The Chicago White Sox Are On An Historically Awful Pace
The chief function of the Chicago White Sox 2024 season may be to sell their few decent players to other, more competent organizations.
That might sound harsh and hyperbolic…until you look at where the White Sox are in the standings. And where their record places them in historical context. Entering Saturday afternoon, they're an awe-inspiring 18-53, "good" for a .254 winning percentage. What does a .254 winning percentage look like over a full season? It's a 41-121 record. The most losses in a single season in Major League Baseball history is 120, accomplished by the infamous, expansion 1962 New York Mets.
While .254 wouldn't be the worst winning percentage in the modern era, it would take just a few medium-length losing streaks to put them on pace to reach depths not seen since the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics. During World War I.
And the White Sox have plenty of losing streaks. They started the season on a four-game losing streak. Then lost five in a row. They won a single game, then lost seven more in a row. They didn't win a game after May 21 until June 7, losing 14 consecutive games. They've lost five of their past six, which is only slightly worse than their 71-game winning percentage.
It's an embarrassment.
READ: What's Even The Point Of The Chicago White Sox?
CHICAGO - Starting pitcher Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox commits a throwing error to first base in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 7. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox Season Could Get Much, Much Worse
The stats just keep on coming; incredibly, Chicago is 6-30 on the road this season. They've won just over 16 percent of their road games and lost 84 percent. Even the miserably bad Colorado Rockies have won 29e percent of their road games.
The White Sox have been outscored by an average of 2.2 runs per game, putting them on pace for a negative 356 run differential this season. And it's likely to be much worse than that.
Because Chicago is almost certainly going to sell off its few usable players to competitive teams. Garrett Crochet, one of the best stories of the season after transitioning from the bullpen to the starting rotation, is one of the hottest trade targets of the summer.
READ: Trade Rumors Heating Up Across Major League Baseball
Luis Robert Jr. is also almost certainly on the way out; as an above average player on a favorable contract through 2027, he'd bring back a number of prospects or young major leaguers. Even closer Michael Kopech, if a team like the White Sox can have such a thing, could be dealt.
The entire White Sox offense has been worth -2.3 wins above replacement. Catcher Martin Maldonado has had 110 plate appearances and managed eight total hits. His OPS is .248, which would be a horrifically poor on base percentage. His league and park adjusted offensive production is negative. Where a league average weighted runs created plus is 100, Maldonado's is -31. He's 131 percent worse on offense than league average.
If they're this bad now, how much worse will they be once Crochet, Robert, Kopech and maybe Erick Fedde are playing on different teams? Could they lose 125 games? It sounds impossible, but if there's one thing we know for certain, it's to never underestimate the White Sox' ability to lose baseball games.