As the Chicago White Sox stagger toward the finale of their 2023 season, they find themselves on the verge of an ignominious milestone. They are on the brink of setting a franchise record for losses in a season, currently tied with the infamous 1962 New York Mets at 120 losses. Unlike the Mets, the White Sox can hardly claim the growing pains of an expansion team, making their collapse even more disheartening for the fanbase.
This season's struggles are partly attributed to last year's changes in the MLB schedule format, which reduced division games and ensured every team now plays every team from the other league annually. The revised schedule has done no favors for the White Sox, exposing them to the strength and depth of competition beyond their division. Despite this, the spotlight remains firmly on their internal failings.
The Cleveland Guardians have capitalized on their encounters with the dwindling White Sox, managing a 5-5 split before sweeping them in their most recent series. This sweep not only underlined the White Sox’s troubles but also helped the Guardians finish their series 8-5 against Chicago and clinch the AL Central title. Equally glaring are the records of the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals against the White Sox; both teams boast a 12-1 dominance over the embattled franchise.
The ramifications of Chicago’s poor performance have rippled throughout the league, significantly impacting the wild-card race. With the Royals and Twins currently sitting in the No. 5 and 7 seeds, respectively, their success against the White Sox has provided critical support for their postseason ambitions. The Tigers, armed with a solid 9-1 record against the White Sox, are ahead of the Mariners and Red Sox in the wild-card race, thanks to head-to-head series victories.
Highlighting the widespread nature of the White Sox's woes, every National League team, except the Chicago Cubs, played a three-game series against them this year. The Cubs, in a rare reprieve from the norm, played a four-game series, sweeping the White Sox comprehensively. This city showdown further underscored the White Sox's struggles, as they failed to muster any resilience against their cross-town rivals.
It's not that the White Sox haven't shown any signs of life at all. They managed to secure series victories against the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Washington Nationals. These brief moments of competence were isolated instances in an otherwise bleak campaign. Even the Braves, who have been formidable this season, went 1-2 against the White Sox in a series marred by rain disruptions.
As the season limps to a close, the Tigers stand poised to add to the White Sox’s misery in a three-game series at Comerica Park this weekend. Given the Tigers' 9-1 record against the White Sox this year, expectations for a competitive match-up are minimal. Meanwhile, the Twins are set to face the Baltimore Orioles in their final regular-season series, and the Royals will clash with the Braves.
The dire performance of the White Sox this season leaves little room for excuses. They're not an expansion team finding their footing, nor have they faced an unusually brutal schedule, given the league-wide changes. Their failures are systemic and glaringly apparent, necessitating a comprehensive rebuild and strategic overhaul to pull themselves out of this quagmire.
As Chicago's season draws to an end, the White Sox organization finds itself at a critical juncture. Reflecting on a year marred by underperformance, they must now look to the future with a focus on rebuilding. The fervent hope among their supporters is that this nadir will catalyze the vital changes needed to restore the White Sox to competitive relevance.