With the 2024 Major League Baseball season nearing its final week, the Chicago White Sox are on the brink of enduring a historically dreadful campaign. At 36-120, the White Sox have already tied the infamous 1962 New York Mets for 120 losses and still have six games remaining to elevate their ignominious record.
This season, Chicago has struggled mightily at the plate, posting a team slash line of .220/.278/.339, significantly below the league average of .244/.312/.400. The team's offensive shortcomings are further underscored by their paltry 76 OPS+, placing them 24% below the league average in terms of getting on base and hitting for power. Furthermore, with just 127 home runs, the White Sox rank dead last in this critical category, with no player managing to hit more than 20 home runs.
Their offensive woes are exemplified by the fact that the team averages only 3.07 runs per game—the lowest in the league. For comparison, the Tampa Bay Rays, who currently rank 29th in runs per game, average 3.78. The White Sox have been outscored by a staggering 799-479, resulting in a -320 run differential.
Individually, Andrew Vaughn has been a relatively bright spot. He leads the team in both RBIs (67) and runs (54). However, Vaughn still ranks 103rd out of 130 qualifying players in OPS for the batting title, a statistic indicative of the broader struggles that plague the team.
Defensive Disasters
Defensively, the White Sox have been equally dismal. They have collectively amassed -83 total zone runs, the worst mark in the league. For context, the Miami Marlins, who are ranked 29th, have -53 total zone runs, while the Brewers and Mariners are tied for first with 46.
Pitching Problems
On the mound, things haven't been much better. Erick Fedde, the team's leader in WAR, hasn't pitched since July 27, compounding Chicago's difficulties. The team’s overall performance in FanGraphs' version of WAR is an abysmal -6.8, making them the only team in the league with a negative figure. The Colorado Rockies, who rank 29th, have a positive 4.1, further highlighting the White Sox's dire situation.
On the Road and at Home
The White Sox's travel woes are clear from their atrocious 16-62 road record, the worst in the league. The Rockies follow with 24 road wins, illustrating the magnitude of Chicago’s struggles. The White Sox aren't any better at home, with a league-worst record of 20-58. In comparison, the Marlins hold the second-worst home record at 30-51. Notably, before this season, the White Sox had never lost more than 55 road games or 53 home games in a single season.
Losing Streaks
The White Sox have endured multiple prolonged slumps throughout the season, with losing streaks of 21, 14, and 12 straight games. Additional streaks of seven, six, and two instances of five consecutive losses have exacerbated their predicament, with one such streak still ongoing. Historical context adds salt to the wound; before this season, the team had only experienced losing streaks of 12 games or more three times in their history—in 1924, 1927, and 1967.
Post All-Star Break Woes
Since the All-Star break, the White Sox are 9-49, a record that flirts with a dubious historical mark. No team has ever won fewer than 15 games in a full second half, a record currently held by the A's, who went 15-61 in both 1915 and 1943.
Bright Spots
Though scarce, there have been a few glimmers of success. The White Sox managed winning records against five teams: the Braves (2-1), Rockies (2-1), Cardinals (2-1), Rays (4-2), and Nationals (2-1). However, against their AL Central rivals, Chicago is a dismal 12-41.
With a horrendous season nearly in the books, the 2024 campaign will go down as the worst in Chicago White Sox history and one of the darkest chapters in the annals of Major League Baseball.