Konerko’s Hitting in Clutch Has Been Like Money in Bank

Paul Konerko has become a money player--when he gets paid, that is. Collecting an IOU isn’t always easy.

Konerko, like the rest of the Chicago White Sox, was sweating out a recent game against the Oakland Athletics. David Wells, the White Sox’s frustrated starting pitcher, finally blurted out that he’d pay a $1,000 for a game-winning hit.

Turned out to be a good investment but a bad bet.

Konerko launched an 11th-inning home run to give the White Sox a 2-1 victory, ending a four-game losing streak.

His payoff: zilch.

Wells found a loophole.

“He didn’t come through because he wasn’t the pitcher of record,” Konerko said, laughing.

Not that Konerko minds losing out on a supplement to the $2.3 million he will make this season. He just relished another opportunity to be a money player.

It has been three years since the Dodgers sent Konerko to Cincinnati Reds. The following season, Konerko was sent to the White Sox, where he has become a player to bank on.

“Paul is becoming one of the top money players in the league,” White Sox Manager Jerry Manuel said. “Even last year in clutch situations, he comes up with the big hits. He thrives in clutch situations.”

This season, Konerko is the one of the few players on which the struggling White Sox have been able to rely. He extended his hitting streak to 14 games Wednesday against the Angels with a double that gave him his eighth run batted in in his last 10 games. Coming into the game, he was hitting .330 with five home runs.

He had 24 home runs and drove in 81 runs in 1999. Last season, he had 21 home runs and drove in 97 runs, while playing most of the season with a cracked bone in his left foot.

“I’m proud of the fact that I played hurt, rather than sitting out,” Konerko said. “I’d rather do bad and play than sit out. It’s a stat you really can’t keep.”

Konerko has piled up plenty of numbers that are kept. In fact, hurt or not, he was a big reason the White Sox won the American League Central Division last season.

“As far as going out every day, driving runs, be an everyday player in the big leagues, I always thought I could live up to that,” Konerko said.

That wasn’t possible with the Dodgers, who already had Eric Karros at first base. Konerko was traded to Cincinnati in the deal that brought closer Jeff Shaw to the Dodgers. During the offseason, the Reds traded Konerko to Chicago for outfielder Mike Cameron.

“It’s a numbers game sometimes,” Konerko said. “Other people are kind of controlling your life. It could come down to one guy’s opinion, what he thinks. There’s definitely a worry there and it’s always in the back of your mind. You can’t let it drive you nuts. You just have to go out do the best you can.”

That happened when Konerko hooked up with White Sox hitting instructor Von Joshua.

“He fought me at first,” Joshua said. “Paul has his own mind. He was tough at first. He was in a mind-set. He was going to pull everything. But once he had some success using the entire field, it was easy. He’s matured.”

Into a money hitter.

On Sunday against Seattle, Wells and pitcher James Baldwin each offered $500 for a game-winning hit. Konerko singled home Magglio Ordonez in the 14th inning for a 2-1 victory, ending a three-game losing streak.

This time there was a payoff. Konerko split the purse with Ordonez. And everyone was happy. Well, almost everyone.

Said Joshua: “Doesn’t the hitting instructor get a little of that?”