A companion list to the top 10 games of 2010, this list is not forthe faint of heart or weak of stomach, and should be avoided by anybody with a history of circulatory issues, respiratory issues, or pregnancy.
Two thoughts before starting...
*By "worst" loss, I mean the most painful, usually resulting in staring at the TV for five minutes afterward. They definitely suffered bigger beatings -- I'm thinking the 13-0 loss to the Marlins, the 12-0 loss to the Rays, the 12-3 loss to the Yankees (complete with a case of sunburn for this guy) -- but those happen. They're honorable mentions.
*Blown saves play a big part in lists like these, and makes me wonder about what such losses would feel like if the Sox went the closerless route next year. I started pondering this question, and it ended up going long enough to turn into its own post. So that's what's coming tomorrow.
Here are the best of the worst. As always, present your case if you think I left one out or got the order wrong:
No. 10: Sept. 19 -- Tigers 9, White Sox 7 (11 innings)
WhiteSox pitchers threw eight 1-2-3 innings. White Sox hitters put tworunners on base in eight innings. They also scored four runs in theninth inning. They still lost, because John Danks gave up six runs inthe seventh and the offense stranded a whopping 21 runners -- includingthree by Manny Ramirez, who struck out looking with the bases loaded toend the game. This one lacks the gut-punch factor since the Sox werejust about dead in the standings, but imagine if they weren't.
No. 9: July 25 -- A's 6, White Sox 4
Daniel Hudson gets a 1-0 lead in the first and gives it up with afour-run second. His on-again-off-again relationship with the strikezone ensures he won't start another game for the White Sox. Furthermore,an errant Erick Threets pickoff allows Coco Crisp to score from firstthanks to McAfee Coliseum's generous foul territory.
No. 8: May 9 -- Blue Jays 9, White Sox 7
Afine offensive effort against Ricky Romero goes to waste whenBobbyJenks, entering the ballgame with a two-run lead and the basesempty,retires none of the four batters he faces. The Jays godouble-single-homer-single off Jenks for the win.
Gordon Beckham throws his hat in the ring with his entry in the"Worst Game of the Season" sweepstakes, going 0-for-5 with threestrikeouts and eight stranded.
No. 7: Aug. 18 -- Twins 7, White Sox 6
TheSox offense bailed out Gavin Floyd by scoring three in the topof thesecond after Floyd gave up two in the first. They stretched thelead to5-3, but Floyd collapsed by allowing three runs in the sixth.This isthe third 7-6 loss to the Twins of the year, and the sixthstraight lossin one-run affairs.
No. 6: July 21 -- Mariners 2, White Sox 1 (11 innings)
Much like he did against Steven Strasburg, Gavin Floyd locks hornswith another ace and allows the Sox to wait him out of the game. LikelyAL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez threw eight dominant innings, andGavin Floyd countered by holding the Mariners scoreless over seven. AnOmar Vizquel single finally puts a run on the board in the 11th, butJack Wilson reaches with a leadoff bunt single off Bobby Jenks, andJenks only retires one batter before Franklin Gutierrez's two-run singlewins it.
More bittersweet: This might have cost Threets his only major-leaguewin, because who knows if he'll pitch in the big leagues against aftertearing his UCL. He would have deserved it.
No. 5: Aug. 14 -- Tigers 3, White Sox 2
And so begins the peak of the White Sox' bullpen woes. Trailing theMinnesota Twins by a game in the standings, Ozzie Guillen gives the ballto J.J. Putz in order to preserve a one-run lead. Putz hangs a splitterto Alex Avila, who knocks it into the first row of the left-centerstands for a two-run homer. A realization dawns: Bobby Jenks isn't theonly problem here.
No. 4: Aug. 21 -- Royals 6, White Sox 5 (11 innings)
The strangest series in recent history gets off to a fitting start. Sergio Santos gives up slam to Yuniesky Betancourt to spoil what was a comfortable 5-1 lead in the seventh inning, which eventually forces the game into extra innings and necessitates the use of two more relievers in the first game of a true doubleheader starting at 6:05 p.m. Betancourt then singles in the game-winning run off Bobby Jenks, driving in a run charged to Chris Sale for his first big-league loss.
No. 3: July 6 -- White Sox 4, Angels 1
Normally, handing Jered Weaver his first career loss to the White Soxwould be a cause for a Michigan Avenue parade, especially when TonyPena does the heavy lifting. However, Jake Peavy casts a pall over theaffairs when he leaves in the second inning with an injury that is asbad as it looked. A detached lat severely compromises Kenny Williams'operation from that point on. I think most people would rather lose toWeaver than lose Peavy.
No. 2: July 18 -- Twins 7, White Sox 6
On the cusp of starting the second half with a series win in Target Field, not only does Bobby Jenks falter with a three-run lead, but neither he nor Sergio Santos retire a single batter as the Twins score four in the ninth to win it. The final run crosses the plate when Alex Rios confuses the White Sox dugout for home plate. Michael Cuddyer had held up at third, but Rios rushed everything and just might have uncorked the worst throw in history as a result.
No. 1: Aug. 17 -- Twins 7, White Sox 6 (10 innings)
This one reminds me of a line from an old Dugout bit.
No, wait, I mean:
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Arizona Fall League weekend roundup:
- Friday: Peoria Javelinas 13, Peoria Saguaros 5
- Jared Mitchell went 0-for-5 with an RBI.
- Eduardo Escobar singled, doubled, walked and struck out.
- Saturday: Mesa 10, Peoria 1
- Mitchell went 1-for-2 with two walks.
- Escobar struck out twice in three hitless at-bats.
- Charles Leesman allowed a run on two hits in his inning of work.
- Anthony Carter struck out the side in a perfect inning.
- Sunday: Peoria OFF
