Rongey: Never fun to see baseball season end

Recently, I wrote that it's a bit of a shame football season begins right around the time baseball playoff races intensify, thus taking attention away from the greatest time of the year in my favorite sport. This week is going to confirm that with three division races undecided and an American League wild card that may not be sorted out until the final Sunday, if even then. With any luck, we'll be treated to an extra day.

It also means baseball is almost over.

For a team like the White Sox that will miss the postseason for the sixth straight year, it's especially disappointing. I often hear from fans who can't endure the agony of a losing season and who welcome its merciful end. While I completely understand that way of thinking, I don't feel the same.

I don't really want it to end. I like it when it's baseball season, regardless of how disappointing it's been.

The feeling I have for the baseball season is similar to the one I have about the city of Chicago and what it has to offer: thousands of restaurants, special events, and fascinating history. I love this city and the knowledge that there are options; that any day of the week, I can do just about anything. Admittedly, I may not always make the most of that (sometimes that couch looks pretty great). In fact, I probably don't do it nearly enough, but it's the knowledge that those options are available.

Likewise with baseball. I like knowing it's there. It's not so much the same for me anymore because I'm lucky enough to work around the game and I get to see it every day, so it's never in the back of my mind. It's right up front. But I always enjoyed the feeling that, even if I hadn't been to the ballpark in a while, I knew it was there in case I wanted it.

There's comfort in that.

The same could be said about Paul Konerko, who will play his final games this week. It's been easy not to pay attention in 2014 since the season has gone the way it has and with his underwhelming production. And even though this year has slowly weaned us off Konerko with the White Sox, given his sporadic playing time, 2015 will be odd that he's not even on the bench.

Next year, he won't even be an option.

Even if you've been prepared for White Sox life after Konerko, his absence will be more strange than you think. After all, we've been used to seeing him in the lineup regularly for the last 16 years and he's been a part of some of the biggest moments in franchise history. (I still can't get enough of watching cruddy-quality cellphone videos of his Game 2 slam in the 2005 World Series).

So, this week, enjoy it for what it is: the last week of baseball in Chicago for six months, because you won't have the option again until April. And with Konerko, spend this week appreciating a fine career because there's no way to predict when another "King" might come along.

• Chris Rongey is the host of the White Sox pregame and postgame shows on WSCR 670-AM The Score. Follow him on Twitter@ChrisRongey and at chrisrongey.com.