With just one week remaining in the 2024 Major League Baseball season, the Chicago White Sox are on the verge of cementing their place in baseball infamy. Their 36-120 record ties them with the infamous 1962 New York Mets, a team synonymous with baseball futility. As the White Sox face the final six games of this disastrous season, the potential to become the worst team in modern MLB history looms large.
Offensive Struggles
This season, the White Sox have struggled mightily on both sides of the ball, but their offensive woes are particularly glaring. The team’s slash line of .220/.278/.339 is significantly below the league average of .244/.312/.400, highlighting their struggles to get on base and hit for power. Their 76 OPS+ indicates they are 24% worse than the league average in these areas, a stark reminder of their offensive impotence.
Home runs have been especially hard to come by for the White Sox, who rank dead last in the league with just 127 for the season. Not a single player has managed to reach the 20-home run mark, a true testament to the team's lack of firepower. This offensive ineptitude is underscored by their league-low average of 3.07 runs per game. For context, the Tampa Bay Rays, who rank 29th in runs per game, manage 3.78 runs per contest.
Defensive Woes
Defensively, the Chicago White Sox have been equally disappointing. Their -83 total zone runs rank them as the worst defensive team in the league. This is a far cry from the defensive prowess of the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners, who lead the league with 46 total zone runs. Even the Miami Marlins, second to last in this metric, fare significantly better with -53 total zone runs.
Team Leaders and Individual Performances
Individually, few players have stood out in a positive light. Andrew Vaughn, who leads the team in both RBIs (67) and runs (54), ranks a dismal 103rd out of 130 qualifying players in OPS. Erick Fedde, the team's leader in WAR, has not pitched since July 27, further compounding their struggles. The team’s collective performance in FanGraphs' version of WAR stands at -6.8, making the White Sox the only team in the league with a negative figure. In comparison, the Colorado Rockies, who are 29th in WAR, have a positive 4.1.
Historical Context
The White Sox's road record of 16-62 and home record of 20-58 are both the worst in the league. Before this season, the franchise had never lost more than 55 road games or 53 home games in a single season. In addition to setting these unwanted records, the team has endured three lengthy slumps of 21, 14, and 12 straight losses, with additional losing streaks of seven, six, and two stints of five. One of these five-game losing streaks is still active.
Slumps and Rare Bright Spots
Since the All-Star break, the White Sox have compiled a 9-49 record. No team has ever won fewer than 15 games in a full second half, a dubious record currently held by the A's, who went 15-61 in both 1915 and 1943. Even in their better months of May and June, the White Sox could only muster identical 9-19 records. July was particularly brutal, as the team went 3-22.
Despite the dreariness of the season, there were a few rare bright spots. The White Sox managed winning records against five teams: the Braves (2-1), Rockies (2-1), Cardinals (2-1), Rays (4-2), and Nationals (2-1). However, against their divisional rivals in the AL Central, the White Sox have been abysmal, posting a 12-41 record.
A Historic Season of Futility
In summary, the 2024 season has been arguably the worst in the history of Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox. Both offensively and defensively, the team has set new standards of ineptitude. As they approach the final week of the season, the White Sox have one last chance to avoid becoming the worst team in modern baseball history. Yet, regardless of the outcome of their final six games, the lasting legacy of this season will likely be one of historic disappointment.