Morrisey gets it with PK...

[Wanne]

Konerko worth a lot to Sox, but not huge salary

 

November 11, 2005

 

The most unfortunate thing about professional sports these days, at least in the non-Terrell Owens category, is the way change occurs at warp speed.

 

No sooner had the White Sox won their first World Series in 88 years than people were obsessing over whether first baseman Paul Konerko would stay with the team.

 

And now, 16 days after that momentous event, we're being asked to take inventory of our feelings about Konerko. That doesn't seem right. This is the guy who helped carry the Sox through their playoff run. If there was a face of this team, a team of beautifully working parts, it was Konerko.

 

But soon that face will be getting contract offers via free agency, and we need to face facts.

 

Konerko isn't worth some of the numbers that have been bandied about or, to be more accurate, he can't be worth those numbers to the Sox.

 

Five years, $75 million? That's not Konerko. It almost pains me to write that because it puts everything in such stark, either/or terms. But that's pro sports, and the exact thing we're doing is the exact thing the Sox and all the other interested clubs are doing. We're eyeballing and analyzing.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...cs-home-utility

[Harry Chappas]

This guy is on the money with everything he writes. He actually understands sports and fans. He is one of very few.

[SoxFanInDallas]

He was especially right on about the slumps. As Sox fans, we all know he has them and we are ok with it because we know he works himself out of them. But, if he goes to the Angels or Red Sox for $15M per year, are they going to be OK with him when he slumps and hits into a double play to end a game? I don't think so.

 

I know it is easy for a FAN to say this, but is ALL that worth it for an extra 2-3MM per year? Not that my numbers are anything like his, but I have taken lower paying jobs just because I liked the atmosphere, the security, etc. than what the higher paying job could offer me. And I am doing ok with the $10-15k less than I would have made.

 

 

 

 

Konerko worth a lot to Sox, but not huge salary

 

November 11, 2005

 

The most unfortunate thing about professional sports these days, at least in the non-Terrell Owens category, is the way change occurs at warp speed.

 

No sooner had the White Sox won their first World Series in 88 years than people were obsessing over whether first baseman Paul Konerko would stay with the team.

 

And now, 16 days after that momentous event, we're being asked to take inventory of our feelings about Konerko. That doesn't seem right. This is the guy who helped carry the Sox through their playoff run. If there was a face of this team, a team of beautifully working parts, it was Konerko.

 

But soon that face will be getting contract offers via free agency, and we need to face facts.

 

Konerko isn't worth some of the numbers that have been bandied about or, to be more accurate, he can't be worth those numbers to the Sox.

 

Five years, $75 million? That's not Konerko. It almost pains me to write that because it puts everything in such stark, either/or terms. But that's pro sports, and the exact thing we're doing is the exact thing the Sox and all the other interested clubs are doing. We're eyeballing and analyzing.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...cs-home-utility

[elrockinMT]

Morrissey wrote agreat article. He didn't dis Konerko and prasised him for what he brings to the team. However, I think he is right that Paulie isn't a $15M a year player, nor in my opinion is any big league player in any sport. These things can start a whole new debate on an old topic as it concerns salaries. I just look at the Bosox and their issues with Manny Ramirez. Hard to trade a guy making as much as he does.

[FlaSoxxJim]

I know it is easy for a FAN to say this, but is ALL that worth it for an extra 2-3MM per year?  Not that my numbers are anything like his, but I have taken lower paying jobs just because I liked the atmosphere, the security, etc. than what the higher paying job could offer me.  And I am doing ok with the $10-15k less than I would have made.

 

I'm in complete agreement, and I'm also one who has opted for a carreer path in an environment I love rather than a few $K more a year.

 

The guy who spends a significant portion of his career with one team is getting to be a rarity. And I think the agents and the MLBPA are the ones who really push it, and not necessarily always the free agents themselves. FAs are pummeled with the notion that they have to go with the biggest and best offer, rather than taking a somewhat smaller hometown deal out of loyalty, because it's good for the other players and MLBPA to keep the market prices high.

 

Maybe PK having Landis as his agent will allow some White Sox sentiment to creep in and they'll both be willing to take a little less to solidify Paulie's legacy as a one of the all-time great White Sox players. A naive thought, perhaps, but here's hoping.

[Whitewashed in '05]

For some reason I have the feeling we will resign PK. You hear Ozzie and Kenny say they feel really good about getting him back here. Not that you should believe that means he will be back but KW usually lets us know how things are going. He might let us know in subtle ways but he does.

 

The only the thing that prevents KW from saying he will be back is how high is his price tag going to get? If it reasonable u can bet the sox will resign him but if it starts getting crazy? Like 15 million a year? I don't know and you can't blame us for not resigning him if thats we he goes for.

[Heads22]

I'm in complete agreement, and I'm also one who has opted for a carreer path in an environment I love rather than a few $K more a year.

 

 

 

Is this why you're wasting your time posting while you should be working? Or is it the flexibility to post on Soxtalk?

[FlaSoxxJim]

Is this why you're wasting your time posting while you should be working? Or is it the flexibility to post on Soxtalk?

Shut up, that's why.

[The Ginger Kid]

40 HR

100 RBI

Gold Glove defense

Team Leader and hardest working guy in the organization

 

what's it worth?

[J-MAN]

Konerko worth a lot to Sox, but not huge salary

 

November 11, 2005

 

The most unfortunate thing about professional sports these days, at least in the non-Terrell Owens category, is the way change occurs at warp speed.

 

No sooner had the White Sox won their first World Series in 88 years than people were obsessing over whether first baseman Paul Konerko would stay with the team.

 

And now, 16 days after that momentous event, we're being asked to take inventory of our feelings about Konerko. That doesn't seem right. This is the guy who helped carry the Sox through their playoff run. If there was a face of this team, a team of beautifully working parts, it was Konerko.

 

But soon that face will be getting contract offers via free agency, and we need to face facts.

 

 

I couldn't agree more - when I read the article this morning I thought this guy really knows his stuff - not like the moron that writes for the other paper.

 

I still think the Sox will end up signing Paulie but frankly am tired of hearing about it .

 

I think Kenny will show him the respect of fielding other offers and then make a decision whether the Sox will match it. 

 

Whatever happens I trust the man who brought us a WORLD CHAMPION team will do the right thing.

 

Konerko isn't worth some of the numbers that have been bandied about or, to be more accurate, he can't be worth those numbers to the Sox.

 

Five years, $75 million? That's not Konerko. It almost pains me to write that because it puts everything in such stark, either/or terms. But that's pro sports, and the exact thing we're doing is the exact thing the Sox and all the other interested clubs are doing. We're eyeballing and analyzing.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...cs-home-utility

[FlaCWS]

I absolutely agree with the general tone of this thread. If there's one thing the 2005 Sox proved it's that a champion is about team and not individual stars. I love Konerko, I think he's a huge part of this team and I hope he stays. But think back to what people were saying when Kenny let Carlos Lee and Magglio go last year. What Kenny did was turn those two guys into about 4 or 5 guys - all of whom contributed to this championship.

 

If Paulie is dead-set on getting his $15 mil - or whatever number - then tip your cap, let him walk and use that money on 2 or 3 guys. Winning championships is about pitching, defense and intangibles. Compare the rosters of the 2005 White Sox and 2005 Yankees and it's easy to figure out.

 

Speaking of the Yankees, they won multiple championships with Tino Martinez at 1B and Scott Brosius at 3B. They've won zero with Giambi and A-Rod at those positions.

[kevin57]

I think most of us agree that PK for 5 years @ $15M per is a "forget it." What will get trickier is if it's a 5 year @ $13M per.

[greg775]

Great column.

That guy is oh, only 100 times better than Mariotti.

Excellent column.

 

He wrote: The guess here is that Konerko wants to stay in Chicago, where he made a name for himself, and the guess here is that he would accept less money to stay if his agent and the players' union don't get in the way.

--Amen.

I agree with Morrissey's comment, four year contract for 52 is what Paulie should get. I hope we offer it; i hope he takes it.

f*** the Red Sox. Like he wrote, Paulie cannot carry that team and it is a recipe for disaster.

But if he leaves, like Morrissey wrote, good for him.