Guillen not surprised by Twins staying in race

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CHICAGO - With 15 wins in their last 18 games, the Minnesota Twins have crept back in to the thick of the American League Central Division race. Ozzie Guillen, one of Minnesota's biggest supporters, isn't surprised. “I don't know why you guys want to push the Twins out of this thing,” Guillen said Wednesday, shortly after Minnesota blanked Detroit, 7-0. “What's the reason - because they don't have superstars out there? They have a good ballclub. “They're always going to be in the race. Always.” A.J. Pierzynski, a former Twins catcher, said look at the organization. “It's good,” he said. “They know how to develop guys, plug guys in.” It isn't like Minnesota is totally devoid of talent, either. “They have some good players in [Joe] Mauer, [Justin] Morneau ... guys that are kind of leading the way,” Pierzynski said. “Anytime you have [Joe] Nathan in the back end of a bullpen and a good starting rotation you have a chance. “They're proving it again.” Minnesota entered Wednesday two-and-a-half games behind the White Sox. Jenks fine Guillen attributed Bobby Jenks' drop in velocity - he was hitting 90-91 mph Sunday night against the Cubs, not his usually 95-96 - to overthrowing. Guillen said Jenks saw the low readings, then tried to overcompensate. “He got fatigued ... he just got tired and his back got a little stiff,” Guillen said. The readings were alarming, Guillen said - that's why he visited the mound. “He throws 95-96 ... I looked up there and [saw] 91,” he said. Guillen insisted Jenks is healthy. “He's fine,” he said. “Even the day we didn't want to pitch him, he wanted to be on the mound. He's not the type of guy that's going to ask for a day off.” Konerko watch Paul Konerko took batting practice again Wednesday, trying to loosen up any remaining scar tissue left from his injured left oblique. Of an expected trip to Triple-A Charlotte, the first baseman said, “Hopefully the next couple days.” “[The pain] is still there, but I'm in control of it,” Konerko said. “Not the other way around. I think it's [close] to being game ready for Triple-A soon. “I think I'm right there. It's different from a few days ago, when it hurt right off the bat. [Wednesday], the first 20-25 [swings] felt great, then it got a little sore because it's tired and not conditioned. But it's good, not hurting for that first 20-25.” Konerko said Wednesday was a big day. “It felt as good or better [than Tuesday],” he said. “Each day you push it to new limits. [Trainer] Herm [Schneider] said when you think it's hurting, when you think you've gone too far, keep pushing - because you're breaking up everything in there.” Guillen said for the time being, he's going to leave Konerko be. “I'm not going to ask him [how he's feeling],” he said. “I'm going to wait for him to come to me. Because it's getting uncomfortable for him.” Every time he's around the clubhouse, myself and [Ken Williams] and everybody is asking him how he feels.”