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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. "Im impressed," Ventura said. "We thought thered be an iceberg out in left field with all the reports we got. ... But we knew Roger would pull it off this off." Theoren Fleury Jersey . Tyutin has missed the last nine games with an ankle injury which occurred while playing for Russia at the Olympics. The top-two defenceman has four goals and 20 assists, 30 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating in 53 games with Columbus this season. Joe Nieuwendyk Jersey . Jose Bautista homered for the fifth straight game in the sixth inning, following a two-out solo homer by Melky Cabrera. Edwin Encarnacion led off the seventh with a homer to tie the game 3-3 and, with two out in the seventh, Munenori Kawasaki came through with the two-out single to score pinch-runner Steve Tolleson with what proved to be the winning run. http://www.flamessale.com/authentic-miik...-flames-jersey/. No pretty goals on this night, just get to the front of the net and fight for a chance. Jarome Iginla Jersey . HEROES P.K. Subban – Scored the overtime winner and assisted on Montreal’s earlier goal, both on the power play, in a 2-1 win over Nashville. Gary Roberts Jersey . Formula One Teams Association secretary general Oliver Weingarten says the organization collapsed over unpaid subscription fees and a failure to strike an agreement for 2014 with all 11 teams.When we last left the National Football League, the power had just come back on in the Superdome in New Orleans and the Baltimore Ravens were celebrating a Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Since that early February day, weve seen lots of changes around the league from superstar players switching teams, to new uniforms and logos. Weve even seen the grand re-arrival and exit of quarterback Tim Tebow with the New England Patriots. The question is which team is favoured to win Super Bowl XLVIII? The defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers are expected to be back in the mix again this season. Theyve added key players on both offence and defence in an attempt to get over the hump and capture their first title since 1995. They even grabbed receiver Anquan Boldin from the Ravens to strengthen their roster and weaken the team that beat them for the title at the end of last season. With a strong offence, defence and starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick entering his first full season at the helm, the Bay Area team looks strong. One of the biggest threats to their Conference crown comes from within the NFC West division, in the form of the Seattle Seahawks. Everything the 49ers do well, the Seahawks are also very proficient at, including running the read option with their mobile quarterback, in this case the versatile Russell Wilson. In the backfield, running back Marshawn Lynch is as physical as they come and dealing with him over four quarters tends to wear out even the best defences. The Seahawks will have to play without superstar acquisition Percy Harvin, who could miss the entire season with an injury, but they didnt have him last season either and came just a few plays short of playing in the Conference final. Always known as a strong regular season team, the Atlanta Falcons turned it up in last seasons playoffs and it took the biggest comeback in NFC Championship history to deny them a shot at the Super Bowl.dddddddddddd Running back Steven Jackson is a great addition to a veteran core offence that boasts Matt Ryan at quarterback and future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. They will face improved competition from their NFC South division, but should find themselves in the playoffs with another real shot at getting all the way to the big game. Over in the AFC, the Denver Broncos behind Peyton Manning look loaded up and ready to take another crack at playoff success. After a rough start to last season, Manning and his new boys found a rhythm and 11 straight victories on their way to the top seed in the Conference. They were then erased in the division round of the playoffs by the eventual champion Ravens. With players like Wes Welker and Quinton Jammer now in the fold, the Broncos are going be tough to beat every night and a tough out in the post-season. Perennial contender New England Patriots are lining up for another shot at the crown as well. Though they have dealt with a lot of turmoil in the offseason, the team is now ready to put the controversies behind them and perform on the field. Quarterback Tom Brady will have to get used to not throwing the ball to Welker who jumped ship to the Broncos, but he has in the past had a history of making the players on the field with him much better. If he can find a way to elevate this group, they have the talent to be the last ones standing at the end of the season. There are many other teams that also find themselves in this conversation including the defending champion Ravens, Green Bay Packers and surging Cincinnati Bengals. The question to you is which team is favoured to win Super Bowl XLVIII? Its Your! Call. ' ' '