Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Battle of Chicago's First Basemen

Being from Chicago, I'm always asked which baseball team I cheer for. People look at me funny when I tell them that I follow both the White Sox and the Cubs. I enjoy the game of baseball - period. I consider myself lucky to have two teams to cheer for. Most cities are lucky if they have one. But truth be told, when the two Chicago teams face each other, I prefer the boys in black.

Which brings me to an interesting comparison of the two first basemen in this town: Paul Konerko and Derrek Lee. With Lee's contract extension today for five years at $65 million, he surpasses the $60-million deal that Konerko signed last fall. I think the Cubs learned from the White Sox' experience with Konerko and made sure they signed Lee to a deal as quickly as possible and avoided the free agency frenzy that might have occurred next fall.

Do these players deserve the money they're getting? At this point, I would say yes. But that can quickly change. An injury here, too many strikeouts there, and prolonged offensive slump there -- they can all add up to disgruntled fans and frustrated teams. Those high salaries can be dumped in a heartbeat.

For now, I'm pleased to see that both the Sox and Cubs see the value that these players bring to their teams. I love watching both players. Konerko and Lee are both consumate professionals on and off the field. They each have very good work ethic, are great teammates in the clubhouse and are good role models for younger players. Their quiet leadership inspires their teammates to perform their best. It's the intangibles that sets them apart from other players. Sometimes you can't always put a price tag on that.

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