Crede still in limbo
There is no definitive timetable as to when third baseman Joe Crede's stiff back will allow him to get back in Sox black.
A free agent after this season, Crede was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 25 (retroactive to July 22) with back lumbar inflammation. He played in a rehab game with the Charlotte Knights last Friday but a sore back forced Crede to cut batting practice short the following day and he has not played since.
"Call his agent, I don't know," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said before Friday's game of when Crede might return. "Joe Crede isn't going to help me right now. Good luck. When Crede is here, I'll be glad to put him in."
Guillen said MRI and CT scans came up clean and that Crede received an epidural for the pain on Thursday. He is expected to resume his rehabilitation stint early next week once the pain is manageable.
"I'm not going to put any timetables on his return," said general manager Kenny Williams, who said he won't be giving daily updates on Crede's status. "When he can come and play again he'll let us know."
Guillen was asked if Crede is being more careful than he would in another year due to his impending free agency.
"I don't know," Guillen said. "I'm not going to say yes or no because I can't read his mind. But I trust Joe because when he's hurt, he tells me right away. Joe has played with pain the last three years. When he says he can't go, I know how bad the pain is. I don't think he's doing that.
"If he's doing that..." Guillen paused to find the right words ... "I can't control that."
Contreras returns: Jose Contreras (7-6) will come off the disabled list today to make his first start since July 13. He'll face Daisuke Matsuzaka (12-2). How deep into the game Contreras works is up to him.
"He will dictate how long he's going to be out there," Ozzie Guillen said. "I expect him to throw a pretty good game and, hopefully, we can keep him out there every five days."
Guillen said a pitch count won't be considered.
"If you're on a pitch count, you're not in the pennant race," he said. "We need a win. We don't need to build people. It's too late."
To make room for Contreras on the active roster, the White Sox optioned right-handed reliever Ehren Wassermann to Class AAA Charlotte after Friday night's game.