“You play for your teammates’ and your staff’s respect.  I definitely care about the guys inside this clubhouse, what they think. Not too much beyond that. It’s nice, I guess, if people have that, but at the same time I think I know who’s important to me and hopefully I gain those people. If not, you work to get that.” – Paul Konerko

It is the statements like the one above that have made Paul Konerko such a vastly respected player, teammate and individual throughout his 13-year career in Major League Baseball.  It seems that there cannot be enough great things said about the Chicago White Sox first baseman who, in an era rich with egotistical baseball players, has remained admirably humble.

To highlight Konerko’s influence on both his organization and the game itself, here are a collection of quotes from his coaches, teammates and other players around the league.

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After taking a break from my “Best Baseball Commercials” series, I have decided that now is the perfect time to stage a comeback with Part 8, the Chicago White Sox.  After watching my boys do some work this past week, sweeping two crucial road series against Cleveland and Boston, I feel that it is necessary to post the best White Sox commercials both as a sign of my support, as well as with the hope that it keeps them rolling.

After beating the Tigers 5-4 in 10 innings on Monday afternoon, the surging White Sox have now won 7 in a row, all on the road.  As the series with the Minnesota Twins on September 14-16 edges a little closer every day, there’s really only one thing that must be said:

In the words of Hawk Harrelson, “Don’t stop now, boys!”

Carlos Quentin’s Swing:

[hdplay id=10 ]

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As if the Chicago White Sox weren’t already having issues with their bullpen, there are rumors that All-Star reliever Matt Thornton may be headed to DL with discomfort in his left forearm.  Thornton, who hasn’t pitched since last Tuesday in Minnesota, had recently been called upon, along with right-handed set-up man J.J. Putz, to close games for the struggling White Sox.  The White Sox regular closer Bobby Jenks is still not considered to be 100% after the recurring back spasms that nearly landed him on the DL earlier this month.  As a result of Jenks’ lingering back issues and overall inability to record crucial outs(4.50 ERA, 0.1 WAR), manager Ozzie Guillen has been painstakingly exploring the teams’ other options at closer.  Perhaps it is time that Guillen, Kenny Williams and the rest of the White Sox organization consider a more radical option, 2010 1^st round draft pick, Chris Sale.

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