Konerko's speech 'right on time' for White Sox needs

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Paul Konerko sat through too many meetings to remember during his 16 seasons as a standout player and eventual captain for the White Sox.

But on Sunday morning at Camelback Ranch, it was Konerko who was doing the speaking while the White Sox players, coaches and front-office members took in every word of his message.

“You could have heard a pin drop,” said White Sox designated hitter Andrew Vaughn of Konerko’s speech. “Pretty special.”

“He was outstanding,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “Just his message was right on time for what we need to hear.”

Konerko had his No. 14 jersey retired by the White Sox and had a sculpture of his likeness unveiled in 2014 at Guaranteed Rate Field. He played an integral role in the team’s 2005 World Series championship, with La Russa mentioning Konerko’s comments about catching the last out in the team’s sweep of Houston from Sunday’s speech.

White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf originally contacted Konerko, who resides in Scottsdale with his wife and three kids, about speaking to the team. La Russa brought up the idea to Reinsdorf, so it was the White Sox manager who made a follow-up call.

“I had a nice little chat with him during the middle of the week and kind of gave me a little kind of jumping-off point of what to talk about, stuff like that,” Konerko said. “... This team, they’re there. They’ve got everything they need, and obviously you’ve got to get through the year, health and all that is always a big question with any team. But the goods are here, they’re here to do this. Now I’m a fan, I’m on the outside watching just hoping and pulling like everybody else.”

So what was Konerko’s basic theme to the speech?

“Just use what you have and hold everybody accountable and show up ready to go every day and trust yourself,” Vaughn said. “Everybody. It’s a team game, but everybody has to show up.”

Beyond personal accountability, Konerko stressed players just can’t flip a switch on in October and expect to get what they want. The speech drew a couple of rounds of applause.

“You have to do all that stuff and then you're in a position to be that player, that winning player that understands the situations and makes that winning defensive play or throws to the right base or makes the right baserunning play,” Konerko said. “All those things that are hugely stressed, I don't think you do those things unless you're kind of your own camp, so to speak. You can't be that player unless you're doing that stuff on a daily basis.

“They’re pros. There’s nothing in there I talked about that they don’t know. It’s just more like, here’s a guy who has been through it and now, him looking back, he will say this is what mattered, this is what didn’t matter, this is what you need to focus on. Hopefully, that holds a little weight with them.”

Vaughn returns to DH
Reports of Vaughn’s injury woes appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Vaughn returned to the starting lineup as the designated hitter in Sunday’s 13-4 loss to the Rockies in Glendale after sustaining a right hip pointer while making a diving catch at Camelback Ranch last Sunday.

“He’s moving around terrific,” La Russa said. “I reprimanded him for that act he put on that had us worried it was much more serious. He smiled. I would have never guessed he would be playing today. Tough guy, strong guy.”

“Once it happened, I really didn’t think it was going to go this quick,” Vaughn said. “Two days after, I was walking. I could feel the bruise, but just kind of play how I feel, and I feel good. It’s kind of tender to the touch, but it’s really kind of gone away.”

Over the last three days, Vaughn has been shagging during batting practice and working on drills with outfield coach Daryl Boston.