BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Cowley: Amid White Sox’ empty optimism, Paul Konerko can’t help telling it like it is

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Cowley: Amid White Sox’ empty optimism, Paul Konerko can’t help telling it like it is

As Dwayne Henry Rollins once said…“My optimism wears heavy cleats and is loud.”

But rather than cater to the organization with the usual player-speak, Konerko said the fan base had every reason to be fed up with what has gone on with the Sox in recent seasons.

‘‘I would say it won’t matter [what we tell them] until July or into August,’’ Konerko said when asked if there was anything to say to Sox fans at this point. ‘‘You get what you earn, and we haven’t earned anything with our fans over the last couple of years.

‘‘Truth be told, there was that little glimmer at the end of ’08 where we got hot, the Twins got kind of cold and . . . we found ourselves in the playoffs. But the honest truth is since ’05, we’ve kind of slowly but surely just kind of given back everything we earned steadily. We’re kind of at this spot now where it’s like, ‘Here we are, back at square one again.’ ’’

...That’s the beauty of Konerko, who is entering his 14th season with the Sox: He’s not looking to bend over backward and say the right thing if he doesn’t believe it.

‘‘It’s our job to go out and put that in play, earn it back slowly,’’ Konerko said. “I mean, we hope people come out to watch the game . . . but most of the fans and everyone within reason — there can be some that are totally irrational — we’ve earned [their disappointment]. Sometimes you have to look in the mirror as a unit or a group and say, ‘Hey, man, we haven’t been doing what we should have been doing,’ and now it’s about trying to get it back piece by piece.’’

Repoz Posted: January 29, 2012 at 01:51 AM | 31 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: white sox

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1. Bob Evans Posted: January 29, 2012 at 09:07 AM (#4048627)

The worst sin is, they've been DULL. Heck, even the 2005 team was kinda dull, truth be known.

2. AJM Posted: January 29, 2012 at 09:26 AM (#4048629)

Homer: Heh heh heh, from now on, I'm gonna be just like Krusty and tell it like it is. Marge, you're getting a little fat around the old thighs!
Bart: Dad!
Homer: You too, Bart!
Marge: Oh, knock it off, Homer, you're the fattest one in the car!
Homer: [shocked, hurt] You didn't have to tell it like it is, Marge!

3. jingoist Posted: January 29, 2012 at 12:34 PM (#4048684)

I don,t follow the White Sox so I haven;t paid much attention to them.
Other than Ozzie Guillen's foibles and Adam Dunn's suckitude I would have no opinion about them as a team.

But 14 years into a career earns you the right to hold and voice opinions that might not be following a teams management line of palaver.

I remember the Sox won a WS about 8 or so years ago but not much else since then.

4. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: January 29, 2012 at 01:53 PM (#4048721)

But 14 years into a career earns you the right to hold and voice opinions that might not be following a teams management line of palaver.

Yup. And if just got finished putting up the best two years of my career at 34-35, I'd be more than a little pissed at Dunn and Rios driving off a cliff at 30-31, especially if they weren't working really hard to fix it.

5. Sam Hutcheson is the Rickey Henderson of... Posted: January 29, 2012 at 01:56 PM (#4048723)

I'm shocked Konerko's been a White Sox that long. I still think of him as a Dodgers prospect.

6. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: January 29, 2012 at 02:17 PM (#4048734)

I'm shocked Konerko's been a White Sox that long. I still think of him as a Dodgers prospect.

I still remember trading for him in roto after he came to Chi. Man I'm getting old.

7. Mark Edward Posted: January 29, 2012 at 02:50 PM (#4048746)

The worst sin is, they've been DULL. Heck, even the 2005 team was kinda dull, truth be known.

As a Sox fan, since 2005 I've seen a World Series win, a no-hitter, a perfect game, Jim Thome's 500th home run, and a terrific game 163.

If that's dull then there's probably about 20 teams that have been completely unwatchable in this time frame.

8. base ball chick Posted: January 29, 2012 at 03:16 PM (#4048765)

i know how paul feels. 2008 was the stros last good year, too. and he just might take comfort in the fact that we've fallen farther and harder and are gonna be down much MUCH longer

9. Walt Davis Posted: January 29, 2012 at 03:22 PM (#4048771)

What "line" is the management palaver taking? From the excerpt, Konerko's line is pretty standard really -- we have to go out there and play hard for our fans. Are Sox management actually going with "we won you a Series 7 years ago, you owe us?" I tend to doubt it.

It should be a heck of a battle between Cubs and Sox to see who can win more games.

10. Fancy Pants is braggadocious about his Handle Posted: January 29, 2012 at 03:50 PM (#4048782)

As a Sox fan, since 2005 I've seen a World Series win, a no-hitter, a perfect game, Jim Thome's 500th home run, and a terrific game 163.

If that's dull then there's probably about 20 teams that have been completely unwatchable in this time frame.

And Ozzie. ####! You ####### forgot about that ############# ############. How can a team with ####### Ozzie Guillen on it be ####### boring. That's ##### ### a #### ####### ####### thing ##### and ###### ### ######!

11. Sox Machine Posted: January 29, 2012 at 04:23 PM (#4048798)

What "line" is the management palaver taking? From the excerpt, Konerko's line is pretty standard really -- we have to go out there and play hard for our fans. Are Sox management actually going with "we won you a Series 7 years ago, you owe us?" I tend to doubt it.

It's Cowley. He's kissing Konerko's ass in order to take shots at management.

12. Jim Wisinski

Posted: January 29, 2012 at 07:08 PM (#4048876)

It's interesting to hear a player say in public that his team's playoff appearance was basically due to good fortune and lucky timing.

13. TVerik Posted: January 29, 2012 at 07:11 PM (#4048880)

I also think it's interesting that a player nearing the end of his career is saying stuff that might disqualify him from an organizational job.

14. Jim Wisinski

Posted: January 29, 2012 at 07:26 PM (#4048890)

I don't think there's anything he said that would really upset Reinsdorf. It's a pretty honest statement that the team hasn't been good and the fans are going to be skeptical until they start playing better and earn the trust back. It might ruffle Kenny Williams' feathers some since he's the one responsible for those lousy teams but he probably won't still be the White Sox GM by the time Konerko retires anyway.

15. TVerik Posted: January 29, 2012 at 07:29 PM (#4048891)

I was thinking that an organization looks at statements like these as unacceptable truth-telling, and may not hire Konerko for a FO or even a coaching position because of it. I think Reinsdorf will put up with it from a player, but may not deal with it so well from a AAA manager or something.

16. cardsfanboy

Posted: January 29, 2012 at 07:54 PM (#4048899)

I also think it's interesting that a player nearing the end of his career is saying stuff that might disqualify him from an organizational job.

In that organization? isn't that a prerequisite for a job there?

Agree with post 10, how can any team with Ozzie as manager be considered dull and boring(heck I might for the first time in my life root for the Marlins, a team I despise)

17. asinwreck Posted: January 29, 2012 at 08:13 PM (#4048904)

It's interesting to hear a player say in public that his team's playoff appearance was basically due to good fortune and lucky timing.

I recall hearing Konerko remark (either during or soon after the World Series parade) that the 2005 team didn't necessarily have more talent than the other contenders, but they all got hot at the right time.

18. Sox Machine Posted: January 29, 2012 at 08:37 PM (#4048915)

I also think it's interesting that a player nearing the end of his career is saying stuff that might disqualify him from an organizational job.

As long as Jerry Reinsdorf is alive, he won't have to worry.

19. Lassus Posted: January 29, 2012 at 11:08 PM (#4049005)

a perfect game,

Followed by six perfect innings in his next game. Two perfect games in a row would have been awful for poor Johnny Vandermeer's legacy.

20. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: January 29, 2012 at 11:38 PM (#4049014)

I also think it's interesting that a player nearing the end of his career is saying stuff that might disqualify him from an organizational job.

Hell, he could be manager in 2-3 seasons.

21. The Tarp That Ate Vince Coleman Posted: January 30, 2012 at 12:02 AM (#4049024)

Hell, he could be manager in 2-3 seasons.

Hell, he could be manager 2-3 months into the season.

22. Misirlou's got a busy day, he's wearing a vest Posted: January 30, 2012 at 02:19 AM (#4049049)

I also think it's interesting that a player nearing the end of his career is saying stuff that might disqualify him from an organizational job.

Hell, he could be manager in 2-3 seasons.

Yeah. Paulie's revered in Chicago. it would be beyond stupid for management to reject him based on his comments. he's about to play his 14th consecutive season with the team. You can nearly count the number of Sox to play 14 consecutive seasons with the team on one hand: Appling, Lyons, Faber, Thomas, Fox, Schalk.

23. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: January 30, 2012 at 07:07 AM (#4049068)

After the way the beginning of his career went, I never would have expected Konerko to play fourteen years with one team.

24. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: January 30, 2012 at 08:02 AM (#4049075)

I always work to remind my Reds buddies that their team chose Sean Casey over Konerko

And how did Paulie score only 69 times with a .388 OBP and over 50 extra base hits?

Ever notice how Konerko has relatively low strikeout totals for a power hitter?

25. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: January 30, 2012 at 08:59 AM (#4049082)

Interesting things about Paul Konerko: (well, interesting to me anyway)

Fourth all time in GIDP

Hit more than one triple in a season once, when he hit four in 1999.

Has stolen more than one base in a season once, when he stole 2 in 2008.

I guess these things might explain how a guy only scores 69 runs in a season with Paulie's stats. Ha, ha.

Depending on whose WAR total you believe Konerko has a total less than 30 at age 35 and with counting stats that look good.

26. Greg (U)K Posted: January 30, 2012 at 09:04 AM (#4049083)

I've got Konerko as roughly equivalent with Tino Martinez and Andres Galarraga. With a shot at Wally Joyner or Derrek Lee if he keeps up his late career peak.

Though in terms of style of 1B Galarraga and Konerko have to be pretty far apart.

27. Dag Nabbit apealing [sic] his own check swing Posted: January 30, 2012 at 10:03 AM (#4049100)

Fourth all time in GIDP

Wow! Really?

(checks)

Oh, not quite really. 4th among active players. 30th all-time, tied w/ Bill Buckner and Pete Rose.

You can nearly count the number of Sox to play 14 consecutive seasons with the team on one hand: Appling, Lyons, Faber, Thomas, Fox, Schalk.

On the CWS all-time franchise leaderboard, Konerko is:

- 4th in games played. Barring injury, he'll pass up Frank Thomas for 3rd this year.

- Also 4th in PA. Not likely to pass Thomas this year.

- 3rd in AB. (With exactly five more than Frank).

- 5th in runs scored

- 5th in hits.

- 3rd in total bases. Just nine behind Luke Appling for 2nd.

- 3rd in doubles

- 2nd in homers

- 2nd in RBIs

- 4th in walks

- 2nd in strikeouts - but barring injury he'll become #1 in franchise history this year, as he's just 24 behind Frank Thomas

- 7th in singles

- Tied for 157th in triples. Tied w/ Jermaine Dye & D'Angelo Jimenez, among others.

28. Russ Posted: January 30, 2012 at 10:20 AM (#4049104)

To put it in perspective, Konerko's first season as a White Sox player was Wade Boggs' last season. Konerko is, indeed, a True White Sox.

29. Dag Nabbit apealing [sic] his own check swing Posted: January 30, 2012 at 11:12 AM (#4049141)

When the Sox traded for Konerko, Pretty Fly for a Whtie Guy, What It's Like, and You Get What You Give were newly released singles. Homer J. Simpson didn't know what his middle name was, Stokely Carmichael was still alive, and Angie Harmon was getting settled in on Law & Order. It was just a month after Walter Cronkite broadcast John Glenn going into space. Brian Giles was in the Indians system. Konerko's trade to the White Sox was the same day the Dodgers traded Bobby Bonilla to the Mets for Mel Rojas.

He played his first game for the White Sox the same week The Matrix hit the theaters, and shortly before Peter Griffin bribed Meg to take the blame for ruining the town's satellite dish.

30. JJ1986 Posted: January 30, 2012 at 11:16 AM (#4049149)

When the Sox traded for Konerko, Pretty Fly for a Whtie Guy, What It's Like, and You Get What You Give were newly released singles. Homer J. Simpson didn't know what his middle name was, Stokely Carmichael was still alive, and Angie Harmon was getting settled in on Law & Order.

and Jamie Moyer was a spry 36 years old.

31. Bob Evans Posted: January 30, 2012 at 03:54 PM (#4049626)

If that's dull then there's probably about 20 teams that have been completely unwatchable in this time frame.

The occasional exciting moment doesn't make up for all the ABs given to Beckhams and Ozunas and other assorted Schmendriks over that time frame.

Guillen was a brighter spot in his way, but he didn't exactly liven up what was going on on the field.

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Cowley: Amid White Sox’ empty optimism, Paul Konerko can’t help telling it like it is

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