For now, Konerko remains in Sox' lineup

MINNEAPOLIS - When asked if he planned to bench or play struggling first baseman Paul Konerko after Tuesday night's loss to the Twins, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he'd have to get drunk before making a decision.

Whether he actually did turn to liquid inspiration, Guillen left Konerko in the lineup Wednesday.

"Well, you know what I mean, (Tuesday) he swung the bat good,'' Guillen said. "With the game he had last night, hopefully he gets on the right track. He's trying to hit the ball up the middle again, and hopefully he continues to do that.''

Konerko singled in his final trip to the plate Tuesday and hit the ball hard before that while lining out to second base.

On Wednesday, the White Sox' captain was 1-for-4 with a walk, lifting his average from .213 to .214.

Before the game, Konerko had little to say about his situation.

"I don't read the newspapers,'' Konerko said. "I'm not going to talk about all of this. I'm just coming here to play every day, play hard. That's it. I've got no real comment on anything.''

Many Sox fans are fed up with Konerko and hope he gets traded before today's nonwaiver deadline.

There was a rumor that Konerko would be headed back home in a deal to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but his value is low now, he has two years and $24 million left on his contract and he's a 10-and-5 player (10 years in the major leagues, five with the same team).

If there was a trade on the table, Konerko would have to OK it. If Konerko is benched, Guillen has indicated it would be for more than one game.

"I think P.K. needs rest, mentally,'' Guillen said. "If we bench him for a while, just to give him rest, just put stuff back together and take extra hitting and stick with one thing, that's the only way we're going to bench him.''