Editor’s observe: This can be a Bizarre and Wild brief. To learn this week’s full Bizarre and Wild column, go right here.
For weeks now, months to be trustworthy, we’ve been spending manner an excessive amount of useful time making all-important comparisons between the 2024 White Sox and Casey Stengel’s legendarily hapless 1962 Mets. However now we all know: That was really the unsuitable comp.
These White Sox (present report: 33-114) would wish a miracle to out-win these ’62 Mets (40-120). So it’s time to do one thing I by no means thought would occur: It’s time to show our consideration to these much more legendary 1899 Cleveland Spiders (enticing ultimate report: 20-134).
I got here to that mind-blowing realization Thursday morning, when the fact of this nutty little quantity hit dwelling:
81 Video games below .500!!!
As a longtime chronicler of every thing Bizarre and Wild, I’ve seen a number of stuff. However I assumed to myself as I stared on the standings: Have I ever seen THAT? Have I ever seen any workforce that fell 81 freaking video games below .500?
Right here’s the reality: Nope. I. Have. Not. And neither have you ever, until you’re a spritely 108 years outdated. And even in case you are certainly 108 years outdated, your reminiscence of earlier 81-under-.500 historical past may be just a little hazy. So permit me to fill you in.
The ’62 Mets? Sorry. By no means bought to 81 below.
The 2003 Tigers? Sorry. They by no means made it both.
Each of these groups bought to 80 below. Nevertheless it takes a really particular group to sink under 80 video games below the ocean. So let’s salute these White Sox as a result of they’re a kind of extraordinary groups that took a unsuitable flip and simply saved going.
And who’re these extraordinary groups? Right here they arrive — the one groups in American League/Nationwide League/Nineteenth-century American Affiliation historical past that ever bought to 81 below or worse (in chronological order):
Whitey Witt’s 1916 A’s — Fell to 81 below at 33-114, identical to these White Sox, besides it wasn’t till Sept. 27 they usually had solely six video games left within the season … however they in some way received three of them! (Ultimate report: 36-117.)
Harry Colliflower’s 1899 Spiders — There’s a cause the Spiders are the poster boys for single-season futility, you understand. They plummeted to 81 below on Aug. 31 (at 19-100). They nonetheless had 35 video games to play … they usually misplaced 34 of them! (Ultimate report: 20-134.)
Kirtley Baker’s 1890 Alleghenys — As soon as upon a time, earlier than the Spiders, these guys had been the usual for Nineteenth-century ineptitude. They descended to 81 below on Sept. 16 (at 21-102). They’d 14 video games remaining … and received two! (Ultimate report: 23-113, plus two ties.)
Toad Ramsey’s 1889 Colonels — The worst workforce within the American Affiliation’s wonderful historical past, the Colonels tumbled to 81 below at 26-107. Happily, it was Oct. 8, so they’d solely 5 video games left … and received one! (Ultimate report: 27-111.)
And that’s the entire 81-Beneath Membership. However in the event you had been paying consideration (in case we spring an end-of-season 2024 White Sox quiz on you), you may need observed one thing. Solely as soon as, in practically a century and a half of major-league historical past, had any workforce woke up this early in September and located itself 81 video games below .500 or worse. And it was … these 1899 Spiders, due to course it was!
But now the Spiders have firm, in these 2024 White Sox? What a time to be alive.
GO DEEPER
White Sox would possibly break report for losses. How ought to the 1962 Mets really feel about it?
Wednesday’s loss to the Guardians dropped the White Sox to 1-27 of their previous 28 video games at dwelling. (Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn Photos)
However in the meantime, in different vital White Sox information …
They will’t go dwelling once more! For the reason that second sport of their July 10 doubleheader with Minnesota, the White Sox are 1-27 after they play baseball of their dwelling park. One and 27! In response to Baseball Reference, just one different workforce within the trendy period has ever had a 1-27 stretch at dwelling (or worse). And it was these 1916 A’s (additionally 1-27, in a messy 28-game span in July and August).
So meaning, simply since that sport towards the Twins on July 10, 9 groups have extra wins at Assured Price Subject than the workforce that performs half its season on that area. There could be extra groups, after all, however solely 9 have been allowed to play there by the schedule-makers of America.
Second to none! This appears not possible, however the White Sox are actually 6-43 within the second half. Six and 43! Does this appear dangerous? How about traditionally dangerous. For the reason that invention of All-Star breaks, the fewest video games any workforce has received within the second half of a non-strike season is 15, by Orie Arntzen’s 1943 A’s (15-61). I’m beginning to suppose the White Sox aren’t going to catch them.
Late starters! In a associated growth, White Sox starters are actually 2-30 within the second half. Two and 30! The report for the worst second-half successful proportion by any rotation is .167 (7-35), by Paolo Espino’s 2022 Nationals. I’m beginning to suppose the White Sox may not catch that group, both.
Nobody will prevent! On these sporadic events when the White Sox take a lead, they’ve been recognized to name on their bullpen to guard it. Right here’s how that’s gone:
Once they convey of their relievers in save conditions, their bullpen’s report is now 3-17. Three and 17! Plus a 7.79 ERA, 31 blown saves and (in some way) extra dwelling runs allowed (26) than saves transformed (18).
I rumbled via the Baseball Reference information for manner too lengthy. What number of different groups may I discover, for the reason that daybreak of the trendy save rule in 1969, with extra gopherballs than saves in these conditions? That will be none!
I may maintain going right here for hours. However do you know …
• This White Sox workforce hasn’t began a pitcher with a successful report in over a month? Not even some opener who was 1-0. It’s 36 video games in a row now, the fourth-longest streak in franchise historical past.
• The White Sox have now misplaced their first sport of each month – April, Could, June, July, August and September? Can’t beat that type of consistency.
• It’s Sept. 13 … and the White Sox have received 33 video games! when the Guardians received their thirty third sport? How about Could 22! That’s three and a half freaking months (and 111 days) in the past!
• And at last, is it too late to want a cheerful a hundred and fifth birthday to Loyola of Chicago icon Sister Jean? As a good friend of mine jogged my memory on Sister Jean’s birthday final month, she’s been gracing our planet for greater than a century now. And he or she has seen the White Sox win a postseason collection in precisely a kind of 105 years (2005, clearly). I’m beginning to suppose the possibilities of her seeing one other collection win this October aren’t good.
GO DEEPER
Bizarre & Wild MLB highlights of the month: Recreation of the Yr, a first-inning first, and extra
GO DEEPER
Loyalty, historical past and $5 beers: Why followers nonetheless come out to see the Chicago White Sox
GO DEEPER
White Sox watch: Rally falls brief in fifteenth consecutive dwelling loss
(Prime picture of Luis Robert Jr.: Matt Krohn / Related Press)
