.340 Taylor in the postseason for the White Sox. There's been 0:16:55.460 --> 0:16:58.700 moments where You know, Bobby Jinx has provided moments. We 0:16:58.820 --> 0:17:02.480 all remember El Duque getting out of that bases loaded, 0:17:02.540 --> 0:17:06.320 nobody out jam in Boston. But Jim, to go four 0:17:06.500 --> 0:17:10.979 innings today for Grant Taylor on 42 pitches, scoreless, and 0:17:11.060 --> 0:17:13.790 six strikeouts, that is just pure dominance. 0:17:15.470 --> 0:17:18.369 Yeah, I mean, the White Sox haven't had many postseason 0:17:18.410 --> 0:17:22.390 wins to really measure it against. Just in general, it's 0:17:22.430 --> 0:17:25.550 a pretty narrow field. And yeah, just the way the 0:17:25.570 --> 0:17:29.730 White Sox use pitchers, especially now, leaving so many innings 0:17:30.380 --> 0:17:34.419 to cover and leaving a closer like Taylor to be 0:17:34.480 --> 0:17:37.480 able to cover four innings, that's kind of unprecedented with 0:17:37.500 --> 0:17:39.300 the way the White Sox go about it. But yeah, 0:17:39.340 --> 0:17:41.800 Taylor really simplified the decision-making at the end of the game. 0:17:41.840 --> 0:17:45.730 We talked before about How, you know, would Taylor be 0:17:45.770 --> 0:17:47.540 able to go more than two? And I was kind 0:17:47.600 --> 0:17:50.560 of like, no, you're not probably not going to burn 0:17:50.580 --> 0:17:54.000 him or really extend him that long for a longer series. 0:17:54.080 --> 0:17:57.379 But then you watched it unfold and he made it 0:17:57.420 --> 0:18:00.649 look so simple that it seemed like Venable would have 0:18:00.670 --> 0:18:03.770 been stupid to go to anybody else. You know, career 0:18:03.790 --> 0:18:06.610 high four innings, but only 42 pitches. He needed 54 0:18:06.609 --> 0:18:08.149 to throw two and a third his last time out. 0:18:08.800 --> 0:18:12.320 So like 10 pitches, 10 pitches, 11 pitches, 11 pitches. 0:18:12.420 --> 0:18:16.980 He got whiffs on 12 of 23 swings, 7 of 0:18:16.980 --> 0:18:19.320 9 on his curveball. Like he was locating his curveball. 0:18:19.359 --> 0:18:21.080 The fastball is more or less a show me pitch 0:18:21.140 --> 0:18:25.700 towards the end. And yeah, when it's that simple, I 0:18:25.740 --> 0:18:26.380 don't think you. 0:18:27.950 --> 0:18:29.869 Take it for granted. I think you're, you ride it 0:18:29.990 --> 0:18:32.710 out and Venable had the right idea with having Sean 0:18:32.750 --> 0:18:36.280 Newcomb warming, just standing in case Taylor hit a wall 0:18:36.380 --> 0:18:38.700 or they started making it difficult on him, but he 0:18:38.740 --> 0:18:40.320 didn't really throw one stressful pitch. 0:18:42.340 --> 0:18:44.880 I'm now that you mentioned, like I'm trying to like 0:18:45.160 --> 0:18:45.979 cycle through. 0:18:46.010 --> 0:18:46.090 Yeah. 0:18:46.570 --> 0:18:50.070 He just, he was really in command and I don't 0:18:50.109 --> 0:18:52.830 know what Cleveland does. Like now you have the off day. 0:18:53.560 --> 0:18:55.480 This has got to be in the back of your mind, right? 0:18:55.520 --> 0:18:59.900 If you're the Cleveland hitting coach, uh, development staff, just 0:18:59.960 --> 0:19:02.180 trying to help these guys get prepared. Cause it's like, 0:19:02.540 --> 0:19:06.200 do you really want to go after grant Taylor's curve 0:19:06.220 --> 0:19:08.990 ball gym on the first pitch? Cause it was very clear. 0:19:09.050 --> 0:19:11.210 That's what he wanted to use was the steel strike 0:19:11.350 --> 0:19:14.710 one against the guardians batters is here's his 12, six 0:19:14.750 --> 0:19:17.550 curve ball, but nobody really wants to go after that 0:19:17.590 --> 0:19:20.350 first pitch. So I'm curious on how the guardians will 0:19:20.410 --> 0:19:24.470 counter grant Taylor. if we see grant taylor in game two. 0:19:25.810 --> 0:19:28.389 Yeah the uh the plate appearance i'm looking it up 0:19:28.430 --> 0:19:31.439 right now to brian rocchio in the seventh inning that 0:19:31.480 --> 0:19:35.080 one made me laugh because uh it was after patrick 0:19:35.100 --> 0:19:37.680 bailey yeah it was it was after patrick bailey lit 0:19:37.740 --> 0:19:40.580 off with a single and i think this is kind 0:19:40.640 --> 0:19:43.389 of where you know taylor was just feeling it or 0:19:43.410 --> 0:19:45.830 it you know from that point it tilted in favor 0:19:45.850 --> 0:19:47.490 of like oh i know what i'm doing here because 0:19:48.070 --> 0:19:50.600 you know Rokio for those who don't remember who have 0:19:50.660 --> 0:19:54.000 blacked it out, he walked Taylor off twice on fastballs, 0:19:54.040 --> 0:19:56.880 two strike fast or one was a one Oh fastball. 0:19:56.900 --> 0:19:58.820 The other one or own fastball. The other one was 0:19:58.920 --> 0:20:03.189 a two strike fastball and both times, you know, Teal 0:20:03.270 --> 0:20:05.170 called for one high trying to be a put away 0:20:05.210 --> 0:20:07.230 pitch and Rokio just got on top of it. He 0:20:07.270 --> 0:20:10.500 was looking for fastball both times. So what happens here 0:20:10.800 --> 0:20:13.859 is Patrick Bailey leads off with a single. First leadoff 0:20:14.119 --> 0:20:19.199 runner the Guardians have all day. Up comes Rocchio, who 0:20:19.240 --> 0:20:23.300 has beat Taylor twice. Taylor throws him five breaking balls. Like, 0:20:23.340 --> 0:20:25.700 just does not give in once. Like, Ron Darling at 0:20:25.780 --> 0:20:27.740 one point said, like, oh, now's the time you set 0:20:27.760 --> 0:20:30.870 him up for the fastball. And I know I was thinking, 0:20:30.930 --> 0:20:33.610 and I saw in our first pitch thread that others 0:20:33.650 --> 0:20:36.030 were saying, like, nope, no fastballs. Like, there's, you know, 0:20:36.109 --> 0:20:39.820 Taylor was, or Darling was a little bit... out-of-town foolish 0:20:39.859 --> 0:20:42.320 of just like, you know, you don't know what's happened 0:20:42.340 --> 0:20:45.199 here with fastball usage against Rokio. Don't throw unless you 0:20:45.240 --> 0:20:47.530 absolutely have to. If he beats you on a breaking ball, 0:20:47.570 --> 0:20:50.129 then tip your cap. But nope, just kept feeding him 0:20:50.369 --> 0:20:52.850 sliders or curveballs until he swung over one in the dirt. 0:20:52.869 --> 0:20:55.790 And that was like, at that point, you know, Stephen 0:20:55.830 --> 0:20:58.780 Kwan grounds into a double play. And then it's just 0:20:58.820 --> 0:21:00.280 super simple for Taylor after that. 0:21:01.200 --> 0:21:01.320 So. 0:21:02.310 --> 0:21:05.310 I shared my reaction, and again, for those that have joined, 0:21:05.470 --> 0:21:08.670 I'm Josh Nelson alongside Jim Margulis of Sox Machine. This 0:21:08.960 --> 0:21:12.379 is our live post-game show from the Rimbova Theaters. The 0:21:12.400 --> 0:21:17.460 White Sox won 3-1, the first game of the ALDS. Jim, 0:21:17.480 --> 0:21:20.340 this is obviously a huge win. When we made our predictions, 0:21:20.380 --> 0:21:23.060 I picked White Sox in four, but I thought they 0:21:23.100 --> 0:21:26.160 would lose today because Parker Messick has been really good 0:21:26.200 --> 0:21:29.210 for the Guardians, and the Guardians have been 2-2 against 0:21:29.250 --> 0:21:32.530 the White Sox. And now this is five games... that 0:21:33.070 --> 0:21:35.490 Parker Messick has started against the White Sox. The White 0:21:35.530 --> 0:21:39.230 Sox have not scored more than three runs in any 0:21:39.270 --> 0:21:42.590 of these games that Parker Messick has started against them. 0:21:43.090 --> 0:21:46.129 But now the White Sox are three and two because 0:21:46.170 --> 0:21:49.910 the Guardians just have a terrible time providing run support 0:21:50.380 --> 0:21:55.100 to Parker Messick. So I view this as an absolute 0:21:55.340 --> 0:21:59.520 huge win. If you're a White Sox fan that's believing 0:21:59.540 --> 0:22:03.320 that there's divine intervention right now, that with the Pope 0:22:03.440 --> 0:22:06.850 being on the White Sox side, I might be with 0:22:06.900 --> 0:22:11.670 you because what an incredible way to start this postseason. 0:22:12.170 --> 0:22:15.730 They get a little bit of offense, but today the pitching, 0:22:15.790 --> 0:22:18.510 this is three games into the postseason, Jim, and the 0:22:18.550 --> 0:22:21.920 White Sox pitching have only allowed six runs so far. 0:22:22.060 --> 0:22:25.320 I was not expecting this from this team in the postseason. 0:22:26.710 --> 0:22:31.200 Especially since they've had moments where they've looked flawed or 0:22:31.700 --> 0:22:34.800 mortal or like their usual selves. Like Hagen Smith, you're 0:22:34.820 --> 0:22:36.880 hitting the wall in the third inning with that kind 0:22:36.900 --> 0:22:39.220 of command lapse we've seen of just him losing the 0:22:39.240 --> 0:22:43.020 ability to throw strikes. Anthony Kaye taking a batter to 0:22:43.040 --> 0:22:46.320 get going and having to leave the bases loaded. Jordan 0:22:46.359 --> 0:22:48.830 Hicks not being able to finish an inning when he 0:22:48.869 --> 0:22:51.850 looks like he's cruising. Like they had opportunities and the 0:22:51.890 --> 0:22:56.629 Guardians couldn't capitalize. And same thing with Houston, too. They 0:22:56.650 --> 0:22:59.760 had moments where they wobbled, but just because of these 0:23:00.340 --> 0:23:04.040