DETROIT — The worst season in the modern-day history of baseball, brought to you by the White Sox, came to a merciful end Sunday.
Oddly enough, the Sox defeated the playoff-bound Tigers 9-5 to take a series on the road for only the second time. Following a sweep of the struggling Angels, they cobbled together a 5-1 finish that left smiles and strangely good vibes all around the clubhouse.
Hours earlier, chairman Jerry Reinsdorf released a letter to Sox fans as most of the city was focused on a Bears game at Soldier Field, thanking them for support through “an embarrassing season” that saw the Sox finish 41-121.
Reinsdorf accepted responsibility and called fan reaction, which was harsh and directed solely at him at times, “completely understandable.”
“By all measures, our on-field performance this season was a failure,” Reinsdorf said. “As the leader of this organization, that is my ultimate responsibility. There are no excuses.”
On Sept. 11, with media clamoring for a response from the man in charge, Reinsdorf issued a statement after the Sox lost a 15th straight game to the Guardians, saying no one in the organization was happy with the results and calling the season painful. He said he would have more to say at the end of the season, and while there was hope he would answer reporters questions, this second statement seems to be it.
“You all deserved better,” said Reinsdorf, 88, who has overseen 222 losses in the last two seasons and could be faced with another 100 in 2025, when he is expected to cut payroll. “This season’s performance was completely unacceptable and the varying reactions and emotions from our fan base are completely understandable.”
Booing, cheering opponents, wearing bags over heads and chanting “sell the team” and things more vulgar about Reinsdorf were commonplace at Guaranteed Rate Field, especially during Angels sweep when the Sox were one loss away from breaking the 1962 Mets record for futility but saved it for Friday in Detroit.
The team started 7-21 and had losing streaks of 21 (tying the AL record), 14 and 12. General manager Chris Getz fired manager Pedro Grifol on Aug. 8 and replaced him with interim Grady Sizemore, who was 13-32.
“Record aside the guys kept fighting, putting the work in, trying to get better,” Sizemore said after Sunday’s win. “And this last stretch was really good. Just build the momentum, end on a positive — and coming together.”
Whether Sizemore gets hired for the job full-time will be decided in the coming weeks. Getz is conducting “an exhaustive search,” Reinsdorf said.
“Our organization’s most important decision in the coming months is to evaluate and identify a new manager and leadership voice for this organization,” Reinsdorf said.
Reinsdorf noted changes made by Getz in player development, scouting, evaluating trade and free agent markets and analytics “with a focus for competing for championships,” which have been few and far between since the 2005 World Series title. Since then, the Sox have won two division championships, and have averaged 94 losses in the last seven full seasons.
Getz and his staff conducted “a top-to-bottom evaluation” of Sox operations, Reinsdorf said.
“Some of these changes will be apparent quickly while others will need time to produce the results we all want to see at the major-league level,” Reinsdorf said.
Reinsdorf touted the Sox prospect rankings and the Double-A Birmingham Barons’ Southern League championship and Low-A Kannapolis reaching the finals of the Carolina League.
“Whether said out loud or written in a statement, words are easy,” Reinsdorf said. “I understand we need to show our progress through action.
“Above everything else, I am a fan, a fan of baseball, of Chicago and of the White Sox. Every loss this season — every blown save, every defensive miscue, every shutout, every sweep — hurt. It was a long, painful season for us all. We recognize, on a daily basis, that it is our responsibility to earn your trust, attention, time and support. We vow to take that approach daily as we put the work in this offseason to be better.
“We owe it to each and every one of you.”