Crede's call-up signals changes
July 30, 2002
White Sox general manager Ken Williams resisted when other teams made trade offers for third baseman Joe Crede.
Crede's permanent promotion to the major leagues has been long-delayed--or long overdue, according to some opinions. But the wait is over.
''He will be in Minnesota [tonight], and he will be playing third,'' said Williams, who turned down a deal this month with the Detroit Tigers for Jeff Weaver, among other offers, for Crede. "His time is here.''
Crede's credentials include winning MVP honors in the Class A Carolina League in 1998 and the Class AA Southern League in 2000 and being named the best defensive third baseman in the Class AAA International League by Baseball America last season.
The 24-year-old native of Westphalia, Mo., spent parts of the last two seasons with the Sox, hitting .250 in 24 games, but his minor-league resume left nothing more to prove this season. He was hitting .312 in 95 games for Class AAA Charlotte with 24 home runs and 65 RBI.
The road block was above him, with the Sox juggling veteran infielders Jose Valentin and Royce Clayton in an effort to keep Valentin's bat and Clayton's glove in the lineup for a playoff run. When the door closed on that goal, it opened for Crede and another Sox youth movement.
It might not have been coincidence that Williams left for Charlotte on Friday, even as trade activity was escalating. He got one more long look at Crede and solidified his confidence in proceeding with the mandate to cut salary and start over.
''His swing is shorter, and he's a more accomplished hitter,'' Williams said. ''He can hit the fastball and the curveball, he can drive the ball to the gaps in both right-center and left-center. He's hitting with men on base, he's driving the ball through the middle, and he has a quiet approach at the plate. Not to mention the fact his glove work has been outstanding.''
Crede will be the cornerstone of a revamped Sox infield, with Willie Harris already at second base in place of Ray Durham, who was traded to the Oakland Athletics last week.
There also figures to be a change at shortstop, with Clayton, Valentin or both likely to be traded. D'Angelo Jimenez, 24, is expected to take their place. Williams acquired the once-touted New York Yankees prospect two weeks ago from the San Diego Padres.
The switch-hitting Jimenez was hitting .240 for the Padres with three homers and 33 RBI while playing shortstop and second base. The Sox assigned him to Charlotte to become re-accustomed to playing shortstop exclusively.
Jimenez was considered one of the Yankees' top three prospects before fracturing a vertebra in an offseason car accident in 2000 in the Dominican Republic.
''We were still trying to get him, even right after the injury,'' Williams said when Jimenez was acquired for two minor-leaguers. ''That's how strongly we felt about his talent.
"We have a number of young players that we can bring up and plug in and feel like we have quality at that position.''
July 30, 2002
White Sox general manager Ken Williams resisted when other teams made trade offers for third baseman Joe Crede.
Crede's permanent promotion to the major leagues has been long-delayed--or long overdue, according to some opinions. But the wait is over.
''He will be in Minnesota [tonight], and he will be playing third,'' said Williams, who turned down a deal this month with the Detroit Tigers for Jeff Weaver, among other offers, for Crede. "His time is here.''
Crede's credentials include winning MVP honors in the Class A Carolina League in 1998 and the Class AA Southern League in 2000 and being named the best defensive third baseman in the Class AAA International League by Baseball America last season.
The 24-year-old native of Westphalia, Mo., spent parts of the last two seasons with the Sox, hitting .250 in 24 games, but his minor-league resume left nothing more to prove this season. He was hitting .312 in 95 games for Class AAA Charlotte with 24 home runs and 65 RBI.
The road block was above him, with the Sox juggling veteran infielders Jose Valentin and Royce Clayton in an effort to keep Valentin's bat and Clayton's glove in the lineup for a playoff run. When the door closed on that goal, it opened for Crede and another Sox youth movement.
It might not have been coincidence that Williams left for Charlotte on Friday, even as trade activity was escalating. He got one more long look at Crede and solidified his confidence in proceeding with the mandate to cut salary and start over.
''His swing is shorter, and he's a more accomplished hitter,'' Williams said. ''He can hit the fastball and the curveball, he can drive the ball to the gaps in both right-center and left-center. He's hitting with men on base, he's driving the ball through the middle, and he has a quiet approach at the plate. Not to mention the fact his glove work has been outstanding.''
Crede will be the cornerstone of a revamped Sox infield, with Willie Harris already at second base in place of Ray Durham, who was traded to the Oakland Athletics last week.
There also figures to be a change at shortstop, with Clayton, Valentin or both likely to be traded. D'Angelo Jimenez, 24, is expected to take their place. Williams acquired the once-touted New York Yankees prospect two weeks ago from the San Diego Padres.
The switch-hitting Jimenez was hitting .240 for the Padres with three homers and 33 RBI while playing shortstop and second base. The Sox assigned him to Charlotte to become re-accustomed to playing shortstop exclusively.
Jimenez was considered one of the Yankees' top three prospects before fracturing a vertebra in an offseason car accident in 2000 in the Dominican Republic.
''We were still trying to get him, even right after the injury,'' Williams said when Jimenez was acquired for two minor-leaguers. ''That's how strongly we felt about his talent.
"We have a number of young players that we can bring up and plug in and feel like we have quality at that position.''
