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To say that the 2024 MLB season has not gone the way of the Chicago White Sox would be an understatement.

With a 36-120 record, Chicago is on the cusp of setting the record for the most losses in an MLB season during the modern-day era — the Cleveland Spiders in 1899 lost more games (134), according to ESPN Research.

The White Sox have lost at least four straight games 14 separate times this season, headlined by a 21-game losing streak that tied the American League record set by the Baltimore Orioles in 1988. Chicago won its next game, however, ensuring that they weren’t alone on the wrong side of history.

A record number of losses can be exhausting for members of the organization across the board. The clubhouse has learned to cope with the season through humor, and the White Sox’s social media team is no different.

In recent weeks, as the losses have continued to pile up, Chicago’s X account has found comedic and creative ways to report its defeats.

Here’s a look at the White Sox’s final score posts — or lack thereof — since last Tuesday.

The narrator provides an update

Chicago had rare momentum heading into a matchup with the Los Angeles Angels last week. The White Sox strung together three wins in a row, tied for their second-longest win streak of the entire season.

That streak didn’t last any longer though. The Angels defeated the White Sox 5-0, scoring in five straight innings.

With their win streak snapped, Chicago opted to focus on what could have been.

Keeping it simple

Two extra-inning defeats on Sept. 18 and 20 prompted a new strategy from the social media admin.

Against the Angels, the White Sox took the lead twice in extra-innings, but surrendered it both times. Los Angeles ended up winning in the thirteenth inning, leading to a simple post from Chicago that went viral.

It was much of the same two days later against the San Diego Padres. Down 2-0, Lenyn Sosa hit a game-tying home run in the top of the ninth inning. However, an inning later Francisco Tatis Jr. hit an RBI double to win the game.

The White Sox went with a similarly brief strategy in reporting their close loss.


Promoting the MLB app

Chicago’s losing ways continued in San Diego. The White Sox suffered their 119th defeat, tying an American League record for the most losses in a season.

The posts from Chicago’s X account dwindled substantially during this game. Typically, it would post highlights or pitching stats. This time around the account only posted the starting lineup then nothing for five hours until the game ended.

Instead of posting the final score, the White Sox directed fans to the MLB app.


Utilizing a popular meme

Chicago tied the 1962 New York Mets with its 120th loss on Sunday, another defeat to San Diego.

The White Sox posted highlights during this game, including home runs from Korey Lee and Miguel Vargas, plus a solid outing from pitcher Sean Burke. But, when the innings came to an end, it was a familiar feeling for the ball club.

The social media team decided on a popular meme of a car taking a sharp exit off the ramp of a freeway. Typically a meme with only one road sign, Chicago’s admin put its own spin on it, adding Chicago-centric details to report the loss.

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SEC outlines discipline for fake injury ‘nonsense’

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SEC outlines discipline for fake injury 'nonsense'

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey sent a memo Friday to league athletic directors and head football coaches outlining punishment if players continue to fake injuries in games.

“As plainly as it can be stated: Stop any and all activity related to faking injuries to create time-outs,” Sankey wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.

He ended the memo by writing: “Play football and stop the feigned injury nonsense.”

Increasingly over the past few years, coaches have repeatedly accused opposing teams and coaches of faking injuries to disrupt the rhythm and flow of offenses, especially those that are up-tempo and rarely huddle. Broadcasters have pointed out several obvious cases this season when players flopped to the ground near the sideline claiming to be injured just as the opposing offense was about to snap the ball.

Each play where a fake injury might have occurred must be submitted to the SEC for review. Steve Shaw, the national coordinator of football officiating, will determine what constitutes a fake injury. According to Sankey’s memo, those guidelines will range from Shaw determining that a feigned injury has occurred, that it is more likely than not that a feigned injury has occurred, that a player attempted to feign an injury or any other general statement from Shaw establishing the probability of a feigned injury.

Sankey wrote that creating injury timeouts, on offense or defense, is “not acceptable and is disrespectful to the game of football.”

Punishments laid out in Sankey’s memo include the following: for the first offense, a head coach receives a public reprimand and a $50,000 fine; for the second offense, another reprimand and a $100,000 fine; for a third offense, another reprimand and the coach will be suspended for his program’s next game.

Any staff member found to be involved in signaling or directing a player to feign an injury will face the same measures, including financial penalties and a suspension. A player cited for feigning an injury also may be subject to a public reprimand.

Sankey told reporters a few weeks ago at the Oklahoma-Texas game that he was concerned about the growing accusations of faking injuries.

“If somebody’s injured, we need to take that seriously,” Sankey said. “But creating the questions — and I mean this all across the country — needs to stop.”

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Sources: Top Michigan CB Johnson out vs. Oregon

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Sources: Top Michigan CB Johnson out vs. Oregon

All-American Michigan cornerback Will Johnson is out against No. 1 Oregon on Saturday, sources confirmed to ESPN, leaving the Wolverines without their top defensive player.

Johnson left the Illinois game on Oct. 19 with a lower-body injury and missed the Michigan State game last week. He’s still recovering from that lower-body injury, and his timeline to return is uncertain.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said this week that Johnson is expected back at some point this season “for sure” but didn’t specify when.

Johnson is considered the top cornerback prospect for the upcoming NFL draft. He has delivered two pick-sixes this year for the Wolverines, returning interceptions 86 yards against Fresno State and 42 yards against USC.

Last season, he snagged four interceptions for the Wolverines and earned defensive MVP honors for the 2023 national championship game.

247 Sports first reported Johnson’s expected absence.

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Baffert’s horses 1-2 in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

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Baffert's horses 1-2 in Breeders' Cup Juvenile

DEL MAR, Calif. — Citizen Bull won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by 1½ lengths and Gaming was second at Del Mar on Friday, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a 1-2 finish and his record sixth career victory in the race for 2-year-olds.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Citizen Bull ran 1¹⁄₁₆ miles in 1:43.07. He paid $33.80 at 15-1 odds.

Citizen Bull earned 30 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, where Baffert will return next year for the first time since 2021. His three-year ban by Churchill Downs ended in July.

Gaming was the 6-1 third choice. Baffert’s other entry, Getaway Car, named for the Taylor Swift song, finished fourth at 25-1 odds.

“It’s exciting when your horses show up,” Baffert said. “I was hoping they’d run 1-2-3.”

It was Baffert’s 19th career Cup win and he broke a tie with D. Wayne Lukas for most Juvenile victories. Jockey Martin Garcia earned his fifth career Cup win.

“He always comes through. He’s a big-time rider,” Baffert said of Garcia. “He told me, ‘I’m going to win it.'”

East Avenue, the 8-5 favorite, stumbled out of the starting gate and nearly went down to his knees. He finished ninth in the 10-horse field. Chancer McPatrick, the 5-2 second choice, lost for the first time in four career starts and was sixth.

Racing resumes Saturday with nine Cup races, highlighted by the $7 million Classic.

In other races:

– Immersive won the $2 million Juvenile Fillies by 4½ lengths, giving trainer Brad Cox at least one Cup win in each of the past seven years. Ridden by Manny Cox, Immersive ran 1¹⁄₁₆ miles in 1:44.36 to remain undefeated. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, she paid $6 to win.

– Lake Victoria overcame a challenging trip to win the $2 million Juvenile Fillies Turf by 1¼ lengths. The 2-year-old filly ran 1 mile in 1:34.28 and paid $3.40 as the 3-5 favorite. Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore earned the win.

– Magnum Force rallied to overtake leader Governor Sam and win the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint by a quarter-length. The 12-1 shot ran five furlongs in 56.36 seconds and paid $27 to win. Irish trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane earned their first Cup victories. Governor Sam, co-owned by Houston Astros free agent Alex Bregman, finished third.

– Henri Matisse won the $1 million Juvenile Turf, with Moore and O’Brien teaming for their second win of the day. Moore won his 16th career Cup race. It was O’Brien’s 20th career Cup win and seventh in the race. Sent off as the 7-2 favorite, Henri Matisse ran 1 mile in 1:34.48. Iron Man Cal was second and Aomori City third. There was a lengthy steward’s inquiry involving New Century, who finished fourth, and Dream On, who was fifth, but there was no change to the order of finish.

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