HISTORY (but there’s still more to make)
A 4-2 loss and sweep at San Diego ties the 1962 Mets for most losses ever; worst team since 1899 still looms
The White Sox are now tied for the most losses since 1899, with their 120th in a you-knew-it-was-coming, 4-2 defeat. The loss was Chicago’s 24th time swept this season.
Sean Burke deserved better, throwing six innings of one-run ball (homer), with eight Ks. In all seriousness, if there is a positive to take away from 2024 is that there is a crop of arms in the system who are major-league ready, and enough of them to say with some confidence it’s not a concern going forward: Burke, Jonathan Cannon, Davis Martin, Drew Thorpe, Garrett Crochet (at the moment), Jairo Iriarte, Ky Bush, Mason Adams. If I forgot anyone, hey, pipe down, the crop ain’t THAT good. But going forward, with massive question marks in the pen and MASSIVE EXCLAMATION POINTS with the offense, the rotation arms seem ... solid.
Speaking of the offense, the good news is that these bums launched two homers today, which is prodigious by White Sox standards. But, time for the kicker: 15 Ks, five total hits, moribund offense. At this juncture, only two MLB teams in history have a batting WAR as bad or worse than the -7.0 our guys have put up. So, perhaps catnap till 2026, people.
Futility Watch
White Sox 2024 Record 36-120, worst season in White Sox history, worst post-1899 MLB season all-time (1 1⁄2 games worse than the 1916 A’s) and a season-worst 84 games below .500
White Sox 2024 Run Differential -320, tied for fifth-worst 156-game start in MLB history, tied with the 1962 Mets
White Sox 2024 Season Record Pace 37-125 (.231)
All-Time White Sox Record (1901-2024) 9,589-9,611 (.4995)
Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2003 Tigers, 43-119) CLINCHED, currently six games worse than the 2003 Tigers
Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120) 4 games worse; need to finish 5-1 to end season 41-121
Race to the Most White Sox Losses (1970, 106) new record set (120 and counting)
Race to the Worst White Sox Record (1932, 52-109-1*) CLINCHED, currently 15 1⁄2 games worse than the 1932 team
Race to the Worst Post-1899 Record (1916 A’s, 38-124*) 1 game worse; need to finish season 3-3 to finish 39-123
Magic Number to Clinch Worst Post-1899 Record 5
*record adjusted to a 162-game season