As the 2024 Major League Baseball season winds down, the Chicago White Sox are on the brink of setting an unprecedented mark for modern baseball futility. Sitting at a dismal 36-120, they have already matched the 1962 New York Mets for most losses in a season and still have six more games to play. These final contests will determine whether they hold sole possession of the unwanted record.
Anemic Offense
The White Sox's struggles have been manifold, but none more glaring than their offensive ineptitude. The team's collective slash line of .220/.278/.339 falls dramatically short of the league average of .244/.312/.400. Their performance at the plate has generated a meager 76 OPS+, confirming they are 24% worse than the league average in terms of getting on base and hitting for power.
Home runs have been notably scarce, with the team tallying only 127 for the entire season. Shockingly, not a single player has reached the 20-home run milestone. They average just 3.07 runs per game—the lowest in the league—significantly trailing the Tampa Bay Rays, who rank 29th with 3.78 runs per game.
Painful Run Differential
The disparity between runs scored and runs allowed underscores the White Sox's struggles. With opponents outscoring them 799-479, their -320 run differential is staggering. Andrew Vaughn has been the rare bright spot, leading the team with 67 RBIs and 54 runs, although his standing at 103rd in OPS among 130 qualified players for the batting title highlights the overall offensive ineffectiveness.
Defensive Failures
If poor hitting wasn’t enough, the White Sox have also been plagued by subpar defense. They rank dead last with -83 total zone runs, a metric used to gauge defensive performance. To put this in perspective, the Miami Marlins, who rank 29th, have -53 total zone runs, while the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners are tied for first at 46.
Struggles on the Road and at Home
The deficiencies have been consistent both at home and on the road. The White Sox's 16-62 road record is the worst in MLB, outpaced only by the Colorado Rockies, who have 24 road wins. Home games haven’t offered any solace; their 20-58 record at Guaranteed Rate Field is, once again, the worst in the league. Prior to this season, the White Sox had never lost more than 55 road games or 53 home games in a single season.
A Season of Streaks
The 2024 campaign has been defined by prolonged slumps. The White Sox have endured losing streaks of 21, 14, and 12 games. Additional streaks include seven games, six games, and two stints of five games, with one still active. Historically, the team has faced 12-game losing streaks or more only three times before, last occurring in 1967.
Since the All-Star break, the White Sox have managed a woeful 9-49 record. This places them on the verge of setting another low, as no team has ever won fewer than 15 games in the second half of a season—a dubious mark held by the Athletics, who went 15-61 in both 1915 and 1943.
The White Sox’s best months were May and June, each ending with a 9-19 record, while July marked their lowest point at 3-22. They achieved winning records against just five teams: the Braves, Rockies, Cardinals, Rays, and Nationals.
Historical Ineptitude
Erick Fedde, who led the team in WAR, hasn't pitched since July 27. As a collective, the White Sox's performance in FanGraphs' WAR stands at -6.8, making them the only team in the league with a negative figure. The Rockies, who rank 29th, have a comparatively positive figure of 4.1.
Hence, the 2024 season has undeniably become the worst in Chicago White Sox history. A somber reflection on a campaign filled with staggering statistics, the upcoming games will determine if they will claim the unfortunate title of having the most losses in modern Major League Baseball history outright.