Konerko starting to click

The Ken Griffey deal was a sure sign that the White Sox couldn't wait any longer for Paul Konerko to get it going.

But you get the feeling that despite the proactive move, the Sox are going to need Konerko before this is over.

And while some may have written him off, Konerko's hitting coach isn't one of them.

Greg Walker believes the longtime White Sox star will be heard from, and in such a way that Konerko might forget the last four months of misery.

"When Paulie looks at the back of his baseball card, this isn't going to be one of those years he'll be happy about,'' Walker said. "But the good part for him is there's two months left and playoffs, and he can do some things in the next two months that help us get in, and then he can help us in the postseason.

"And then when he looks back at this year, that's what he'll remember about it.''

Walker is certain Konerko's got a lot left to give the Sox.

"He's done it before on the biggest stage there is, and he's healthy and working very hard, maybe harder than he ever has,'' Walker said. "He knows what's at stake. He knows he has a chance to win.''

Konerko looked very good at the plate in Thursday night's loss to Detroit, hitting the ball hard four times, picking up 3 hits, a double, a run scored, and he should have had a pair of RBI.

It was only his second 3-hit game of the season, and first since July 12, when he went 4-for-4 at Texas.

"I'm just trying to win again,'' Konerko said. "It's that simple. You don't take for granted these chances.

"We've had good teams here and haven't gotten in, and not everyone here's had a chance to play in October.

"I have, and I want to again. I know what it feels like. I want to get back and I want to win it again.''

The way his teammates mobbed him after he singled and scored in the sixth tells you how hard they're rooting for Konerko.

"I love it. Everyone's excited for him,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He seemed more relaxed at the plate.''

At this point, that might be Konerko's greatest battle.

"I know he's in a tough spot mentally, because we've all been there,'' Walker said. "He's been a heck of a player in this league for a long time, and he puts a lot of pressure on himself to be a guy who leads this team.

"But if you're going to be in the big leagues 10 or 12 years, you're going to have some years, some clunkers, every now and then.

"He's still fighting, and he's gotten some big hits for us lately. The key is not giving in and I don't believe Paulie will do that. I think he'll have something to say before it's over.''

If Thursday's any indication, Konerko's bat is beginning to speak volumes.

Presidential answer

After offering the President of the United States an autographed ball about a month ago, John Danks received a reply this week in the form of a handwritten, signed note, complete with the official seal of the president.

"He thanked me for the ball and said he watched me pitch against Texas (July 12),'' said a beaming Danks. "He wished me luck in my career and passed along his best wishes to my dad and my family.

"I'm afraid to take it home because I figure the safest place for it is my locker until I can get it back to Texas and get it framed.''

Danks gets hundreds of letters a month, but he didn't expect the large envelope with a return address that said "White House.''

"You just think, 'Why me?' You might expect that for guys like (Junior) Griffey or (Jim) Thome. Those guys are huge. I'm a relatively unproven guy at this stage of my career,'' Danks said. "The fact that he follows my career is pretty special and I still don't quite believe it.''

Now, at least, he's got a letter to prove it.

For starters

Javy Vazquez continues to be an enigma, possessing some of the best talent in the game, and yet is still so unpredictable.

He has won only once since June 17 after another thoroughly uninspiring performance Thursday night when the Sox failed to complete the sweep against Detroit.

Vazquez (8-10) is 1-5 in his last 8 starts with a 5.88 ERA.

The quote

Ozzie Guillen on who plays and when in the new rotation of veterans: "The players know I have a job to do. It's not easy deciding (who sits out), but that's what they pay me for. I'm not here to make people happy. I'll go with the best lineup. If anyone has a problem with that, my door's open.''

Nice gesture

Recent Hall of Fame inductee Goose Gossage threw out the first pitch, and White Sox closer Bobby Jenks presented Gossage with a framed reproduction of three 1972 box scores, marking his first game (April 16), victory (May 29) and save (June 7).

The last was a 3-inning appearance in which he faced Boston's Luis Aparicio and Carlton Fisk.

And finally -

Ozzie Guillen on his two-game suspension, and the vacation he has had since Sunday: "Two days away from this and I feel 10 years younger.''

brozner@dailyherald.com