Editor’s be aware: This can be a Bizarre and Wild brief. To learn this week’s full Bizarre and Wild column, go right here.
For weeks now, months to be sincere, we’ve been spending manner an excessive amount of useful 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 really the unsuitable comp.
These White Sox (present document: 33-114) would wish 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 closing document: 20-134).
I got here to that mind-blowing realization Thursday morning, when the truth of this nutty little quantity hit house:
81 Video games beneath .500!!!
As a longtime chronicler of the whole lot Bizarre and Wild, I’ve seen a whole lot of stuff. However I assumed to myself as I stared on the standings: Have I ever seen THAT? Have I ever seen any crew that fell 81 freaking video games beneath .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 may be a bit of hazy. So permit me to fill you in.
The ’62 Mets? Sorry. By no means obtained to 81 beneath.
The 2003 Tigers? Sorry. They by no means made it both.
Each of these groups obtained to 80 beneath. But it surely takes a very particular group to sink under 80 video games beneath the ocean. So let’s salute these White Sox as a result of they’re a type of extraordinary groups that took a unsuitable 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 beneath or worse (in chronological order):
Whitey Witt’s 1916 A’s — Fell to 81 beneath 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 one way or the other gained three of them! (Closing document: 36-117.)
Harry Colliflower’s 1899 Spiders — There’s a purpose the Spiders are the poster boys for single-season futility, you understand. They plummeted to 81 beneath on Aug. 31 (at 19-100). They nonetheless had 35 video games to play … and so they misplaced 34 of them! (Closing document: 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 beneath on Sept. 16 (at 21-102). That they had 14 video games remaining … and gained two! (Closing document: 23-113, plus two ties.)
Toad Ramsey’s 1889 Colonels — The worst crew within the American Affiliation’s superb historical past, the Colonels tumbled to 81 beneath at 26-107. Fortuitously, it was Oct. 8, so that they had solely 5 video games left … and gained one! (Closing document: 27-111.)
And that’s the entire 81-Below Membership. However for those who had been paying consideration (in case we spring an end-of-season 2024 White Sox quiz on you), you might need observed one thing. Solely as soon as, in practically a century and a half of major-league historical past, had any crew woke up this early in September and located itself 81 video games beneath .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 may break document 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 house. (Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn Pictures)
However in the meantime, in different essential White Sox information …
They’ll’t go house 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 house park. One and 27! In response to Baseball Reference, just one different crew within the trendy period has ever had a 1-27 stretch at house (or worse). And it was these 1916 A’s (additionally 1-27, in a messy 28-game span in July and August).
So meaning, simply since that recreation towards the Twins on July 10, 9 groups have extra wins at Assured Price Area than the crew that performs half its season on that subject. There could 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 unimaginable, however the White Sox at the moment are 6-43 within the second half. Six and 43! Does this appear dangerous? How about traditionally dangerous. Because the invention of All-Star breaks, the fewest video games any crew 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 suppose 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 document for the worst second-half successful share by any rotation is .167 (7-35), by Paolo Espino’s 2022 Nationals. I’m beginning to suppose 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 recognized to name on their bullpen to guard it. Right here’s how that’s gone:
After they carry of their relievers in save conditions, their bullpen’s document is now 3-17. Three and 17! Plus a 7.79 ERA, 31 blown saves and (one way or the other) extra house runs allowed (26) than saves transformed (18).
I rumbled by way of the Baseball Reference information for manner too lengthy. What number of different groups might I discover, for the reason that daybreak of the fashionable save rule in 1969, with extra gopherballs than saves in these conditions? That may be none!
I might maintain going right here for hours. However do you know …
• This White Sox crew hasn’t began a pitcher with a successful document 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 form of consistency.
• It’s Sept. 13 … and the White Sox have gained 33 video games! You understand 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 eventually, is it too late to want a contented one 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 she or he has seen the White Sox win a postseason collection in precisely a type of 105 years (2005, clearly). I’m beginning to suppose the possibilities of her seeing one other collection win this October aren’t good.
GO DEEPER
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GO DEEPER
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GO DEEPER
White Sox watch: Rally falls brief in fifteenth consecutive house loss
(High picture of Luis Robert Jr.: Matt Krohn / Related Press)
