At midway point, White Sox are on pace to have one of the worst seasons in MLB history

CHICAGO (670 The Score) – What was supposed to be a straightforward rebuilding season for the White Sox has turned into a nightmare of futility.

After suffering a 4-3 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field, the White Sox dropped to 21-60 as they reached the midpoint of the season. That puts them on pace to go 42-120, which would represent the worst season in franchise history and one of the worst in MLB history.

The 1970 White Sox hold the franchise record for losses in a season by going 56-106 (.346). The 1932 White Sox had the worst season in team history, posting a franchise-worst .325 winning percentage in going 49-102.

In the modern era (since 1900), the 1962 Mets hold the MLB record with 120 losses in a single season. They went 40-120 with a .250 winning percentage as they played 160 games. The White Sox currently hold a .259 winning percentage.

Since 1900, the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics hold the record for futility when it comes to winning percentage. They went 36-117, posting a .235 winning percentage, the worst in MLB history in the modern era.

Complicating matters for the White Sox as they look to avoid such futility is that the front office is preparing to deal away veteran players ahead of the trade deadline on July 30. How the players handle adversity is a matter that White Sox manager Pedro Grifol has on his mind every day.

“The character of this club is tremendous,” Grifol said Tuesday. “We are not having a very good year, but these guys keep battling and coming to the ballpark, ready to work and ready to play to try and win a baseball game each day. The culture of this clubhouse and how they go about it together is extremely impressive and is a tribute to their integrity and their character. I don't think that will ever be an issue here. We just need to continue to battle and, hopefully, we can turn this around a little bit. There is nothing else we can do.”

Poor production from veteran hitters and injuries have exacerbated the White Sox’s struggles.

“It's been very tough,” outfielder Andrew Benintendi said Tuesday. “It might look a lot uglier than it really is. That is because we have played a lot of one-run ball games. We have put together maybe one or two weeks. We have 81 games left. We must keep trucking and keep working on things to get better.”

Benintendi is playing on a five-year, $75-million contract, the biggest in White Sox history. He’s also having a rough season, hitting .203 with six homers, 22 RBIs and a .562 OPS entering play Wednesday.

"I have been on teams and seen teams that were supposed to be good,” Benintendi said. “It all starts in the clubhouse. We all get along on this team, and we have said it all year. It still holds. We just show up and be good teammates by going out and playing hard for one another.”

Amid their struggles, White Sox players continue to express support for one another.

“Really tough record,” starting pitcher Chris Flexen said. “We have battled some injuries and inconsistencies. We just continue to fight as a team and push our best foot forward. The focus must be on winning games and continuing to pull for each other. We have had a handful of pretty tight games, but that's just one aspect that doesn't always fit together.”

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine .