To win or not to win?
That was the question Sox fans were pondering for the second straight day on Wednesday as the team faced the Los Angeles Angels at Guaranteed Rate Field, looking to avoid breaking the record for most losses in a season in the modern era — held by the 1962 Mets (40-120) .
And the Sox again kept fans guessing — before squeezing out a 4-3 victory in extra innings.
It was a mixed blessing for their loyal fans.
On one hand, some were hoping to witness history if the team broke the record Wednesday or in the coming games. But others didn’t want to see their team remembered as incredible losers.
For Edwin Montiel, a 32-year-old self-described “diehard” fan from the Southwest Side, the answer was simple: Just win.
“It’s obviously really disappointing, these fans don’t deserve that,” he said of the all-but inevitable record ahead of the game. “Hopefully, they win.”
But Matthew Melvin, who said he’s been a fan of the team since he was in elementary school, was rooting for the Angels. He managed to snag a physical copy of his ticket, which he thinks might be worth something if the Sox break the record Wednesday.
“I would love to see them lose today,” the 31-year-old said.
Like Tuesday, Wednesday was another night of ups and downs for Chicago fans.
The White Sox managed to hold off history Tuesday night by rallying for three runs in the eighth inning for a 3-2 victory. It marked the first time in 95 games the Sox won after trailing after seven innings.
On Wednesday, the Sox led the Angels 3 runs to 2 at the top of the eighth, only to see the game tied, 3-3. With no runs in the ninth, the game went into extra innings.
And the South Siders pulled it out in the 10th inning, winning 4-3.
The conflict between winning and losing among fans was also evident inside the ballpark Wednesday. Loud cheers broke out after Korey Lee hammered a two-run shot in the second inning to give the Sox the lead.
“No record tonight,” one fan was heard saying.
“They can’t even lose right,” another said.
Frank Hurysz, 53, said he had mixed feelings about the Sox potentially breaking the record.
“We don’t want to give up on them, we want to see them do better,” the 53-year-old said. “Yes, there are people here who want to see quote unquote history, but we like to say we are here at the down times, and we come back at the good times.”
Montiel, who tailgated with his family ahead of the game with grilled carne asada, didn’t think fans should be rooting for the team to break the record.
“Everyone thinks that seeing it would be funny or whatever but no, as a White Sox fan, it’s f——— disgraceful,” he said of the historic losses. “This team deserves better and especially the people who come here to support the team and spend their hard-earned money.”
But the fans could agree on one thing: Owner Jerry Reinsdorf needs to invest more money in the club to field a winning team or else sell the White Sox to someone else.
“He doesn’t invest any money in the team, doesn’t want to spend money on any big time free agent,” Melvin said, adding he’ll have hope again when Reinsdorf sells the team.
Based on Tuesday’s game, that feeling was mutual among many Sox fans. More than 17,000 people were at the ballpark Tuesday, and they were vocal about their frustrations with the organization, breaking out into chants of “sell the team” during the game.
The Sox have one more game against the Angels Thursday afternoon and then close out the season in Detroit with a three game series against the Tigers.
Jacary Spates, who attended the game with friends, family and some of his Olive-Harvey College basketball teammates, hopes they win out.
“Let’s just win,” he said.
Contributing: Daryl Van Schouwen