Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
The Great Mike Vasil Is Back (And Better Than Ever) | 'Baseball Isn't Boring'
05 Feb 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Dream baths built here. Nobody I'd rather talk to more than Mike Vassell and Courtney Finnegan, two of the most important members of the Chicago White Sox world. Fact.
That is a fact. I would have to agree.
I agree. I agree.
I mean, I was very sad that I missed Mike Vassell at Sox Fest over the weekend. I have to give you a little bit of crap for that because I was very disappointed. You know, I've been trying to meet you in person for a long time.
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Chapter 2: What exciting updates does Mike Vasil share about his career?
So that was when Trace Thompson hit a home run off me. But the previous year, I had actually started a scuffle in Scranton, and Trace had my back. So I remember texting him. And he would always joke about, like, oh, you got to pay my fine, pay my fine. And I was like, yeah, I'll do it, I'll do it. I don't even know what it ā because he ended up getting tossed. Really?
And then his first ā yeah. And then his first ā I don't know if it was first plate appearance, but facing me, it was like second batter, yard. And I was like, all right, like, you know, that evens out now.
Okay. Before Courtney asked about the White Sox plumbing situation ā Which I can't wait to talk to you about, Mike. All right. Because that might take up a half hour of our time. It really could. If you were going to power rank your time with a Tampa Bay Rays, in case people don't know, you ultimately didn't stay with the Rays. Were you DFA? You ended up with the white side.
Yeah, technically it's like DFA, but it's Rule 5. rules, waivers that I'm on.
You ended up with the White Sox. And by the way, we should note you had an insanely good year.
Thank you.
2-5-0 ERA in 47 games. I think your war was like 2-9. Legitimately, I'm not just saying this because you're here, sitting here. Legitimately, one of the best performances by relief pitcher in the American League last year.
And honestly, one of the best stories coming out of the White Sox last year, too, was you. And, I mean, I know we've talked about this before, but, like, you know, the fans love you now. You know, you're a household name on the south side, your personality and the whole thing. But, like, the way you came in as a Rule 5 guy, kind of an unknown, and did what you did, I mean, that was a big deal.
And you should feel very good about that.
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Chapter 3: What insights does Mike provide about pitching in high-pressure situations?
I know. I don't. Well, when we would go out there, we would, like, leave the phones. It was, like, total, like, quiet. It was, like, quiet time or whatever. I like that. But, like, the way it happened and, like, my introduction to him and the fact that it was also. Like, I was like, you can't make this up.
No. And the weird thing is the social media team came out of the bushes and captured the whole thing. Yeah, yeah.
I mean, what a great story. See, I'm glad. I know. I know. And then probably I'm trying to think. I mean, there was one outing I had at JetBlue that was it wasn't like the best, but I just remember it being the windiest day ever. And one of the things that the race would talk about is like always like, you know, like pound the strike zone, get ahead, batted ball luck.
And I remember Yoshida, it was legitimately so windy in JetBlue this day. Yoshida hits a foul ball.
Chapter 4: How has Mike's experience as a Rule 5 player shaped his approach to the game?
Like, it was foul. It went all the way down the left field line over the stands, and the wind was so strong it, like, blew it back. That lands. Bregman hits, like, a 90-mile-per-hour fly ball to center, lands in the triangle.
Like, I got to two outs, and I remember after that inning just, like, thinking to myself, like, I really hope it's not this windy like everywhere else in the country because this is just not ā This is not going well right now.
You know where I want to go? I want to go to the Windy City. And I get it. I understand, Courtney.
Don't get me done.
It's not named because of the wind. I get it.
It's not because of the weather.
No, but the wind at right field blows in most of the time.
Very good, Mike. Very good. You've learned. Yes, it does.
It's known for two things.
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Chapter 5: What does Mike think about the upcoming season and his role with the White Sox?
The wind blowing in from right field and having the worst Uber slash Lyft pickup in the league. Ha ha.
Rob talks about this all the time, Mike, and it drives me nuts. It drives me nuts.
Well, you know what? I will say, though, I was, like, Ubering a lot last year at some points. Like, I would be out there amongst, like, the crowd just grabbing my Uber. I kind of liked it with my, like, to-go box. But I can't under, like... Yeah, in a way.
It was kind of weird how you were in full uniform to... Yeah. I'm in full spikes and everything out there on the street. You really should. Speaking of guaranteed right field, there is... Listen, they... They've messed up a few things with that field. We can all agree that they turned the home plate the wrong way. Yes. They have a bad Uber Lyft place.
They don't have a lot around it, but they are trying. They are efforting to make it better. Courtney, please explain how are they making this better?
So, Mike, I'm sure you've seen the craziness on social media recently. Just as early as yesterday, Scott Merkin's MLB.com article about, because of Murakami, which is very exciting, of course, he had the White Sox install a bidet in the clubhouse. I'm sure you've seen all this.
I have received, yes, many texts. I have a Kyle Teal quote about having the cleanest butt in the league or something. Yeah.
So put that on a t-shirt, Rob, put that on a t-shirt.
I mean, the amount of, the amount of guys I've gotten jokes from about like, we're going to be the cleanest team in the league. It's just like, I mean, it's kind of funny. It's awesome. I'm excited. I don't know like what they're going to do. I,
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Chapter 6: How does Mike Vasil reflect on his surprising role in the White Sox bullpen?
Mike, one was when you were in ā where did you go to elementary school?
I went to Fisk Elementary School in Wellesley. All right.
What year was that? Where were you in 2007? 2007.
Yeah, I was in, oh, seven, where would I be? First, second grade? Yeah, I was there, yeah.
When you heard the news that Daisuke Matsuzaka was coming to the Red Sox. Okay. Well, we know about the posting fee, the 51 and point whatever fee that he got. We know about the 11 pitches. What we didn't know at the time was that he also ā because he signed with the Red Sox, had a bidet put in the Red Sox clubhouse, which to this day has been utilized every single year since.
And if you want a true scouting ā I should have gotten somebody on to come in. If you want a true scouting report, find someone who plays for the Red Sox and say, okay ā This is how the bidet is going to impact your life over a course of 162 game season or 81 game season.
If I see, which I assume I would. Sean Newcomb.
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Chapter 7: What predictions do the hosts make about the upcoming baseball season?
Sean Newcomb.
Yes, yes, that's the one.
Tomorrow in the gym, I didn't see him today. I'm going to ask Newcomb. I'm going to say, hey, what's the deal? What do we got going on? Sean Newcomb, yep.
I don't know if he'll be as excited as I am, but maybe he will. Maybe it's as life-changing as it was for me. I don't know, but I need to hear the rundowns from you.
Sean Newcomb seems like a very nice guy, but he doesn't seem that excitable, and I don't think the bidet conversation is going to change that.
It won't be as entertaining as I could give you, Mike. That is for certain.
But Sasaki, also this happened with Sasaki with the Dodgers last year too.
So did Yamamoto and Otani hadn't... I don't think so.
But Sasaki came in and was like, hey, I... Yeah, Sasaki, this is... This needs to happen. Wow. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, in fairness... Yamamoto and Otani said, well, if it's not gold-plated, don't bother. I have five of them at my house where I am. The ideas are popping here because T-shirts might be a little tricky, but we're always looking for the guy get on base celebration.
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Chapter 8: How does the team dynamic and culture impact Mike's performance?
I should have come up with a bar that, like a bidet bar. You know, where you drink and you sit on the bidet. I mean, that'd be kind of fun. A little weird, but.
Well, I was thinking more of a stat, but if you want to take it literal.
Yeah. You know me, Rob.
I got to take it literal sometimes. Yeah. Players. I mean, honestly, it's not a terrible idea.
It's not a terrible idea. I guess not. But yeah, like players, pre and post. There's probably some saber metric that we could create. Yes. Players that use the bidet compared to not.
Yes. And how often they use it.
That's what we got to find out. We got to find out whether it was the Red Sox or Dodgers. Who were the players who utilized it more than anybody else and how did they perform?
And how did they perform? Yeah. Like when Sasaki came back and was just dominating out of the bullpen, was he more frequently now using the bidet?
And this also opens up to all kinds of problems with the MLBPA where we want to make things equal. It's like the trajectory machine. Trajectory machine you have at home, but you don't have on the road, right?
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