It’s 17 in a row — and counting — as the Royals dub the White Sox losers, 10-3
But, hey, at least the bullpen didn’t blow this one
The 2024 White Sox are on the verge of immortality now, at the very edge of showing up in the place where their name will remain forever.
Which is to say: Wikipedia.
That’s because Wikipedia has a piece on longest major league losing streaks (of course it does) that even includes the 19th Century. But to get included you have to make it to the many-way tie for 17th place, which requires losing 18 in a row, something the Sox have a great crack at Friday night in Minnesota, when the unfortunate Davis Martin is scheduled to make his first MLB start since having TJS last spring.
Meanwhile, as for today’s game, it was a mere touchdown difference. And it was even close for a while.
The Royals went on top 3-0 against Drew Thorpe with a run in the first and a two-run homer by Freddy Fermin in the second, one of his four hits on the day. But then the Sox got all three back off Brady Singer in the bottom of the second on four hits, the big one a two-run double by Andrew Benintendi (yes, that Andrew Benintendi).
So, 3-3 after two.
Neither starter had much swing-and-miss — six each — but Singer had a lot more swing-and-barely-hit.
Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the Royals about the rule to not score after the second, so while the Sox from that point on only had two more hits and no walks or other baserunners off of Singer and two relievers, KC just kept piling it on, scoring three more times against Thorpe before he left after five, and four in the ninth off Sammy Peralta, including a two-run Vinnie Pasquantino dinger and a double badly misplayed by Miguel Vargas, who was in left today.
Still, give Sox pitchers credit — they held Bobby Witt, Jr. to four times on base and three runs scored, and Touki Toussaint (yes! Touki’s back!) even picked Witt off first.
As for new guys, besides the misplay, Vargas was 0-for-4, to make it 0-for-8 with three K’s since coming from LA (we won’t mention that Tommy Pham, who went to St. Louis as part of the three-way trade that brought Vargas to Chicago, had two homers today, to go with the grand slam he hit in his first Cardinals game last night). Nick Senzel had an error and a nice play to balance out his defense, and even hit a double.
Going the other way, Paul DeJong had a single and a walk and scored a run in his first game for the Royals, and made two outstanding barehanded charging plays at third — not bad for a guy who stunk at his natural position of shortstop for the Sox this year and got even worse with the glove when moved to the hot corner for a few games.
The Sox are now 27-84, with tomorrow a rare day without a loss since they don’t play.
Futility Watch
White Sox 2024 Record 27-84, worst 111-game start in White Sox history (9 games worse than the next-worst, 1932 White Sox), tied for third-worst start all-time, and a season-worst 57 games under .500
White Sox 2024 Run Differential -229, tied for 13th-worst 111-game start in MLB history and a White Sox season-worst
White Sox 2024 Season Record Pace 39-123 (.241)
Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2003 Tigers, 43-119) 4 games worse
Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120) 2 games worse
Race to the Most White Sox Losses (1970, 106) 17 games worse
Race to the Worst White Sox Record (1932, 52-109-1*) 13 1⁄2 games worse
Race to the Worst American League Record (1916 A’s, 38-124*) 2 games better
*record adjusted to a 162-game season