So I am going to be the bad guy here. I hate that if I decide to go to games in September, Paul Konerko might be playing. I was adamantly against PK coming back this year and I've been proven right on that. He's terrible. I'd much rather Dunn be in the lineup, even if a LHP is throwing. At least Dunn might hit a HR. Also, even if Dunn is gone there are other guys much more deserving of the plate appearances. Andy Wilkins, Viciedo, Michael Taylor, and Avi Garcia should be getting the at-bats in September. For as good of a player as Paul Konerko has been in his White Sox career, I was never one to go to the games just because he was playing. Frank Thomas? Absolutely. Not for Konerko though. At least it's football season.

I know little about Andy Wilkins, but I have zero interest in seeing him take major league at bats. As long as he doesn't take away at bats from Abreu, which he hasn't, I have no problem with Konerko seeing a lot of playing time in September.

I know little about Andy Wilkins, but I have zero interest in seeing him take major league at bats. As long as he doesn't take away at bats from Abreu, which he hasn't, I have no problem with Konerko seeing a lot of playing time in September.

 

 

Why though? It doesn't make any sense. Do you enjoy seeing guys who are a shell of what they once were flailing at pitches and grounding out weakly to the SS?

Konerko is the least of the Sox problems. He's had 157 at bats and 21 RBIs. He hasn't gotten in the way at all. You have the right to say whatever you want, but he deserves to go out however he wants to go out. This franchise hasn't exactly had a lot of historical highlights. He's been one of the brightest spots in bleak franchise history. If Sox continue to suck, I hope he gets to play all he wants in September.

 

I re-read your post and there's so much wrong about it. Adam Dunn over Konerko? You'd rather see that in September than historic at bats from Paulie, a WS champ? I disagree. I'd get goosbumps watching Paulie at the Cell in September instead of Adam Dunn for gosh sakes.

Edited August 9, 201411 yr by greg775

Hasn't Konerko been one of the better pinch hitters in baseball this year?

If the Sox were competitive I'd probably be annoyed at seeing Konerko get playing time over someone more productive. But since Rick Hahn is sitting around with his thumb up his ass and Paul's one of my all-time favorite players and the captain of the only Sox WS team in my lifetime, I'm happy to watch him get some props. He's not taking up valuable space.

Konerko is the least of the Sox problems. He's had 157 at bats and 21 RBIs. He hasn't gotten in the way at all. You have the right to say whatever you want, but he deserves to go out however he wants to go out. This franchise hasn't exactly had a lot of historical highlights. He's been one of the brightest spots in bleak franchise history. If Sox continue to suck, I hope he gets to play all he wants in September.

 

I re-read your post and there's so much wrong about it. Adam Dunn over Konerko? You'd rather see that in September than historic at bats from Paulie, a WS champ? I disagree. I'd get goosbumps watching Paulie at the Cell in September instead of Adam Dunn for gosh sakes.

So in a full season of 600 PA's he'd have fewer than 80 RBI if he kept producing at that same pace, and those 21 RBI are while being used in a mostly platoon role to make sure he's not overmatched so it doesn't even scale that well?

 

Because that's really not all that good.

Hasn't Konerko been one of the better pinch hitters in baseball this year?

He's 8/23 pinch hitting, good for a decent average but putting up a .776 OPS and 3 RBI in pinch hitting roles. That's one of the top averages amongst guys with 25 pinch hit appearances but closer to adequate with the OPS. He might have been useful on an NL team if he could have done that for a few more PA's, but nothing to get excited about.

I'm ready to dump Dunn and just let Kong play out the season.

 

I'm gonna go to the last home game, assuming he's playing.

Why though? It doesn't make any sense. Do you enjoy seeing guys who are a shell of what they once were flailing at pitches and grounding out weakly to the SS?

 

By all accounts Wilkins will do the exact same. I was actually against the Konerko signing from day one, usually don't care for the nostalgic stuff. At this point though, if he's not blocking anyone important and Dunn doesn't need to be showcased, let him have a few last games in the lineup, maybe he'll have a special moment to remember.

I'm ready to dump Dunn and just let Kong play out the season.

 

I'm gonna go to the last home game, assuming he's playing.

I'd be quite happy to dump Dunn and give Wilkins at bats, but I don't really want to watch Konerko put up his .164 average and Leury Garcia-worthy .473 OPS against righties.

He's 8/23 pinch hitting, good for a decent average but putting up a .776 OPS and 3 RBI in pinch hitting roles. That's one of the top averages amongst guys with 25 pinch hit appearances but closer to adequate with the OPS. He might have been useful on an NL team if he could have done that for a few more PA's, but nothing to get excited about.

That is amongst the league leaders in pinch hitting and pretty good from an OPS. Again, proving the point that he has been a very good pinch hitter. That is very good production off the bench. Ventura should be using him more often in that role. Heck, look at how Giambi was able to extend his career with some good pinch hitting production over the past couple of years.

So in a full season of 600 PA's he'd have fewer than 80 RBI if he kept producing at that same pace, and those 21 RBI are while being used in a mostly platoon role to make sure he's not overmatched so it doesn't even scale that well?

 

Because that's really not all that good.

 

A devil's advocate would say he's shown enough he's still got some ability and would have a fine season if give a ton of at bats. Paulie's only problem is his legs. He's so slow it's forced him out of baseball. I've seen him turn on some pitches this year and bash them. His final season has been OK. He's not embarrassing himself like poor Pudge Fisk did at the end. It's not hurting anybody playing Paulie the last six weeks. The team is crap and Paulie is harmless.

That is amongst the league leaders in pinch hitting and pretty good from an OPS. Again, proving the point that he has been a very good pinch hitter. That is very good production off the bench. Ventura should be using him more often in that role.

"Amongst the league leaders" = 8th out of 28 guys with that many PA's. He's at the 75th percentile. The 75th percentile for batting average, for example, is hitting .278.

 

That's decent but the language is being stretched to compliment him.

A devil's advocate would say he's shown enough he's still got some ability and would have a fine season if give a ton of at bats. Paulie's only problem is his legs. He's so slow it's forced him out of baseball. I've seen him turn on some pitches this year and bash them. His final season has been OK. He's not embarrassing himself like poor Pudge Fisk did at the end. It's not hurting anybody playing Paulie the last six weeks. The team is crap and Paulie is harmless.

Paulie's biggest problem by far is that he's Leury Garcia against right handed pitching. He would absolutely be embarrassing himself if he had to face righties more often.

Paulie's biggest problem by far is that he's Leury Garcia against right handed pitching. He would absolutely be embarrassing himself if he had to face righties more often.

 

He's a better hitter than Leury Garcia, better than Beckham. He's not the worst hitter on the team by a long shot. Who would you rather see bat the final six weeks? Paulie or Dunn? If I could pay my 60 bucks and go to a Sox game in a halfway decent seat in September, it would be an easy answer: Paul Konerko.

Edited August 9, 201411 yr by greg775

I think Konerko will be our next manager.

I think Konerko will be our next manager.

Nah. The Sox can't keep naming former players.

He's a better hitter than Leury Garcia, better than Beckham. He's not the worst hitter on the team by a long shot. Who would you rather see bat the final six weeks? Paulie or Dunn?

Paul Konerko's numbers against right handed pitching are very, very close to Leury Garcia. Denying that doesn't change it.

 

If there is a righty on the mound, I have no urge to see Konerko. I don't need another Leury Garcia in the lineup.

He's a better hitter than Leury Garcia, better than Beckham. He's not the worst hitter on the team by a long shot. Who would you rather see bat the final six weeks? Paulie or Dunn? If I could pay my 60 bucks and go to a Sox game in a halfway decent seat in September, it would be an easy answer: Paul Konerko.

 

That's because you love Paul Konerko and hate Adam Dunn. If you wanted to see the best hitters hit, then you would want Konerko against lefties and Dunn against righties.

Dunn's hitting .157 vs. lefties with two homers I believe. It's not so easy. He has 17 homers and 44 RBIs all season. Where's the clamor to not let Dunn play any more? Not talking to Balta but all the Paulie 'dislikers' (people don't like when I say haters).

There was a CSN article recently that said he seems like a future manager and all the players treat him like one.

Dunn's hitting .157 vs. lefties with two homers I believe. It's not so easy. He has 17 homers and 44 RBIs all season. Where's the clamor to not let Dunn play any more? Not talking to Balta but all the Paulie 'dislikers' (people don't like when I say haters).

I think Adam Dunn should be on Oakland by now and Andy Wilkins should be up getting his at bats. If the Sox have to chip in a couple million for it to happen it should have been done already and I can't figure out why it isn't.

There was a CSN article recently that said he seems like a future manager and all the players treat him like one.

Nice. Then bring him on staff as soon as next year. I could handle Paulie as bench coach or third base coach.

Nice. Then bring him on staff as soon as next year. I could handle Paulie as bench coach or third base coach.

If he wants to manage long term, before the Sox hire him I'd prefer to see him take at least a year off to actually spend time with his family and take a break after a nearly 20 year career counting time in the minors. That way, at least he's had some time to think about whether he wants to get back into a locker room full time after a breather.

 

I would definitely like him to spend time as a coach somewhere before the Sox make him their manager. Even if its behind a novice.