Dunn wary of impact of new collision rule

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Adam Dunn readily admits to not knowing the nuts and bolts of experimental rule 7.13 prohibiting egregious collisions at home plate. Yet, Dunn doesn't particularly like what he has heard, and thinks it will impact the game negatively.

"It's going to be pretty difficult rounding third and not only trying to find where the ball is but also looking for your lane to slide. It'll be interesting," Dunn said. "I don't have shin guards and a chest protector and a face mask. I didn't realize that was that big of a problem for catchers' concussions. I always thought it was foul balls off the face and not collisions. Maybe I'm wrong.

"I see leg [injuries]. Finger. Guys are going to have to slide more, so they're probably going to do a lot more headfirst sliding. It's only been that way 100-something years."

Dunn believes more players will pull up and be tagged out by catchers because of not fully knowing if they can run into the catcher to score, although there will be training material distributed during Spring Training. The less-than-fleet-footed Dunn also feels the rule changes mean more pinch-running where he's involved.

"Especially when I was on second and got pinch-run for, I'll always tell [manaager] Robin [Ventura], 'Ball might beat me, but I've got a decent chance of scoring still,'" said Dunn, referring to being able to use his size to run through a catcher. "I can see myself getting pinch-run for quite a bit more. I'm pretty much useless."

Paul Konerko joked that he was held at third on Josh Phegley's double during intrasquad action Tuesday because the White Sox weren't quite sure yet on the collision rules. In reality, Konerko feels bad for the umpires on the judgment calls.

"It's like the rule when a guy they feel is throwing intentionally at somebody, they have to throw him out," Konerko said. "It's tough sometimes when the ump has to call balls and strikes and say, 'Is that a cutter, a fastball, do I have to call this guy out?' We'll have to wait and see. I'm guessing the reaction most times will be in favor of the catcher."