That's one.  For every one you name, I can give 20 failures.

Very true, I just wanted to throw his name out there. It is entirely possible to break out well into your major league career, especially when you have the kind of talent Crede has.

Those are good points.

 

I was going to say, what a choice from hell: Crede's gold glove defense but awful hitting.  Ozuna seems to hit well, but can be iffy over there (although he seems to have settled down lately).

 

But as you guys said: if we're built around pitching and defense, I guess I go with the guy who's the better defender.

 

And hold on to your hats should Crede find his swing during the final stretch.

Nomar looks like a great replacement not as a shortstop but as a third baseman. He is hitting well and probably could play third on a very good team. He has a strong arm and although he does not move as well as he used to, I think he would be a great pickup for the Sox in 2006 provided he is a good clubhouse guy

Those are good points.

 

I was going to say, what a choice from hell: Crede's gold glove defense but awful hitting.  Ozuna seems to hit well, but can be iffy over there (although he seems to have settled down lately).

 

But as you guys said: if we're built around pitching and defense, I guess I go with the guy who's the better defender.

 

And hold on to your hats should Crede find his swing during the final stretch.

Nomar looks like a great replacement not as a shortstop but as a third baseman. He is hitting well and probably could play third on a very good team. He has a strong arm and although he does not move as well as he used to, I think he would be a great pickup for the Sox in 2006 provided he is a good clubhouse guy

Very true, I just wanted to throw his name out there. It is entirely possible to break out well into your major league career, especially when you have the kind of talent Crede has.

 

Possible, but very unlikley. I have to admit that Brian Roberts never crossed my mind. Good one!

Do you really want to compare Brian Roberts

G AB R H 2B 3B HR BI W K SB CS AV OBP SL OPS

2001 BAL 75 273 42 69 12 3 2 17 13 36 12 3 .253 .284 .341 .624

2002 BAL 38 128 18 29 6 0 1 11 15 21 9 2 .227 .308 .297 .605

2003 BAL 112 460 65 124 22 4 5 41 46 58 23 6 .270 .337 .367 .704

2004 BAL 159 641 107 175 50 2 4 53 71 95 29 12 .273 .344 .376 .720

2005 BAL 132 522 83 163 39 6 18 66 61 76 27 9 .312 .385 .513 .898

 

To Joe Crede?

G AB R H 2B 3B HR BI W K SB CS AV OBP SL OPs

2000 CWS 7 14 2 5 1 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 .357 .333 .429 .762

2001 CWS 17 50 1 11 1 1 0 7 3 11 1 0 .220 .273 .280 .553

2002 CWS 53 200 28 57 10 0 12 35 8 40 0 2 .285 .311 .515 .826

2003 CWS 151 536 68 140 31 2 19 75 32 75 1 1 .261 .308 .433 .741

2004 CWS 144 490 67 117 25 0 21 69 34 81 1 2 .239 .299 .418 .717

2005 CWS 113 370 43 86 17 0 16 48 21 57 1 1 .232 .285 .408 .693

 

 

Roberts became a regular in 03 and has shown improvement every year. Crede made the club for good in the second half of 02 and has shown mind boggling regression with each passing year. No comparison.

Do you really want to compare Brian Roberts

                G AB  R H 2B 3B HR BI W K  SB CS AV  OBP SL OPS 

2001 BAL 75 273 42 69 12  3  2  17 13 36 12 3 .253 .284 .341 .624

2002 BAL 38 128 18 29 6 0 1 11 15 21 9  2 .227 .308 .297 .605

2003 BAL 112 460 65 124 22 4 5 41 46 58 23 6 .270 .337 .367 .704

2004 BAL 159 641 107 175 50 2 4 53 71 95 29 12 .273 .344 .376 .720

2005 BAL 132 522 83 163 39 6 18 66 61 76 27 9 .312 .385 .513 .898

 

To Joe Crede?

              G AB R H 2B 3B HR BI W K  SB CS AV OBP SL    OPs

2000 CWS 7  14 2  5  1  0  0    3  0  3 0  0 .357 .333 .429 .762

2001 CWS 17 50 1 11 1  1  0 7  3 11  1  0 .220 .273 .280 .553

2002 CWS 53 200 28 57 10 0 12 35 8 40 0 2 .285 .311 .515 .826

2003 CWS 151 536 68 140 31 2 19 75 32 75 1 1 .261 .308 .433 .741

2004 CWS 144 490 67 117 25 0 21 69 34 81 1 2 .239 .299 .418 .717

2005 CWS 113 370 43 86 17 0 16 48 21 57 1 1 .232 .285 .408 .693

Roberts became a regular in 03 and has shown improvement every year. Crede made the club for good in the second half of 02 and has shown mind boggling regression with each passing year. No comparison.

Noone compared Crede to Roberts. I merely said a player can bust out in his 5th pro season and Roberts is evidence of that. I don't know where you got the idea that anyone was comparing the two.

My apologies then. I just don't see any relationship or parallel between the two. I hope Joe has his breakout year with the Sox, but at this point it just doesn't look like he can hit major league pitching.

Crede should start every postseason game. The rest might also help his bat.

 

This year he's been either very good offensively, or just awful. Look at these splits by month.

 

April 79 12 24 6 0 2 9 5 3 9 0 0 .304 .368 .456 .824

May 84 8 13 2 0 3 9 5 2 17 0 1 .155 .211 .286 .496

June 80 11 22 3 0 6 17 5 2 10 1 0 .275 .333 .538 .871

July 69 10 21 5 0 4 12 4 0 11 0 0 .304 .342 .551 .893

August 58 2 6 1 0 1 1 2 1 10 0 0 .103 .148 .172 .320

Total 370 43 86 17 0 16 48 21 8 57 1 1 .232 .285 .408 .693

 

We would all love April, June, and July's offense. .300+ hitter, .345 OBP, .530 slugging, .875 OPS. We just have to hope October is like one of those months. We know we are going to get the solid D.

 

Ozuna can't match any of those numbers, not even against lefties. And his numbers against righties are like one of Crede's bad months.

 

vs. Left 83 10 27 4 0 0 3 2 3 9 8 5 .325 .364 .373 .737

vs. Right 91 14 21 2 2 0 7 4 1 12 5 1 .231 .271 .297 .568

 

Forget about Blum. He doesn't have the D or the O to compete. When he's played 3B a lot in the past, he's made a lot of errors.

 

Lastly, Crede is the only one of these guys who can hit the long ball, which can win a postseason game with one swing.

 

Sure, I might agree with those who want someone better next year, but for right now, Joe Crede is far and away the best 3B option we've got.

Let me say that I agree Joe is the best option we have at third right now. That's not saying much.

I would go with Crede and I can't believe anyone would suggest Blum or Ozuna as appropriate full-time replacements. Sorry!