Interesting read, here's the link:

 

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/ds.../pro/025sd1.htm

I was just going to post it, beat me to it.

 

This is the type of story fans need to know [though the sox couldn't go public with a problem Crede didn't think was a problem--even though they did last yr].

 

At least that dispells some of the ramblings that Crede didn't take well to coaching. When it comes to a guy's swing, the mechanics become so ingrained that it's hard for a guy to change. That Crede has had the success he's had w/ a big flaw shows he has a lot of untapped talent. Could he better his minor league stats in the majors? Time will tell. Yet I feel better knowing he doesn't just suck and the org. is making a lame excuse for him.

 

The Sox certainly can use all the young players they can to build around. Now if the sox can work on your friend Willie's problems......

This is a good example of how some things that are said could be taken out of context. They said that they couldn't get through to Crede and he was then considered a stubborn, uncoachable head case by some Sox fans. It was just a matter of the light bulb going on and the maturity it takes to realize that what you have always done is not quite good enough. I suspect that the Jon Garland case is a similar scenario.

When Crede came up, one of the things he said that stuck with me is "All I can guarantee is the effort" which is a great attitude. But you have to remember that MLB is a game of adjustments. If Joe can make this adjustment and become a productive hitter, that'll be great. Then the pitchers will pitch him differently, and for a while he'll be less productive, until he figures the next step out. That's what makes baseball so hard, so enjoyable, and a lot of careers so short.

I think by next year you'll see Crede with a .270 avg, 25-30 HR, 85-90 RBI, .350 OBP. It's not great, but it's a step in the right direction. We could use that kind of production for next season.

 

When you talk about his confidence being down, hitting him 8th in the lineup wasn't exactly a confidence booster. I always thought that was a bad move by Ozzie.

i think words are cheap.

i think words are cheap.

Sometimes. And sometimes they are taken out of context and players have undeserved labels put on them.

I think a .350 OBP for Crede is a bit high -- perhaps in the .320-.330 range.

When you talk about his confidence being down, hitting him 8th in the lineup wasn't exactly a confidence booster. I always thought that was a bad move by Ozzie.

Crede was lucky he wasn't on the bench, let alone in the 8th spot the way he was hitting. The Sox and Ozzie showed a lot of confidence by still keeping him in there when many teams would have pulled the plug

Sometimes.  And sometimes they are taken out of context and players have undeserved labels put on them.

agree completely.

So at what point does Crede not get to use this as a crutch?

So at what point does Crede not get to use this as a crutch?

Crede isn't using this as a crutch, nor is he making excuses. The Sox coaches have pointed the flaw out to him and he's finally realized this has negatively impacted his swing.

 

But if Crede still doesn't improve after being "fixed", then the sox may need to move in another direction.

I think by next year you'll see Crede with a .270 avg, 25-30 HR, 85-90 RBI, .350 OBP. It's not great, but it's a step in the right direction. We could use that kind of production for next season.

I would love to see that out of Crede.

 

As far as confidence, I remember a TV interview after one of his game winning hits, he seemed painfully shy and uncomfortable on camera. He reminded me of a teenager. I don't know if this was a result of his subpar seeason or his natural personality (most likely). Hopefully fixing the flaw in his swing will help him be successful and gain confidence. If that's the case, I think he could definitely produce thses numbers or better. To me two minor leauge MVP's shows the ability to do so.

I'll reserve judgment until I see him a little bit next year.

But if his swing is "corrected" in Spring Training and he hits well there, then I don't want to hear the old "pitchers are always ahead of the hitters in April and May" or the "slow start" bulls*** if he struggles early.

Basically, I don't want him to wait until June to start hitting, the way he has even in his more successful times.

Well I do hope this turns Crede around. I'm tired of him only producing in September.

he'll have a good year or two and then it will be bye-bye -- like many Sox players, especially anybody represented by Boras

So at what point does Crede not get to use this as a crutch?

Alot of Sox fans still extend the "crutch" to Garland who has been spectacularly medicore during his White Sox tenure.

 

So who knows.

I'm still not sure he can recover from this but we'll see...

I think a .350 OBP for Crede is a bit high -- perhaps in the .320-.330 range.

Agreed -- if he had that season that Butters put up, I would absolutely call that "great". But these numbers (.320-.330 obp with some power) would be good enough, and they're a lot more realistic.

Good to read. I like Crede, he's one of my favorite Sox, so I really hope he can turn things around and live up to his abilities cause he could really help this offense and we already know what he can do defensively.

Hopefully only one more year of cruddy and then we can trade him.