CHICAGO -- Paul Konerko will likely be watching from the bench for the start of what figures to be his 16th and final opening day with the Chicago White Sox And the 38-year-old first baseman is comfortable with that decision, which ends a streak of 15 consecutive opening-day starts. Konerkos new role is as a right-handed-hitting platoon player at designated hitter. With Minnesota starting right-hander Ricky Nolasco, left-handed-hitting Adam Dunn will start. "I just think its the way it should be," Konerko said Sunday as both teams conducted voluntary workouts. "Its just not part of the blueprint of what were going to do here. ... Its pretty simple. Theres a plan and roles of when guys play and when they dont." A six-time All-Star, Konerko agreed in December to a $2.5 million, one-year contract. White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Konerko made the choice to stay with the platoon. "In talking to Paulie, its not an easy decision," Ventura said, "but when you go over how youre going to do this and make this work, he made it clear this is kind of what he signed up to do." Left-hander Chris Sale starts for the White Sox. He was surprised by Konerkos decision but said he respected it. "I think he should be out there," Sale said. "What hes done for this city, what hes done for this team, who hes been throughout his career, I think hes earned that. But what he says, goes." Starting his second White Sox opener, Sale faces Nolasco in only the third time opening-day meeting between the teams and the first since 1993. After a lengthy and severe Chicago winter, Mondays forecast calls for partly sunny skies and a 65-degree temperature. The White Sox are coming off a 63-99 season, their poorest record since 1970. Their projected lineup features five players making their opening-day debuts, including Cuban slugger Jose Abreu, who signed a $68 million, six-year contract. "I dont really know where Im going to be hitting, but it doesnt matter," Abreu said through a translator. "To be honest with you, thats irrelevant. Im ready to hit wherever they put me. Im here to help the team." Minnesota (66-96) committed $73 million to sign Nolasco (13-11 for Miami and the Los Angeles Dodgers) and Phil Hughes in an effort to rebuild its pitching. "Its important to get off to a good start," Nolasco said. "I know theyve been struggling the last couple years, but weve been working hard as a staff trying to go out there do quick, efficient innings, get us back in the dugout and try to swing the bats." Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Nolasco is ready for the season. "Rickys game on," he said. "Im not worried about him one bit. Hell go until he tells us hes tired. Hes very sure of what he needs to do to win." Despite snow piles and a frozen field earlier this month, Roger Bossards groundskeepers got the playing surface ready at U.S. Cellular Field. 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Freddie Roach said if the Rios fight "does not go well, we will seriously talk about his retirement," but that Pacquiao was training as well as ever for the Nov. Eli Manning Jersey . Keenum will make his first appearance in a regular-season game against the rugged defence of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, where the fans just set a Guinness record as the noisiest outdoor stadium in the world.DES MOINES, Iowa - Derek Drouin set a new Canadian high jump record on Friday, clearing 2.40 metres at the Drake Relays. Drouin, from Corunna, Ont., bested his own record of 2.38 metres set in Aug. 2013 in Luzhuniki, Russia, at the World Championsships in Athletics.dddddddddddd. Erik Kynard and Dusty Jonas both cleared a 2.35-metre jump on Friday, but could not make it past the 2.38-metre jump. The Drake Relays are an annual track and field event held at Drake University. ' ' 'collected three doubles, two singles and Michael Bourn caught Detroit napping and stole third. The unexpected outburst began with a base-running blunder as Carlos Santana singled off Cabreras glove at first but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Nick Swisher doubled and Yan Gomes walked before Aviles lined his two-run double into the gap in left-centre. Bourn followed with a double off the wall in right to score Aviles and Clevelands leadoff hitter alertly swiped third without a throw. Asdrubal Cabreras RBI single made it 4-1 and brought Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones out to visit Verlander, who dropped to 9-11 with a 5.36 ERA in his career at Cleveland. NOTES: Indians 2B Jason Kipnis will begin a rehab assignment Friday at Triple-A Columbus. Kipnis has been on the disabled list since May 2 with an oblique injury and the club would like to get him in a few games before hes activated. If all goes well, Kipnis will be back for Mondays series opener in Chicago. ... Brantley has hit safely in 17 consecutive home games, one shy of the ballpark record shared by Kenny Lofton (1996) and Roberto Alomar (2000). ' ' '