Slow start not fazing Konerko
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Paul Konerko has been around too long to sweat a slow start.
"You always want to do well,'' said the White Sox' captain. "You just have to realize the season's long. I've been down that road before where you just grind. Two bad months, two good months and two great months usually make up a good season.
"You wish you could pick and choose sometimes how you do it, but the bottom line is it is what it is. You just say, 'It starts tonight.' That's it. There are no secrets. There are no magic solutions.''
Maybe Friday was the night Konerko's been waiting for. Batting just .176 entering the Sox' game against the Rays, the 32-year-old first baseman hit a solo home run in the third inning and was also hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth while going 1-for-4.
Konerko (.182) is no stranger to all-or-nothing Aprils. Last year, he hit .198 during the opening month. In 2006, Konerko batted .360 in April. He hit .218 in 2005 and .298 in '04.
"This time of the year, numbers for a pitcher or a hitter, whatever, get really skewed,'' Konerko said. "But that can get skewed the other way. It's one of those things where you know you're going to be all right, but you'd also like to get it going without pressing.
"I'm getting into some good counts; I just have to finish it off with either a walk or a hit. I've been through it a million times in the big leagues, when I was in the minor leagues. Just fight through it.''
Take a seat: After starting the first 15 games of the season, third baseman Joe Crede got Friday's game off.
"It's a hard playing surface here,'' Crede said of the turf at Tropicana Field. "It's more precautionary than anything. I'll be back in there tomorrow.''
Crede has shown no signs of being slowed by June back surgery while batting .304 with 5 home runs and 18 RBI.
"Everything's been feeling good,'' Crede said.
Owens in limbo: Jerry Owens (partially torn right adductor) was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list Friday, but the center fielder is staying put at Class AAA Charlotte.
It's a tough break for Owens, who was expected to be the White Sox' starter this season before injuring the adductor in spring training.
The Sox are thrilled with Nick Swisher in center, and they have Alexei Ramirez and Brian Anderson in reserve roles.
"We're playing well and we're not going to break the ballclub because somebody is ready to go,'' said manager Ozzie Guillen. "Would we like to have Jerry Owens? Obviously. But the people here are doing their job and I think that's important.''
Change it up: With another off day coming Monday, the White Sox are planning on starting Jose Contreras against the New York Yankees at home Tuesday, followed by Javier Vazquez and Gavin Floyd.
The Sox want to keep Vazquez on his regular schedule, so Floyd is being pushed back a day.
Clear the bench: In the fifth inning of Friday's blowout win over the Rays, manager Ozzie Guillen pulled regulars Orlando Cabrera and Nick Swisher.
Alexei Ramirez replaced Cabrera and made his first appearance of the season at shortstop. Anderson took over for Swisher in center field.