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By NANCY ARMOUR AP Sports Writer TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The Chicago White Sox can put Paul Konerko anywhere. First base, third base or somewhere in between, he doesn't really care. After wearing three different uniforms during the last two seasons, he's just glad to be playing. ``If they think it makes the team better, I'm cool with it,'' he said. ``I'm not going to complain if they want me to play a different position than I did last year. As long as I'm still in the lineup.'' Konerko split time at first base and designated hitter last season, his first with the White Sox. This year, manager Jerry Manuel wants him to play a few games at third. He probably won't spend a lot of time on the left side of the field. Frank Thomas prefers playing DH over first base, though he'll probably be used at first when Chicago plays interleague games in National League cities. ``It's kind of an adjustment after playing one position last year,'' said Konerko, who played catcher, third, first and outfield in the minors. ``I'm mentally stable enough to handle the load.'' After 1998, Konerko is strong enough to handle just about anything. The 24-year-old was the Los Angeles Dodgers' first-round pick — 13th overall — in the 1994 amateur draft. He quickly worked his way up through the minors and in 1997, Baseball America and Baseball Weekly selected him minor league player of the year after he hit .323 with 37 homers and 127 RBIs in Triple-A. He was called up for six games at the end of 1997, making his first start in the season finale. When opening day 1998 rolled around, Konerko was the Dodgers' starting first baseman. But Konerko got caught in a numbers game, and his production suffered. ``In the National League, if you don't bring some other things to the table like speed or a great arm, they have a tendency to be impatient with you as a position guy,'' Manuel said. ``He got to the major leagues very quickly, and then wasn't playing on a consistent basis. That's a difficult thing for a young player to handle.'' Konerko, who thought he'd spend his entire career in Dodger blue, was traded to Cincinnati on July 4. But the Reds didn't have room for him, either, and they sent him to Triple-A just 25 days after the trade. He was traded to the White Sox after the season. ``A lot of people say, `Oh, first-rounder. ...' I earned my way up the whole way,'' Konerko said. ``I had above-average, MVP numbers (in 1997) and even that wasn't good enough for the team I'm with. So now that I'm here, I really appreciate it. I work harder now than I did when I was coming up.'' Konerko was one of the bright spots last year for the White Sox, who finished 21 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. He batted .305 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs after the All-Star break. He hit .420 in July alone, third-best in the AL that month. He hit .294 for the year, with 24 homers and 81 RBIs, third-best on the team. ``When he started spraying the ball, I knew we might have a special talent as a hitter,'' Manuel said. That isn't all, though. ``Paul brings leadership and stability,'' Manuel said. ``He's a guy if it ever becomes a problem where Magglio Ordonez or somebody's not protecting Frank, he can do it. He probably has some of the best baseball instincts of anyone we have.'' After such a solid year last year, Konerko feels about as secure in Chicago as a guy who's already played for three teams can. His contract runs through this season, and he'd like to stay with the White Sox. He likes his teammates and he likes the city. Most of all, he likes the faith the organization showed in him. ``They gave me a shot,'' he said. ``They gave me a life when I didn't have one. So I hope I can do well for them. I feel I owe them.'' |