4/4 Games

[NorthSideSox72]

I wouldn't be surprised if we did. This was a guy who wasn't the strongest mentally (he almost called it quits after his first taste of the big leagues). And then after KW says Fields would start and Crede would be traded earlier in the offseason, Kw sends Fields down and has Crede start. Also, Fields had a very good rookie season to build off of, and out preformed Crede in ST, yet he gets sent down.

 

Please. Ruined him? Could you be more over the top?

 

If this was all it would take to "ruin" Fields he didn't belong with the majorleague club anyways.

 

Exactly. He may indeed be pissed, and certainly he played well enough last year to show he's probably ready for the show. But to say that having him back in AAA for, at most, a year, is laughable. If he's that delicate, he'll crumble under the pressure later.

 

I'd guess he's either just swinging for the fences because he's upset (as BearSox later alluded to), or he's trying to... wait for it... learn something. Maybe he's swinging at fastballs he usually doesn't even try to catch up to. Whatever it is, its all a learning experience for him, if he's willing to take it that way. He's not ruined.

 

[Dick Allen]

When you strikeout as much as Fields does, you're going to have a couple of games like these. If he's feeling sorry for himself, too bad. It also may be he's just a slow starter. He was horrid for a while at Charlotte last year too.

[Dick Allen]

Anyone else see that Jeff DaVanon is playing for Charlotte also;

He's 34 years old. I don't think he'll ever help much in Chicago.

[Chisoxfn]

I still say the best thing that could happen to the Sox is them resigning Crede and swinging Fields for a power pitching prospect.

 

Sell Fields at his highest value because I still think he has quite a few flaws that could get in his way at the major league level (ie, flaws that I believe will prevent him from ever being a star, so why not swing him in a deal while his value is high for a guy that has the tools to be a star).

 

This of course is under the assumption that such a thing could be done (and there is no guarantee of such). But I'm a bigger fan of Crede than most (and it is because of how he plays the game; he isn't a truly great offensive 3rd baseman, but I consider him average to a little above average (I know his stats, but I think he'll have a pretty damn good season, especially as he continues to gain more confidence in his back and get his timing back after missing practically all of last year) offensively and tremendous defensively).

[danman31]

It's 2 games. Stop people, seriously.

[witesoxfan]

And I'll still say that trading Fields would be the dumbest move KW has ever made.

[Chisoxfn]

And I'll still say that trading Fields would be the dumbest move KW has ever made.

Lets say June rolls around, Crede is hitting .275 with 12Hr's and playing gold glove defense and has came to the Sox willing to sign an extension. Fields is putting up good numbers in the minors and the Sox biggest weakness is the rotation.

 

A team with pitching to deal comes to the Sox looking at Fields and the Sox are able to get a good mid of the rotation starter (with front of the rotation upside who is young and cheap) for Fields (ie, the deal fills the Sox biggest ML need without making the team older or anything). That is exactly the type of scenario I see going down or at least find possible (I'm hoping Danks/Floyd/Count all kick ass though and that the Sox just have a major luxury).

 

Hell, I'd consider dealing Fields for a couple top notch prospects if a team like the Dodgers or someone else in the NL looking for a 3B got desperate.

[Balta1701]

Lets say June rolls around, Crede is hitting .275 with 12Hr's and playing gold glove defense and has came to the Sox willing to sign an extension. Fields is putting up good numbers in the minors and the Sox biggest weakness is the rotation.

 

A team with pitching to deal comes to the Sox looking at Fields and the Sox are able to get a good mid of the rotation starter (with front of the rotation upside who is young and cheap) for Fields (ie, the deal fills the Sox biggest ML need without making the team older or anything). That is exactly the type of scenario I see going down or at least find possible (I'm hoping Danks/Floyd/Count all kick ass though and that the Sox just have a major luxury).

 

Hell, I'd consider dealing Floyd for a couple top notch prospects if a team like the Dodgers or someone else in the NL looking for a 3B got desperate.

On principle you could get me to be willing to deal Fields if all those things happened...but seriously, do you think that even the first contract related clause for Crede is going to happen with his agent?

 

And on top of that, I am struggling to find a team that would be an actual candidate to make the deal you're suggesting. At least a team that wouldn't be making fools of themselves in the process. What teams have spare young pitching? The Dodgers perhaps, especially if Schmidt comes back soon, but the 2 young pitchers they'd be able to move are Billingsly and Kershaw...and while I'd do just about any deal to get Kershaw somehow I don't think they're doing that, and I don't know what to think of Billingsly. The other teams who we thought had pitching but needed bats? The Angels? All their pitchers are hurt. Seattle? They don't have a lot in the way of guys who could step in. The Giants? Why would they give up either of their 2 young pitchers?

 

I just don't see a logical match for this. Not to mention it assumes Boras would take a guy off the FA market.

[Chisoxfn]

On principle you could get me to be willing to deal Fields if all those things happened...but seriously, do you think that even the first contract related clause for Crede is going to happen with his agent?

 

And on top of that, I am struggling to find a team that would be an actual candidate to make the deal you're suggesting. At least a team that wouldn't be making fools of themselves in the process. What teams have spare young pitching? The Dodgers perhaps, especially if Schmidt comes back soon, but the 2 young pitchers they'd be able to move are Billingsly and Kershaw...and while I'd do just about any deal to get Kershaw somehow I don't think they're doing that, and I don't know what to think of Billingsly. The other teams who we thought had pitching but needed bats? The Angels? All their pitchers are hurt. Seattle? They don't have a lot in the way of guys who could step in. The Giants? Why would they give up either of their 2 young pitchers?

 

I just don't see a logical match for this. Not to mention it assumes Boras would take a guy off the FA market.

The Giants and Dodgers are the two teams that come to mind and I do think in the right circumstances either team would consider parting with good young pitching.

 

The Giants have two guys that any baseball expert would like a lot (Cain/Linnecum) and the Dodgers have two guys that are well regarded (Billingsley and Kershaw). I find it absolutely impossible to get Kershaw, however, if the Dodgers other starters are doing okay and Schmidt is back they would be able to part with Chad and the Giants would possibly be willing to do a Cain for Fields straight up deal and if the Sox/Giants could expand things somehow I think there is a possibility at Linnecum (of course there are some people who I have heard like Cain more than Linnecum long term).

 

Either way all of the guys discussed are what I would consider high impact arms which are young and cost efficient. I do agree that the scenario may not be super likely, but it is a possibility and its why I continue to be miffed at the fact that people are 100% against trading Fields because in the right circumstance I think it could be a very good move.

 

Of course the very best option...is Crede hits about 15 hr's the first month or two, Fields is just destroying the ball in AAA, Sox get a ridiculous offer for Crede (two top 5 prospects from a team) and promote Fields who keeps raking (all of the rotation is looking good and the prospects are allowed to be developed and slowly integrated into the team.

[Balta1701]

I'd go in to next season with Toby Hall as our starting 3rd baseman if it put Kershaw in our rotation.

[witesoxfan]

Lets say June rolls around, Crede is hitting .275 with 12Hr's and playing gold glove defense and has came to the Sox willing to sign an extension. Fields is putting up good numbers in the minors and the Sox biggest weakness is the rotation.

 

Then I wouldn't answer the phone. I want nothing to do with Crede long term, not with his back. It's understandable if the upside is like a .900-.950 OPS, but that's now what Crede would put up.