As the Chicago White Sox inch closer to the end of a dismal season, one cannot help but draw comparisons to the infamous 1962 New York Mets, a team that set the Major League Baseball record with 120 losses. Now, with the White Sox painfully tied with that record, fans and analysts alike are dissecting a season riddled with underperformance, missed opportunities, and historical lows.
A Season of Futility
The 2023 White Sox have offered no justification for their abysmal performance, unlike the 1962 Mets, who were an expansion team finding their footing. This current roster was expected to be more competitive, making their record all the more disheartening for a once hopeful fanbase. And yet, the reality is stark: the White Sox are staring down the barrel of a historically catastrophic season.
Significantly, last year's shift in the MLB schedule format reduced the number of intra-division games, forcing every team to face each squad from the opposite league annually. While this change was intended to foster more exciting interleague play, it hasn't worked in Chicago's favor. The White Sox have struggled immensely outside and within their division, painting a grim picture of a franchise in desperate need of a strategic overhaul.
Division Rivals Take Advantage
Just look at the Cleveland Guardians, who managed a 5-5 split with the White Sox before sweeping them in their most recent series. The Guardians finished the season with an 8-5 record against the White Sox, a tally that helped them clinch the AL Central title. Similarly, the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals posted staggering 12-1 records against Chicago, using these head-to-head victories as a springboard for their wild-card pursuits.
The Tigers, for example, capitalized on their dominance over the White Sox to stay ahead of the Mariners and Red Sox in the wild-card race. Kansas City and Minnesota also benefited, with the Royals and Twins currently in the fifth and seventh seeds in the wild-card race, respectively. Such performances against Chicago have been crucial for their postseason ambitions.
Cross-League Struggles
Meanwhile, every National League team except the Chicago Cubs played a three-game series against the White Sox this year. The Cubs faced the White Sox in a four-game series and swept them, further underscoring the latter's struggles. In contrast, Chicago did garner some victories, winning series against the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Washington Nationals. However, these wins were fleeting bright spots in an otherwise bleak season.
For instance, in a rain-affected series, the White Sox managed to go 1-2 against the Braves, a team expected to be one of the stronger opponents. But such isolated successes were far too rare to make any meaningful impact on their overall record. As the season draws to a close, the White Sox are set to face the Tigers once again in a three-game series at Comerica Park. Given Detroit’s 9-1 record against them this season, hopes for a strong finish are slim.
Final Stretch and Future Outlook
While the Twins are gearing up to face the Baltimore Orioles and the Royals will play against the Braves in their final regular-season series, the White Sox find themselves at the end of a disappointing journey. The reality of possibly claiming the undesirable record of most losses in a season looms large. Unlike the 1962 Mets, who had the excuse of being an expansion team, the White Sox's woes point to deeper systemic issues that require attention.
With the season close to its end, the White Sox are left with no meaningful excuses for their poor performance. It has become glaringly evident that significant changes need to be made to alter the trajectory of the franchise. As they look to rebuild and reimagine their strategy, the primary goal will be to avoid another season as harrowing as this one.