RKMeibalane
07-26-2002, 04:26 PM
When Durham was traded last night, I had hoped that this move would signal the arrival of Joe Crede. I was wrong. Instead, Willie Harris was promoted.
Now, I have nothing against Harris. I think he will eventually become an important part of future White Sox teams. But Crede deserves to be with the ballclub. I thought that with Durham gone, Valentin would be moved to second, and that would clear third base for Crede. I think this move would have at least made some sense. Harris plays second base, so I can see why he was brought up, but I don't think it's right to continue pushing Harris at Crede's expense.
Chances are, Crede won't play much when he is finally promoted on September 1. He'll just sit on the bench while "The Choice" stinks up Comiskey Park.
As someone pointed out the other day, KW created this huge mess when he traded for Royce Clayton before the 2001 season. Looking back, I had a bad feeling about that trade. At the time, I thought I was just worrying too much. Now, I see that my worries were justified. If Clayton were not with the Sox, Valentin would still be at shortstop, and Crede would be playing third.
Manos isn't a good defensive player, and that is the reason Clayton was accquired, but I think it's safe to say he's no better over at third. Crede, on the other hand, has the potential to be an excellent third baseman on the defensive side of the ball. If all goes well, he will be a better defensive player at third than The Choice is at short.
Valentin reached his peak in 2000 because he was finally given the chance to play every day. Now, he's being shuffled in and out of the lineup. When he is the lineup, he's playing third, short, or in some cases, center field (April 2001). His offensive numbers have declined, thanks in no small part to Jerry "The Tinkerer" Manuel and his special "Right-handed Murderers Row" lineup.
Ken Williams should be fired. His incompetence is the source of the majority of the problems the Sox are facing as of this moment. Of course, JR probably won't fire Williams until attendance improves. The horrible irony of the situation is that attendance won't improve until things turn around, and that won't happen with Williams in charge.
Now, I have nothing against Harris. I think he will eventually become an important part of future White Sox teams. But Crede deserves to be with the ballclub. I thought that with Durham gone, Valentin would be moved to second, and that would clear third base for Crede. I think this move would have at least made some sense. Harris plays second base, so I can see why he was brought up, but I don't think it's right to continue pushing Harris at Crede's expense.
Chances are, Crede won't play much when he is finally promoted on September 1. He'll just sit on the bench while "The Choice" stinks up Comiskey Park.
As someone pointed out the other day, KW created this huge mess when he traded for Royce Clayton before the 2001 season. Looking back, I had a bad feeling about that trade. At the time, I thought I was just worrying too much. Now, I see that my worries were justified. If Clayton were not with the Sox, Valentin would still be at shortstop, and Crede would be playing third.
Manos isn't a good defensive player, and that is the reason Clayton was accquired, but I think it's safe to say he's no better over at third. Crede, on the other hand, has the potential to be an excellent third baseman on the defensive side of the ball. If all goes well, he will be a better defensive player at third than The Choice is at short.
Valentin reached his peak in 2000 because he was finally given the chance to play every day. Now, he's being shuffled in and out of the lineup. When he is the lineup, he's playing third, short, or in some cases, center field (April 2001). His offensive numbers have declined, thanks in no small part to Jerry "The Tinkerer" Manuel and his special "Right-handed Murderers Row" lineup.
Ken Williams should be fired. His incompetence is the source of the majority of the problems the Sox are facing as of this moment. Of course, JR probably won't fire Williams until attendance improves. The horrible irony of the situation is that attendance won't improve until things turn around, and that won't happen with Williams in charge.