Paul Konerko

Paul Konerko is moving again, but it wasn't supposed to happen this way. After spending much of spring training in the outfield, the touted Dodger rookie is now expected to open the season at first base, because veteran Eric Karros will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee today and could be sidelined indefinitely. This transfer completes a dizzying spring for Konerko, who played three positions as team officials sought to find a place for him in the everyday lineup.

Paul Konerko makes the Dodgers and Angels think of what might've been. In a July 4, 1998, trade made by Dodgers then-interim general manager Tom Lasorda, a rookie Konerko was sent along with reliever Dennys Reyes to the Cincinnati Reds for closer Jeff Shaw. After finishing the season with the Reds, Konerko was dealt to the Chicago White Sox, and in 2005 was selected most valuable player of the American League Championship Series after helping eliminate the Angels. He was granted free agency after that season and the Angels tried but failed to sign him. Konerko, who re-signed with the White Sox, has 420 home runs and 1,331 runs batted in. The 36-year-old first baseman, a six-time All-Star and team captain, strives to lead a team directed by rookie Manager Robin Ventura to the AL Central title.

BATTING Vinny Castilla, Houston * 2 homers, 6 RBIs not enough to beat the Dodgers Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox * Homer, 3 runs, 3 RBIs in victory over the Tigers Reggie Sanders, Arizona * 3 hits, including homer, 5 RBIs helped beat Padres PITCHING Pedro Astacio, Colorado * No-hitter for 6 innings, finished with a 3-hitter A.J. Burnett, Florida * 8 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk in win over Mets Ramon Ortiz, Angels * 1 earned run, 1 walk in 7 2/3 innings to beat Royals

CHICAGO - Catcher Chris Iannetta said he had to alter his throw to first base to avoid hitting Chicago White Sox runner Paul Konerko on Friday night, a key piece of evidence in the Angels' protest of the game. The White Sox had the bases loaded with no outs in the first inning when Konerko grounded to third baseman Alberto Callaspo , who threw home to force Alejandro De Aza . But Iannetta's throw, in an attempt to double up Konerko, pulled first baseman Albert Pujols , who reached toward second, off the bag. Replays showed that Konerko ran the last 45 feet to first well inside the baseline, which would seem to be a violation of Rule 6.05(k)

All-Star first baseman Paul Konerko, who hit a career-high .304 with 27 home runs and 104 runs batted in, agreed to a $23-million, three-year contract with the Chicago White Sox on Thursday . * Greg Maddux won his 13th consecutive Gold Glove to highlight those National League awards. The St. Louis Cardinals had four winners: second baseman Fernando Vina, shortstop Edgar Renteria, third baseman Scott Rolen and outfielder Jim Edmonds.

Paul Konerko, trying to demonstrate to the Dodgers that he deserves to be recalled from triple-A Albuquerque, pleaded his case with his bat Tuesday. Playing at Vancouver against the Canadians in a Pacific Coast League game, Konerko went four for four with three home runs and five RBIs, scoring four runs in an 11-2 Albuquerque victory. Since being sent down by the Dodgers on April 24, Konerko, the PCL's most valuable player last season, has played in 16 games, hitting .

Paul Konerko, billed as Cincinnati's cleanup hitter of the future, was stunned Wednesday when the last-place Reds sent him to triple-A Indianapolis to work on his batting. Konerko, 22, who came from the Dodgers in the trade for closer Jeff Shaw before the All-Star break, was batting .182 with three homers for the Reds when he was optioned. Reliever Todd Williams was called up from Indianapolis to take his place.

Paul Konerko knew that if Mariano Rivera threw his cutter on the inside of the plate, his at-bat probably would be over. That's why he decided to concentrate on the outer half of the plate. Konerko tied the score with a leadoff homer in the ninth inning, and Jermaine Dye singled home the winning run against Scott Proctor in the 11th to lead the Chicago White Sox over the New York Yankees, 6-5, Tuesday night.

Manager Bill Russell waited about a week to find a spot to give Paul Konerko, the most valuable player in the Pacific Coast League, his first major league at-bat. But that's nothing compared to Konerko himself, who had been waiting for that at-bat almost all his life. When it finally came Monday night, in the bottom of the eighth inning of an 8-4 loss to the Florida Marlins, Konerko wasn't disappointed. Nor were the Dodgers. He responded with a solid single to right. "It was weird," he said.

Although the Paul Konerko bandwagon is quickly gaining momentum, at least one Dodger is urging caution about the touted rookie. His name is Paul Konerko. "Everything has been a little bit crazy, especially in the last few days," he said. "I appreciate all the things that people are saying about me, and all the stuff in the newspapers, but I haven't even played in a game that counts. It's not like I've done anything yet." That has seldom slowed hype machines.

The season's finish line, just a month in the distance, is in sight. Some teams are starting their finishing kick; others are simply playing out the string. Times staff writer Kevin Baxter takes a look from top to bottom (records and stats though Friday's games.) 1. PHILADELPHIA (83-46): On pace for 105 wins, equaling the most by an NL team in 13 seasons. 2. BOSTON (80-51): A baseball-best 42-26 on the road. 3. N.Y. YANKEES (78-51): Rookie Ivan Nova (13-4) has won last nine decisions 4. MILWAUKEE (79-54)

Summer isn't very old, but baseball is approaching the midpoint of its 162-game schedule. So in honor of that, resident Bard Kevin Baxter offers a Shakespearian "Midsummer Night's Dream" team rankings (records through Thursday's games): "BE NOT AFRAID OF GREATNESS" 1. PHILADELPHIA (51-31): Much of the rotation, three closers are on the DL. But Cliff Lee's healthy. 2. N.Y. YANKEES (48-31): Patient Yanks lead majors in walks, runs, HRs and slugging percentage. 3. BOSTON (46-34)

Reporting from Chicago — Gazing at Paul Konerko from their dugout could be the closest the Angels get to the Chicago White Sox first baseman this season. The White Sox had won 19 of their last 23 games before playing the Angels on Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field to move within one game of Detroit in the American League Central. Chicago's surge back into playoff contention probably makes the White Sox less likely to trade Konerko, a veteran slugger who began Tuesday hitting .299 and ranks among the AL leaders with 20 home runs and 58 runs batted in. "I don't really have many thoughts on that," Konerko said of the possibility of being traded.

Paul Konerko hit a two-run home run in Chicago's four-run first inning, Gordon Beckham hit a home run in the second inning and the White Sox coasted to a 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday night and avoided a sweep. Clayton Richard (4-3) gave up a run and five hits over eight innings to help the White Sox salvage one victory in a four-game series.

Paul Konerko hit a career-high three home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning, to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 10-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night. Konerko, who drove in a career-high seven runs, became the 12th player in White Sox history to hit three homers in a game. Konerko homered in the second, sixth and seventh innings. His grand slam in the sixth gave Chicago a 5-3 lead. He has 16 homers for the season. The White Sox have won 15 of 21 games.

Chicago 10, at Detroit 6: Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko reached 300 career homers with consecutive drives in the second inning for the White Sox. Dye and Konerko became the first teammates to hit century milestone home runs of at least 300 in the same game. at Kansas City 4, Cleveland 2: Zack Greinke (2-0) extended his scoreless inning streak to 25 innings. Baltimore 10, at Texas 9: Aubrey Huff went four for five with three of the Orioles' seven RBI singles.

The sweeping change that has marked the Dodgers' turbulent season continued Saturday when promising rookies Paul Konerko and Dennis Reyes were traded to Cincinnati for all-star closer Jeff Shaw. Interim General Manager Tom Lasorda gambled on the Dodgers' future by trading the organization's highest-rated prospects--untouchable under the former management regime--for Shaw, whom he coveted since succeeding Fred Claire as the player-personnel chief on May 22.

Given their history of strange moves, the Angels might have outdone themselves in the first round of baseball's amateur draft Thursday. They selected a man on a mission. The problem is, high school outfielder McKay Christensen's determination to spend two years on a Mormon mission will prevent him from playing baseball or joining the Angels' farm system until 1996.

Paul Konerko knew that if Mariano Rivera threw his cutter on the inside of the plate, his at-bat probably would be over. That's why he decided to concentrate on the outer half of the plate. Konerko tied the score with a leadoff homer in the ninth inning, and Jermaine Dye singled home the winning run against Scott Proctor in the 11th to lead the Chicago White Sox over the New York Yankees, 6-5, Tuesday night.

On the day he signed his five-year, $60-million contract with the Chicago White Sox last November, Paul Konerko was asked how close he was to signing elsewhere. "If I told you," Konerko said, "you wouldn't believe it." Now it can be told. "If I was a betting man, I'd say there was a 60 to 70% chance I was going to the Angels," Konerko said before the White Sox's 5-2 exhibition loss to the Angels on Wednesday. "So that's pretty close."