AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 5, 2026

Will Venable

Progressive Field

Chicago White Sox

Pregame 2 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're going to lead off with a hard hitting question of the day, really important stuff.

Q. We asked Kyle about Sam's ice cream cones, and he says there's hits in ice cream cones, and they're good luck. Do you agree?

WILL VENABLE: If Sam says so, then I agree. I'm not aware of this ice cream situation, but I'm fully supportive of whatever these guys think is good luck.

Q. He had an ice cream cone in last week's game and then Mune had his homer?

WILL VENABLE: Well, yeah. Ice cream for everybody then.

Q. When you think about your team's transformation, what are you most proud of that people not in your clubhouse don't see?

WILL VENABLE: I just think of the way the guys support each other and they play for each other. I think it is a very special group. We talked about Vasil and him being in the middle of stuff and just a perfect example of a guy who's going through his own personal stuff but giving so much to everybody else really embodies the spirit of our club.

And when you're talking about a group that has created belief in each other and gone out and done the things necessary to make that belief a reality, it's because they've done it together. It's because they've done it for each other, and that's something that we witness every single day in that clubhouse.

You see it on the field, in the dugout. But yeah, it starts in the clubhouse with guys just giving of themselves. It's awesome to see.

Q. Kyle was talking a little bit about how Sam can be very chill in the clubhouse when he's on the bench, but when he puts his helmet on, when he puts his glove on, there's a completely different persona. Have you seen that and can that be helpful to a clubhouse as well?

WILL VENABLE: Yeah. I think everyone gets in their game mode, and sometimes it doesn't look any different than how they are in the clubhouse. Sometimes it's very different. And in the case of Sam, I think it's fair to say that he's very different on the field, in the clubhouse. And off the field, he's very quiet guy, great personality, but more quiet guy.

Not that he's vocal on the field, but he gets into his mode on the field, and we know what that looks like and the energy that he brings. So, yeah, it can look different for different guys, but definitely there is a different flip or a switch that's flipped with Sam.

Q. If you can go back to when Jordan Hicks came back from the injured list earlier this year, in your mind be and how he began to throw with that raised arm angle, how did he reset what you thought you could get out of the bullpen? How does he help you set up against the couple of lefties that can do some damage against right-handers?

WILL VENABLE: Yeah. You kind of go through that year and certainly Hicks with his stuff, you know, you were excited about the possibilities of what it looked like with him locked in and really being that second righty, leverage righty behind Grant there that really gives you flexibility.

And as he came back and as you mentioned, got that arm slot in the spot where he turned into the Hicksy that kind of lined up to what we expected of him, it's been amazing. So he gives you that second right-handed bullet, really lets you do a bunch of different things.

And that stretch that he had, I don't know, it was like 15 innings or 15 scoreless outings or something in a really critical part of the season, he's been a big part of the success that we've had with our bullpen. And it's been cool to see him make those adjustments, get healthy and turn into the guy that we all expect him to be.

Q. With Kyle Teel, just what did he show you in sticking through all the injuries to get to this point?

WILL VENABLE: Yeah. I mean, he just wants to play baseball. I don't want to say youthful enthusiasm because I think that sells it short. But just his enthusiasm, his raw enthusiasm for playing baseball I think is something that we all feel and we all benefit from and certainly our group.

When that's taken away, you can feel it a little bit. And certainly we get that from other places with the young group that's excited to play, but just having his energy in the middle of everything has been really impactful, not to mention obviously he's a really good catcher and a really good hitter.

Q. Will, when you're making your decisions on the pitching situation, I know you probably don't have to make it until after a game, but does it involve use Zach, you, Zach, Getz or Bannister? How many people are involved? Do they vote or how do they put it in your head? Obviously it's your call.

WILL VENABLE: Yeah. So we have a very collaborative process. And I think there's a few people involved. And as we're making decisions, we bring different people in to get perspective, and I think that that's really important.

At the same time our pregame game planning meeting, for example, there might be eight people in that room, you know. And it's hard to come to a consensus when there's eight people in the room. And so there is a smaller group when we want to really get to a critical decision. But we want to get as many inputs as we can, get perspectives, and kind of talk through it, and I think that's a big part of our process.

But, yeah. So like even -- like this morning, for example, talking about what our game plan is, you know, Josh Barfield and Chris Getz are in the building. We're asking their perspective. Then we'll have our game planning meeting. We'll add different perspective. And then ultimately Shawn Rubin who's on our staff, Walker McKinven, my bench coach, Zach Bove will kind of have a smaller group and make those decisions. And then in game, probably a tighter group as we're making the critical decisions.

Q. Is there ever heated push back or it's all pretty congenial?

WILL VENABLE: I mean, I think that there is natural back and forth. Would not characterize it as heated at all. I think that's the special thing about our group. And again that starts with Chris Getz and the environment that he creates, that the communication is very calm and civil, and we're trying to get to the best answer.

And I think that to get to the best answer, you know, not everyone is going to agree, and that's a good thing, but you gotta be able to talk about things professionally and that's something we definitely do.

Q. I wanted to follow up on Teel because the way you guys are mixing and matching in the postseason, it demands a lot of the catcher, especially a young guy who did miss so much time developmentally at the Big League level. What makes him so well equipped to handle all that?

WILL VENABLE: Yeah. He's a really smart guy, but he's really well prepared. And that preparation is stuff that he does on his own. It's work that he does with the pitching coaches. It's also work that he does with someone like Drew Romo, who is not active on our roster, but has a really big hand in our preparation and presence in the clubhouse and kind of how we go about some certain things.

So you'll see Drew Romo and Kyle Teel sitting talking about catchers. Then there's a catcher's meeting with the pitching coaches and Walker McKinven, and obviously Kyle is doing his own homework as well.

So, yeah, there's a lot that goes into it, but Kyle is very well prepared and very well supported.

Q. Braden Montgomery is in the lineup every day. What makes you confident that he belongs in the lineup every day? He's very quietly going about his business. What do you see?

WILL VENABLE: Are you thinking he shouldn't be in the lineup?

Q. No. No. No. I don't know what -- I just want to know what you think makes him so valuable that he is a rookie not missing games?

WILL VENABLE: Oh, gotcha. Yes. No. Brady is a special player. He's a great athlete. He's a switch hitter. He's a really good defender. So you can do a lot of different things with him.

You can put him in different spots in the lineup. You don't have to worry about as much pinch hitting for him, although there are situations where we would definitely use Grichuk or somebody against a lefty to hit for him. And I think he's just a versatile player.

So, yeah, a young guy that doesn't back down from any of these opportunities, has come through a lot in different situations. So, yeah, as you're kind of putting it all together and you look at the athleticism, the ability defensively on the bases, the switch hitting, he's a big piece of our lineup.

Q. Adversity can cause different reactions from different players, but you've had a guy in Miguel Vargas who has been super big for you guys throughout the regular season, but hasn't necessarily had what he might want in the post season to happen.

From a leadership perspective, what are you seeing from him and being able to be steady in his role?

WILL VENABLE: I think Vargy understands that at this point it's about just winning games and anything that he can do to help that is a positive. And he's not going to get caught up in his personal performance.

No. He's certainly working hard to get his swing in a spot where he can go out and be the hitter that he wants to be, but there's defensive stuff that is important to lock in on. There's just being part of the group and supporting the effort and your attitude in the clubhouse, all things that he is elite at.

So he's working to be at his best at the plate. That's one part of it, but he's a total pro and a guy that throughout the day just makes an impact wherever he goes.

Q. When you essentially have two off days in the middle of three games, just what sort of value does that bring for you, especially as you're just trying to piece together this pitching staff?

WILL VENABLE: Yeah. I think resting some of the arms that obviously we've leaned heavily on. You know, Hagen and Grant specifically, to have the off days in between these first three games means a lot to give them some rest.

Even at that point, it doesn't totally reset their availability. There will be limitations as we get through this thing, but it's certainly helpful as we continue to mix and match and do whatever we can to find a path to victory.

Q. I think you've talked about this during the season. It seems like the Guardians didn't adjust their lineup in response to you today. Does that provide incentive to stick with lefties longer or is that something that affects your plan as the cat and mouse between you guys?

WILL VENABLE: Yeah. That's a really good question. And I think that, one, we anticipated that the top of the lineup would stay the same and that we're comfortable with Kay. Kay's pitched really well against this team. It's the rest of the lineup that we now have an opportunity to respond to.

So, yeah, without divulging our plan here, yeah, we're going to continue to be open to finding the best matchups that we can and the best lanes for our guys to go out and be effective.