LaRoche early favorite to replace Konerko as White Sox leader
For the last six years, you'd walk into the White Sox' spring clubhouse in Glendale, Ariz., glance to the corner locker on the left and see a very familiar face - Paul Konerko.
This spring, Konerko is missing.
One of the best hitters in franchise history - and the Sox' undisputed leader for the past decade - Konerko retired in September after 18 major-league seasons, the final 16 spent on the South Side.
Word around camp is Konerko will not be making the relatively short drive from his Scottsdale home to Glendale during spring training, and he's not likely to resurface again until the White Sox retire his uniform No. 14 at U.S. Cellular Field on May 23.
"He's looking down on us," center fielder Adam Eaton joked at Camelback Ranch last week. "He's doing all right. I talked to him a couple weeks ago and he's staying busy with the kids, he's enjoying his time."
After spending so much of his life playing baseball, Konerko has earned the right to kick back and enjoy the down time.
As for the Sox, it's been business as usual without Konerko. They are getting ready for the upcoming season and after adding so many veterans this winter, the White Sox are not overly worried about finding a leader to replace Konerko.
Look in the corner of the White Sox' clubhouse this spring, and you'll find Adam LaRoche occupying Konerko's old quarters.
Signed to a two-year, $25 million contract in November, LaRoche is the oldest Sox player at 35. His personality has also been compared to Jim Thome, so it's easy to understand why he's being viewed as a leader.
"You know, I'm fine with it," LaRoche said last week. "The leadership role is interesting because I don't know if you can walk in anywhere and be considered a leader. That's something that's earned. And it's no different here regardless of how old you are or how many years you've played.
"If I end up in that spot, great. I've been there before and I love it. I love being the guy that people come to when things are going on, whether it's on the field or off the field. Anything in general."
White Sox manager Robin Ventura expects LaRoche to be a big leader from the start of Cactus League play Wednesday to the end of the season.
"Everybody has heard about him and every team he has played on has said he has great leadership skills," Ventura said. "Knowing him, his style is more of leadership by example, and he'll say things that need to be said and he's up front. He's not a screamer by any means but he's a guy that guys kind of gravitate to just because of his demeanor and how he goes about his work and what he does."
Holdovers Jose Abreu, Chris Sale and Adam Eaton are also viewed as up-and-coming leaders, and new starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija brings instant fire into the Sox' clubhouse.
Abreu is trying to learn how to speak English, but his presence alone already commands respect.
"My English is not good and of course, I need it to be a leader in the clubhouse," Abreu said through an interpreter. "But the American guys always try to understand me and I always try to understand them with my signals or my hands or sometimes with the help of (catcher Adrian) Nieto. I just hope that in the future, I can learn more and can express myself in the language."