Paul Konerko went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts against the Rays on Friday night, but results aren't really the point here. The question is more whether Konerko can swing the bat without letting it go, crying or both, and that doesn't seem to be the issue.
"I can still feel it in there a little bit, but I think it's more than ready to go give it a try," Konerko said. "Going back to 12, 13 days ago, I feel like I've come a long way -- because I was really nervous. Not that I wouldn't get back out there, but that it would just be, like, for show the last weekend.
"I'm happy. I mean, obviously I didn't want it to happen at all, but considering where I was two weeks ago, I'm happy I'm back right now. I thought it was gonna get tight towards the end, the way it felt. Best-case scenario would have been nothing, this would be the next-best. Plus, it was just a weight off my mind."
Robin Ventura said Konerko would play plenty over his final eight days, but he's not in the lineup today. Instead, Jose Abreu will play first, and Andy Wilkins will occupy the DH spot as the White Sox face Chris Archer tonight.
Konerko's return to semi-active life coincides with the start of the tributes.
*Daryl Van Schouwen says the White Sox are "expected to" retire Konerko's number on Saturday. The gap between Luis Aparicio's No. 11 and Ted Lyons' No. 16 behind home plate seems to tip that off, but we've seen commonly held deductions go awry before (Carlos Rodon).
*USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote about "the other farewell tour," in which Jerry Reinsdorf says "don't be surprised" if Konerko also gets the statue treatment (hold your joke for a second). I also liked this quote from Adam Dunn:
"He's the smartest person I've ever been around,'' says Oakland DH Adam Dunn, a former teammate. "You ask him what time it is, he'll spend 20 minutes telling you how the clock was made.''
For his part, Konerko says that he hopes he'll get somebody's best fastball for his last plate appearance.
*I said to hold the statue joke because Konerko has a better remark about his #WHEELZ anyway. Talking to Paul Sullivan about his inside-the-park homer at Tropicana Field in 2001:
"It was kind of a blur," Konerko says, before adding: "Well, I wasn't a blur. But it happened quickly."
*For Chicago/CSN Chicago viewers, the episode of "Inside Look: Paul Konerko" will air after the postgame show.