With just one week remaining in the 2024 Major League Baseball season, the Chicago White Sox find themselves on the brink of an unfortunate milestone, potentially concluding the season with the worst record in modern baseball history. Sitting at 36-120, they've already tied the infamous 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in a single season, and with six games left to play, the possibility of setting a new low looms large.
Offensive Struggles
Throughout the season, the White Sox have struggled mightily at the plate. Their team-wide slash line of .220/.278/.339 is significantly below the league-average of .244/.312/.400. This anemic offensive performance has translated to a meager 76 OPS+, indicating they are 24% worse than the league average in terms of getting on base and hitting for power.
The team’s inability to generate runs has been stark, averaging just 3.07 runs per game, the lowest in the league. By comparison, the Tampa Bay Rays, who are ranked 29th, average 3.78 runs per game. This shortfall is highlighted further by their meager total of 127 home runs for the season, with not a single player reaching the 20-homer mark. Andrew Vaughn leads the team with 67 RBIs and 54 runs, but he ranks a lowly 103rd out of 130 qualifying players in OPS for the batting title.
Defensive Deficiencies
The White Sox's offensive woes are compounded by their defensive struggles. With -83 total zone runs, they rank as the worst defensive team in the league. For context, the Miami Marlins, who are second-worst, have -53 total zone runs. In stark contrast, the Brewers and Mariners lead the league with 46 total zone runs. The negative impact of their defense is palpable and has significantly contributed to their staggering -320 run differential, having been outscored 799-479 over the course of the season.
Pitching Woes
Pitching has been an area of concern, with Erick Fedde leading the team in WAR despite not having pitched since July 27. The White Sox's collective 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 next worst team, the Rockies, hold a positive 4.1 WAR, highlighting just how far the White Sox have lagged behind.
Home and Away Woes
The White Sox have struggled both at home and on the road. Their 16-62 road record is the worst in the league, with the Rockies following at 24 wins. At home, their 20-58 record is again the worst, with the Marlins next at 30-51. This season marks the first time the White Sox have lost more than 55 road games or 53 home games in a single season.
Historical Context
The extent of their losing ways is underscored by several lengthy slumps. They endured losing streaks of 21, 14, and 12 consecutive games, along with additional streaks of seven, six, and two five-game struggles, one of which is still active. Historically, the White Sox had only suffered losing streaks of 12 games or more three times before this season, dating back to 1924, 1927, and 1967. Since the All-Star break, their record stands at a dismal 9-49. No team has ever won fewer than 15 games in a full second half since the A's went 15-61 in both 1915 and 1943.
Rare Bright Spots
Amidst this bleak season, there have been few bright spots. The White Sox managed a winning record against just five teams: the Braves (2-1), Rockies (2-1), Cardinals (2-1), Rays (4-2), and Nationals (2-1). However, against their own AL Central division rivals, they are a dismal 12-41.
As the 2024 season draws to a close, the Chicago White Sox are on the brink of cementing their place in history for all the wrong reasons. It has been a year of unprecedented struggles both at the plate and on the field, setting records that no team aspires to reach. In every aspect, this season will be remembered as the nadir of the storied franchise's modern era.