Chicago White Sox: A Historic Season of Struggles

With just one week left in the 2024 Major League Baseball season, the Chicago White Sox are teetering on the edge of infamy. At 36-120, they have already tied the notorious 1962 New York Mets with 120 losses, and six games remain to set a modern baseball record for futility. The White Sox's dismal performance is underscored by worrying statistics across the board, painting a portrait of a team deeply entrenched in struggle.

Batting has been a significant weak point for the White Sox. The team is collectively hitting .220/.278/.339, figures considerably lower than the league-average slash line of .244/.312/.400. This offensive inadequacy is further highlighted by their 76 OPS+, indicating their performance at the plate is 24% worse than the average team when it comes to getting on base and hitting for power.

The power outage is alarming, with the team ranking dead last in home runs, managing just 127 throughout the season. Not a single player has hit the 20-home run mark, a rare deficiency in today's power-centric game. Consequently, their run production has suffered, averaging only 3.07 runs per game—the lowest in the league. In comparison, the Tampa Bay Rays, who rank 29th, average 3.78 runs per game.

The individual leaderboards provide no solace either. Andrew Vaughn leads the team in both RBIs and runs, with 67 and 54 respectively, but he ranks 103rd out of 130 qualifying players in OPS for the batting title. Such figures illustrate a broader, systemic issue within the squad’s offensive strategy and execution.

Defensively, the White Sox have been the definition of subpar, ranking as the worst team in the league with -83 total zone runs. For context, the Miami Marlins, who are 29th, have -53. The Brewers and Mariners, tied for the best defensive metrics, boast 46 total zone runs. This glaring gap underscores the White Sox's defensive inefficiencies, which have only compounded their woes on the field.

Moreover, the team's run differential of -320 is staggering, having been outscored 799-479 over the season. This metric is a direct consequence of their defensive lapses and offensive anemia, making evident the comprehensive nature of their struggles.

The pitching staff hasn't fared much better. Erick Fedde, who leads the team in WAR, hasn't pitched since July 27, leaving an already beleaguered rotation in even more dire straits. In FanGraphs' version of WAR, the White Sox have collectively posted a disastrous -6.8, making them the only team with a negative figure. The Colorado Rockies, who are 29th, have a significantly better yet still troubling 4.1 WAR.

The team's home and away records further encapsulate their season’s plight. With a 16-62 road record and 20-58 mark at home, both are the worst in the league. The Rockies and Marlins trail behind but by a noticeable margin, with 24 road wins and 30 home wins respectively.

The historical context makes this even more brutal. Before this season, the White Sox had never lost more than 55 road games or 53 home games in a single season. Their current standings make this the worst season in the franchise’s history.

Adding to their ignominy are several long losing streaks: 21, 14, and 12 consecutive losses each, with additional streaks of seven, six, and two stints of five still persisting. Historically, the White Sox had only suffered losing streaks of 12 games or more three times, in 1924, 1927, and 1967.

Since the All-Star break, the numbers are particularly bleak. The White Sox are 9-49, approaching a dubious record set by the A's, who won just 15 games in the second half in both 1915 and 1943. For Chicago, no team has ever won fewer than 15 games in a full second half, making their current trajectory unprecedented.

Their best months, May and June, saw a 9-19 record, while July witnessed a disastrous 3-22 performance. The team managed winning records against just five teams: the Braves, Rockies, Cardinals, Rays, and Nationals, but squandered opportunities within their own AL Central division, going 12-41.

As the season concludes, it’s indisputable that the 2024 campaign has been the worst in Major League Baseball history for the Chicago White Sox. This tumultuous season will be remembered for its historic lows and will serve as a cautionary tale for years to come.