The 1962 New York Mets misplaced 120 video games, setting the document for essentially the most defeats in a single season in fashionable baseball historical past. The 2024 Chicago White Sox are on tempo to supplant the Mets because the worst group ever. Because the season winds down, we’ll monitor their efforts to keep away from infamy.
Sept. 13: Pitchers carry out, offense doesn’t
The roles had been imagined to be reversed. For those who requested any informal baseball fan at the start of the 12 months which group would enter this mid-September collection — Oakland A’s versus Chicago White Sox — seeking to keep away from the all-time loss document, the reply would have been Oakland.
Preseason expectations weren’t excessive for the White Sox, to make certain. Simply ask their GM. Nevertheless it was Oakland coming off a 110-loss season, amid a chaotic off-field storm.
As a substitute, it’s Oakland constructing an thrilling younger core. And the White Sox are counting down the times till the season ends. Their relevance is tied on to their futility. A 33-115 document leaves their membership six losses shy of solo possession of the all-time document.
This 2-0 defeat wasn’t a blowout. Zack Gelof doubled dwelling a run within the fourth. Brent Rooker gave the A’s some insurance coverage an inning later with a two-out single. Chicago’s pitching held up, however its offense couldn’t scratch out a run.
2024 White Sox: heading for worst in historical past
2025 White Sox: not including respectable Free Brokers
This isn’t a critical MLB franchise.
— Brett (@brett_haffner) September 14, 2024
Out of context, it was only a common sport — not like many mammoth blowouts that populate their schedule.
In context, nonetheless, it added to their unwelcome historical past.
The White Sox misplaced their sixteenth consecutive dwelling sport, spanning greater than a month. They dropped to 5-26 within the Grady Sizemore period. They tied the 2018 Baltimore Orioles and the 1935 Boston Braves for the fourth-most losses because the creation of the American League in 1901.
In an alternate universe, it’s the A’s desperately attempting to keep away from infamy. On this world, nonetheless, it’s the White Sox who’re seemingly resigned to it. — Sam Blum
Present tempo: 126 losses
Video games remaining: 14
Wins wanted to keep away from equaling the ’62 Mets: 10
Subsequent sport: Saturday vs. Oakland. Athletics RHP J.T. Ginn (0-1, 4.58 ERA) vs. White Sox RHP Chris Flexen (2-14, 5.26 ERA)
Sept. 11: Rally falls brief in fifteenth consecutive dwelling loss
The White Sox have gone a complete month with no dwelling win.
Approach again when, someplace across the Mesozoic Period (OK, it was Aug. 12), Chicago bludgeoned the New York Yankees, 12-2. Since then, it’s been one loss after one other, one step nearer to historical past each time the White Sox take the sector. The most recent version included a pair of two-run infield singles by Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas in a 6-4 defeat on Wednesday afternoon that sealed Cleveland’s three-game sweep.
An error and a balk helped gas a four-run White Sox outburst, however just like the earlier two video games of the collection, they by no means grabbed maintain of a lead. They’ve misplaced 15 consecutive video games at Assured Price Area, and 27 of 28.
The White Sox now sit at 33-114. Since their inception as a constitution member of the American League in 1901, solely 5 groups have recorded extra losses in a season: the 2018 Baltimore Orioles (115), the 1935 Boston Braves (115), the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (117), the 2003 Detroit Tigers (119) and the 1962 New York Mets (120).
With the first-place Guardians reluctantly leaving city, the White Sox will welcome the Oakland Athletics to the South Aspect for a three-game collection this weekend. Chicago dropped two of three in Oakland in early August. — Zack Meisel
I worry it’s time now we have this dialog.
Relegate the Chicago White Sox pic.twitter.com/mAYNihULHx
— MLB Deadline Information (@MLBDeadlineNews) September 11, 2024
Sept. 10: Loss No. 113 is available in seventeenth shutout of season
CHICAGO — Earlier than Tuesday’s sport, a White Sox govt jokingly requested two reporters to attempt utilizing “record-setting” earlier than the group title as an alternative of a less-flattering description. Nicely, the record-setting White Sox did it once more Tuesday, setting a brand new document for consecutive dwelling losses with 14. In fact, they broke the document they set Monday night time.
Their 5-0 loss to Cleveland was additionally their twenty sixth defeat of their final 27 dwelling video games.
It’s beginning to turn out to be a pattern.
LANE LANE LANE LANE!#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/DpcYUR28Gr
— Bally Sports activities Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 11, 2024
Led by Lane Thomas’ three-run homer off Sox reliever Gus Varland within the sixth, Cleveland despatched the White Sox to their 113th loss, dwelling or away, of the season. This was the seventeenth time this season they’ve been shut out. They’re eight losses away from surpassing the modern-day loss document of the 1962 Mets, and the one drama now’s whether or not they can win three video games between now and Sept. 24 to allow them to set the document of their ultimate dwelling collection.
The Sox are 18-56 at dwelling and their final victory at Assured Price Area was an unbelievable 12-2 clobbering of the New York Yankees on Aug. 12. Their earlier dwelling victory was towards the Twins within the first sport of a doubleheader on July 10. The Sox responded with 21 straight losses, tying the American League document.
Earlier than the sport, the Sox referred to as up right-hander Sean Burke, who made his major-league debut. He struck out three in two scoreless innings earlier than the Guardians obtained an unearned run off him within the ninth. The error was his personal, coming off an off-target pickoff throw.
Burke, a third-round draft decide in 2021, was imagined to pitch within the Arizona Fall League, however as an alternative is the 62nd participant the White Sox have used this season, extending a membership document. — Jon Greenberg
Sept. 9: Loss No. 112 comes as Guardians pitcher flirts with perfection
CHICAGO — The White Sox, who’ve scored 104 fewer runs than some other group, have confirmed to be an elixir for any struggling pitcher. That now contains Cleveland Guardians rookie Joey Cantillo, who retired the primary 20 Chicago hitters he confronted Monday and dealt the White Sox their 112th defeat.
Cantillo registered an 8.47 ERA in his first 4 spot begins, however in Cleveland’s 5-3 victory, he struck out 10 and stored the White Sox off the bases till Andrew Benintendi’s two-out single to proper within the seventh.
What an evening for Joey Cantillo!
He has struck out 10 batters in his outing tonight. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/LJ8jZstH78
— Bally Sports activities Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 10, 2024
Surprisingly, the White Sox have notched extra wins towards the first-place Guardians (5) than towards some other opponent this season. Their loss Monday, nonetheless, marked their thirteenth in a row at dwelling and twenty fifth of their final 26 video games at Assured Price Area. They sit solely eight losses from tying the 1962 Mets’ doubtful mark. They sit 40 1/2 video games out of fourth place within the five-team American League Central. — Zack Meisel
(High picture of Andrew Vaughn: Matt Marton / Imagn Pictures)