White Sox clinch playoff berth after three straight 100-loss seasons - ESPN

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After they became the first team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth, nobody would have begrudged the Chicago White Sox for spilling over the dugout railing Thursday and celebrating wildly on the field in Kauffman Stadium.

Instead, they matter-of-factly formed a handshake line, as if their 9-1 win over the Kansas City was any old midsummer matinee.

They were saving the party for the clubhouse.

The White Sox clinched no worse than one of three American League wild-card spots with the rout in Kansas City, and in the plastic-draped visiting locker room, the bottles of Moët were stacking up quickly. Miguel Vargas was drenched, Munetaka Murakami was beaming and a team that had been expected to finish last in the AL Central was relishing in a most improbable postseason appearance.

«This means a lot for us,» Vargas said. «We've been chasing this moment for a long time. It's special for us. It's special for the whole organization. This is a special group of guys, and this is the most fun we can have.»

That might be a bit of hyperbole. The White Sox could be replicating — or one-upping — the celebration this weekend.

That's because they still have their sights set on a division title. The White Sox began the day just a game back of Cleveland, which was finishing a three-game set in Boston later Thursday. Chicago was headed home for three games against last-place Colorado, while the Guardians were getting ready to fly to Kansas City, where they wrap up their regular season this weekend.

Maybe that's why the White Sox showed restraint in celebrating their postseason berth right in front of the Royals.

They could still use a little help from them.

«They know what