It’s been just a few weeks because the MLB common season got here to a conclusion and the quantity of completely stellar playoff motion has one way or the other exceeded all of the hype heading into October.
It has additionally made baseball followers at the least quickly overlook that the summer time of 2024 bore witness to the worst workforce efficiency the centuries-old sport has ever seen. The Chicago White Sox discovered new and thrilling methods to make their followers depressing en path to a modern-day document 121 losses.
Now, on the eve of the 2024 World Collection, it’s time to take a look at these losses once more.
After painfully cataloging the myriad methods during which the White Sox lowered the ground for Main League Baseball competency, we’ve narrowed down the checklist to the 27 most depressing losses of the season.
Video games earlier within the season have been prone to earn the next rating as a result of by July it was clear this workforce had accepted its destiny. Some video games made it onto the checklist due to what occurred on the sphere, some due to what occurred within the stands and a few due to what occurred within the clubhouse.
All of it set a new standard for modern futility the likes of which we could by no means see once more. Or maybe we will sooner than we think. In any case, and for the sake of historians who will examine the 2024 Chicago White Sox within the distant future, let’s bear in mind some losses.
by way of @whitesox
Date(s): 9/18-9/22, 9/27
Rating(s): 4-3 Angels, 3-2 Padres, 6-2 Padres, 4-2 Padres, 4-1 Tigers
Most embarrassing second(s): It took till the ultimate two weeks of the season, however the White Sox X/Twitter admin absolutely leaned into the workforce being terrible and showed more personality than anyone on the field. Nevertheless it was additionally one other intestine punch to see the social media workforce working more durable at its job than the baseball workforce. A sequence of in any other case typical last rating posts morphed right into a operating joke about drawback avoidance, which is definitely one thing the Sox do fairly properly.
FINAL: the opposite workforce scored extra runs than us
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 18, 2024
FINAL: the variety of runs we scored was not higher than the variety of runs they scored
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 21, 2024
And at last, when the Sox achieved the inevitable by dropping their 121st sport of the season, the workforce posted this:
Then to cap all of it off, the next day they posted a pleasant piece of Males In Black-inspired spon-con with Dude Wipes. As a result of even when the workforce is butt, the promoting {dollars} usually are not.
Sadly for the White Sox, that is the one season no one will forget.
Date: 6/30/24
Rating: 5-4, COL (F14)
Most embarrassing second(s): The White Sox undergo a 14-inning loss to the second-worst workforce in baseball, forcing followers of each groups to observe 5 further frames of unbearable baseball and spoiling a high quality begin with 11 strikeouts from Garrett Crochet.
Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Date: 4/5/24
Rating: 2-1, KC
Most embarrassing second(s): This one isn’t embarrassing as a lot as it’s miserable. Solely seven video games into the season, Luis Robert rounded first base in Kansas City and suffered a hip flexor harm that saved him out of the lineup from early April to the beginning of June. This certainly would’ve been dangerous sufficient even when the White Sox’ offense had mustered greater than 13 runs via these first seven video games.
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports activities
Date: 5/12/24
Rating: 7-0, CLE
Most embarrassing second(s): The White Sox are shutout on Mom’s Day at dwelling, however lest you suppose this workforce didn’t hate each MLB vacation, in addition they misplaced on Father’s Day, Lou Gerhig Day, Memorial Day, Jackie Robinson Day and the Fourth of July.
Nonetheless, there’s one thing about going on the market and permitting seven runs on 5 hits in entrance of Mother that simply stings slightly further.
Date: 8/28/24
Rating: 4-3, TEX
Most embarrassing second(s): Travis Jankowski robs Andrew Vaughn of a walk-off homer with a leaping seize over the fence.
It’s a crushing approach to lose, however on the brilliant facet, it did quickly make individuals overlook about Lenyn Sosa taking a warm-up throw straight to the face.
Terrific stuff. pic.twitter.com/PN3aEyHtyE
— Tyrone (@TheTyronePalmer) August 29, 2024
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Date: 5/23/24
Rating: 8-6, BAL
Most embarrassing second(s): Trailing the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 coming into the underside of the ninth inning at dwelling, the White Sox put collectively a livid rally, scoring 4 runs with only one out. That introduced Andrew Benintendi as much as the plate to face former White Sox reliever Craig Kimbrel. With runners on first and second, Benintendi represented the profitable run on the plate. All he needed to do was keep away from the double play and hold the rally going.
Amazingly, he did simply this. Sadly, it was by hitting an infield fly. Whereas the ball was within the air, umpires judged Andrew Vaughn made contact with Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson and instantly referred to as him out for interference.
Rally over. Sport over. The White Sox broadcast, justifiably, misplaced it.
Andrew Vaughn is known as for interference after an infield fly rule. An Completely BRUTAL name to finish the sport…. pic.twitter.com/AyhCWwiHeY
— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) May 24, 2024
Aug 25, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (23) is unable to catch Detroit Tigers middle fielder Parker MeadowsÕ (not pictured) triple throughout the fourth inning at Assured Fee Subject. Obligatory Credit score: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Date: 8/24/24
Rating: 9-4, DET
Most embarrassing second(s): In the modern era, only the 1916 Philadelphia A’s, who were 29-100-1, reached 100 losses in fewer games than the White Sox.
Andrew Benintendi summed up the expertise by saying, “We now have been speaking about all of it 12 months. It’s beating a useless horse at this level. We aren’t the place we wish to be. [Interim manager Grady Sizemore] mentioned it finest: ‘Until you win the final sport of the 12 months, it doesn’t matter.’ So, I believe everybody has moved on.”
There was nonetheless greater than a month left within the season when he mentioned this. It wasn’t a shock that the White Sox misplaced 100 video games at this level within the season, however that didn’t reduce the sting.
Date: 9/1/24
Rating: 2-0, NYM
Most embarrassing second(s): Amid one other 11-game dropping streak, the White Sox set franchise document for many losses in a season.
Date: 6/6/24
Rating: 14-2, BOS
Most embarrassing second(s): The White Sox clinch the longest dropping streak in franchise historical past (14 video games) after happening 7-0 within the fourth inning.
Date: 7/29/24
Rating: 8-5, KC
Most embarrassing second(s): The White Sox clinch the longest dropping streak in franchise historical past (15 video games) as Bobby Witt Jr. mashes a go-ahead grand slam with two outs within the eighth inning.
BOBBY WITT JR. GO AHEAD GRAND SLAM pic.twitter.com/0GmikwJors
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 30, 2024
The dropping streak is the longest by any workforce because the Baltimore Orioles misplaced 19 straight video games from Aug. 3-24, 2021. The loss additionally marked the quickest any workforce has clinched a dropping document in a 162-game scheduled in MLB historical past.
Aug 5, 2024; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher Tyler Ferguson (65) and Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) rejoice after the sport in opposition to the Chicago White Sox at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Obligatory Credit score: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports activities
Date: 8/5/24
Rating: 5-1, OAK
Most embarrassing second(s): The White Sox clinch the longest dropping streak in franchise historical past (21 video games), tying the American League document. Oakland’s Austin Adams and Tyler Ferguson completed a four-hitter in simply 2 hours, quarter-hour.
Date: 4/22/24
Rating: 7-0, MIN
Most embarrassing second(s): The White Sox set an MLB document with eight shutout losses of their first 22 video games.
Date: 6/10/24
Rating: 8-4, SEA
Most embarrassing second(s): After the White Sox opened up a 4-0 lead, the Mariners tie the sport on two-out bunt from Luke Raley within the backside of the eighth inning.
Cal Raleigh hits a walk-off grand slam within the ninth.
Date: 8/27/24
Rating: 3-1, TEX
Most embarrassing second(s): The sport itself was a typical Sox loss. Texas scored within the first inning, weathered a White Sox response within the third inning and took the lead again for good within the seventh. The embarrassment occurred within the stands, the place two followers reported they may not enter the stadium sporting customized shirts that learn “I don’t like our workforce” to appease proprietor Jerry Reinsdorf.
Was advised we couldn’t enter the stadium in these shirts by gate safety, “The Proprietor sits in a field and doesn’t wish to see them” safety guard mentioned. Needed to button up or flip it inside out to get in. Unreal. @Sean_W_Anderson @Ecnerwal23 @CHGO_WhiteSox @chorizy @MrDelicious13 pic.twitter.com/kT05Nw6dCZ
— Seahawks Jack From Lisle (@SoxJackFromDG) August 27, 2024
Brad Penner-Imagn Photos
Date: 8/13/24
Rating: 4-1, NYY
Most embarrassing second(s): Juan Soto homers thrice in a single sport for the primary time in his profession.
Date: 8/14/24
Rating: 10-2, NYY
Most embarrassing second(s): Juan Soto homers within the first inning at some point after hitting three dwelling runs in opposition to the Sox. Chicago interim supervisor Grady Sizemore decides to deliberately stroll Soto in his subsequent at-bat to face Aaron Choose as a substitute.
Choose instantly smacks his three hundredth profession homer on a 3-0 pitch.
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Date: 8/9/24
Rating: 7-6, CHC
Most embarrassing second(s): After lastly deciding to make a change within the dugout, the White Sox lose first sport following supervisor Pedro Grifol’s firing.
Date: 7/7/24
Rating: 7-4, MIA
Most embarrassing second(s): Dealing with the White Sox for the primary sequence because the workforce traded the fan favourite to the Miami Marlins in August 2023, Jake Burger launches a three-run walk-off dwelling run.
Date: 6/4/24
Rating: 7-6, CHC
Most embarrassing second(s): The White Sox blow a 5-0 lead at Wrigley Subject, earlier than regaining 6-5 lead, solely to surrender two runs within the backside of the eighth inning in a loss to their crosstown rivals.
Date: 9/3/24
Rating: 9-0, BAL
Most embarrassing second(s): Weeks after buying and selling him to the Baltimore Orioles, former Chicago core member Eloy Jimenez hits a pop up in direction of foul territory at Camden Yards just for two White Sox to collide whereas making an attempt to make the catch (a 3rd participant properly ducked out of the best way). Three runs rating as Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown immortalizes the second by shouting “The White Sox have simply gone full White Sox”.
ORIOLES LEGEND ELOY JIMÉNEZ!!!! pic.twitter.com/B39NNVzVdd
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 3, 2024
Date: 6/2/24
Rating: 6-3, MIL
Most embarrassing second(s): With the White Sox trailing the Brewers 4-3 within the high of the eighth inning, Chicago’s Tommy Pham compounds a horrible ship from third base on a shallow fly ball with an atrocious path to the plate and will get thrown out by a mile.
After getting tagged out, Pham begins jawing with Milwaukee catcher William Contreras and must be restrained by teammates. Whereas speaking to reporters after the sport, Pham doubles down, telling media, “there’s a cause why I do all types of preventing throughout the offseason, because I’m prepared to [expletive] somebody up“.
The White Sox lose their eleventh consecutive sport.
Date: 5/26/24
Rating: 4-1, BAL
Most embarrassing second(s): Garrett Crochet twirls one other gem with 11 strikeouts over six innings and two earned runs in opposition to the Orioles. Nevertheless, the White Sox can solely handle one run on one hit. An unusually heated supervisor Pedro Grifol blasts the team in the press, calling the White Sox “[expletive] flat” in a transfer that deepens tensions between the gamers and skipper.
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports activities
Date: 5/27/24
Rating: 5-1, TOR
Most embarrassing second(s): Lower than 24 hours after Grifol’s “[expletive] flat” remark, the White Sox undergo a good bigger loss to the Blue Jays regardless of racking up 10 hits.
Date: 7/2/24
Rating: 7-6, CLE
Most embarrassing second(s): In a tie sport with one out within the backside of the ninth inning, Luis Robert fields a pop fly to shallow middle with the profitable run on third. For causes passing understanding, Robert declines to make a throw to the plate and as a substitute the Guardians rating unchallenged for the walk-off win as Chicago followers watched a workforce chief stop in actual time.
Date: 6/21/24
Rating: 2-1, DET
Most embarrassing second(s): An 8-6-3 double play ends the sport after Paul DeJong, who represented the tying run on first base, forgets there’s only one out and begins sprinting across the bases with out tagging up.
The White Sox pull a White Sox. 😑
Doubled off…forgetting what number of outs there are to finish the sport.
“How within the WORLD does this Occur” pic.twitter.com/eURow3gN7E
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 22, 2024
Making issues even worse was the actual fact former White Sox announcer Jason Benetti — who was unceremoniously pushed out of the group final winter — was calling the sport for Detroit. It was a main alternative for him to rightfully ask the kind of questions that beforehand ticked off Sox administration. Questions like, “how on the planet does this occur?”
Jun 5, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Mike Tauchman (40) rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off dwelling run in opposition to the Chicago White Sox throughout the ninth inning at Wrigley Subject. Obligatory Credit score: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Date: 6/5/24
Rating: 7-6, CHC
Most embarrassing second(s): For the second straight day at Wrigley Subject, the White Sox grabbed an early 5-1 lead within the fourth inning in opposition to their crosstown rivals. If this workforce have been ever going to show it may be taught from its errors, this was been the second. As an alternative, the White Sox doubled down on their errors.
Within the backside of the fifth inning, the Cubs lower the result in 5-3, then added one other three runs within the backside of the seventh inning to take a 6-5 lead.
Sox Machine’s Jim Margalus completely captured the insanity of watching all of it unfold:
The White Sox led 5-3 coming into that inning, and Michael Soroka returned to the mound after a 1-2-3 sixth. He opened the inning by drilling Dansby Swanson, then walked Yan Gomes. In the course of a protracted battle with Tauchman, he dedicated the White Sox’s second balk with an improper step-off, which allowed one runner to attain when he bounced his eleventh pitch of the plate look previous Korey Lee for a wild pitch ball 4.
Within the high of the eighth, Paul DeJong mashed his tenth dwelling run of the 12 months to knot issues up, however by this level everybody in Chicago knew how this was going to finish. Mike Tauchman introduced it to fruition with a walk-off dwelling run within the first at-bat of the underside of the ninth inning. He despatched the second pitch he noticed from Michael Kopech straight into centerfield.
It’s not simply that this loss got here at some point after the Sox blew a 5-0 lead at Wrigley, or that it got here three days after Tommy Pham’s absurd postgame feedback in Milwaukee. Or that the workforce would get hammered even worse the following day in Boston to document the franchise’s longest dropping streak at 14 video games with a 14-2 loss.
For many of the summer time, Sox and Cubs followers interact in a kind of chilly struggle. Regardless of how good one or the opposite is, there’s a tug-of-war for superiority within the metropolis. The Crosstown Traditional is when that lastly boils over onto the sphere.
That was not the case on this sport. One workforce left the sphere understanding it most likely wasn’t headed for an ideal season. The opposite left understanding for positive it was going to contend for the worst season in MLB historical past. And a complete metropolis tuned in solely to search out out it had no alternative however to simply accept simply how dangerous it was going to get.
