Konerko Happy to Escape

Paul Konerko no longer wears Dodger Blue--and he couldn’t be happier.

Leaving Los Angeles wasn’t his choice, but Konerko said the change has suited him well.

“I’m grateful that I got out of there with only half the season lost,” Konerko said Wednesday night after the Reds’ 4-2 victory in 11 innings over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

“For me, to get out after only half a season, that’s a lot better than some of the other guys. I’m not going to name any names, but you know who they are. They’ve wasted more time than I have [waiting to play every day].”

Konerko is batting .261 (six for 23) with two home runs and four runs batted in since interim General Manager Tom Lasorda traded him, along with rookie pitcher Dennis Reyes, to the Reds on July 4 for closer Jeff Shaw.

The move upset many within the Dodger organization, and Konerko was initially disappointed. But not anymore.

“The thing I’m starting to realize now is that while I was drafted by the Dodgers and grew up with the Los Angeles Dodgers, that’s not the Los Angeles Dodgers now,” Konerko said. “They might as well give them a different name, because it’s not the same.

“I’m not really hurt because I’m not playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. This team, this is not the team I grew up with, so I feel lucky I’m not there anymore. I’m one of the lucky ones, when you think about it.”

Konerko acknowledged that it’s too early to judge the trade, but he also took a thinly veiled shot at Lasorda.

“We all should be held accountable,” Konerko said. “So hopefully the people who made this trade will be held accountable if the time comes.”

*

Reyes was impressive in his second start Tuesday for the Reds’ triple-A team at Indianapolis, giving up two runs and striking out eight in six innings.

The Reds are working on flaws in his mechanics and encouraging Reyes to follow an exercise program designed to increase his stamina.

“We felt that he should have been in double A all of last season and triple A all of this season,” Cincinnati General Manager Jim Bowden said. “There are some things we would like him to work out, and I’d prefer he did it down there.”

Bowden plans to recall Reyes soon.

*

Outfielder Bubba Crosby, the Dodgers’ No. 1 selection in the June free-agent draft, is batting .145 (eight for 55) at Class-A San Bernardino. He has struck out 17 times.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ BRIAN BOHANON (2-5, 3.55 ERA) vs. CARDINALS’ JUAN ACEVEDO (4-2, 3.56 ERA)

Busch Stadium, 5 p.m.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--Bohanon is making his second start since being acquired July 10 from the New York Mets for middle reliever Greg McMichael. The left-hander lost in his debut July 12 against the San Diego Padres, 6-3, giving up four runs--and three home runs--in four innings. Bobby Bonilla did not accompany the team on the trip because he has experienced swelling in his surgically repaired left wrist. Bonilla, who underwent surgery to repair ligament damage in the off-season, was examined Thursday by a team physician and his status will be reevaluated today. There aren’t any active outfielders remaining on the 40-man roster to take Bonilla’s place if he is put on the disabled list.