After tweaking back, Crede decides not to push it
Even when pronouncing himself physically fit after reporting to training camp this spring, White Sox third baseman Joe Crede said his surgically repaired back was never going to be 100 percent.
Crede was held out of the starting lineup for two games against the Dodgers at Los Angeles in late June with lower back stiffness, and he missed his second straight game against the Rangers on Wednesday afternoon with the same condition.
"It has been feeling better today,'' Crede said. "Just taking it day to day and we are going to utilize the day off (Thursday) to get the full day's rest. Hopefully it will feel better and calm down.''
Crede aggravated his back while hitting in the indoor cage at U.S. Cellular Field before Tuesday night's game against Texas.
"It was on a swing in the cage and I felt something,'' Crede said. "I felt it was better to take a step back. It just wasn't getting loose. It can lead to other things. It can lead to worse things. I would rather take a step back then keep pushing it and sit out much longer.''
Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is happy Crede came forward with the problem.
"There's one thing about Joe, he's honest with me, he's honest with his teammates," Guillen said. "Joe could easily go out there play without being 100 percent. That thing's going to happen. I think we're lucky enough to keep Joe in the lineup the way we are right now because after the back surgery he had, we never know what we're going to get. We're pleased with the way he's playing right now.''
Crede, who played in his first All-Star Game last week, is having an interesting season.
The 30-year-old infielder is batting .255 with 17 home runs and 54 RBI. But Crede also leads the major leagues with a career-high 19 errors.
Crede said his footwork has been mainly responsible for the fielding miscues. As for his back, it's nowhere close to being as problematic as it was in 2007.
"It's a lot different from what it was last year,'' Crede said. "Last year, there was a lot of pain radiating down the legs. This is more stiffness in the lower back. It just doesn't want to get loose. But it's feeling better.''