After delivering clutch hits that landed him the Most Valuable Player Award for the American League Championship Series, White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko flew to Arizona to assist his expectant wife, Jennifer.
Konerko’s wife was expected to deliver the couple’s first child Oct. 31, one day after Game 7 of the World Series. But a five-day break before the Series might have changed the baby’s arrival.
Manager Ozzie Guillen was hopeful Konerko could rejoin the team Thursday but stressed that family comes first.
“When you have that kind of situation, you have to be careful how to handle it,” Guillen said after Wednesday’s workout at U.S. Cellular Field. “You’re talking about somebody’s kid, somebody’s life, a new life coming. The game gives you a lot of nice things, but my kids are going to be there forever.
“I know Paulie will be thinking about the first time in the Series and maybe the last time, and his kid is going to be there forever. It’s a tough situation.”
Konerko earned a $75,000 bonus for being named MVP of the ALCS.
Tribute to 25
Guillen has been named AL manager of the year by the Sporting News. He thanked his players for making it possible.
“The only thing I can say is that it’s a nice trophy, but the players do it for you,” Guillen said. “They did it for me.”
Guillen joked that the award was a hex for managers who eventually get fired.
“He didn’t want the manager of the year award because he said the next year guys get fired,” general manager Ken Williams joked. “So I thanked him for all his services.”
By winning the league title, Guillen will manage the AL All-Star team next July in Pittsburgh. Guillen said he was looking forward to the honor because the game will be played in the town where Latin American star Roberto Clemente excelled.
Guillen acknowledged that he could have handled media scrutiny better this year.
“This year, for me, wasn’t easy,” Guillen said. “Maybe it was my fault. It’s just that you feel you win that many games (99), and all of a sudden you keep getting beat every day, keep fighting and it’s not easy.
“Now the flavor and nice taste of what we did is a nice thing. We worked so hard.”
Memory lane
Usually by this time of year, second-generation White Sox groundskeeper Roger Bossard has the U.S. Cellular Field turf torn up for a new planting.
“I’ve had this turf down for seven years and this was the one year I was going to replace the [entire] field,” he said. “Most times if I couldn’t replace it by now, I would be mad. But right now I’ve got a big smile on my face.
“I’m just going to replace the infield grass now and not the whole field this year. And hopefully next year I’m delayed and have to wait another year.”
Bossard has been groundskeeper for 39 years after replacing his father, Gene.
“My first thought was definitely about my father,” Roger said of the AL clincher. “I was 10 years old during the last World Series [in 1959]. I can remember being out on field and seeing Ted Kluszewski. He was like a mountain to me.
“And I remember my dad saying this was the finest time of his career. And there’s no question, this is the highlight of my life. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Out of work
The bullpen, such an important part of the Sox’s championship drive, pitched only two-thirds of an inning in the five ALCS games against the Angels.
“I got all my buddies calling me and saying nice job and I didn’t even do anything,” Cliff Politte said. “I think the bullpen will only get a half share [of playoff money].
“Nobody cares, we’re just excited to be here. If we don’t pitch, we don’t pitch. We’ll ride these [starters’] coattails.”
Say what?
With national media filtering into town, Guillen is the big subject, and everybody wants to know about all the crazy things the manager says.
“Take it with a grain of salt,” Williams said. “When he talks about first-and-third situations or the squeeze play, listen to that. The other stuff, uhhhh.”
Williams was asked about talks with his manager.
“We’ve been working on having him express himself more,” Williams said with a straight face. “We’re trying to get him out of his shell.”
A busy guy
Equipment manager Vince Fresso is working overtime getting 2005 World Series patches sewn onto caps and uniforms. The Sox have a sleeveless home outfit, so patches are now sewn on the uniform instead of undershirt sleeves.
