Ozzie Guillen loves politics, just not enough to ever get involved in it.

So when the White Sox manager was asked about the soon-to-be vacancy left with Mayor Daley announcing he would not seek a seventh term, he couldn't help but express an opinion.
''I love politics,'' Guillen said Tuesday. ''Read and talk it. But be in it? I doubt it. The mayors in Chicago do a tremendous job. Chicago is one of the best cities to go to visit. I don't think you're going to find one better than that.''
Not only did Guillen praise Daley for the job he did, as well as being a Sox fan, but also for his longevity.
''Twenty-one years,'' Guillen said. ''It surprised me. [That] is a lot. That's a lot of heat. That's a lot of things you've got to control. And he did an unbelievable job. And he's a White Sox fan.
''But seriously, when you talk about politics, you have to be careful what you say because you don't know who you know or talk about. But Mayor Daley did an unbelievable job in Chicago, and the guy who is coming next? Good luck because he's got to fill heavy shoes because what the mayor did there was amazing.''
KONERKO UPDATE
Paul Konerko said he was good enough to start on Tuesday because his stiff back was better, but Guillen wasn't taking any chances, sitting him for a second consecutive game.
Was Guillen concerned the time off would coo the red-hot Konerko?
''He's not going to catch [Joe] DiMaggio or [Pete] Rose,'' Guillen said. ''He ain't going to catch those guys. I would rather catch Minnesota than all those guys. I don't worry about that. As a manager, you don't think about that.
''Right now, I don't think any of those guys think about personal things.''
HEY, SOX FANS
Guillen was asked about the big nine-game homestand awaiting the Sox, and asked if he expected bigger attendance numbers than have been showing up as of late.
''It better be,'' Guillen said. ''They better show up and support the club. They did it in the past.''
STAYING ON SCHEDULE
J.J. Putz threw one last side session in the bullpen on Tuesday, giving his injured right knee a last test. He said all went well and still expects to come off the 15-day disabled list in time for the finale against the Tigers on Thursday.
Photo: Paul Sancya, AP / Brent Lillibridge reaches for the ball as the Tigers' Brandon Inge steals second base in the sixth inning Tuesday in Detroit.