Editor’s word: It is a Bizarre and Wild brief. To learn this week’s full Bizarre and Wild column, go right here.
For weeks now, months to be trustworthy, we’ve been spending method an excessive amount of helpful time making all-important comparisons between the 2024 White Sox and Casey Stengel’s legendarily hapless 1962 Mets. However now we all know: That was truly the flawed comp.
These White Sox (present report: 33-114) would want a miracle to out-win these ’62 Mets (40-120). So it’s time to do one thing I by no means thought would occur: It’s time to show our consideration to these much more legendary 1899 Cleveland Spiders (engaging remaining report: 20-134).
I got here to that mind-blowing realization Thursday morning, when the truth of this nutty little quantity hit residence:
81 Video games below .500!!!
As a longtime chronicler of the whole lot Bizarre and Wild, I’ve seen a number of stuff. However I believed to myself as I stared on the standings: Have I ever seen THAT? Have I ever seen any workforce that fell 81 freaking video games below .500?
Right here’s the reality: Nope. I. Have. Not. And neither have you ever, until you’re a spritely 108 years previous. And even in case you are certainly 108 years previous, your reminiscence of earlier 81-under-.500 historical past could be a bit of hazy. So permit me to fill you in.
The ’62 Mets? Sorry. By no means obtained to 81 below.
The 2003 Tigers? Sorry. They by no means made it both.
Each of these groups obtained to 80 below. But it surely takes a really particular group to sink beneath 80 video games below the ocean. So let’s salute these White Sox as a result of they’re a type of extraordinary groups that took a flawed flip and simply saved going.
And who’re these extraordinary groups? Right here they arrive — the one groups in American League/Nationwide League/Nineteenth-century American Affiliation historical past that ever obtained to 81 below or worse (in chronological order):
Whitey Witt’s 1916 A’s — Fell to 81 below at 33-114, identical to these White Sox, besides it wasn’t till Sept. 27 and so they had solely six video games left within the season … however they by some means gained three of them! (Last report: 36-117.)
Harry Colliflower’s 1899 Spiders — There’s a cause the Spiders are the poster boys for single-season futility, you understand. They plummeted to 81 below on Aug. 31 (at 19-100). They nonetheless had 35 video games to play … and so they misplaced 34 of them! (Last report: 20-134.)
Kirtley Baker’s 1890 Alleghenys — As soon as upon a time, earlier than the Spiders, these guys had been the usual for Nineteenth-century ineptitude. They descended to 81 below on Sept. 16 (at 21-102). They’d 14 video games remaining … and gained two! (Last report: 23-113, plus two ties.)
Toad Ramsey’s 1889 Colonels — The worst workforce within the American Affiliation’s wonderful historical past, the Colonels tumbled to 81 below at 26-107. Thankfully, it was Oct. 8, so that they had solely 5 video games left … and gained one! (Last report: 27-111.)
And that’s the entire 81-Below Membership. However in the event you had been paying consideration (in case we spring an end-of-season 2024 White Sox quiz on you), you may need observed one thing. Solely as soon as, in almost a century and a half of major-league historical past, had any workforce woke up this early in September and located itself 81 video games below .500 or worse. And it was … these 1899 Spiders, due to course it was!
But now the Spiders have firm, in these 2024 White Sox? What a time to be alive.
GO DEEPER
White Sox would possibly break report for losses. How ought to the 1962 Mets really feel about it?
Wednesday’s loss to the Guardians dropped the White Sox to 1-27 of their previous 28 video games at residence. (Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn Photos)
However in the meantime, in different vital White Sox information …
They will’t go residence once more! Because the second recreation of their July 10 doubleheader with Minnesota, the White Sox are 1-27 once they play baseball of their residence park. One and 27! In response to Baseball Reference, just one different workforce within the fashionable period has ever had a 1-27 stretch at residence (or worse). And it was these 1916 A’s (additionally 1-27, in a messy 28-game span in July and August).
So which means, simply since that recreation towards the Twins on July 10, 9 groups have extra wins at Assured Charge Area than the workforce that performs half its season on that area. There can be extra groups, after all, however solely 9 have been allowed to play there by the schedule-makers of America.
Second to none! This appears not possible, however the White Sox at the moment are 6-43 within the second half. Six and 43! Does this appear unhealthy? How about traditionally unhealthy. Because the invention of All-Star breaks, the fewest video games any workforce has gained within the second half of a non-strike season is 15, by Orie Arntzen’s 1943 A’s (15-61). I’m beginning to assume the White Sox aren’t going to catch them.
Late starters! In a associated improvement, White Sox starters at the moment are 2-30 within the second half. Two and 30! The report for the worst second-half profitable share by any rotation is .167 (7-35), by Paolo Espino’s 2022 Nationals. I’m beginning to assume the White Sox may not catch that group, both.
Nobody will prevent! On these sporadic events when the White Sox take a lead, they’ve been identified to name on their bullpen to guard it. Right here’s how that’s gone:
After they deliver of their relievers in save conditions, their bullpen’s report is now 3-17. Three and 17! Plus a 7.79 ERA, 31 blown saves and (by some means) extra residence runs allowed (26) than saves transformed (18).
I rumbled via the Baseball Reference recordsdata for method too lengthy. What number of different groups may I discover, for the reason that daybreak of the trendy save rule in 1969, with extra gopherballs than saves in these conditions? That will be none!
I may maintain going right here for hours. However do you know …
• This White Sox workforce hasn’t began a pitcher with a profitable report in over a month? Not even some opener who was 1-0. It’s 36 video games in a row now, the fourth-longest streak in franchise historical past.
• The White Sox have now misplaced their first recreation of each month – April, Could, June, July, August and September? Can’t beat that type of consistency.
• It’s Sept. 13 … and the White Sox have gained 33 video games! when the Guardians gained their thirty third recreation? How about Could 22! That’s three and a half freaking months (and 111 days) in the past!
• And at last, is it too late to want a cheerful a hundred and fifth birthday to Loyola of Chicago icon Sister Jean? As a buddy of mine jogged my memory on Sister Jean’s birthday final month, she’s been gracing our planet for greater than a century now. And he or she has seen the White Sox win a postseason collection in precisely a type of 105 years (2005, clearly). I’m beginning to assume the possibilities of her seeing one other collection win this October aren’t good.
GO DEEPER
Bizarre & Wild MLB highlights of the month: Sport of the 12 months, a first-inning first, and extra
GO DEEPER
Loyalty, historical past and $5 beers: Why followers nonetheless come out to see the Chicago White Sox
GO DEEPER
White Sox watch: Rally falls brief in fifteenth consecutive residence loss
(High photograph of Luis Robert Jr.: Matt Krohn / Related Press)
