Tough decisions for Sox at third base
TUCSON, Ariz. -- In the top of the third inning Monday, Seattle's Yuniskey Betancout turned on a Mark Buehrle fastball and rifled a grounder that looked to have a reservation in the left-field corner.
Fortunately for the White Sox, Joe Crede was playing third base. Looking a lot like he did before having back surgery last June, Crede dove to his right, gloved the ball and quickly rose to his feet before making a perfect throw to first base.
If Sox fans are wondering why the inevitable Crede trade has yet to be consummated, the highlight defensive play is a big reason.
The White Sox have been saying they'll start the season with the best players they have, no matter what. With just less than three weeks before Opening Day, Crede and Josh Fields still are fighting for the starting job at third base.
Considering he's coming off back surgery and is eligible for free agency at the end of the season, Crede entered camp as the odd man out.
But White Sox general manager Kenny Williams on Sunday told the Chicago Sun-Times he has talked to two teams (believed to be the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers) about a Crede trade, "and I did not feel there was anything there at this juncture.''
Of course, that can quickly change, and a deal involving Crede could happen before camp breaks.
The other option? Keeping Crede at third and sending Fields to Class AAA Charlotte, even though Fields hit 23 home runs and drove in 67 while batting .244 in just 100 games with the Sox as a rookie last season.
For as ludicrous as shipping Fields back to the minors might sound, the 25-year-old slugger said it's a move he's prepared to deal with.
"(Williams) has got a tough job, too,'' Fields said. "Just like we have to go out and produce and be ready to play, he has to put the best lineup out on the field and give (manager) Ozzie (Guillen) the best chance. Whatever decision he makes, I have to roll with it. I have no choice.
"I have to prepare myself to be ready to play, no matter where it is. If I do have to go down to Charlotte, I can't just mope around down there and hope that something happens. I have to make something happen and go down there and produce. That's the only way they will even think about pulling you back up to Chicago.''
When he reported to camp three weeks ago, Crede said he expected to be with the White Sox this season. His outlook has not changed.
"I really haven't thought about it,'' Crede said. "Like I said before, I've been worried about getting my game back up to speed on the field, as opposed to worry about off-the-field stuff. That stuff is out of my control.''
If Crede and Fields have one thing in common this spring, it's their sluggish offensive showings in the Cactus League.
After going 0-for-3 Monday, Crede is batting .091.
"I'm not panicking up there,'' Crede said. "I think it's just a matter of time before everything starts to click. I think that's going to come with more at-bats. It's just a matter of getting the mechanics down and getting back into the flow of the game.''
With just 2 hits in 19 exhibition at-bats, Fields is batting .105.
"I would like to see some results soon,'' he said. "I was in the cage working a little extra (Monday morning) and I feel like I'm hopefully getting back to where I was at the end of last season. Just a couple of minor adjustments with my hands that wasn't allowing me to get to balls that I need to be getting to.''
Fields and Crede have adjoining lockers in the clubhouse, but they don't sit around and chat about being locked in a competition.
"It's probably an awkward conversation,'' Fields said. "I don't think you have to talk about it. We both know the situation, what could happen, what may or may not happen. So we're kind of in the same boat right now. We have to get ourselves going and stay healthy.''