Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Brooke Fletcher talks Erick Fedde's success against Cubs, Sean Newcomb's start

Episode Date: August 19, 2026

Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote were joined by Chicago Sports Network reporter Brooke Fletcher to discuss the latest White Sox storylines as they’ve dropped a pair of close games to the Cubs across the past two days.

And now we're joined by Brooke Fletcher. Brooke is good to see you. Hi, guys. Get your headset on. Hey, yeah, we're happy to have you here. The last time I talked to you was after you had made history with the White Sox. So congratulations again and it's great to see you. Well, thank you.

It's great to see you. This is such a cool setup. I didn't realize like we were on a stage and all over the loudspeaker. So hi, hi, everyone. Hello, this is Brooke Fletcher. She is the sideline reporter, field reporter, and sometimes television analyst for the Chicago White Sox joining us here on CHSN on Rahimi-Harrison. And thanks for taking the time.

I know visiting clubhouse, getaway day for the Cubs. It's a little bit of a fluid situation. Yeah, you know, especially after the rain delay last night, a lot of people got in late, and so it was a quick clubhouse after the game. And guys were, you know, they're drinking their coffee this morning, just trying to get ready for game three. Hopefully the socks can take this one.

You know what's really interesting to me is that everybody in this rivalry, this version of the rivalry, everybody gets along. The managers seem like their buddies. The GMs are literally friends who's kids. to play together. And then you and Taylor McGregor hanging out doing videos together. It's pretty cool to see that. And like the supposed rivalries all coming together at Wrigley Field.

I know. It is a little friendly rivalry, if you will. But it's funny because Taylor and I actually have been friends for probably like eight or nine years now. And so coincidentally, she got the job when she was with Rockies. When she got the job with the Cubs, I was still in Detroit. And then I coincidentally got the job here. And it's just been kind of a full circle moment.

our dads used to work together way back when with the Rockies. And so, yeah, this has been fun just to kind of, you know, share this little friendly, friendly rivalry and make a few TikToks on the way. Brooke, what have you thought about the way this has played out? I mean, obviously, we know the White Sox coming off such a huge series, a sweep in Detroit, and then have to come back knowing that you kind of had spent everything just to get through that series. And it has to be frustrating for the players for Will Vennel to watch how this is played out because so close yet, no cigar. Yeah, no, I mean, that Tiger series, that was an emotional series. It was a big learning experience for these guys.

But that was the priority. You know, when you have the Tigers, they're one of the hottest teams of baseball right now. You look over your shoulder and they are right there. You've got to, you know, get everything you can in order to take that. But it did put us in a unique situation. Obviously, with Davis Martin going on the IL, that was really unfortunate because our pitching staff now, we're taking it day by day, and that's what you've seen, just kind of piecing it together. Will Vinnable was really happy with what he saw from Eric Feddy last night.

this bullpen doing what they can to keep us in it. And so today it's going to be kind of a fluid situation as well. You're going to see your Kiti potentially getting a bulk roll with Sean Newcomb opening. And then tomorrow we'll be back on schedule. But yeah, you know, it is depleting because you are at that point in the season where everybody's experiencing this for the first time. And so guys are just trying to, you know, come together and maintain that energy. And when you're coming off a big series like that and then you're going to play, you know,

your crosstown rivals, yeah, it's tough. But this group, they're taking it one day at a time. And they're coming together and they understand the potential of this group and they're going to keep moving forward. Well, and I think the Sean Newcomb comment is as good as an example as any. We've had to see some of the big names that we're used to seeing be the horses in the pain. You know, Hudson yesterday and now Newcomb today, guys that we've come to rely on, getting these opening roles.

You know, what do you think about Newcomb just getting that nod today? I mean, he's been, I think, probably the unsug here, but he has been the steady force, I would say, in that bullpen all season long. You know, coming into this season out of spring training, he was fighting to be a starter. And, you know, he has been a starter. Now he's serving as the bulk guy. And so he's been able to serve in just so many different roles and just being consistent. And, you know, you talk to him in the clubhouse.

He's just never, he's so even keel, he's never wavered. And I think he's just been somebody that they really can rely on. And so they're going to see what they can get from him here today, you know, how many innings. Will said he wasn't sure. But, yeah, I think it's a smart move, especially going up against this Cubs lineup. up and he knows Craig Counsel. He's going to counter whatever will makes, what move he makes.

And so we'll see how it goes. Do they just intentionally walk PCA in his first at-bat in this game? I mean, crazy the at-bats that he's had against the stuff. Oh, my gosh. Well, it's funny because, you know, coming into this series, everybody's like, okay, PCA is slumping. He's three for his last 27. And then, you know, you can never count him out. This is the guy that just can beat you in so many different ways.

And I even asked Anthony before the series, and he obviously didn't pitch. But I was like, how do you, what do you handle? a guy like him and he goes, you just keep him off the base pass. Do whatever you can because he's got the speed, obviously his defense, but showing off his power as well. So, you know, it'll be interesting to see how they pitch to him here today, but obviously a dangerous force. Brooke, do you have any indication of what the plan is the next time through the rotation?

I said, back on schedule tomorrow, 16 games and 16 days. You don't have a lot of leeway for pitching, but you need guys to fill those starters roles. So you're not back in this position. and, yo, let me rob Peter to pay Paul. Yeah, and I asked Will that. I said, is tomorrow just back on schedule, and he said, yeah, so you can expect Anthony Kay.

Obviously, it throws a wrench in things when you have to do a makeup game versus the Braves. You don't get that off day for your bullpen and your arms just to kind of reset. But he said, back on schedule with Anthony Kay tomorrow, then we're going to see, you know, Sean and so forth. But, yeah, hopefully Davis this time off, his finger can heal, and it was a nice mental reset for him so he can get back in the mix. But, again, a lot of credit to this bullpen.

They're going to continue to rely on those bulk guys. just to kind of carry the heavy workload as they've done so as of late. Now we saw in the ninth inning, Brooke, Will Venable came under a lot of fire, and he defended his decision previous to the game yesterday. Ninth inning last night, we see Peacrow Armstrong has intentionally walked. What do you think about just the decisions that Will made in those situations, and what were your takeaways from what he had to say about it and how it was addressed? I mean, the one thing with Will is he's so confident in who he is and it's his process,

and we heard from him before the game yesterday, and he still stood on that move. And he said, no, you know, we decided to pitch to PCA. We put Hagan Smith in that spot so we could get to say a Suzuki there. But, yeah, he said, you know, we asked like just what his process is, because especially at this point of the season and as a manager, it's like, okay, you can look at the eye test and the feel for the game, right? But then numbers are a huge part of it.

So we were like, how do you find that balance, especially in a game like this, right? And given where your pitching staff is. And he said, you know, what he does is he takes the information that he has in hand, then he talks to his committee, his coaching staff, and then they kind of decide what the best course of action is. And so we were saying before the game, okay, well, you pitch to PCA, are you going to take that same approach in this game here today,

given what he was able to do to you? And he goes, absolutely. He's like, I'm not going to deviate from who I am as a manager. You know, I'm going to look at the facts and what information I have on hand. I'm going to talk with my staff, and we're going to go about that. So I do respect that as a manager,

because it could be a little tricky, especially when you hear in a rivalry like this and you hear the fans talking, but Will is so confident in who he is and what they've been doing all season long, that, yeah, he just sticks to his plan. I'm really curious how you feel about the energy for this series, this city, baseball is it, is kind of flipped on its head after back-to-back-to-back 100 lost seasons for the White Sox. It's been so cool just to see how the city has continued just to rally around,

you know, obviously the Cubs, but the White Sox and just what this young group has been able to do. Guys, we've had 15 debuts this season. And so just how young they are, but just they're experiencing this for the first time, and they're just continuing to ride the highs. It's funny, I actually talked to Patrick Kane before the game yesterday. And, you know, he was just talking about the successful teams that he was on with the Blackhawks. And in his words, he said, we were almost too young and dumb to realize, like, what we were doing, but we were able to kind of use that to our advantage.

And I kind of gave him some insight into the White Sox. And he said, you know, you just got to continue just to keep doing what you're doing. but he loves the support that the young stars in this city have for one another. You saw Modest there last night. You see PCA. You see Munitaka Merikami, Caleb Williams, and it's like that's just so unique, especially in a large sports city.

So it's just kind of cool just to see how all these guys are coming together. I'm glad you brought up Canter. I mean, he gets a massive standing ovation from the crowd when he gives that pitch. I'm glad you got to talk to him. And speaking of that, I love some of the interactive stuff that you guys do in games over there with Mike Vassel, obviously, being a big part of it. Who have been, who are some of your favorite personalities in that clubhouse, amongst a bunch of personalities? I don't know if there's favorites, but what's funny is they're all unique in their own way.

So you have, you know, Mike Vassel, he's the life of the party, he's that glue guy. Then you have a guy like Sam Antanachi where he's just like a bulldog and he's just like unique in his own way. But I love, you know, talking to him and getting to know him. Kyle Teal is so fun. He's a sneaky good one. But it's just, I mean, there's so many unique guys in that group and just somehow, and I think a lot of people, people underestimate team camaraderie and chemistry and what that, how that can equate to success on the field.

And something about this group, it's just like Chris Getson, this front office have really emphasized that, obviously the skill set you bring to the field, but just the type of personalities and how it fits. I almost describe it like a puzzle piece, right, and how they just really come together. And they make it work. It's a really good group. When we talk about young teams, we usually talk about there being an adult in the room. Is that like Andrew Benintendi on this team?

Who's the adult in the room when you talk about it? about these hitters. The supervisor, if you will. He's like the very laxed adult, I would say. He's just, he's the type of guy. Like, Will describes him as like almost the right type of leader that you want in the clubhouse, especially for this type of group. His locker is always open. Guys will come to him. Hey, what are you seeing? How can I be better here? And he's like, yeah, but he's never forcing anything on some of these guys. And it's kind of what you're seeing in clubhouses now. Whereas, you know, before in clubhouses, the old baseball way, hey, you got to do this, right. You got to do this. But they're allowed.

guys to be themselves, which I think has just kind of allowed them to flourish on the field because they're not too scared stepping on people's toes. So I think Benny has been a really good influence for that group. Also, Randall Gritchick, you got to give him a lot of credit. They call him the dad in the group. They even got T-shirts. Yeah, they even got like T-shirts made. So it's just, it's just a fun group. Yeah. So I would say probably Andrew Benintending. Well, Brooke, thank you so much for taking the time for stopping by. Brooke has to get back to work. So she walked across the street to get to us to the Covey Bear. appreciate you doing it. Thanks so much, Brooke. Thank you guys for having me.

Great to talk to Brooke Fletcher, who got the orange and red memo. I am out on this. Brooke Fletcher, the on field reporter for the White Sox on CHS and also TV analysts work as well. So we're happy to see her. Brooke, have a great call today. Good luck with the rest of the stretch of a billion games in no days. That was Brooke Fletcher joining us as we get you ready for game three of Cross Town here live from the Cubby Bear. Coming up next, it's half time. And do I have a negotiation for you. It involves a lifetime supply of something. That is next.