Historic Struggles: White Sox Suffer 121st Loss, Setting Unwanted MLB Record

DETROIT – The Chicago White Sox's disappointing season reached an all-time low on Friday night, as they fell 4-1 to the Detroit Tigers, recording their 121st loss of the season—the most by any team in modern Major League Baseball history.

After a brief improvement with a mini winning streak, the harsh reality of their record-breaking poor performance became undeniable. Even interim manager Grady Sizemore acknowledged the ongoing frustration, stating, “I think it is one of those things where you are not happy, regardless, but I don't know that I would feel any different if we were at 115 or 110. It's still a frustrating year.

In stark contrast, the Tigers celebrated their postseason berth—an achievement they haven’t experienced since 2014. Detroit's victory capped their season total at 39 wins since the All-Star break, a performance matched by Chicago for the entire season.

White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet, who started the game and finished with a no-decision, commented on the team's struggles: “We put ourselves in this position early on. We had a bad April. We just never dug ourselves out of that hole.”

Chicago's season has been marked by unparalleled lows, including a historically long 21-game losing streak and two separate 14-game skids. The team started the 2023 season with a dismal 1-9 record and was already 14.5 games behind the first-place team by May 1, with a staggering minus-84 run differential. By mid-June, they found themselves 13.5 games out of fourth place in the AL Central division.

Outfielder Gavin Sheets reflected on the season's challenges, expressing empathy for his teammates, and remarked on the stark contrast with the Tigers’ success, saying, “To see Detroit celebrating, that was us only four years ago. It’s frustrating. It doesn’t feel good.”

The White Sox's decline has been steep. Following a successful 2021 season, where they recorded 93 wins and clinched the AL Central division title, they have struggled significantly, finishing with a .500 record in 2022 before dramatically plummeting to 101 losses in the previous season. This year, key trades—including starter Erick Fedde and closer Michael Kopech—only intensified their challenges.

Their struggles continued post-All-Star break, with an astounding 17-game losing streak contributing to their dismal record. Sheets voiced the team’s sentiment, acknowledging the shared responsibility to ensure this kind of season does not happen again, saying, “It doesn't sit well with any of us.

As they faced the Tigers, the White Sox matched the 1962 Mets' record for most losses in a season. After winning their last three home games, the team had hoped to avoid claiming the record outright, but that dream faded as the Tigers clinched victory.

Crochet, despite the loss, showcased his talent with an impressive six strikeouts in his final outing of the season. He ended with the highest strikeout rate in baseball at 12.9 per nine innings, though his contributions were overshadowed by the team's overall inadequacies.

Offensively, the White Sox have consistently ranked last in runs scored and own one of the highest ERAs in baseball, leading to the dismissal of former manager Pedro Grifol last month due to poor fundamentals.

In the somber clubhouse post-game, Sheets emphasized the resilience of their young team, stating, “It’s not like guys are looking on to the next phase of their career. Everybody is trying to come together and support each other in this room.”

Sizemore echoed this sentiment, focusing on growth and improvement, while remaining hopeful about the team’s future: “We know we have a lot to improve on, but I think we have the right guys and the right staff in place to get this thing turned around.”

As the White Sox look ahead, the task of rebuilding begins, but for this season, they will forever be remembered for their unwanted place in baseball history.