It was nice to see the Chicago White Sox’ José Abreu selected as the American League’s starting first baseman for next week’s all-star game in Washington, D.C.. Sadly, from the White Sox standpoint, Abreu’s selection is more of a lifetime achievement honor than what Abreu has done of late.
Abreu, in his fifth season with the Sox, came into the 2018 season with a career .301 batting average. Six weeks ago that average was in no danger of dropping because he was hitting .319. Since that high point, Abreu has watched his average drop 60 points. Were Abreu to have connected a few more times of late, the Sox might have recorded a few more desperately needed victories. Through Sunday, Abreu’s batting average was .259 with 12 home runs and 50 runs batted in through 88 games.
It is hard to believe, yet, the White Sox, Kansas City Royals, and Baltimore Orioles came into Monday’s games with a 20-game losing streak combined. Maybe not that difficult to visualize when you consider those three teams have the worst records in Major League Baseball. The Sox were 30-60 through Monday for a .333 percentage, Kansas City was 25-65 for .278, and Baltimore was 25-66 for .275.
With a 2-1 loss in Houston Sunday, the White Sox losing streak reached five games. A loss in the finale of a three-game series in Cincinnati preceded a four-game sweep by the Astros.
Baltimore dropped a decision to the Minnesota Twins Sunday and increased the Orioles’ losing streak to six. Kansas City, its record similar to Baltimore’s record, is inferior to the White Sox, lost to the Boston Red Sox Sunday to bring the team’s losing streak to nine. Add them up and it is a 20-game composite losing streak.
The travails of teams such as the White Sox, Orioles, and Royals, have enhanced the image of many American League teams. The American League team with the best record at the conclusion of the regular season likely will have a better winning percentage than any team in the National League. Yet, for the first time in many seasons, the National League is on target to come out ahead in interleague play.
The record of the last-place team in each of the three American League Divisions is off the radar at the bottom. Although no one envies the Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, and the San Diego Padres, the bottom feeders in each of the National League’s three divisions, there is light at the end of the divisional tunnel, albeit a distant and dim light. Miami was the worst with 38-55 for .409.
Troubled as the White Sox may be, the team has individuals capable of leading the league in certain positive categories.
Abreu’s 27 doubles put him third with the season 90-games along. Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, with 21 stolen bases is right up there with the best. Although leading the league in triples is not a heralded stat, the Sox’ Yolmer Sánchez was the AL’s best with nine.