Yep. I remember a stretch back in the 80s when the Dodgers absolutely stank. Had to be during the McCourt years. You just entered each game with the question “How are they going to blow it today?” Made a fun betting game with your buddies. My standard bet was “Fielders running into each other.”
With today’s loss to the Mariners, it’s now 14 straight, tying the 14-loss streak which they had in May-June.
Sox are 27-81, a winning percentage of .250. They are on pace to win 41 (actually 40.5) games, which is damn close to the 1962 Mets, who won 40.
And if they, as expected, deal away Crochet, Fedde, and Robert Jr. in the next few days, they may well wind up playing even worse in the absolute than they have to date. Without those three, their overall bWAR for batters is -6.7, and for pitchers, it’s 0.6.
Last season’s Oakland squad didn’t hit 30 games until August, I think. John Fisher has a lot to answer for.
ETA: Upon review, I was mistaken. They got to 30 not in August but almost a year ago on July 29th.
We haven’t won a game since the All Star break and have been swept in three series in a row. If we can’t find a way to win in the Kansas City series here at home, we will have been shut out for the rest of July after the break. Has any other team ever gone “0 for July” after the All Star break?
A few weeks ago, I saw that their overall team WAR was below zero, meaning that they are worse than a random collection of replacement-level AAA players and unsigned free agents. How often has an entire MLB team had a negative WAR?
In the last three years, the worst team at the All-Star break (A’s, Nationals, Dbacks) did better in the second half of the season than the first.
So, there’s a glimmer of hope that the final tally won’t be quite as bad as predicted.
It looks like Fedde is gone; ESPN’s trade deadline tracker is reporting that the Sox, Cardinals, and Dodgers have agreed to a three-team deal, in which Fedde will wind up with the Cardinals.
Edit: Update – I’ve just heard on WBBM radio that reliever Michael Kopech and outfielder Tommy Pham are also being traded away in the deal.
27-82. On pace for 40-122. They can do it!
If in fact they have dealt Fedde, Kopech and Pham, they’re now a much WORSE team.
Looks to be official. On the MLB.com web site:
Crochet and Robert Jr. are still with the Sox as of tonight; Crochet’s apparent demands for a contract extension, and a guarantee of being a starter, if his new team expects him to pitch in the playoffs, have possibly complicated his trade situation.
Sox had a 5-2 lead over KC with one out in the top of the 8th. I was already bemoaning the fact that they were going to break their 14-game losing streak against my Royals.
Not to worry. KC hit 3 home runs, including a grand slam by budding superstar Bobby Witt, Jr., and won 8-5.
“Budding?” Witt is the best player in the American League.
The White Sox are still on target to win more than 40 games.
40.2 games, in fact.
And only 32 games back of a wild card slot.
Best? By what measurement? He is a top player certainly and a hits machine, but I think Judge at very least better and Soto and Gunnar Henderson are at the same level.
Because I watch him every game, I tend to agree, although as I just posted in another thread, Aaron Judge will probably win the AL MVP.
And I don’t think that Witt has quite achieved superstar status just yet. He’s only 24 and is in just his 3rd season. His career BA is .286.
In my experience, a player needs a couple of years of sustained success before they are called a “superstar”.
Quite so. Hence my use of the term ‘budding superstar’.
Yup. Not meant as a pejorative I’m sure, in fact you’re implying he will be one once he is more established. Nobody is a superstar on day one.
Exactly.
Back on topic, sorta: In four games against the White Sox since the All-Star break, Witt Jr. is hitting .812 (13-for-16) with two home runs and seven RBIs.
This was at least the 12th game this season that the White Sox have had a 3-run-or-greater lead and lost the game.