Law of averages catching up with some power hitters

Chicago White Sox infielder Paul Konerko’s statistics go in different directions: His 11 home runs are among American League leaders, but he’s hitting 42 points below his career average.

The first-place White Sox aren’t concerned. General manager Ken Williams says he’s not worried about average, because it doesn’t account for Konerko moving a runner from second to third.

“We’ve thrown it (average) out the window,” he said. “The little things get lost in the translation (of averages).”

Konerko isn’t alone. The top 13 home run hitters in both leagues are hitting a combined .272, 34 points less than the top power guys finished last season. Reasons include injuries and slow starts.

The San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds, who hit .362 with 45 homers last season, is out with a knee injury. Adrian Beltre, who led the National League with 48 home runs while hitting .331 for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, has five home runs and a .238 average with his new team, the Seattle Mariners.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez, who hit .308 while leading the A.L. with 43 home runs last year, is slumping at .242, even with four hits in his last two games.

“He’ll be fine,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. “His batting average is going to zip up there.”

Five of the eight A.L. home run leaders are hitting below their career average. But a few major league sluggers are significantly ahead. Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts is hitting .376, 100 points above his career average while Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu is at .331, 25 points higher.

The White Sox, who lead the A.L. Central, hope Konerko can repeat his 2003 comeback, when he hit .197 with five home runs in the first half and .275 with 13 home runs in the second.

“An average doesn’t say how many times a guy hits the ball hard,” Williams said. “There is so much more to this game than raw numbers.”