2024 White Sox become 7th team to lose 20 games in a row

The White Sox lost their 20th game in a row Sunday, as the Minnesota Twins scored eight runs in the first two innings and went on to beat the South Siders, 13-7.

Perhaps it was fitting that 20 runs were scored in the 20th consecutive loss, and the final out was made by No. 20 on the Sox roster -- newly acquired Miguel Vargas.

Here is the list of teams to accomplish this dubious feat:

• 1961 Philadelphia Phillies -- 23 straight losses
• 1988 Baltimore Orioles -- 21 straight losses
• 2024 White Sox -- 20 straight losses (and counting!)
• 1969 Montreal Expos -- 20 straight losses
• 1943 Philadelphia Athletics -- 20 straight losses
• 1916 Philadelphia Athletics -- 20 straight losses
• 1906 Boston Americans -- 20 straight losses
  

With this defeat, the Sox finish the season series against Minnesota with a record of 1-12. They also went 1-12 against the Kansas City Royals.

Overall against the "weak" American League Central Division, the Sox are 8-34.

The Sox are 60 games below .500 at 27-87. They are the first team to be 60 games below .500 on Aug. 4 since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who were 15-75 on Aug. 1 of that season -- and 16-78 on Aug. 4.

Yes, this is the worst team since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders.

The Sox are 0-16 since the All-Star break. They have been swept in six consecutive series. They are 0-65 when trailing after seven innings, and 0-71 when trailing after eight innings.

Pedro Grifol's managerial record is now 100 games below .500 at 88-188, yet he's traveling with the team to Oakland for this week's series against the Athletics. How many in a row must Grifol lose in order to get fired? 

My sister is the head coach of my nephew's youth baseball team. She's coaching 11- and 12-year-old boys, but I'm pretty sure if she lost 20 games in a row, she'd be pushed aside and replaced by a different coach.

Somehow, that doesn't happen with the White Sox, who are supposed to be playing Major League Baseball, where you're judged on wins and losses.

Alas, there is no accountability here. There is also no hope.

White Sox trade Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech, Tommy Pham in 3-team deal

Over the weekend, there was a lot of angst among White Sox fans because GM Chris Getz had not yet pulled the trigger on a trade deadline deal.

Be careful what you wish for. Getz made a three-team, eight-player trade Monday afternoon, and it was one that DID NOT energize the fan base in any way.

Here's what went down:

• The White Sox receive three prospects from the Los Angeles Dodgers: all-purpose player Miguel Vargas, infielder Alexander Albertus and infielder Jeral Perez.
• The St. Louis Cardinals receive pitcher Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham from the Sox. 
• The Dodgers receive relief pitcher Michael Kopech from the Sox, and utility player Tommy Edman and pitcher Oliver Gonzalez from the Cardinals.

Anyone else think the Cardinals made out very well here? Fedde, despite pitching for a team that was 54 games below .500 entering Monday's play, has a 7-4 record with a 3.11 ERA. Frankly, he deserved to make the American League All-Star team this season, but he had to get in line behind Garrett Crochet, and was left off the roster because it's hard to justify a team as bad as the Sox getting two All-Star representatives.

Pham played 70 games with the Sox this season and batted .266/.330/.380 with five home runs, 14 doubles and 19 RBIs. In his age-36 season, he's basically a league-average hitter and can probably still make contributions to a contending team when used in the right role.

For those two players, St. Louis gave up Edman, who has been hurt all season, and Gonzalez, a 17-year-old who is pitching in the Dominican Summer League.

Despite Kopech's pedestrian numbers -- 2-8 with a 4.74 ERA -- the Dodgers are looking at his strikeout rate, which has been above 30% all season, and thinking they can turn him into a viable bullpen piece. Good luck. Maybe Kopech thrives with a change of scenery.

What are the Sox getting here? Salary relief, of course. That's Jerry Reinsdorf's favorite type of deal. Fedde, Pham and Kopech are all off the books, while Albertus and Perez are both 19-year-olds who will report to Class-A Kannapolis.

Perez has an .800 OPS this season at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga. He's hitting .264/.380/.420 with 10 homers and 42 RBIs. OK, that's not bad.

Albertus, also at Rancho Cucamonga, has batted .229/.317/.329 with a homer and 16 RBIs in a limited sample of 82 plate appearances.

But, even in the best of circumstances, these players are years away from having a chance to contribute in the major leagues. And after the past five or so seasons as a Sox fan, you won't catch me "dreaming on" prospects, ever.

Vargas, meanwhile, will be in the big leagues immediately, although I will keep my expectations modest. The 24-year-old has appeared in 30 games with the Dodgers this season, batting .239/.313/.423 with three homers and nine RBIs.

Looking a little deeper, it looks like Vargas might be a platoon partner for somebody. As a right-handed hitter, he hits lefties -- an .864 OPS. His OPS against right-handers is .599. Look for him to get playing time at either corner outfield spot and first base.

So, in summary, the Sox traded a pretty good mid-rotation starter in Fedde for a platoon bat and two lottery tickets. And some salary relief! Forgive me for not being excited.