Konerko, White Sox just keep rolling
Paul Konerko is really starting to make one of the most difficult challenges in sports look like child’s play.
“I asked him today if he’s getting bored because he looks like he’s just, ‘Today, I’ll take a single here,’” Adam Dunn said. “It’s unbelievable what he’s doing. He’s not only driving the ball, he’s hitting homers and doubles. It seems like everything he hits, it’s just fun to watch. It’s impressive.”
If you get 3 hits for every 10 at-bats in the major leagues, you are likely going to the All-Star Game.
Getting 4 hits for every 10 trips to the plate puts you in a completely different stratosphere, and that’s where Konerko has been hovering for much of the season.
Long one of the most underrated hitters in the game, Konerko continued to garner national attention as the red-hot White Sox completed a three-game sweep over the AL Central leading Indians on Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field.
After going 2-for-4 and hitting a 3-run homer off Cleveland starter Ubaldo Jimenez to carry the Sox to a 12-6 victory, Konerko is batting .399.
But if you are waiting for the 36-year-old first baseman to start taking bows and tell everybody how good he is, it’s never going to happen.
“The numbers will change,” Konerko said, not even bothering to note Ted Williams (.406) was baseball’s last .400 hitter — in 1941.
“They are always going to be in and out,” Konerko continued. “But hopefully you show up and do the same work and prepare the same way. That’s something you can control, and that’s what I’m focusing on.
“Inevitably, there are corrections and there are things evening out both ways. Again, you are trying to come in and work the same way every day and not pay attention to the numbers. You pay attention to the approach and the work.”
It is impossible not to pay attention to Konerko’s numbers right now — he is batting a ridiculous .565 (26-for-46) with 4 doubles, 5 home runs and 15 RBI during a 13-game hitting streak.
Konerko also hit his 400th career home run in a White Sox uniform Sunday.
One more thing — he should have been 3-for-4 Sunday, but Konerko’s bloop single to right field with the bases loaded and no outs in the first inning wound up going as a fielder’s choice RBI when Adam was forced out at second base.
“I’m sad that I’m keeping him from hitting .400,” Dunn cracked.
There was plenty of joy — if not many fans — at the Cell this weekend, and the rest of the Sox’ offense seems to be feeding off Konerko.
While pulling one-half game of the AL Central lead, the White Sox outscored the Indians 35-16. They have scored 9 or more runs in four straight games for the first time since 1938.
What a remarkable surge for the White Sox.
“It’s just nice to see us get going,” Gordon Beckham said after tying his career high with 4 hits. “We’ve got a lot of talent. It’s nice to have that all come out at the same time, it seems like, or a lot of it at least. That’s cool.”
Konerko and the Sox are destined to cool off at some point, as early as this week’s three-game series at Tampa Bay. Until that happens, they are enjoying the ride.
“It’s always hard to keep this pace, but it’s the work for me, how they go about it,” manager Robin Ventura said. “They’re not always going to score in double digits. The way they’re doing it is what I’m more impressed by. It’s the work they do and then taking it in the field.
“Guys are swinging good. It keeps going. Every guy wants to go up there and contribute. Those are good at-bats. It just continues. I think every guy is going up there with a good approach.”
sgregor@dailyherald.com