It’s the most losses ever, but only the fifth worst winning percentage of the modern era. So they’ve got that going for them.
Yea! I’m SO proud. 
They had to go and ruin it by winning 5 of their last 6 games. 
An extraordinary stretch of .500 ball the last ten games of the season!
Something to shoot for next season!
Is that what happened? The Tigers did lose, but did the Tigers not field their best guys? I was disappointed the Tigers blew the last two games of the season, even if their entry to the playoffs was locked.
I wouldn’t say the Tigers phoned in the games, but they did play with an eye to the playoffs, like I would expect any team to do in the same position.
They gave players who needed rest some extra rest, no pitchers were worked particularly hard, some bench players got some playing time, etc. They’ve got a game tomorrow, so this all makes sense. That might still have resulted in wins but didn’t in this case.
The same thing happened in the Houston-Cleveland series. Cleveland still theoretically had something to play for in terms of seeding and was going to have nearly a week off but Houston was locked into the 3 seed and looking at starting a series Tuesday, so they rested some players, subbed in bench players, gave pitchers a lighter than average workload, etc. And still managed to win the two games they did play. Baseball is weird sometimes. Or a lot of the time.
Of course they didn’t. They want their starters and best pitchers rested and ready to give their best.
The Tigers played smart. You see the same thing in football; if you lock down the 1st seed in week 16, and week 17 doesn’t matter anymore, you rest your starters and take whatever result you get. That makes you ready for the playoffs with a fully healthy team. Going all out and injuring key players when you gain nothing for it is foolish and I don’t fault any team that takes the smart route.
Plus it gives great experience to players who don’t ordinarily get to play.
Bit different in baseball. You still play many of your starters but maybe only for an at bat or two so they don’t lose their timing. Likewise, make sure to give your starting pitchers a few innings so it’s not been too long since they’ve pitched once they do get to the playoffs.
And it’s not like they give up on the games. They still want to win. Just not at expense of going all out.
It’s just that the White Sox chose a good (or bad?) time to really go for it.
I did see a player score his first strikeout* in the MLB and I was kind of surprised. Good opportunity.
Does playing in 1 game regular season get you a ring for the World Series if they win?
*as a pitcher, clarifying
Anyone the team owners want to give a ring can get a ring. Front office staff, trainers, minor leaguers who came up for a cup of coffee, traded or released players, etc.
Brian Matusz of the 2016 Cubs is an example. He pitched in one game, lasted 3 innings, and allowed 6 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks, and 3 home runs in a late July game. He was released the very next day but still got a ring after the season.
That’s how it works for the Super Bowl too, interesting.
Cubs gave Steve Bartman, the organization’s most infamous fan, a championship ring when the Cubs won the Word Series in 2016.
Definitely differing thoughts on that in football. The last game of the season the Giants knew they were going to the playoffs and a win couldn’t help them. The Patriots were playing for their undefeated season. Coughlin did not believe in rolling over and limping into the playoffs. The Giants played all their starters and almost won. It took a late 4th quarter comeback for the Patriots to stay undefeated. But it was a win for the Giants too since it let them know they could win. The Giants stayed sharp and went on the win the Super Bowl against the Patriots.
You don’t want to burn out players or get them injured but you also want to keep them dialed in.
I remember on an episode of Pawn Stars someone came in with a Brandon Puffer 2004 Red Sox World Series ring. They didn’t buy the ring because Puffer was a convicted rapist who was in jail at the time. Puffer was called up to the Red Sox and sat in the bullpen for one game and DFA’d the next day. Never got in a game. Didn’t throw one pitch. The team owner decided anyone who was on the active major league roster would get a ring.
ETA: here’s the link
That’s fair. I think coaches treat it like a preseason game. You don’t want to risk key players on a game that is meaningless, yet it’s also an opportunity to give your starters some reps against a real opponent, so you might play them a little.
Last game of the season yesterday the Yankees were going to play Judge and Soto. Then the rain came and the game was delayed and the field was wet. They sat out the game.