White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf takes ‘ultimate responsibility’ for ’embarrassing’ 121-loss season

Shortly after the White Sox took the field for their season finale against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, owner Jerry Reinsdorf wrote a statement to the Chicago fan base accepting full responsibility for the team’s historically bad 2024 campaign.

“Weaknesses by every metric, our on-field performance this season was a disaster,” Reinsdorf wrote, referring to the team’s season-high 121 losses—the highest in contemporary Major League Baseball history. “That is my primary duty as this organization’s leader. No justifications exist.

“I would want to express my gratitude for your unwavering support of the squad over this terrible season. Everyone of you deserved better. The performance this season was wholly unsatisfactory, and it is quite understood why our fan base has different feelings and reactions.

Reinsdorf spent the next few paragraphs outlining his plan for a better future. He said that as part of a continuous reorganization that started under general manager Chris Getz last year, the team would assess the trade and free-agent markets and appoint new leadership in the analytics division. Additionally, Reinsdorf indicated that Getz’s hunt for a new manager is “well underway.” Earlier this year, Chicago fired Pedro Grifol and temporarily replaced him with former outfielder Grady Sizemore.

Despite the fact that Chicago’s Double-A affiliate won the Southern League championship and their Class A affiliate advanced to the Carolina League playoffs, Reinsdorf made a point of praising the team’s better farm system.

“It was a long, painful season for us all. We recognize, on a daily basis, that it is our responsibility to earn your trust, attention, time and support. We vote to take that approach daily as we put the work in this offseason to be better,” Reinsdorf’s letter stated in conclusion. “We owe it to each and everyone of you.”