ANOTHER BIG FAT ZERO
Sox are just second MLB team to be shut out six times in its first 16 games
Enough history, already.
It’s not the kind the White Sox want to make.
When they were swept by the Reds over the weekend, the Sox’ 2-13 start gave them the distinction of owning the worst 15-game start in franchise history.
It was the kind of start that moved manager Pedro Grifol to hold a clubhouse meeting before the Sox opened a three-game series against the Royals on Monday. Media waited 45 minutes outside till it was finished.
“It was beneficial, but I’m not going to talk about it,” Grifol said. “It was just something I felt like we needed to get together and discuss.”
It didn’t stop the bleeding that is a five-game losing streak, a 1-8 record at home after the latest loss and shutout, 2-0 to the Royals, and now a 2-14 record.
The Sox and 1907 Brooklyn Superbas are the only teams to be shut out six times in the first 16 games.
“We had four hits, and four hits isn’t going to cut it,” Grifol said.
If you thought Lee Elia’s 1983 Cubs were bad when they started 5-14, regardless of the former manager’s famous profanity-laced dispute of that fact, these Sox are worse. And unlike those Cubs, who would finish 71-91 and win the National League East in 1984, the direction these Sox are headed is a mystery.
Is there more history to be made?
The 1932 Sox, with a 49-102 record and .325 winning percentage, were the worst in club history, followed by the 1948 team that finished 51-101 for a .336 percentage.
Of more recent vintage, the 1970 Sox were 56-106, the third-worst team in franchise history with a .346 winning percentage; last season’s team, owning the distinction as the most disappointing in recent memory considering its seemingly reachable postseason expectation, was 61-101, the sixth-worst at .377. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf called it “the worst year I’ve ever suffered through; it’s been a horrible experience” after he fired general manager Rick Hahn and vice president Ken Williams.
The 2018 team under Rick Renteria was 62-100, seventh-worst at .383, but that was year two of a rebuild thought to be oozing promise and known to be promising “multiple championships” from Hahn. Turns out, a wild-card berth was claimed in a season shortened by COVID in 2020, a division was won (with an exit in round one of the playoffs) in 2021 and nothing more.
Also among the franchise’s worst in recent history: the 2013 team finished 63-99, ninth-worst with a .389 winning percentage, and Bill Veeck’s 1976 team, which busted out those historic shorts, was a bust at 64-97, 11th-worst in club history at .398.
What was said in the Sox’ meeting is not known, but there isn’t much to say.
“At some point, sometimes you need it, and I think that was the right time,” said Eloy Jimenez, who came off the injured list Monday. “Today was good.”
Words won’t get it done. Publicly, they say there is a lot of season left, and the record is magnified because it’s right out of the gate. “Trying to do too much,” a common refrain from managers trying to help struggling players relax, is already getting old.
Trying to avoid getting shut out for the sixth time before a paid attendance of 10,569 — there were fewer fans in the stands, some of whom were heard booing — the Sox were blanked for seven innings on four hits allowed Seth Lugo (1.05 ERA) and finished off by relievers Chris Stratton and James McArthur.
Jimenez pinch hit as the potential tying run with two outs in the ninth but struck out.
“Some of these guys are pressing, but it’s not something we can talk about every single day and use a crutch,” Grifol said. “We’ve got to make adjustments.
“One thing I do know is this won’t stay like this, because it can’t. Eventually when it doesn’t and it breaks they’ll realize whatever emotions they were feeling through this streak is kind of a waste of time.”