This is Unbelievably Embarrassing, Even for the White Sox
The shit-show off the field has ranged from sad, embarrassing to hilarious for the White Sox, but don’t let that distract you from forgetting about the shit product on the field as well. This probably isn’t the most embarrassing stat for the 2023 White Sox because I still can’t believe it’s real. It feels impossible, but it’s the White Sox, so I guess no one should be too surprised.
On Tuesday, the White Sox lost 7-1 to the New York Yankees. It was a lopsided win for New York, but White Sox pitchers did have an impressive strikeout total. Touki Toussaint, Declan Cronin and Tanner Banks combined to strike out 17 Yankees at Guaranteed Rate Field. That marked the 11th time during the 2023 season that the White Sox have struck out at least 14 hitters in a game.
However, the White Sox remain winless when they accomplish that feat, compared to a 125-50 record from the rest of MLB when striking out 14+ hitters in a game.
Sure, teams strikeout at way higher rates than ever before, but not being able to capitalize on any of those 11 games is completely bonkers.
Jordan Lazowsk, who does great work at Sox on 35th, broke down the truly fascinating ways the White Sox have lost these games with 14+ strikeouts. He chronicled the first eight losses and boy oh boy were these nightmares for White Sox fans.
April 11: White Sox pitchers with 15 strikeouts, lose 4-3 on a throwing error in 10th inning.
April 21: White Sox pitchers with 14 strikeouts, lose 8-7 on a walk-off home run.
May 4: White Sox pitchers with 14 strikeouts, lose 7-3 after an error leads to 5 runs in 12th inning.
May 29: White Sox pitchers with 16 strikeouts, lose 6-4 after Angels spoil the return of Liam Hendriks.
June 15: White Sox pitchers with 16 strikeouts, lose 5-4 after leading 4-0 heading into the 6th inning
June 18: White Sox pitchers with 18 strikeouts, lose 5-1, wasting Lance Lynn’s 16-strikeout game.
June 23: White Sox pitchers with 17 strikeouts, lose 3-1. Only 1 of the 3 runs were earned against the White Sox.
July 6: White Sox pitchers with 17 strikeouts, lose 6-2 after Lance Lynn allowed just 1 hit in 7 innings.
July 8: White Sox pitchers with 14 strikeouts, lose 3-0. The next day Yasmani Grandal allegedly started a fight with Tim Anderson.
July 23: White Sox pitchers with 15 strikeouts, lose 5-4 after blowing a 3-0 lead in the 9th inning and a 4-3 lead in the 10th.
August 8: White Sox pitchers with 17 strikeouts, lose 7-1
Whole lotta bad for the White Sox.