The 1962 New York Mets misplaced 120 video games, setting the file 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 staff ever. Because the season winds down, we’ll monitor their efforts to keep away from infamy.
Chicago’s seemingly inevitable march towards the all-time loss file took a break on Saturday. As a substitute, it was successful parade on the Southside, with the sixteenth and closing knock approaching an Andrew Benintendi walk-off homer in a 7-6 victory.
Chicago’s bullpen blew two separate three-run leads, together with one within the ninth inning. However the offense made their struggles moot. It was their first residence win since Aug. 12.
This beleaguered bunch will nonetheless must win 9 of its closing 13 video games to keep away from equaling the 1962 Mets’ 120-loss mark. And eight wins to keep away from setting the file itself.
One other recreation in opposition to the Athletics, and 6 possibilities in opposition to lowly Angels current a gap for the White Sox to make a last-minute miracle push to keep away from infamy. Don’t overlook, the 2003 Detroit Tigers received 5 of six to finish their season and end with solely 119 losses. Maybe the file books present essentially the most motivation.
The White Sox received their second consecutive recreation that Chris Flexen pitched. That’s vital principally as a result of they’d misplaced his earlier 20 video games began. He navigated by means of visitors over 5 scoreless innings.
Chicago posted seven singles within the first two innings off Oakland starter J.T. Ginn. Gavin Sheets added a solo residence run.
ANDREW BENINTENDI WALKS IT OFF FOR THE WHITE SOX! 👏
(by way of @NBCSWhiteSox)pic.twitter.com/WfmHjtkcBR
— FOX Sports activities: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 15, 2024
It regarded like this recreation would observe a well-recognized sample. The A’s instantly scored three off reliever Chad Kuhl. However Enyel De Los Santos stabilized the trouble, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Justin Anderson blew one other three-run lead within the ninth.
However Benintendi was clutch all day. He posted two tie-breaking hits, together with the game-winner.
In any down season, a shedding staff not less than hopes it sees progress in sure areas. Once you’re 81 video games beneath .500, nonetheless, sustained progress is inherently elusive.
Saturday may not have represented progress. However not less than their residence followers obtained to have a good time a win, lastly. — Sam Blum
Present tempo: 125 losses
Video games remaining: 13
Wins wanted to keep away from equaling the ’62 Mets: 9
Subsequent recreation: Sunday vs. Oakland. LHP JP Sears 11-10, 4.18 ERA (A’s) vs. RHP Sean Burke 0-0, 0.00 ERA (White Sox)
Sept. 13: Shutout loss places Chicago inside six losses of MLB file
The roles have been speculated to be reversed. For those who requested any informal baseball fan initially of the yr which staff would enter this mid-September collection — Oakland A’s versus Chicago White Sox — trying to keep away from the loss file, the reply would have been Oakland.
Preseason expectations weren’t excessive for the White Sox, to make sure. 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 file leaves their membership six losses shy of solo possession of the file.
This 2-0 defeat wasn’t a blowout. Zack Gelof doubled residence 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 severe MLB franchise.
pic.twitter.com/dqnNd7xa7e
— Brett (@brett_haffner) September 14, 2024
Out of context, it was only a common recreation — in contrast to many mammoth blowouts that populate their schedule.
In context, nonetheless, it added to their unwelcome historical past.
The White Sox misplaced their sixteenth consecutive residence recreation, 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 making an attempt to keep away from infamy. On this world, nonetheless, it’s the White Sox who’re seemingly resigned to it. — Sam Blum
Sept. 11: Rally falls brief in fifteenth consecutive residence loss
The White Sox have gone a whole month with no residence 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 sphere. The newest 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 Fee Subject, 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 concern it’s time we’ve got 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 recreation, a White Sox government jokingly requested two reporters to strive utilizing “record-setting” earlier than the staff identify as a substitute of a less-flattering description. Nicely, the record-setting White Sox did it once more Tuesday, setting a brand new file for consecutive residence losses with 14. In fact, they broke the file they set Monday night time.
Their 5-0 loss to Cleveland was additionally their twenty sixth defeat of their final 27 residence video games.
It’s beginning to change into a development.
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, residence 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 file 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 file of their closing residence collection.
The Sox are 18-56 at residence and their final victory at Assured Fee Subject was an unbelievable 12-2 clobbering of the New York Yankees on Aug. 12. Their earlier residence victory was in opposition to the Twins within the first recreation of a doubleheader on July 10. The Sox responded with 21 straight losses, tying the American League file.
Earlier than the sport, the Sox known 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 speculated to pitch within the Arizona Fall League, however as a substitute is the 62nd participant the White Sox have used this season, extending a membership file. — 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 another staff, have confirmed to be an elixir for any struggling pitcher. That now consists of 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 saved 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 in opposition to the first-place Guardians (5) than in opposition to another opponent this season. Their loss Monday, nonetheless, marked their thirteenth in a row at residence and twenty fifth of their final 26 video games at Assured Fee Subject. 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
(Prime photograph of Andrew Benintendi: Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty Pictures)
