posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 2:19 AM
by
Jim
Midseason Review: Joe Crede
| AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BA
| OBP | SLG | SB | CS |
303
| 50 | 89 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 57 | .294 | .331 | .512 | 0 | 1 |
Something nice: October Joe has decided to stay awhile. Always a streaky hitter leading up to this season, Crede is enjoying his greatest extended run of his career. Even an average second half (.250/.300/.420 or so) gives him his best season, and his glove has been outstanding.
Must improve: To nitpick, his walks. He's on pace for less than 30 of them, which makes his run all the more remarkable. I've theorized that his better hitting has come from spoiling good strikes and waiting for fat ones, but who knows? He doesn't have to walk if he keeps this production up, though more plate patience would arguably help him to weather rough patches better.
Three best games May 3The first of two "Joe! Crede!" moments this year, Crede jumps on the first pitch he sees from new reliever Rafael Soriano to give the Sox a 5-1 lead. He also made a diving stab and awesome throw to retire Willie Bloomquist with two outs and a runner on third. This one's easy to forget because it happened during the Pablo Ozuna Game.
June 20Crede already had a tremendous night with four hits and two homers, but he nearly had a third homer with a double off the top of the left field wall. Everybody was on fire this game, but Crede was something special.
June 24
Reminiscent of the "Joe! Crede!" game from last year -- as well as Game 2 of the World Series -- Crede hits a grand slam on the first pitch he sees from new reliever Chad Qualls (see a pattern?) to tie the ballgame up at 5. The Sox would go on to win in extra innings.
Three worst games
April 8
With the bases loaded, one out and a chance to add an important insurance run, Crede grounds into a double play. The bullpen can't hold the lead, and the Sox lose their fourth game in a row.
May 31
Crede went 0-for-4 against Jake Westbrook, and made his first three outs on four pitches. The Sox suffered their first shutout of the year, and Crede embodied the Sox's hacktastic ways that night.
June 7A rare physical and mental lapse happened in the same play for Crede. After muffing a rather routine grounder by Magglio Ordonez, he decided to try to throw him out instead of eating it. The throw sailed on him, and Curtis Granderson came around to score the tying run.
Grades
Bat: A-
Can anybody complain about what Crede's done with the bat this season? Walks aside, there isn't anything I would change about his approach. Let's just cross our fingers that he keeps this up.
Running: C+I can't recall any mistakes on the basepaths, but he doesn't help matters any with his lack of speed.
Fielding: A-His errors have come on generally easy plays, which is comforting since he's not prone to lapses of concentration. Pop-ups have always been his weakness, but you wouldn't know it from the tremendous grab he made on
May 4 against the Mariners.
Awards
Player of the Week,
June 18-24Gold Glove,
May 28-June 3Gold Glove,
May 21-May 27Player of the Week,
May 7-13Gold Glove,
May 7-13Player of the Week,
April 30-May 6
Gold Glove,
April 30-May 6Gold Glove,
April 16-22Gold Glove,
April 9-16