As we reflect on the 2024 Chicago White Sox season, it’s difficult to find the right words to encapsulate the enormity of the failure we’ve witnessed. How would you characterize a team that has set a record for single-season losses and struggled through an astonishing number of games with poor performances? With three separate losing streaks of 21, 14, and 12 games, alongside a record-breaking 121st loss, it’s undeniable that this season will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Currently, the team stands at a bleak 39-121, with just two games left to play, marking them with the worst win percentage since the modern era began in 1901.

What’s particularly frustrating this season goes beyond the sheer number of losses; it’s the overwhelming disappointment that hangs over the team and its management. The media’s relationship with the White Sox has been strained, with TV broadcasters openly criticizing the front office and team performance. In a striking move, even the team’s own social media accounts began to downplay their results, humorously directing fans to check scores on the MLB app instead of posting updates themselves. One post even stated, “FINAL: the number of runs we scored was not greater than the number of runs they scored.”

Following Friday’s record-setting loss, the team’s social media presence adopted a darkly humorous tone, which only highlights the desperation of the situation. What does this reveal about the team’s image when even their promotional efforts lack enthusiasm? It seems that no one—from coaches to fans—can deny that the circumstances are grim.

Many fans are left wondering: how did it come to this? Just three seasons ago, the White Sox were contenders with one of baseball’s youngest rosters. Now, they’ve become a cautionary tale about the consequences of a mismanaged front office colliding with an unfortunate string of bad luck. Even teams in the midst of a rebuild don’t typically experience the level of failure we’ve seen from the White Sox this year.

While the team’s pitching has underperformed, it remains close to the league average. Interestingly, despite the overarching dysfunction, some individual pitchers, like Garrett Crochet, have shown flashes of effectiveness. However, the crux of the issue lies with the position players. Only one batter, shortstop Paul DeJong—who was traded midseason to the Kansas City Royals—has posted a win above replacement. Their standout player, Luis Robert Jr., has failed to find consistency, hampered by injuries.

As a unit, the White Sox position players have generated a staggering negative seven wins above replacement, reflecting one of the least efficient hitting and fielding performances in modern baseball history. Watching this team means witnessing a series of blunders—poor throws and perplexing defensive errors. The absence of a robust analytics department, largely due to owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s outdated views on data’s importance in modern baseball, cannot be ignored.

To add to their woes, luck hasn’t been on their side. The White Sox have been on the wrong side of close games, sporting a 4-10 record in extra innings and a staggering 13-29 record in one-run games. Their expected performance indicates they should have secured significantly more wins. While this might come off as a glimmer of hope to some, it feels more like fool’s gold for the squad.

So, what lies ahead for the White Sox? The future is uncertain. For now, the most compelling stories seem to focus on social media interactions rather than on-field accomplishments. What will it take for this team to rise from the ashes of this historic disaster? That remains an open question.