Jenks could be back in Sox' pen soon

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Away from the White Sox since Friday to be with his ill wife, closer Bobby Jenks could be removed from the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List and report to Kauffman Stadium as early as Tuesday.

"Bobby got great news," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I talked to one of the doctors from the hospital and he said the tests went very good for his wife. Great news, because every time you have a problem with your family that sticks in your head and I don't think you can perform."

Jenks was on a roll before tending to the family matter, recording 9 saves in his last 10 appearances while allowing 1 run in 9 innings.

"I didn't talk to (Jenks), but the news I got from the doctor, he said he doesn't see why he's not going to be here in the next couple days," Guillen said. "We want him here, but I'm happy that his wife is a lot better."

Don't blame it on Rios: He's quiet on and off the field, but Alex Rios has a temper.

His habit of destroying batting helmets with his bare hands during his days with the Blue Jays is still the stuff of legend in Toronto, and Rios was ejected from a game against the Atlanta Braves last week for arguing a called third strike.

Rios almost lost it Sunday as well in a critical situation against the Cubs, for good reason.

With the Sox trailing 8-6 with two on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Rios got ahead of Cubs closer Carlos Marmol 2-0.

Marmol's next 2 pitches looked to be off the plate as well, but umpire Gary Darling called both of them strikes to even the count.

"They were both balls, no doubt, and that put me in a tough situation," said Rios, who swung and missed at the next pitch to end the game. "No way they were strikes, but that's the way it goes. It (stinks), but there's not much you can do about it."

Off an on: Manager Ozzie Guillen hates to take Juan Pierre out of the lineup because he's the White Sox' lone legitimate leadoff hitter.

Pierre did get a break of sorts Monday, moving to designated hitter while Andruw Jones got the start in left field.

"I'm not going to throw Andruw Jones in the hole and not give him an opportunity to go back to what he was," Guillen said. "I never do that. I always try to find a way to put them back in the lineup, and hopefully he can go out and perform.

"It's hard for me to give J.P. a day off, but he's not 20 years old anymore. I talked to him about it and he didn't argue with me."

As for rookie Dayan Viciedo, Guillen still is trying to find him some playing time at third base.

"Viciedo is the luckiest man on earth," Guillen said. "He's making $10 million and living out of Cuba, he has cars better than mine, he spent one or two years in the minor leagues and now he's in the big leagues.

"I want to give him more playing time, there's no doubt. I love to manage the kids; I love to see the kids grow up in baseball.

"But right now we're in the situation, I'm not saying he's not the best guy, but the guys playing right now are playing pretty good and I can't make any changes."