Chris Getz With only 19 games remaining in the 2024 season, the Chicago White Sox are on track to finish with the worst record in Major League Baseball history. The team’s current performance is so abysmal that even a 10-9 finish would only slightly delay the inevitable record-setting outcome.
Since the All-Star break, the White Sox have posted a dismal 6-41 record and have managed only nine victories since June. This level of underperformance was anticipated by many experts who predicted the team would be among the league’s worst, though few expected it to be this severe.
Despite numerous changes to the roster since Opening Day, the team’s performance has been even worse than most fans had feared. General Manager Chris Getz, who is responsible for constructing the current roster, made his thoughts known before Monday night’s game. His comments, however, exhibited the same tone-deafness that has characterized the organization’s responses to the ongoing crisis.
In Monday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, the White Sox struggled mightily. They lost the series opener and were held hitless for 6.2 innings by rookie pitcher Joey Cantillo, who entered the game with a 7.71 ERA. Andrew Benintendi broke up Cantillo’s bid for a perfect game with a single. Despite the loss, the White Sox have managed a .500 record (5-5) against the Guardians this season. They have not won consecutive games since their home series against the Colorado Rockies at the end of June. The White Sox still have a chance to win the season series if they secure victories in the remaining two games, with Jonathan Cannon and Davis Martin scheduled to pitch.
On a rare positive note, rookie third baseman Bryan Ramos hit his first career home run in the eighth inning, a two-run shot that narrowed the deficit.
Internally, the White Sox have been undergoing significant changes. They recently dismissed longtime special assistant Marco Paddy, who was in charge of international scouting, along with several other scouts, including veteran Billy Scherer. Scherer, a key figure in scouting, had been involved in World Series wins with the Detroit Tigers in 1984 and the Florida Marlins in 1997, and later with the White Sox in 2005.
In roster moves, the White Sox optioned right-hander Nick Nastrini to Triple-A Charlotte, concluding his fourth stint with the major league team. Nastrini’s performance had been inconsistent, with an impressive outing against the Texas Rangers followed by struggles in his next appearance against the Baltimore Orioles. Sean Burke, the White Sox’s 2021 third-round draft pick, will replace Nastrini on the roster. Burke, who has a 4.62 ERA with the Charlotte Knights, will make his MLB debut in relief.
Lastly, Touki Toussaint cleared waivers and returned to the White Sox, who assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte. Toussaint had been designated for assignment earlier in the month to make room for reliever Matt Foster.
With the season winding down, it’s clear that the White Sox are not just facing the possibility of setting a new record for losses; they’re set to break it significantly. As they near the end of this painful season, fans will be looking for signs of development from their younger players and hoping for a brighter future.