As the Major League Baseball [MLB] postseason draws near, it’s time to examine the struggles of Chicago baseball, particularly the South Side’s own White Sox.
Starting the 2024 season, the White Sox had aspirations of bouncing back from their 63-101 record. They faced a series of questions: could new acquisitions and managerial changes spark a turnaround? Would new General Manager [GM] Pedro Grifol, previously a bench coach for the Royals, be the answer to their woes?
However, this season has turned into a tale of despair for White Sox fans. Their season began with a modest split of their opening series against the Houston Astros, but a catastrophic April left them with a 7-20 record. The team’s performance continued to falter throughout the season, and by the All-Star break, their record was a disheartening 28-58.
The White Sox’s struggles are now historic. Not only do they hold one of the worst records in Major League Baseball, but they are also on pace for the worst run differential in baseball history. According to MLB Network, the all-time worst run differential stands at .349, set by the 1932 Boston Red Sox. The White Sox, however, are projected to finish at .361. This statistic highlights a troubling trend: when they win, they do so narrowly, but when they lose, it’s often by large margins.
Offensively, the White Sox have been underwhelming. They lead the American League [AL] with the fewest home runs at just 39, possess the lowest batting average (.214), and have the lowest on-base percentage (.276). On the pitching side, their ERA of 4.72 is the highest in the AL, and they have allowed the most home runs (77).
The White Sox’s woes have been compounded by a series of poor decisions. The hiring of Grifol was met with skepticism, and this season has only reinforced doubts about his capabilities. Additionally, the White Sox made headlines for signing pitcher Mike Clevinger, whose time with the team was marred by off-field controversies that led to his departure.
As the trade deadline approached, the White Sox made moves to offload key veterans, including Eloy Jiménez and Chris Flexen, further depleting their roster. These trades have left the team in an even more precarious position with many fans questioning the future direction of the franchise.
Recent events have only added to the chaos. On Aug. 8, the White Sox announced the dismissal of Pedro Grifol as GM, a decision that underscores the team’s desperation to find a solution. The 2024 White Sox have now tied the American League record for consecutive losses with 21, finally breaking the streak with a win in Oakland on Aug. 6.
The White Sox are on track to potentially finish with 123 losses, surpassing their previous record of 106 losses set in 1970. The chance of setting the all-time record for losses remains a grim possibility with projections suggesting a 41.9% chance of reaching 121 or more losses, a modern era record held by the 1962 New York Mets.
The White Sox’s rapid decline from a competitive team just a few years ago—when they made the postseason in 2020 and won the AL Central in 2021—raises questions about the future. The once-promising core of players, including Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, and Luis Robert Jr., has failed to deliver, and management’s decisions have not alleviated the situation.
Owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s hiring of Tony La Russa and the recent appointment of Chris Getz as GM, from a historically poor farm system, have been widely criticized. The lack of investment in player development and analytics has been cited as a significant factor in the team’s downfall.
As the White Sox continue to struggle, fans and analysts alike are left wondering if this season’s failures are part of a longer-term trend or if there is a path to redemption. For now, the White Sox are stuck in a historic slump with their future hanging in the balance. Chicago baseball enthusiasts are left hoping that brighter days lie ahead, even as the team remains rooted in its current state of hopelessness.
