However, as the White Sox have done many times over in the past decade, they faded into the sunset as Detroit's pitching hit their stride which helped them overtake Chicago without looking back.
It'll be tough to watch the Tigers when I thought a couple weeks ago it was going to be the White Sox, but I'll get over it. The expectations weren't too high for the year, but as the team starts to prove your expectations wrong, you start to slightly adjust your thoughts. Other White Sox fans - you can't tell me that your expectations didn't change when you saw them enter the All-Star break with the lead. Even though we weren't expected to win the division, I am very disappointed because down the stretch, I did expect to win it.
Here's an example of how the White Sox have done since 2000 before September and in September:
| Entering Sept | ||||
| Record | Place | Games Back or Ahead | ||
| 2001 | 68-65 | 3rd | Down 7.5 games | to Cleveland |
| 2002 | 65-70 | 2nd | Down 14 games | to Minnesota |
| 2003 | 73-64 | 1st | Up 1.5 games | to Minnesota |
| 2004 | 64-66 | 3rd | Down 8.5 games | to Minnesota |
| 2005 | 80-51 | 1st | Up 7 games | to Cleveland |
| 2006 | 78-56 | 2nd | Down 4.5 games | to Det |
| 2007 | 57-78 | 5th | Down 20.5 games | to Cleveland |
| 2008 | 77-59 | T-1st | Up 1/2 game | to Minnesota |
| 2009 | 64-68 | 3rd | Down 6 games | to Det |
| 2010 | 72-60 | 2nd | Down 4 games | to Minnesota |
| 2011 | 68-66 | 3rd | Down 6 games | to Det |
| 2012 | 72-59 | 1st | Up 2 games | to Det |
And here's how things ended in Sept/Oct
| Champ | |||||
| Sep/Oct | Final Record | Final Finish | Final Games Back/Ahead | or 2nd | |
| 2001 | (15-14) | 83-79 | 3rd place | Down 8 games | Cleveland |
| 2002 | (16-11) | 81-81 | 2nd place | Down 13.5 games | Minnesota |
| 2003 | (13-12) | 86-76 | 2nd place | Down 4 games | Minnesota |
| 2004 | (19-13) | 83-79 | 2nd place | Down 9 games | Minnesota |
| 2005 | (19-12) | 99-63 | 1st place | Up by 6 games | Cleveland |
| 2006 | (12-16) | 90-72 | 3rd place | Down 6 games | Minnesota |
| 2007 | (15-12) | 72-90 | 4th place | Down 24 games | Cleveland |
| 2008 | (12-15) | 89-74 | 1st place | won division (1 gm playoff) | Minnesota |
| 2009 | (15-15) | 79-83 | 3rd place | Down 7 games | Detroit/Minn |
| 2010 | (16-14) | 88-74 | 2nd place | Down 6 games | Minnesota |
| 2011 | (11-14) | 79-83 | 3rd place | Down 16 games | Detroit |
| 2012 | (12-18) | 85-77 | 2nd place | Down 3 games | Detroit |
In this twelve year span, the team in first place entering September has won eight out of the 12 division titles. The White Sox (2003, 2012) and Detroit (2006, 2009 - lost tiebreaker to Minn) were the teams who blew their division leads in the last month.
If you notice, the only year the White Sox gained ground on the competition closest to them was in 2002, when they gained that magical half game to finish 13.5 back of the Twins. You can say 2006 was gaining, but the Sox needed a one-game playoff to win the division.
Otherwise, in the past 12 years, we haven't seen a year where the White Sox had a better record than the team they are chasing or who is chasing them. Since the World Series win in 2005, they've barely broken .500 a couple times but otherwise have dragged to the finish line.
Sure, the Cubs are known as Completely Useless By September to the folks who like to stir up the White Sox/Cubs "rivalry", but when it comes to September, the White Sox have been pretty much completely useless.
You can tell me that this year was better than expected, and the March/April version of me would agree with you. But the September/October version of me feels like they let the fans down, And with how they've had problems closing out seasons as of late, you can't blame me for being disappointed.
