Start at shortstop historic one for White Sox' Vizquel

DETROIT - Give Omar Vizquel all of the credit.

And give Tigers all-star Miguel Cabrera the assist.

Before Monday's game against the White Sox at Comerica Park, Cabrera told Omer Munoz, the White Sox' acting first-base coach, that Vizquel was on the verge of making history.

The 43-year-old Vizquel proceeded to play in his 2,832nd major-league game, the most ever by a player born outside of the United States.

Vizquel, a native of Venezuela, had been tied with Rafael Palmeiro for the all-time lead.

"It's hard to believe through all these years - I look back on my career and it seems like I just started playing five years ago," said Vizquel, who broke in with the Seattle Mariners in 1989.

"All of a sudden you find yourself with a lot of games on you, a lot of hits, a lot of records, and I'm feeling very proud because I never thought I'd be in the big leagues for this long.

"And it's been a very great road for me. Each year was a different challenge, and I take pride because you never know what could happen to you, or an injury or you can't rebound and play again.

"So it takes a lot of hours and experience to know your body to be in the place that I am today."

Vizquel has been playing third base for the White Sox since the beginning of June, but Monday he was at shortstop, his natural position.

"There's not many shortstops that get to play that position at 43," Vizquel said. "I'm happy that I'm still able to do that. Even though I had two knee surgeries, I'm still able to come back out of that and keep myself in shape to play this year."

Konerko sits out: Paul Konerko was held out of Monday's game with lower-back discomfort, but the Sox' MVP candidate doesn't think he will be out very long.

"It's still stiff, but it's not a concern like I'm injured or worried about it," Konerko said. "I had a stiff neck earlier in the year; it's like you know you'll get it out of the way and get it out of there.

"It's just makes you kind of restricted and bound up. I guess that doubleheader (against the Red Sox on Saturday), it just got a hold of me."

Konerko knew his back wasn't right Sunday, but he played at Boston and was 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts before giving way to pinch hitter Andruw Jones in the ninth inning.

"I knew when I left the park (Saturday) it was going to be a battle to play (Sunday)," Konerko said. "I tried to get as good as I could. I knew going into that game that this was a smoke-and-mirrors job.

"I went there for 4 at-bats and they probably could have got some guy out of the stands and gotten the same results."

Konerko said he should be ready to play Tuesday night.

"I'm planning on playing," Konerko said. "My thoughts are to play unless I walk in here and something tells me otherwise. If for some reason it wasn't tomorrow, it would be the next day. I'm shooting for tomorrow for sure."

Starters set: Manager Ozzie Guillen said Freddy Garcia is going to start against the Tigers on Tuesday night.

Garcia exited his last outing (Wednesday at Cleveland) after 4 innings with a stiff lower back.

On Wednesday, John Danks comes back on three days' rest to start against Detroit.

Danks started Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader Saturday at Boston and threw 103 pitches. Gavin Floyd, who threw 115 pitches against the Red Sox in Game 2, starts against the Tigers on Thursday.

"Danks threw less pitches (than Floyd) the last outing, that's why we're going to put him there," Guillen said. "We're going to watch him very close."