Crede pleased with progress

If the White Sox weren't heading into the final two months of the season in such dismal shape, third baseman Joe Crede might be thinking about making a comeback.

"I think the earliest I could come back (is) Oct. 15,'' Crede said. "Obviously, that's not going to happen. But I'm looking forward to next year.''

As are the rest of the Sox.

Crede was at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday for the first time since having back surgery June 12.

"Everything feels great,'' Crede said. "I can definitely tell a difference already. The only thing right now is there's a lot of stiffness, (but) I'd rather have stiffness than the pain I had before.

"Before, there was a lot of throbbing and a lot of pain shooting down the legs and stuff. Now it's just the stiffness we're dealing with, and that's something I can handle.''

Crede, 29, played in 47 games for the Sox this season before going on the disabled list June 6. He batted .216 with 4 home runs and 22 RBI and never seemed to be physically comfortable. He said the shooting pains down his legs had become so bad he was unable to sleep at night.

Crede again explained why he decided to pass on surgery last winter and go with a strengthening program.

"It was a situation where it (pain) was there, but it was not to the extent of what it was this year,'' Crede said. "This year, it was keeping me up at night.

"You know, when we saw the specialists, they said, 'Let's go the strengthening route.' We took that route, and it didn't look to me like we needed it (surgery), so we didn't have it.

"I basically just took the specialists word for it and saw another specialist here in Chicago and he said the same thing. It wasn't something where I was going against what a specialist was going to say, but you know, what happens, happens. We got it fixed, and it's time to move on.''

With promising rookie Josh Fields playing third base, Crede's future with the White Sox is uncertain. He is arbitration eligible for one more year, so the Sox do have the option of bringing Crede back.

"I'm more worried about getting back and getting healthy,'' Crede said. "Whatever happens off the field, arbitration, it's out of my control. I did what's going to be best for my career and that was to go this route. I don't know what's going to go on this winter, but either way I'll be very happy to come here and play in Chicago.''

Crede said he probably will stick around for the Sox' current homestand before heading back to his off-season home in Missouri. He hopes to start swinging a bat in November.

Start me up: Gavin Floyd will be recalled from Class AAA Charlotte and start Game 2 of today's day-night doubleheader against the Tigers.

Floyd was called up to start Game 2 of a July 6 doubleheader against the Twins. He took the loss after allowing 6 runs on 8 hits (4 home runs) over 5ˆ¿ innings. Floyd, 24, was sent back to Charlotte during the all-star break.

Bring me up: Scott Podsednik is expected to rejoin the White Sox today after batting .286 (6-for-21) on a rehabilitation assignment with Charlotte. Podsednik has been on the disabled list since July 2 with a strained rib-cage muscle.

Darin Erstad (sprained left ankle) still is experiencing soreness, according to manager Ozzie Guillen. His return date from Charlotte is unknown.