With just one week remaining in the 2024 Major League Baseball season, the Chicago White Sox find themselves on the brink of setting an unenviable record. At 36-120, the team is perilously close to finishing with the worst record in modern baseball history, already tying the infamous 1962 New York Mets with 120 losses.
The White Sox have six games left, and unless something miraculous transpires, it seems inevitable that they'll secure their spot in the annals of baseball infamy. The statistics reveal a team mired in struggles on both sides of the game, from a lackluster offense to a porous defense.
Anemic Offense
Batting has been a significant issue for the White Sox throughout the season. As a team, they are hitting a meager .220/.278/.339, which falls well below the league-average slash line of .244/.312/.400. This lack of offensive firepower is further highlighted by their 76 OPS+, indicating that they are 24% worse than the league average in terms of getting on base and hitting for power.
Power hitting has been almost non-existent; the team ranks dead last in home runs with only 127 on the season. Not a single player has reached the 20-home run mark, brutally underscoring their struggles in the batter's box.
The team's offensive woes are glaringly evident in their average of just 3.07 runs per game—the lowest in the league. For comparison, the Tampa Bay Rays, who rank 29th in runs per game, average 3.78 runs.
Defensive and Pitching Struggles
Defensively, the White Sox haven't fared any better. They rank as the poorest defensive team in the league, with a staggering -83 total zone runs. The Marlins, who are 29th, have a -53 total zone runs, which only accentuates how far the White Sox have fallen.
The team's pitching has been equally dismal. Erick Fedde, who leads the team in WAR, hasn't pitched since July 27. Collectively, the team's performance in FanGraphs' version of WAR stands at a dismal -6.8, making them the only team in the league with a negative figure. The Colorado Rockies, who are 29th, have a positive 4.1.
Historical Context and Dire Road Performance
Historically, the White Sox have reached new lows this season. Their 16-62 road record is the worst in the league, followed by the Rockies who have 24 road wins. At home, the White Sox aren't any better, sitting at 20-58, again the worst in the league. Before this season, the team had never lost more than 55 road games or 53 home games in a single season.
Lengthy losing streaks have also plagued the team. They have endured slumps of 21, 14, and 12 straight losses each. Additional losing streaks of seven, six, and two stints of five have further compounded their misery, one of which is still active.
Notable Team Performances
Individually, Andrew Vaughn leads the team in both RBIs and runs, with 67 and 54 respectively, but in a stark illustration of the team's struggles, he ranks 103rd out of 130 qualifying players in OPS for the batting title.
Since the All-Star break, the White Sox are a dismal 9-49. No team has ever won fewer than 15 games in a full second half, a dubious record held by the A's, who went 15-61 both in 1915 and 1943.
Brief Moments of Success
Despite these myriad struggles, the White Sox did find some minor successes during the season. Their best months were May and June, where they managed 9-19 records in each. July was their nadir, going 3-22. Interestingly, the White Sox managed winning records against just five teams: the Braves (2-1), Rockies (2-1), Cardinals (2-1), Rays (4-2), and Nationals (2-1).
In the grand scheme, however, these bright spots are mere footnotes in a season fraught with historic losses and statistical lows. The Chicago White Sox's 2024 campaign will undoubtedly go down as the worst in Major League Baseball history, serving as a grim exhibit on how a confluence of poor hitting, lackluster defense, and ineffective pitching can lead to a season of unprecedented failure.