AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 6, 2026

Chris Getz

Rate Field

Chicago White Sox

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for Chris Getz.

Q. Chris, we were talking to Mune just in here a little bit before you, talking about pressure, and he said he doesn't feel pressure. He's just kind of ready to go. How does someone like that overcome that kind of pressure where he's being focused on not only here but in Japan and is kind of the mainstay of this team? Was that something you noticed about him when you first started studying him, how steady a presence he was?

CHRIS GETZ: Well, not even unique to Mune. Everyone's dealing with different levels of pressure. Obviously, everyone can be affected differently. In his case, he really leans into his work ethic, which definitely stands out. I mean, to the point where sometimes we need to scale back with how hard he works.

We noticed that early on, but that's where he goes with it. And I think that is the pathway of navigating pressure. You put your head down, and whatever the task is, you focus on conquering that and then on to the next.

So, you know, when you're in the chaos of competition in the unknowns, you've got that level of confidence that you are fully prepared, and I think that that is a strength of his and clearly has been working for him.

Q. At least in the regular season, you talked about Will mapping out a path to victory. I'm wondering from your view what's it's been like watching normal playoffs that is maybe different from other teams. Do you think about how in future years your starting pitching will be in a different place and it won't be necessary, or is this the new way to manage pitching in the postseason? What's been your takeaways from watching him do this?

CHRIS GETZ: When you get to the postseason, the strategy perhaps can be different than a regular season game, and some of that is just how the schedule is set up. And then obviously, you have to factor in the competition. There's some constraints, perhaps, along the way.

But I also feel like when you get to the playoffs, it's a bit of a trap to go about your business differently, to create a process that is different than what has gotten you there.

And obviously, things can get very complex in our game when you're putting together a strategy with the amount of information that comes in. But what Will does so well is he simplifies. He does. And he's done that throughout his time here. He's very collaborative. He uses Walker. He uses Graham Harboe. He uses Shaun Rubin. He uses everyone that's in the room to put together a path to victory, whether that be putting lineups together to how we're going to attack on the pitching front.

So it's very clear, we've leaned heavily on our bullpen, not only throughout the season but certainly here in the playoffs as well. Is it creative? It is. Do we need to be different? We do. But we're also leaning into the strengths of our pitching staff and our team.

I've been really impressed with his demeanor, his consistency. And because of how he goes about his business, I do think it creates conviction not only for our staff but most importantly our players, and that certainly has served us well so far.

Q. Chris, building on that, just the pitching performances in the last two games from Taylor and then from Burke. Like you said, especially for Burke, nontraditional kind of role and even for Taylor too, going that deep. You guys kind of mapped that stuff out. Are you surprised almost how well that worked?

CHRIS GETZ: Not really. And I say that because in a way, I think we've been conditioned to operate this way all season. Perhaps we've leaned into some of these guys more so than we have in the regular season. But just knowing that the talent level, the makeup and tasking these guys with situations that, quite honestly, they've been in before, now obviously they need to go out there and they perform.

But, clearly, they have plenty of confidence. What we saw yesterday out of Burkey was fantastic. What we've seen out of Grant Taylor throughout the playoffs is more or less remarkable. But I can't say that I'm surprised because we've seen it in other parts of their journey with the White Sox, and I'm just really proud of those guys.

Our goal as an organization is in supporting these guys, is putting them in positions to succeed. And every pitcher or player that we've put into a situation is well thought out, and that's because we believe in the process that we have in place to get to those decisions, and ultimately they've gone out there and performed well.

Q. Actually, two more follow-ups to that, if that's okay. Would you say, though, would you agree that this happened organically or it's out of sort of necessity? I think anybody would like the '05 White Sox postseason run with the starters. That's one. Two, what's the downside? Is it coming potentially next round? So many arms, so many innings? Does that worry you, less off days next round if you get there?

CHRIS GETZ: Yeah, we have been leaning into the strength of our pitching staff, and that's been utilizing our bullpen arms. Thankfully, there's depth to it. Obviously, Grant Taylor and Hagen are highlighted because we've been using those guys a lot in these leverage moments.

But to have Hudson and Newcomb and Hicks and now have Schultz in the bullpen who we believe can provide some quality innings, and there are others. Anthony Kay has been utilized as a starter coming for just a couple outs against lefties.

So we've got buy-in because this all-hands-on-deck approach is not only something that we believe in, but the players are all in as well. So there hasn't been any friction on that front. These guys are playing selfless baseball.

I think we've all had this conversation. I know I've been asked many times on eventually is this going to catch up with us, right? Well, at least in the 2026 season, you look at the schedule, and it's like, well, it's worked for us. Why can't it further?

We can find plenty of reasons why it may not. Eventually, okay, you just run out. But these guys really take care of themselves. I know Grant was just in here previously and talking about his recovery and his conditioning and his care, his hydration.

He leads the way on that front, and others do the same, and it's always nice when you've got someone of that elite talent that conducts themselves in a way that Grant does.

But it's really one series at a time. Even smaller than that, one game at a time. You're getting feedback from players and training staff. You're looking at the quality of the pitches, and I am a believer that we've got enough. We do.

Q. Chris, this is a variation on the same topic. When you just look at pitcher roles and the way that you've built this team this year, put the roster together, spring training and forward, when we look at it from the outside, we always look at a team and want to say this is the rotation, one, two, three, four, five. This is the bullpen hierarchy from the closer on down. To what extent is that still a paradigm you see as a baseline and to what extent do you not even think about pitching staffs in that way anymore?

CHRIS GETZ: I can't say that I wouldn't enjoy having five starters that can provide seven, eight innings and perhaps give you a quality -- or a complete game. I mean that would be fantastic. I would be just as excited.

But you've got to look at what's in front of you, the reality of things, and that's not how we're set up. Was that fully by design? Not necessarily. It was just, once again, leaning into our strengths. And it's just evolved into what it is now.

But I don't want to discount or dismiss, you know, we've got a handful, depth of arms that can pitch in multiple roles, and the reason they're able to pitch in multiple roles is because of the stuff development and their ability to go out and attack. We don't have many pitchers that can just get righties out or just lefties out.

We've intentionally developed pitchers that can neutralize. Because of how those players have developed and gone out there and performed, it's allowed us to do this and kept us not only afloat but really compete at a high level. Once again, we'll see how far it can take us.

Q. Chris, whether it's the guys dancing in the dugout, the t-shirts, ice cream, your guys seem very comfortable with themselves. How much do you think that is kind of playing into the success?

CHRIS GETZ: I think it's a huge part of -- they're just themselves. They've found an ability to stay loose, and when you're playing at such a high level in intense moments -- I talked about it earlier; you lean into your preparation and your process, and these players have done that.

And then to also be able to kind of tap into this, we can have fun while doing it. This group, they compete, but they play happy. They play for each other. There's just a level of selflessness that exists in that clubhouse that I think is perhaps our superpower.

We're in this stage right now of player group that there is just such a pure innocence that I think has made it really attractive for people to watch and feel, and that has been really gratifying.

Were we intentional in trying to create that? Sure. But, certainly, easier said than done. But that looseness is definitely an authentic thing, and credit to Will and the staff to allow it to happen. I think anyone that's been around professional baseball or sports in general, that's not always the case where it can get a little stiff and a little too serious, where as long as you're preparing well and you're conducting yourself in a professional way, you can have a lot of fun while doing it, and this group is not short on having fun.

Q. Chris, I was wondering if you can take us back to December when you added Tristan Peters. What did you see in him then that made you want to add him to the outfield mix, and what can you say about the year he's had in taking advantage of the opportunity?

CHRIS GETZ: Tristan, the ability to play center field, left-handed bat, history of having success at the Minor League level. Hadn't really gotten his runway at the Major League level. He had options. Carlos Rodriguez, who we had brought in from the Rays, had some history with Tristan as well.

So that was comforting. Yeah, it wasn't the loudest acquisition that we've made, but we felt really good about it. And oftentimes, on those smaller trades or waiver claims, you're never -- you're not necessarily high-fiving and over the moon with excitement. It's just, okay, why do we like Tristan Peters? Do we feel like we can help him? And we obviously felt like we did, and we were able to.

But at the end of the day, he's just run with the opportunity. He's been such a huge part of this team's success, and we're going to have him here for the coming years and look forward to watching and seeing how this plays out the remainder of this 2026 playoff.

Q. Chris, based on social media reaction and people I've talked to, you're going to have 80,000 people here tomorrow, it seems like. In all honesty, what do you expect from this crowd that has waited so long for playoff baseball to come to the South Side home game and being able to possibly clinch it on top of it?

CHRIS GETZ: Yeah, I've been thinking about once we got through yesterday's game, my mind went straight to what kind of an environment are we going to have in Chicago, knowing the importance of this game, what it represents, with this team. This fan base has been so supportive throughout the year. I've said it many a times; our player group, they really respond well to our fan base.

Noticed it last year, really felt it on those Friday night games. You look at our record and then this season when our fans were there, our players just continue to get better. I really do credit our fans for being a part of that development.

Q. Chris, since I guess you're in here for Will, can you reveal a little bit of the beginning of the game pitching plans for tomorrow?

CHRIS GETZ: We're still discussing it. Yeah, we're still figuring that out. But we'll get an answer for you shortly.

Q. You had a welcome challenge this year of having to balance taking care of the opportunity that the team made for itself while still continuing long-term development processes. How much of the development part of that is kind of paying off now, thinking specifically of how Braden, he struggled during the season from the right side of the plate and he's come up pretty big in the postseason in that role.

CHRIS GETZ: I mean, when you give players the opportunity to develop at the Major League level, and obviously they -- you want to feel like they deserve the opportunity, I think that there's been a benefit that there's been a lengthier, extended list of players that have come up and so they're going through it together.

We've put together a coaching staff and support group that was very catered to development of our players and looking to improve these guys, regardless of whether they are inexperienced at the Major League level, but really anyone. Just coaches that really love to coach.

And on a daily basis, and Will and Walker and many others in the staff, yeah, we've talked about the pathway to victory. What are we solving for on a daily basis? But it's really, it's never been the focus of getting X amount of wins or we have to win this and we need to get to this. It's really been focusing on supporting these players.

Knowing that if these guys are supported well and they go out there and perform, we will win more games. And, yeah, we've been fortunate that it's played out pretty well for us this year, and we're going to continue to nurture it and fuel it the best that we can.

Q. I think we were talking about your position player corps at the start of the spring. Kyle Teel would be front of mind for that. Then go out and play most of the season without him. With him only getting running at the end of the season, are you seeing maybe a more complete version of the team now in the postseason, now that he's been there in the middle of the lineup and adding things defensively as well?

CHRIS GETZ: He didn't get a lot of Spring Training. He obviously missed a large chunk of the regular season. There's been setbacks along the way with various injuries and now, all of a sudden, there's been a clearer runway for him to go out there and find himself as a player.

You look at what he's capable of doing on both sides of the ball. I think he's as talented as anyone in our clubhouse, and he's just tapping into it.

So we've been able to really lean into playing him and playing him a lot. And is that because he didn't get a lot of runway during the regular season? Maybe. But I think more than anything, it just speaks to what he can bring to the table, not only in the box but what he's done behind the plate with building the rapport with the pitchers, using the ABS system to our favor.

He's made some really good decisions behind the plate, but he's a big part of our success, not only now but certainly for the future as well.

Q. Chris, you said you weren't surprised by the results of your pitchers thus far in the postseason, but you guys are doing something historic. You're a team that's done things -- there's been a lot of history made here in the last few weeks. You know the makeup of this team, talked about the superpower of the clubhouse. But is there something that has surprised you that you're sitting here a win away from the LCS on October 6?

CHRIS GETZ: Well, I don't think the team gets enough credit for the talent that actually exists in there, because there is some really higher-end talent. Do you really know how they're going to perform in environments like this? No, of course not.

We've seen glimpses of it throughout the season. We've played series against some really good teams, and I remember when the Dodgers came into our place and we win 2 out of 3 and how well we played against the Cubs and various organizations throughout baseball that are top-of-division teams, top of the American League or National League and played well.

Now, playoffs is -- it's different, and so to say that I'm surprised, I would say I'm, if anything, just -- there's just a high level of gratification when you see these players go out there and remain loose and fearless. And because of that, I continue to gain confidence that who knows where this team can really take it for the remainder of the playoffs.

THE MODERATOR: Chris, we appreciate your time. Thanks for coming in.