The folks who read these rants and take the time and energy to provide me with addenda to the rants are – – at the very least – – Honorary Curmudgeons. Maybe they are ready to step in and take over the reins here should I “shuffle off this mortal coil” any time soon? Yesterday, I pointed out that this year’s Chicago White Sox have a chance to be inept at a historical level. As of yesterday, the White Sox record was 27-82 for a winning percentage at the time of publication of ,248. After making that point, I got two emails from readers regarding the White Sox status.
The first was from the “reader in Houston” who for the record grew up in the NY City environs. Here is his commentary on this year’s White Sox:
“It seems that every so often, there is a team that you can project to lose 120 games, but that record will always belong to my 1962 Mets, at least in our lifetime. With a number of weak teams each year in both leagues with full interleague play, even the worst team in the bunch couldn’t be as incompetent as the expansion Mets.
“In recent years, the A’s, Tigers, O’s, and D-Backs were projected to be on their way to that number, but they somehow squeezed out a few extra wins in the second half of the season to avoid being the “worst”, as they came close, but no cigar.”
The “reader in Houston” is right. Interleague play pits the worst teams in both leagues against each other which is a potential benefit that did not apply to the 1962 Mets. Moreover, the economics of MLB now favor big market teams and individually wealthy owners more than it did 60+ years ago. But I can still hope for a new standard of ineptitude, can’t I?
The second email came from a former colleague who has been reading rants since before they ever saw the light of day on the Internet. He did some math that I wish I had done yesterday.
“You mentioned the two losing streaks the [White] Sox have endured this year. Forget those 29 games in those two streaks. If those games never happened, the White Sox record would be 27-53 or a win %-age of .338.
“That win %-age is still the worst in MLB in 2024. The worst team other than the White Sox this year is the Rockies whose win %-age is .355. That means the White Sox are more than 29 games worse than any other MLB team. To use your favorite expression, ‘Yowza!’”
I tip my cap to my former colleague and accept the smudge on my Curmudgeon Credential for failing to do that math. As Tony Kornheiser says at the end of every Pardon the Interruption episode, “We’ll try and do better the next time.” So shall I …
And the mention of PTI provides a natural segue to the next item of business for today. For more than the last 20 years, the lead-in show to PTI has been Around the Horn and for a while Around the Horn attracted daily audiences in excess of 500,000 viewers that presented Tony and Mike with momentum as their program began. Such is no longer the case and according to reports, Around the Horn may not have a long-term presence on ESPN. One report says it will dry up and blow away in 2025.
For years, Around the Horn and PTI were standard parts of my daily schedule but my interest in Around the Horn has waned significantly in the last couple of years. When the show began, the “panelists/debaters” were sportswriters and commentators of note. Some of those early folks were the likes of:
- Tim Cowlishaw
- Jay Mariotti
- Jackie McMullen
- Woody Page
- Bill Plaschke
- Bob Ryan
Every day, at least two of those folks would be part of the show and they brought some gravitas with them because sports fans everywhere knew who they were even if they did not see them or read them daily. It was a place to go to hear from some heavyweights in the business. Such is not the case today. Yes, every once in a while one of the heavy hitters shows up on screen, but far more often than not, I get to hear welterweights at best.
My mother used to say that there is a time and a place for everything; I think the time and place for Around the Horn is in the past. Sad…
Finally, this observation by Napoleon Bonaparte:
“Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.”
But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………
Alas, it appears that Around the Horn will be going the way of what, IMHO, was the best show ever on ESPN, The Sports Reporters. That show, as well, relied on its quality of guests including Lupica, Ryan, Albom and others. It was a weekend must watch!
Gary:
Agree that The Sports Reporters on the weekend was outstanding. Around the Horn was never THAT good, but it used to be way more interesting than it is today. On some days, when I see the quarter of panelists for the show, I wonder who those people are and what are their credentials for being on the program. Such as not the case 20 years ago…
I think your data manipulation with the White Sox record is somewhat flawed. The Rockies have lost only 12 fewer games than the White Sox. Comparing a team with its worst games deleted from its record with a team almost as bad, but keeping its worst, is a reach too far. And, the Marlins are not much better. Granted, the Sox are the worst team, so we have no disagreement about the main point.
Doug:
I only meant to show that even without the two horrible losing streaks during the season that the White Sox were the worst team in MLB. I agree, the Rockies and the Marlins are pretty bad too, but the 2024 season belongs to the White Sox in terms of stink.