MLB: 5 Most Disappointing Teams This Season
By Ryan Schultz
We start off with a team that doesn’t fit the traditional mold for what most consider a “disappointing team.” Before the season, they were considered favorites by some and middle of the division finishers by others. Regardless of where experts had them finishing, the consensus was generally that they would be a contender for a division that contains a lot of equally matched teams.
In the first month of the season, they exceeded everyone’s expectations and sped out to a 17-8 record in April and a season best 23-10 on May 9. However, since May 9 they have gone 9-22 and currently sit at .500 and fourth place in the division.
Although I was hesitant to include the White Sox on this list because they have spent most of the season in first place, being around their fans it is clear that disappointment is one of the strongest feelings along with anger and sadness. For the first time in essentially 10 years, White Sox fans were excited about a team in April and believed in their chance to win the division they haven’t won since 2008. To see that come crashing down in such a quick manner has left fans extremely disappointed with the team, management and the front office.
The reasons for the White Sox’s collapse can’t simply be pinned on one or two individuals. The pitching that was incredibly good for the White Sox in the first month of the season quickly fell back to earth. Not only has the starting pitching been lackluster, but the bullpen has also failed to perform. They took turns losing games throughout the month of May, and the offense helped their fair share as well.
The White Sox lost seven straight series during May for the first time in over a decade, which quickly sent them crashing down in the division. Certainly there is some recency bias when talking about the White Sox being disappointing, but the White Sox appear to have come off the rails in a way. The addition of James Shields has not provided them with any life, and they cannot depend on rookie prospect Tim Anderson to be the spark.
Next: Pittsburgh Pirates