Are The White Sox Really This Bad?
You may have heard someone “Are they that bad?” In the case of the 2024 Chicago White Sox, when you look at the simple numbers in wins and losses. Yes, they are this bad. We will look at some history Chicago is on the cusp of setting, some series history with the Oakland A’s, and what is on the horizon if the current bloodletting continues.
Streaking In A Horrible Way
There is no positive spin on a 21-game losing streak. The White Sox have lost 24 of their last 25 games and 27 of their last 30 as they embarked on their second game against the A’s. In their 5-1 loss, in Oakland, on Monday night, the White Sox would be limited to just 4 hits. With this, four pitchers combined for a season-high nine walks. With the loss, Chicago is now 10-48 on the road and 6-30 in series-opening games this season.
The run production has been an issue all season as the White Sox have scored three runs or less in 18 of the 21 games in this streak. To make matters worse, the Sox have already made history as they are the first team in MLB history to lose its first 17-plus games of the second half of the season. The record, of 0-13, set by the Boston Braves, in 1935, has been broken, and looks as if the record could grow longer.
With this streak, Chicago has joined the 1911 Boston Rustlers, 1935 Boston Braves, and 2021 Boston Orioles for the second-longest streak in MLB history. In these games, Chicago has been outscored 136-49. This includes a modern era, since 1901, to record multiple 14-plus games losing streaks in a single season. Chicago has been swept in six straight series: vs Pittsburgh{3 games}, at Kansas City{3 games}, at Texas{4 games}, vs Seattle{3 games}, vs Kansas City{3 games}, and Minnesota{3 games}.
When asked about the streak, manager, Pedro Grifol, stated “Everybody knows what it is, it’s 21 in a row — it sucks, it’s not fun, it’s painful, it hurts.”. We agree coach, it does “suck” and it is “painful”. Grifol would later say “You name it. However, you want to describe it. It’s not for a lack of effort. Nobody wants to come out here and lose. We’ve just got to put a good game together and put this behind us.” when asked about how to stop the bleeding of losing games. Chicago is attempting to avoid joining the 1916 Philadephia A’s, who finished 25-90-1, as the only teams in MLB history to lose 89-plus times in the first 116 games of the seas
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History Vs Oakland
If we are talking 2024, the A’s won the opening game of this series, 5-1, on Monday as mentioned above. All-time the White Sox trail, 302-327, and are 12-10 since the 2021 season. In Oakland, at Oakland Coliseum, Chicago is also behind the A’s144-173.
In what will likely be the last series in Oakland as the team will move to Sacramento for two seasons before landing in Vegas beginning in the 2028 season.Last season, oakland won the series, 4-3, while outsourcing Chicago 44-39. Many will also remember the A’’s defeated the White Sox in the 2020 AL Wild Card Series.
We mentioned the last series so we wanted to look at some historic players and stats in games vs Oakland. We start with the great Frank Thomas who leads in multiple categories. Thomas leads all Sox with 16 home runs, a .304 average, 45 runs, and 56 RBIs against the A’s. Thomas, along with Harold Baines, leads the Sox, with 77, in hits. Baines also leads, with 16, in doubles.
Former player and manager, Ozzie Guillen, leads in games played with 74. On the mound, Wilbur Wood leads, with 6, in wins as well as appearances, with 24,as well as innings pitched, with 109 ⅓ versus Oakland. Mark Buehrle leads in starts with 13 while Jack McDowell leads in strikeouts with 60.
Can They Make History?
In most cases when this question is asked its in a positive manner. In this case it is not as Chicago is on the cusp of greatness in the worst way! With the current series against Oakland running through Wednesday, August 7th, we could see the record tied with two additional losses. Following this series, Chicago will travel to Wrigley Field where the Cubs could set the record with a win over the White Sox. What a way to continue a horrendous season for the White Sox.
Does Chicago make history? Based on the above numbers plus their trends since July 10th, we think so.
