The White Sox are currently enduring a historic 21-game losing streak and are on pace to become the worst team in MLB history. What happened? Why are they performing so poorly? In this article, we’ll explore the factors contributing to the White Sox’s struggles this season.
Offseason
The White Sox began free agency like any other team. Their biggest offseason move was trading Dylan Cease for five prospects. They also signed Kevin Pillar, though he’s no longer with the team, having been traded later in the season. Shortly after, the Sox called up Korey Lee, who has since become a starting player. Unfortunately, starting pitcher Shane Drohan suffered an injury, further complicating their roster.
Injuries
Injuries have undoubtedly derailed the White Sox’s season. Luis Robert was sidelined for 6-8 weeks starting on April 6, followed by Yoan Moncada’s injury on April 10, which kept him out for 3-6 months. Eloy Jiménez was placed on the 10-day IL (Injured List) for a left abductor strain, and upon his return, he pulled his calf, landing him on the 10-day IL again. Mike Clevinger suffered a neck injury and is out for the season. Several others, including Drew Thorpe, Jesse Scholtens, Dominic Leone, and Max Stassi, have also been sidelined for the season, further adding to the team’s struggles.
Season
The season has been a disaster so far. When March and April combine for just six wins, it’s hard for fans to maintain high expectations. The team was performing at a level consistent with their talent, and having your best hitter batting just .248 doesn’t help matters. May and June were the White Sox’s most successful months, with nine wins each. By the end of June, the team hit their best form of the season. However, after starting July with three wins, the White Sox then had a 21-game losing streak from July 10 to August 5, tying the American League record set in 1988. The MLB record stands at 23 games. August saw only four wins, barely an improvement over July. By September 20, the team had managed just five wins for the month.
The Problem
Only 9 games remain. The White Sox only need to lose five more games to officially become the worst team in MLB history. Unfortunately, this seems more than possible. The combination of multiple 10+ game losing streaks, a bad roster, selling off key talent at the trade deadline, and an inability to hold leads late in games has been their downfall. All of the closing pitchers have an ERA of 4.25 or higher, which is a major reason they can’t win games. At one point, the Sox were 17-52, but they could have been 52-17 if they hadn’t blown leads in the final two innings. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality—they’re just bad, very bad, and there’s little hope of turning things around in the next few years.
The Fix
The White Sox will need time to fix their team. First, they need to draft and develop prospects in the minors who can eventually play at a high level in the majors. The sad part is this takes time, and due to anti-tanking rules, the White Sox are unlikely to get a top 10 pick, almost guaranteeing the 11th spot. They also need to invest in young stars of the league and be active in the trade market. Adding veterans could also be a good idea because their experience can help manage a locker room full of young players.
Conclusion
The White Sox of 2024 are likely to become the worst team of all time. It is a sad reality that many fans have to live through this. As a fan myself, I wish they were much better because it would make watching or attending games far more enjoyable. Tickets are very cheap, but nobody is showing up to the games. All we can say for sure is that they is that the 2024 White Sox have been nothing short of a disaster.
All stats were updated September 17, 2024
Works Cited:
- Chicago White Sox News, Scores, Status, Schedule – MLB. (2024). CBS Sports. Retrieved September 16, 2024, from https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/CHW/chicago-white-sox/
