New to Sox Machine? Want to know how we work? Let’s try to anticipate your questions.

What is a Sox Machine?

Sox Machine is a Chicago White Sox blog and podcast that covers the White Sox, the farm system, and baseball as a whole every day, both during the season and offseason. Jim Margalus launched it Feb. 1, 2006, and while he closed it five years later to run SB Nation’s South Side Sox blog, he relaunched it on Jan. 1, 2018, as a Patreon-supported venture.

Josh Nelson, who launched the South Side Sox Podcast in 2014, made the jump with Jim and rebranded the audio product as the Sox Machine Podcast.

In February 2024, James Fegan joined Sox Machine full-time as a credentialed White Sox beat writer.

PERTINENT: Meet the Sox Machine staff

How can I support Sox Machine?

You can support Sox Machine on Patreon at patreon.com/soxmachine. Tiers start at $5 month and provide an ad-free version of the website and podcast with access to all content on both. From there:

For $10 a month: You can send questions to our P.O. Sox mailbag and ask questions to our guests, along with 10% off all merch at the Sox Machine store.

For $25 a month: Benefits of the lower tiers, plus 20% off merch at the Sox Machine store, a monthly Zoom call with James Fegan, and one free ticket to Sox Machine events (when supplies allow).

For $100 a month: The Veterans Committee, which, see below.

What is the Veterans Committee?

The Veterans Committee was established to codify benefits for Patreon supporters who had long supported Sox Machine above and beyond the highest tier, which includes inner-circle access to the Sox Machine staff and a private group chat. 

The VC is limited to 16 members. If you’re interested, email jim@soxmachine.com and josh@soxmachine.com.

How else can I support Sox Machine?

Tell your friends: Share links with the White Sox fan (and forums, Facebook pages, Reddits) in your life.

Review the podcast: Five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts helps surface the Sox Machine Podcast for potential listeners searching for White Sox podcasts.

The Sox Machine store: Every shirt, every mug helps.

Advertising on Sox Machine: Contact Playwire’s direct sales team for assistance.

Advertising on the Sox Machine Podcast: Email josh@soxmachine.com for details.

Become a travel sponsor: If you and your business would like to support our quest to send James on as many White Sox road trips as possible, contact jim@soxmachine.com. 

Why isn’t my Patreon account working?

If you’re seeing ads, or not able to access Patreon-exclusive posts, first make sure that your membership is current, and that the payment information you used to register hasn’t expired.  

If your membership is active, then it’s likely an issue with your Patreon connection. Follow the instructions below:

1. Click on “My Profile” on the top right of your screen.

2. Scroll down to the “Patreon Account” section.

3. If it shows “Connect to Patreon,” it means your account is not associated with your Patreon credentials.

3a. If it shows “Disconnect from Patreon,” then disconnect your Patreon account, and then re-connect to refresh.

If that doesn’t fix the issue, email jim@soxmachine.com. 

Why am I a White Sox fan?

That can only be resolved with your therapist or clergy member.