Paul Konerko strolled through the clubhouse Saturday afternoon looking like he just went 10 rounds with Manny Pacquiao.
His left eye was half-shut from swelling and the skin around the eye is spattered with bruises. But other than that, he says he's fine.
"I feel good," Konerko said prior to Saturday's game. "It's just a matter of getting the swelling down. No damage. No fractures. No problems with vision other than just seeing the swelling when I look out. So as soon as we get that out, I'll be good to go."
Konerko is ruled out of Saturday's game and while Robin Ventura said Sunday is a possibility, the White Sox skipper admitted it's more likely Konerko returns Tuesday with an off day on Monday.
"He seems fine," Ventura said. "As soon as he can see, he's going to play."
Konerko has been doing everything he can to get out on the field as soon as possible, but admits that he can't know for sure when the swelling will go down enough for him to see clearly.
"Yesterday, I could see out of it," he said. "I iced it a bunch of times before I went to bed last night. It was maybe halfway open or three-quarters of the way open. When I woke up this morning, it was completely shut and I knew it would be just because you can't ice it through the night.
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"Since I've been here today, there's been a lot of improvement as far as how wide I can open it and how much I can see out of it. It's just a matter of time. It could be later on today, it could be tomorrow or I think worst case scenario, it could be Tuesday."
Konerko said he has no dizziness and tests have ruled out a concussion. He also said he was not planning on wearing a protective shield of any sort when he does return to the field.
"It was kind of a freaky thing," he said. "It can happen at any time."
While Konerko's plunking certainly upped the intensity of the crosstown series, the White Sox seemed more focused on getting their captain back than on extending the drama.
"It's tough to see one of your big guys -- your big run producer -- to go down like that," starting pitcher Jake Peavy said. "But hopefully guys will pick up the slack. We really need Paul to get back as soon as he can and do what he's done for us all year."
Konerko said he hasn't heard from Jeff Samardzija after the pitch, but he may be hearing from Cubs skipper Dale Sveum soon.
I feel bad," Sveum said. "I meant to (contact him), and then it got kind of crazy yesterday right after the game with everything going on...Ill call him today or see him on the field. Im not sure. Ill talk to Robin about how hes doing.