There has been no shortage of ways to illustrate the Chicago White Sox are having the horror season of all horror seasons, but a new one still arrived Saturday.
The White Sox lost 5-3 to the New York Mets, tying a franchise record with their 106th defeat of the season. With an entire month (25 games) left in the regular season to play. The loss was also their ninth straight, in a season that already seen separate losing streaks of 21 and 14 games.
If they lose on Sunday, they will own the three longest streaks in MLB this season (the Pittsburgh Pirates are currently third with 10 straight losses earlier this month).
Every loss is unique, though. This one saw the Mets take a 2-0 lead in the first inning off solo homers by Jesse Winker and Pete Alonso. Chicago went on to enter the ninth inning down 5-2, but got the tying run to the plate with a double from Miguel Vargas and single by Jacob Amaya.
Vargas scored on a fielder’s choice from Corey Julks, but that was all the White Sox would get.
The White Sox are standing on the precipice of a place in MLB history they will never live down. They were eliminated from playoff contention, on Aug. 17, making them the earliest team ever. They are on pace for a record of 37-125, which would shatter the record for most losses in the season. They are already receiving pity from the current owners of that record, the 40-120 1962 Mets.
It really has been that bad, and now they have a full month to make it worse. At this point, they should be grateful 1899 Cleveland Spiders and their 20-134 record exists, and lament that the modern era in MLB history began in 1900.