Posts tagged JoeCrede at FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

Maybe the All-Star Game is a meaningless to the players and just an excuse for Bud Selig to admire himself for a week. That doesn't mean that the selections should be stupid. Today, the MLB 'Haus gives you All-Star Grievances.

Grievance: The lack of Devil Rays and overcompensation of Sawx and Yanks. I understand that the ASG is getting played in New York and that the Yankees and Red Sox have the two best records in all of baseball ... oh, what's that? I'm sorry. I haven't been watching ESPN all week while they tried to somehow play out the Rays before the All Star Break, so I had no idea they had the best record in baseball.

Grievance: Jason Varitek. Players are S-M-R-T. It's fairly annoying that the players -- and not the fans! -- can do things like let Varitek start for the All Star Game. Vegas Watch probably said it best.

Grievance: Joe Crede over Evan Longoria. Longoria has been in the bigs less time this season and his totals are just far and away better than Crede's. Which makes all of this (meaning his selection) pretty redonk. Also: MORE RAYS, please.

While Cubs manager Lou Piniella isn't as fiery as he used to be (he's been ejected from a game 61 times), he still will get tossed from a ball game from time to time. Of course, ever since Lou came to Chicago, he's lived up to his nickname as he's only been ejected from a game twice. The first time came back on June 2nd, 2007 when Sweet Lou gave us a classic performance that resulted in getting himself suspended for four games.

It also happened to coincide with the Cubs turning their season around, as they went 35-18 over their next 53 games to dig out of an early season rut (they were 22-31 before the ejection) and went on to win the division. Lou's second ejection came this past Sunday, and it also comes at a time when the Cubs are struggling, as they've lost four in a row for the first time all season.

Though if the Cubs win 10 of their next 11, Lou's performance probably shouldn't get the credit, as he never intended to put one on. No, according to Lou, he was ambushed as he went out to argue a checked swing by Joe Crede.

"I was talking to the first-base umpire about the checked swing, and I got ambushed from behind," Piniella said. "Well, then I got my money's worth ... I think. Probably not."

The Chicago White Sox are currently riding a six-game win streak that's helped put them back in first place in the AL Central, but that doesn't mean everything is fine and dandy in the Windy City. Sure, the Sox have played a lot better the last few weeks and are starting to resemble a team that can win the division, but they still have holes.

The most glaring one is at second base where Juan Uribe and Alexei Ramirez have been splitting time this season. Combined, they're hitting .201 with four home runs and 20 RBI. The other glaring hole on the White Sox is their lack of a lead-off hitter, as the team currently has Orlando Cabrera at the top of the lineup, and he's much better suited for the two-hole (snicker).

All of which leads to trade speculation as the Sox are hoping to fill both holes in one move, but it won't be Brian Roberts they're going after. One of the names brought up to general manager Kenny Williams, though, was the Angels' Chone Figgins.

''That's an interesting name, and a name that I, yeah ... they're a pretty good team and they need ... I'm talking about the guys that will ultimately be available, and I don't know if they will be any better than what we already got,'' Williams said Tuesday, hours before the Sox beat the Cleveland Indiana 4-1 at U.S. Cellular Field. ''Again, the key phrase being that they will ultimately be available. Not that I can't sit here and play the fantasy game. Hell, I can play that game and come up with a bunch of people. Reality, that's the game I have to deal in.''

While most of the talk surrounding Joe Crede, his back, and his impending free agency that dominated White Sox spring training seems to have died down a bit, it hasn't changed the fact that the White Sox still aren't sure what they'd like to do with their third baseman. Crede got off to a real hot start in April, and is hitting .270/.345/.500 to be one of the only consistently productive hitters in the Sox lineup (though all seven of his homers and 22 of his 25 RBI came in April).

HIs back has also stood up to the beating that comes with playing third base on a daily basis, so overall, it looks like the old Joe Crede is back. So what are the White Sox going to do? They still have Josh Fields down in the minors waiting to take over the third base spot.

For Crede's part, he'd like to stay in Chicago, and is open to negotiating a new deal during the season. It's just the White Sox will have to be the ones who initiate it.

"We aren't the ones with the money, so I don't feel we need to make the offer," Crede said. "It's a situation were if they want to pay us, they will make the offer. We aren't going to go out and ask for money. That's not how I want to approach it."

"I don't approach teams about player contracts," added Boras, speaking from his suite at Angel Stadium a few hours before Tuesday's first pitch. "They are the employers. I let them know that Joe is happy with Chicago."

On Opening Day last season, the Indians began their run to an AL Central division crown with a 12-5 drubbing of the White Sox at US Cellular Field. This year the season starts with the Indians and White Sox one more time, but this time, it's in Cleveland. The good news is that there's no snow in the forecast in Cleveland, so we don't have to worry about this one being snowed out like the Indians home opener last season.

The even better news is that I'll be live-blogging the entire game for you right here at FanHouse. Of course, for those of you who aren't already aware, I'm a White Sox fan. So expect completely biased opinions and witty rejoinders after the jump.

The Dodgers came into the spring with the plan of having Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche compete for the third base job. Then on the same day, LaRoche tore a ligament in his right thumb that will keep him out until May, and Nomar got hit in his right hand. The hope was that Nomar would need some time off, and he'd be back in the lineup, but today the Dodgers found out that he has a broken bone in the hand and will be out of the opening day lineup.

The Dodgers have already been rumored to be interested in both Detroit's Brandon Inge and Chicago's Joe Crede, but the talks never got very serious in either deal. Now that neither of their third baseman will be available on opening day, Ned Coletti may have to rethink those trade talks.

"We'll see where Nomar's at in another week or so, and in the meantime, we'll continue to see if we can figure out [a replacement] from within or outside," general manager Ned Colletti said Wednesday.

Obviously either the White Sox or Tigers would be more than happy to help out(The Tigers have no place for Inge, and he doesn't want to be there, while the Sox would prefer to keep Josh Fields out of AAA.), but I think the Tigers would be more inclined to do so at this point. The Dodgers do have in house options in Tony Abreu and Blake DeWitt, and since Nomar is only expected to miss the first week or two of the season.

I don't know that it would be worth the trouble for Los Angeles to deal a top prospect for a player they may not really need. Though if Nomar's hand continues to heal slowly, they may have no other choice in what should be a tough NL West division.

There aren't many people around White Sox camp that thought Joe Crede would still be the team's opening day third baseman, but with every passing day, that scenario becomes more likely. The Sox have a few reasons to want to move Crede: to make room for Josh Fields, and because they don't think they'll re-sign him when he becomes a free agent after the season.

The problem is, even though they were hoping to move him before the season starts, that doesn't mean Kenny Williams and the organization don't hold the 2005 World Series hero in high regard. Unfortunately, the teams they're talking to don't feel the same way.

San Francisco, the most likely suitor for Crede, and the Sox have disparate evaluations that carry ramifications for both sides.

A talent evaluator familiar with both teams said the Sox were miffed the Giants' offers for Crede included since-released pitcher Scott Williamson; pitcher Randy Messenger, who was optioned to Triple-A Fresno last week; and veteran outfielder Dave Roberts.

The White Sox asking price of a top prospect and a young reliever is apparently too steep for the Giants, who prefer to offer players on their team they never planned on keeping anyway. Fortunately for Kenny and the White Sox, the Giants now have a division rival who are also interested in Crede.

The Dodgers had scouts in attendance for Crede's last game, and they're not too sure they want Nomar Garciaparra playing third base while Andy LaRoche recovers from a hand injury. Now the Sox will have some leverage in their trade talks, and it's still possible that Crede will be moved before the season. Though I think it's more likely the Sox will carry Crede along with them through the start of the season and try to move him at the deadline.

The San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox are continuing to talk about a possible trade that would send Joe Crede from Chicago to the bay, a deal we already know Aaron Rowand is fighting for. One of the players the White Sox were looking at to get in return for Crede is Giants starter, Noah Lowry.

The Sox even had scouts in attendance for Lowry's start yesterday against the Texas Rangers. After seeing Lowry's performance, I think it's safe to say the White Sox may be taking him off their wish list.

In less than two innings of work, Lowry walked seven batters. Seven. As if that wasn't bad enough, he also managed to throw two wild pitches in the first inning, and sent a pick-off throw into the stands during the second inning before Bruce Bochy mercifully pulled him from the game.

It's Lowry's second straight horrible performance of the spring. In his first start against the Cubs, he lasted only an inning and a third, walked three hitters, hit another, and threw two fastballs to the backstop.

Needless to say, neither Lowry or the Giants coaches have any explanation for what's going on, much like the Cardinals never could figure out what went wrong with Rick Ankiel. Combine Lowry's performance with Barry Zito getting rocked for 8 runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Athletics, and the Giants can't be very confident in their starting rotation right now.

On the bright side, if they wait a few years and give Lowry some HGH, they'll finally have a replacement for Barry Bonds in left field.

With the start of the regular season less than a month away, Detroit Tigers third baseman/catcher Brandon Inge is still hoping that he'll be traded somewhere else before opening day. He's currently hitting .600 this spring, but he knows that not even a .600 batting average is going to wrestle away the third base position from Miguel Cabrera. So if he's going to get any playing time at all in Detroit, it's going to be as a backup catcher for Ivan Rodriguez.

Inge played catcher for the Tigers on Sunday, and after the game, he reiterated that he's not a big fan of life behind the plate.

"Kind of a downer feeling," Inge said after three innings at catcher. "I'm a little frustrated, actually, right now.

"Nothing has changed, but having caught a game reinforces my thoughts. It really makes me realize that I love third base."

Moving Inge makes sense for both teams, as Inge would like to go somewhere he can play, and the Tigers would probably prefer not to pay him $6 million to sit on the bench this season.

Luckily for both sides, Inge is swinging the bat very well this spring, and if he continues to do so it'll make him more attractive to other teams around baseball looking for infield help. I know the Giants are very interested in the White Sox' Joe Crede, so why not give them a call? After all, Inge is just as good defensively, has similar numbers on offense, and he doesn't have a bad back like Crede does. In one move the Tigers could fix a problem, and screw a division rival.

During my life as a White Sox fan, there haven't been many players on the team that I've liked more than Aaron Rowand and Joe Crede. Crede I love just because I grew up playing third base so I tend to favor third basemen, but his impeccable defense and clutch hitting didn't hurt much. As for Rowand, what baseball fan doesn't love the guy who's willing to run face first into walls time and time again to help the team?

The admiration isn't just amongst fans like me, though. Apparently Rowand has developed a man crush on Crede over the last few years that is above and beyond anything I've ever felt. Since Aaron signed with the Giants this off season, it's seemed like he's spent every waking minute trying to get Crede to the bay as well.

''Joe's a great guy and a great baseball player and a great friend, so ... would I like to have him on this team? Of course,'' Rowand said before a Cactus League game against the Cubs. ''I'm definitely biased, not only friendship-wise, but as a player, too, because I think the world of him.

"We'll see what happens. Nothing's ever for sure in this game. A lot of weird things happen. Things don't happen that are supposed to happen. For now, I'm sure Joe's going about his business and thinking about being with the Chicago White Sox, just like I'm doing here.''

I wouldn't be surprised if Aaron gets his wish soon, because it's pretty clear that the White Sox feel Josh Fields is going to be a stud, and that if Crede shows his back is better this spring they're going to move him. The White Sox have always tried to avoid working with Crede's agent, the evil Scott Boras, and since he's in the last year of his contract, it's unlikely he'll be back in Chicago next season anyway.