Crede to start rehab in Arizona

[Steff]

Borass reminds me of Jim Carrey's character from Dumb and Dumber when he sells the dead parrot to the blind kid. What blind idiot will sign Crede and his back to a huge contract? I know one that won't and this is a case where I am glad KW won't deal with Borass.

 

 

 

The same type of idiot that signed Maggs.

[Allsox]

 

My roomate and I were discussing this this afternoon. The question becomes, how do you play Joe and build his trade value without stunting Josh's development? Do you platoon them? Does Josh rotate between third and left field and dh?

 

I'm already feeling the pain at third without Joe, even though I have been saying for a year or so that Joe's defense is taken for granted. But I guess this is one of the side-effects of signing Mark- even if Joe does somehow make a full recovery- we don't have the money to sign him long term.

 

It's going to be a difficult situation for Ozzie getting Joe the pt he needs to build his value without messing with Fields' development too much. I guess we'll know more by season's end.

 

I'd play Fields in LF and have Crede back at 3B in '08 since the Sox still control his rights until after next yr. Try that for awhile. If Crede plays like '06 again, there's a trade chip for KW and then put Fields back at 3B. Keeps Fields in the majors and KW's shopping list a little smaller since he has to look for a CF, RF, SS, 2B and two starting pitchers assuming he trades Vazquez and Contreras by the deadline or this offseason.

Edited July 10, 2007 by Allsox

[RockRaines]

I'd rather see Crede return healthy and then re-sign him and move Fields to the outfield. Defenders of Crede's caliber don't come around very often, and healthy, I still think he's a .300/30/100 guy for a few years to come. The operative word of course is "healthy."

I honestly dont see a huge drop off defensively when fields is playing, not to mention the offensive potential. I would NEVER want to put Josh in the OF, his spot is 3B and he is the future for this org at that position.

[elrockinMT]

The miracles of modern science. Joe Crede will recover fully from back surgery and hopefully sign for 3 or 4 or 5 years more with the Sox.

[The Ginger Kid]

I honestly dont see a huge drop off defensively when fields is playing, not to mention the offensive potential. I would NEVER want to put Josh in the OF, his spot is 3B and he is the future for this org at that position.

To me, it's a pretty dramatic drop off. Not only does Josh not have the range he doesn't have the ability to complete the play even if he does make a dramatic snag. I don't want to sound like I'm coming down on him because I love his talent and surprising speed. I think he could be a tremendous outfielder if he learned the position. I don't know that he'll ever be one of the top 3b's in the league, as crede is (when healthy).

[max power]

I don't think crede was better than josh at the same points in their respective careers, defensively or offensively.

Edited July 11, 2007 by max power

[LosMediasBlancas]

The miracles of modern science. Joe Crede will recover fully from back surgery and hopefully sign for 3 or 4 or 5 years more with the Sox.

 

 

Neither of those is even probable yet.

[iamshack]

I honestly dont see a huge drop off defensively when fields is playing, not to mention the offensive potential. I would NEVER want to put Josh in the OF, his spot is 3B and he is the future for this org at that position.

 

I don't know...I have to disagree. Josh makes some nice plays out there, but he isn't close to where Joe is defensively. Not saying that is Josh's fault- he's young, and Joe is one of the best defensive third basemen I have ever seen. But from a pure performance standpoint, Josh isn't near the same caliber defensively as Joe is.

[BearSox]

I don't know...I have to disagree. Josh makes some nice plays out there, but he isn't close to where Joe is defensively. Not saying that is Josh's fault- he's young, and Joe is one of the best defensive third basemen I have ever seen. But from a pure performance standpoint, Josh isn't near the same caliber defensively as Joe is.

right now he isn't. Most forget Joe wasn't this stud defensive thirdbasemen when he came up either. Fields already has good range and has better arm then Crede, he just needs to really work on his glovework and the transition from glove to ball.

[shoota]

From the Chicago Tribune WebSite:

 

Crede to start rehab in Arizona

White Sox third baseman Joe Crede will start his rehabilitation program on his lower back this week in Arizona.

That development was revealed Monday by agent Scott Boras, who declined to confirm whether his client would be ready to return by the end of the regular season.

"The main thing is we want him back healthy and at full strength," Boras said. "The key is that we resolved a problem that Joe had been playing in a great deal of pain and seeing that the problem is not something that would affect his long-term future. That he's going to be a completely healthy player again is something we're really happy about getting accomplished."

Boras said Crede's operation, in which fluid and small particles were removed from the area where nerves were irritated, was "a very easy fix and the doctor (Robert Watkins) is very optimistic about Joe's full return and just a matter of time in him going forward."

After Crede was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 6 and underwent surgery a week later, many Sox observers wondered why Crede didn't have off-season surgery to repair the bulging disks in Crede's lower back.

But "the doctors all said they were against surgery because the pain level was symptomatic. The doctors recommended he not have surgery because he had a great season, played well and didn't affect his play," Boras said. "It was just the wear and tear of the season brought it to this level.

 

Boras is such a lawyer. This following quote is bogus because Boras makes it sound as if Crede had a choice in whether or not to have surgery. Crede didn't have a choice because he was incapable of playing any longer!

 

The key is that we resolved a problem that Joe had been playing in a great deal of pain and seeing that the problem is not something that would affect his long-term future. That he's going to be a completely healthy player again is something we're really happy about getting accomplished.

 

Had Crede chosen surgery this past offseason, when he was still physically able to play, then Boras's quote would be accurate.

 

Notice Boras made sure to say he didn't counsel his client against offseason surgery, or even that Crede made that decision, but that the doctors advised against it. HA!

 

Boras, whose trying to make Crede sound as appealing to teams around baseball, calls the surgery "a very easy fix," mentions Crede's great 2006 and how because of the surgery he will be able to return to that form.

Edited July 11, 2007 by shoota

[elrockinMT]

Joe Crede is a gold glove defensive thirdbaseman and Fields although adequate most certainly is not at the same level. You hear that from baseball people also. Joe should be our man at third and Josh in LF and sub at third when needed.

[NorthSideSox72]

Fields is not in the same ballpark as Crede defensively. Crede, even with the back problems, has been a top 5 defensive 3B for a few years now. Fields is somewhere a little below average. With time, he can probably be average or better, but will never be near Joe's level.

 

That said, Fields looks far better at the plate now than Crede has for most of his career.

[Pants Rowland]

Fields is not in the same ballpark as Crede defensively. Crede, even with the back problems, has been a top 5 defensive 3B for a few years now. Fields is somewhere a little below average. With time, he can probably be average or better, but will never be near Joe's level.

 

That said, Fields looks far better at the plate now than Crede has for most of his career.

 

In addition to needing work (probably winter ball in addition to constant dedication), I think Fields could be helped tremendously by Uribe. I remember the dramatic dropoff in defensive play by Caruso from his rookie season when Ventura was there anchoring the infield at 3B and the following season when Ventura left. I assume there is something of a language barrier, but Fields needs to hound Uribe for advice on positioning with each hitter that comes to the plate. More importantly, Uribe is the leader of the infield and needs to show it by mentoring Fields. Fields seems to be hurt a lot by not being in proper position before the play rather than his actions during the play.

[max power]

right now he isn't. Most forget Joe wasn't this stud defensive thirdbasemen when he came up either. Fields already has good range and has better arm then Crede, he just needs to really work on his glovework and the transition from glove to ball.

Nobody here cares, from what I gather. They just care that Crede is the better 3rd baseman right now, even though right now, he is out for the season and is a question mark in the future. Back surgery is tricky as hell and often doesn't completely solve back problems.

[NorthSideSox72]

right now he isn't. Most forget Joe wasn't this stud defensive thirdbasemen when he came up either. Fields already has good range and has better arm then Crede, he just needs to really work on his glovework and the transition from glove to ball.

Nobody is forgetting - Crede was just far better defensively when he started here than Fields is now. And now yes, that gap is even wider.

 

And no, Fields doesn't have a better arm than Crede. He may have more potential to have a stronger arm, being a former QB, but he has neither the strength nor accuracy of Crede's arm right now.

[WCSox]

That said, Fields looks far better at the plate now than Crede has for most of his career.

 

He needs to cut down on the strikeouts, though. But I do like his power and ability to hit to the opposite field.

 

Fields is serviceable at 3B, but I don't think that he'll ever be more than mediocre there. If a better defensive option comes along somewhere down the line, I wouldn't mind moving Fields to LF.

 

Crede was a defensive bad-ass, even with a bad back. With him and Ventura, we've been spoiled defensively at the hot corner.

[NorthSideSox72]

He needs to cut down on the strikeouts, though. But I do like his power and ability to hit to the opposite field.

 

Fields is serviceable at 3B, but I don't think that he'll ever be more than mediocre there. If a better defensive option comes along somewhere down the line, I wouldn't mind moving Fields to LF.

 

Crede was a defensive bad-ass, even with a bad back. With him and Ventura, we've been spoiled defensively at the hot corner.

Definitely spoiled, and with Fields there, I think people will start to miss Joe a lot in the long run.

 

Hopefully Josh can develop into a significantly better hitter than Joe. It looks like he might.

[jasonxctf]

interesting stat...

 

in 2002, Joe Crede made an error in 15% of the games he played with the Sox. This dropped to 9% in 2003, 8% in 2004, 7% in 2005 and 6% in 2006.

 

in 2007, Josh Fields has made an error in 9% of the games he played with the Sox.

[NorthSideSox72]

interesting stat...

 

in 2002, Joe Crede made an error in 15% of the games he played with the Sox. This dropped to 9% in 2003, 8% in 2004, 7% in 2005 and 6% in 2006.

 

in 2007, Josh Fields has made an error in 9% of the games he played with the Sox.

That is interesting. But Josh has only played 32 games this year, Joe only 53 games in 2002. I'd start the comparison in Josh's and Joe's first full years.

 

Also, errors are not a great way to measure defensive ability. Its only a small part of the picture, and even then is subject to the whims of official scorers. And the other measures that can sometimes be helpful like ZR and RF won't be as reliable until a player has played most or all of a season.

[Baines3]

I hope Crede recovers well. Josh has played well I thought I would like to see him in the lineup when Joe returns perhaps at another position.

[WCSox]

interesting stat...

 

in 2002, Joe Crede made an error in 15% of the games he played with the Sox. This dropped to 9% in 2003, 8% in 2004, 7% in 2005 and 6% in 2006.

 

in 2007, Josh Fields has made an error in 9% of the games he played with the Sox.

 

But after watching just a handfull of games with Josh at 3B, it's obvious that he doesn't have Crede's glove, range, or arm. Not that errors aren't important, but they're just part of the equation.

Edited July 13, 2007 by WCSox