Chicago White Sox spin losses into laughs with witty posts
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Anthony Gharib, ESPN
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.
Narrator: the White Sox did not win 4 in a row 😑
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 18, 2024
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.
FINAL: the other team scored more runs than us
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 18, 2024
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.
FINAL: the number of runs we scored was not greater than the number of runs they scored
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 21, 2024
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.
FINAL: can be found on the MLB app
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 22, 2024
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.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 22, 2024
LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo had surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand and will miss the start of the regular season.
Manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Baddoo had more tests done after some continued wrist soreness since the start of spring training. Those tests revealed the hamate hook fracture in his right hand that was surgically repaired Thursday.
Baddoo, 26, who has been with the Tigers since 2021, is at spring training as a non-roster player. He was designated for assignment in December after Detroit signed veteran right-hander Alex Cobb to a $15 million, one-year contract. Baddoo cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.
Cobb is expected to miss the start of the season after an injection to treat hip inflammation that developed as the right-hander was throwing at the start of camp. He has had hip surgery twice.
Baddoo hit .137 with two homers and five RBIs in 31 games last season. The left-hander has a .226 career average with 28 homers and 103 RBI in 340 games.
After the Tigers acquired him from Minnesota in the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in December 2020, Baddoo hit .259 with 13 homers, 55 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a .330 on-base percentage in 124 games as a rookie in 2021. Those are all career bests.
Baddoo went into camp in a crowded outfield. The six outfielders on Detroit’s 40-man roster include three other left-handed hitters (Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows) and switch-hitter Wenceel Pérez. The other outfielders are right-handers Matt Vierling and Justyn-Henry Malloy.
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