Williams and Konerko differ on Thome
Whether warranted or not, it's the storyline that has defined the 2010 season for the White Sox.
Former designated hitter Jim Thome could have been in Chicago this season, but instead, he has the Minnesota Twins on track to reach the playoffs at the White Sox's expense.
That includes a walk-off home run against the White Sox in Minnesota Aug. 17 that for now remains the dagger in the Southsiders' season.
But despite all the pain he has caused in Chicago this season, Thome has remained a favorite inside the White Sox's clubhouse and as the Twins return to U.S. Cellular Field this week for one last series, nothing has changed.
"It's a double-edged sword. I mean you don't want to see Minnesota do well, but every time I see Jim, I want him to do well because he's a great teammate, a great guy," Paul Konerko said Monday at Ozzie Guillen's 'Salsa and Stars' charity event. "The fact of the matter is, Jim is going to do well. There's no stopping Jim if he is healthy."
But one man you won't find cheering on Thome is General Manager Kenny Williams, who clearly disagrees with Konerko.
"There's no double-edged sword. I'm not rooting for Jim Thome. I love him as a human being, as a ballplayer and all that. I love the man, but I'm not rooting for him," Williams said. "There's no divided loyalty here. I'm rooting for the absolute worst for him the next three days and for the rest of the season. Sorry, it is what it is. I want to win."
It's been well documented that Williams wanted to re-sign Thome in the offseason, but manager Ozzie Guillen wanted the team to have a faster, more versatile make-up. That allowed Thome to go the Twins, a reality the White Sox knew would happen when they passed on the slugger.
Konerko admitted that it would be nice if his good friend wasn't in the same division.
"Yeah, I wish it wasn't for Minnesota. I wish it was for some team in the N.L. or somewhere," Konerko said. "But again, it is what it is and I'm happy for him. I knew in the offseason that there was a possibility he might be going there so I braced for it a little bit. "
Thome is batting .277 with 23 home runs and 54 runs batted in this season in 98 games.
