Many Chicago White Sox fans were genuinely cheering for the team to lose just two years ago.
In late September 2024, the White Sox were taking the field for their final home series of the season. The attendance was sparse, but those who did show up were hoping to witness history, as Chicago was one defeat away from setting the record for losses in a 162-game season. The White Sox, of course, let them down, winning their final three home games before they lost their record 121st game on the road in their next series.
Fast-forward to today, and the unthinkable has happened: The White Sox are returning home as heroes.
Chicago will play its first playoff game at home since 2021 on Wednesday. And the White Sox will enter their matchup with the Cleveland Guardians up 2-0 in the American League Division Series, one win away from advancing to the Championship Series.
The five years between home playoff games were not kind to fans of the South Siders.
After a respectable 81-81 finish in 2022, Chicago nosedived. The White Sox lost 101 games in 2023, 121 in 2024 and 102 more last year. This season, they became the first team to make the playoffs after back-to-back 100-loss seasons — which also means they’re the first team to do so after three straight 100-loss seasons.
On Wednesday, the Sox will have another chance at history, as they haven’t clinched a playoff series in front of their home fans since 1906.
The fans have been “waiting 120 years, so maybe we can do it this year,” pitcher Grant Taylor, who recorded saves in each of the first two wins against the Guardians, told reporters Monday. “I think it’s going to be unbelievable. Those fans deserve it. They’ve been with us for three years of 100 losses, and they’ve been with us a good bit this year giving us a lot of support as we’ve gone through this. So being able to give them a postseason game is going to be pretty special.”
Chicago has turned over most of its team since the 2024 season. Only four hitters and five players were on the roster then and now, per MLB.com. The White Sox have improved through several avenues since.
In the offseason, they signed Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami. Murakami, 26, blasted 35 homers in his first MLB regular season, and he has added one more through his first four playoff appearances. (Murakami also captured the attention of fans thanks to his enthusiastic postgame interviews.)
Meanwhile, pitchers such as Taylor and starter Sean Burke have emerged after having been drafted years ago. Taylor had a 2.25 ERA in 84 innings during the regular season. Burke struck out 185 batters across 32 appearances (including 27 starts) and finished 17th among all pitchers in wins above replacement.
In addition to an explosive offense that was top 10 in both home runs and slugging percentage during the regular season, the White Sox have employed a unique pitching strategy, relying heavily on their relievers to throw multiple innings.
“We knew we had to be different,” general manager Chris Getz told MLB Network this month. “It became leaning into those arms. What’s the pathway to win? How do we solve today? Oftentimes it was getting creative with openers. Thankfully, we’ve got some arms that can go multiple innings.”
(It’s also possible the team’s success is coming from a higher power, as Pope Leo XIV is a fan. “I willingly invoke the Almighty’s abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones,” the pope wrote in a letter to the team in September.)
The man in charge of the dugout is Will Venable, who played in the majors from 2008 to 2016. Venable became Chicago’s manager in October 2024 and has become a key part of the franchise’s turnaround.
“For where the organization was and the pain of those couple years in which there was 100-loss seasons, to see the growth and have the fans be a part of this and be able to celebrate this, it makes me happy for everyone involved with White Sox baseball,” Venable said after the White Sox won in the wild-card round.
As impressive as the revival has been so far, the Sox don’t seem simply happy to be here. Asked in September what Chicago could do in the playoffs, designated hitter Andrew Benintendi told MLB.com his team was “confident.”
Added Benintendi: “We are dumb enough to think we can win it. So, why not?”
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