Sample Player Profile Page

CREDE, JOE


Nickname:	N/A	Position:	3B
Home:	Linn, Missouri	Team:	Retired
Height:	6' 1"	Bats:	R
Weight:	220	Throws:	R
DOB:	4/26/1978	Agent:	Scott Boras
Birth City:	Jefferson City, Missouri	Draft:	White Sox #5 - 1996 - Out of Westphalia H.S. (Mo.)
Uniform #:	N/A		White Sox #5 - 1996 - Out of Westphalia H.S. (Mo.)

YR	LEA	TEAM	SAL(K)	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	OBP	SLG	AVG
1996	GCL	White Sox		56	221	30	66	17	1	4	32	1		9	41			.299
1997	SAL	HICKORY		113	402	45	109	25	0	5	62	3		24	83			.271
1998	CAR	WINSTON-SALEM			492	92	155	32	3	20	88	9						.315
1999	SL	BIRMINGHAM			291	37	73	14	1	4	42	2		22	47			.251
2000	SL	BIRMINGHAM			533	84	163	35	0	21	94	3		56	111			.306
2000	AL	WHITE SOX	$200.00	7	14	2	5	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	3	.333	.429	.357
2001	AL	WHITE SOX		17	50	1	11	1	1	0	7	1	0	3	11	.273	.280	.220
2001	IL	CHARLOTTE		124	463	67	128	34	1	17	65	2		46	88			.276
2002	IL	CHARLOTTE		95	359	57	112	21	0	24	65	0		26	48			.312
2002	AL	WHITE SOX		53	200	28	57	10	0	12	35	0	2	8	40	.311	.515	.285
2003	AL	WHITE SOX	$315.00	151	536	68	140	31	2	19	75	1	1	32	75	.308	.433	.261
2004	AL	WHITE SOX	$340.00	144	490	67	117	25	0	21	69	1	2	34	81	.299	.418	.239
2005	AL	WHITE SOX	$400.00	132	432	54	109	21	0	22	62	1	1	25	66	.303	.454	.252
2006	AL	WHITE SOX	$2,675.00	150	544	76	154	31	0	30	94	0	2	28	58	.323	.506	.283
2007	AL	WHITE SOX	$4,940.00	47	167	13	36	5	0	4	22	0	1	10	24	.258	.317	.216
2008	AL	WHITE SOX	$5,100.00	97	335	41	83	18	1	17	55	0	3	30	45	.314	.460	.248
2008	IL	CHARLOTTE		5	16	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3		.125	.125
2009	AL	TWINS	$4,000.00	90	333	42	75	16	1	15	48	0	0	29	56	.289	.414	.225
2010	-	D.L.

Like most St. Louis-area youngsters in the 1980s, Crede wanted the number one on his uniform, the number that belonged to Cardinals Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith.

"Going to Cardinals games when I was young influenced me to become a baseball player," Joe said.

BASEBALL FAMILY

Joe's other baseball model was his older brother, Brad.

The Baltimore Orioles drafted Brad Crede out of high school, but he chose instead to attend Central Missouri, where he was part of a national championship team and voted to the Division II all-time team. The Philadelphia Phillies then drafted him and he tried pro ball for two years before deciding to go into teaching. Along the way, he taught younger brother Joe quite a bit.

"I tried to do everything like him: hit like him, dress like him, talk like him," Joe Crede said, laughing. "He was four years older and was in high school where I could watch him. Then he went to college when I was a freshman in high school and he was really, really good. So I didn't try to be like any big leaguer, just do things like him."

Even now, having successfully made it to the big leagues, Crede has a difficult time imagining that he is as good as the brother.

"I don't know; I don't think so," Crede said. "I don't think I can picture myself being better than him. I can't see that in my eyes; maybe somebody else could, but I didn't think I could ever reach the level he was at."
Crede's father, Dave, played in the Air Force while stationed in Germany and was good enough to catch the attention of scouts.

Up in the family attic, Joe Crede found some of the letters sent to his father along with a film of his father batting back in the early 1960s. The senior Crede was good enough to go to spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers twice, but now gets his baseball infusion from watching his son playing in Chicago.

"He's living out his dream and loves watching me play baseball," Joe Crede said. "The trouble is, he's about as nervous as a person can be. Whenever he comes to watch me play, he can't sit. He's all over the stadium. He'll walk around the park about five times during a game. My family knows that when they come to the game with him, he's just too nervous." (The two sections above: John Mullin-Chicago Tribune-3/19/04)
In 1998, Crede almost became the first Carolina League triple-crown winner since Ray Jablonski in 1951. But he fell two home runs short. He led the league in RBI and batting average. And was the league MVP.
The White Sox love Joe's attitude as much as they do his ability. He has a true professional approach to the game. He plays the game with a hard-nosed verve.

Crede is even-tempered and has a strong work ethic -- a solid approach for a baseball player.
When sent back to Triple-A for a long stay, Crede didn't pout or complain. Instead, he worked hard and played hard, like he always does.
Joe is a modest man, and shy and quiet.
In 2003, a group of fans, calling themselves "Crede's Crew" started hanging their banner in center field at Minnesota's Metrodome.
"One of his biggest things is being able to maintain his weight throughout the course of the season," said White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams of Crede, pointing out one contributing factor to his troubles in 2004. "We've hired nutritionists, and we have a handle on what the issues are with the drastic weight loss. But he has to take more ownership in it. There is a physical problem first. There is no doubt that if you internalize, and I'm talking from experience ... If you internalize too much, your physical health can suffer from it."

The high stress level causes the weight loss.
"Normally, there are times when a guy has such intensity and is playing every day that you see weight fluctuations," said White Sox director of conditioning Allen Thomas of Crede's weight loss. "We saw that with Frank Thomas last year, but it just so happens that Crede sticks out."
Thomas talked about proper diet, eating whole and true foods throughout the season, as one source of improvement for Crede or any player victimized by weight loss.
After the 2004 season, Joe put together a batting cage at his house in Missouri. Crede hit five to six days per week during the offseason. But the hitting structure almost was a matter of necessity for Crede. It had less to do with improving on his .239 average from 2004 than it did with the far-off location of his house.
"I live so far in the middle of nowhere that I had to build something on my own," said Crede with a smile. "I would have to drive 45 minutes in either direction otherwise. I just worked on mechanics and tried to stick with just one batting stance."
On September 26, 2005, Joe returned home to Missouri to be with his wife, Lisa, who was suffering complications during her current pregnancy with the couple's second child, and second daughter. Lucy Renee was born on September 27, 2005. Lucy joined her sister, Anna.
Joe has gone from a rather quiet guy, to one of the funniest players on the team.
Crede is married with two daughters and a son. They have a farm in Westphalia, Missouri.

"I enjoy doing things with the family and anything my girls are involved with. I like to hunt and fish," Joe said.

Joe's first son was born April 30, 2009.
Crede's Favorites: Favorite TV Show: "The Deadliest Catch," on the Discover Channel.

Favorite Actor and Actress: Russell Crowe and Jennifer Aniston.

Favorite Music: Everything. "I like all kinds of music," Joe said.

Favorite non-baseball sports team: Kansas City Chiefs.

TRANSACTION REPORT
June 1996: The White Sox chose Joe in the 5th round, out of Westphalia High School in Missouri.
January 17, 2006: Crede signed a one-year, $2.675 million contract with the White Sox, that also allowed him to earn $200,000 in performance bonuses�$60,000 for 500 plate appearances and $70,000 each for 525 and 550.
January 16, 2007: Joe and the White Sox avoided salary arbitration when he signed a one-year, $4.94 million contract.
January 18, 2008: Crede and the White Sox avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal for $5.15 million.
October 30, 2008: Joe filed for free agency.
February 21, 2009: Crede signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Twins. The contract could reach as much as $7 million following his 525th plate appearance.
November 6, 2009: Joe filed for free agency.
January 20, 2011: Crede signed with the Rockies organization.

PERSONAL:

Crede is pronounced CREE-dee.

Crede has developed good power and hits for a good batting average with excellent bat speed. His level, line-drive swing generates power mostly to right-center field, but he can hit them out anywhere.
One of Joe's greatest assets is his ability to hit in the clutch. He has always been able to get a hit when his team is in a tight situation.

USING THE WHOLE FIELD
Joe needs to stay away from pulling the ball too often, a habit that can lead to prolonged slumps.

In the minors, Crede was able to pull pitches for home runs, but he'll have to shorten up his swing in the majors. The White Sox have worked at getting Crede to hit the ball up the middle and the other way.
Joe shows good plate discipline. His batting average grew as he was sold on the White Sox organizational approach of driving the ball up the middle and into the gaps. He is most productive when he trusts himself to drive the ball to the opposite field.
Scouts who watched him in the minor leagues felt he was a future Major League All Star. He should .280-.290 with 20-25 homers and 80-100 RBI a year. (Editor's note: He reached these projections once, in 2006, but not before or after.)

During parts of six seasons in the minors, Crede consistently hit above .275. The White Sox would be ecstatic to see Crede get his average in that neighborhood on a consistent basis. (Editor's note: The White Sox are not ecstatic.)
He has shown the ability to come back from long slumps.
He needs to cut down on the strikeouts. Big league off-speed pitches get Joe out on a consistent basis, so far. But experience could allow him to adjust. And he has shortened his swing. He can hit fastballs and the curveball. He is very adept at hitting mistakes.
Joe has a quiet approach at the plate.
During the off-season before 2005 spring training, Joe built a batting cage outside his house, getting the specifications from White Sox head groundskeeper Roger Bossard, and hit five to six times per week.
During 2005 spring training, White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker said Crede's swing plane�the amount of time the bat stays in the hitting zone�was such that Crede's timing had to be perfect.

"If you have a good swing plane, you can make adjustments on certain pitches," Walker said. "If you have a bad swing plane, you are vulnerable to certain pitches. His timing had to be perfect to hit certain pitches," Walker said. "Add to the fact that you lose confidence when you're scuffling and it gets worse."

Walker said a hitter's swing plane is determined by the lower half of his swing. Ideally, the swing will allow the bat to stay level through the hitting zone.

"He's so talented and so strong that if he puts a good swing on the ball, he's going to hit his share of home runs, especially in our ballpark," Walker said. "Our emphasis is to create a good plane that will allow him to hit different pitches and make adjustments." (Bob Foltman-Chicago Tribune-2/21/05)

BREAKDOWN VS. LEFTIES AND RIGHTIES
In 2003, the righthanded batter hit an even .300 with 6 home runs in 150 at-bats against lefthanded pitchers. He hit .246 with 13 home runs in 386 at-bats vs. righthanders.

In 2004, he hit .256 with 4 home runs in 164 at-bats against lefthanded pitchers, and .230, but with 17 home runs in 326 at-bats vs. righthanders.

In 2005, Crede hit .277 with 4 home runs vs. leftahnded pitching and .246 with 18 home runs in 345 at-bats against righthanders.

In 2006, Joe hit .273 with 10 home runs in 183 at-bats against lefthanded pitchers. And .288 with 20 home runs in 361 at-bats vs. righthanders.

In 2007, Crede hit .206 in 34 at-bats vs. lefties and .218 with all 4 of his home runs in 133 at-bats vs. righthanded pitchers.

In 2008, Joe only hit .122 in 82 at-bats against lefthanded pitching. But he nailed righthanders for a .289 average and all 17 of his home runs.

In 2009, Crede only hit .202 with no homers in 99 at-bats vs. lefties, but hit .235 with all 15 of his homers in 234 at-bats against righthanded pitchers.
Entering the 2010 season, Crede had a .254 career batting average with 140 home runs in 3,101 at-bats.

BATTING:

Joe is a very impressive third baseman. He has soft hands and fine range. His arm is a cut above average for both strength and accuracy. He's smooth.

He is recognized as one of the best defensive 3rd basemen in the game.
Crede says he spends as much time watching video of his defensive performance in games as he does his hitting. Particularly when he makes a mental note of something during a game, Crede said he'll watch those plays again to see if his mind and body are in unison.

"It's usually just something you felt out there defensively when something happens, whether it was a good play or a bad play," he said. "I'll watch it and see what I did, good or bad, whether with my feet or a throw or the way I played the ball or whatever."

That represents above-average aptitude, combined with physical skills that were always apparent. (Will Lingo-Baseball America-8/18/08)

He has excellent execution of fundamentals at third base. He is solid, if not spectacular, with the glove. His footwork has improved. He makes great plays look routine. And his mental toughness has always been there.
Crede moves from side-to-side well, going to his left or his right easily and is good at going to his backhand. His diving plays down the line and strong throws on the run are every bit as important as his celebrated hitting in the clutch.
Joe has a better feel for the different big league infields and how they play, and even studies opposing hitters to figure out tendencies.
If it's a left-handed hitter like Hideki Matsui, for example, who slices the ball more toward the line in certain situations, then he will take that step over. The preparation has paid off, as Crede has been mentioned along with Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez as the best in the American League at what they do.
Crede not only makes stops, he also keeps his body under control so he can make a strong, accurate throw.
In 2006, Joe's .978 fielding percentage not only was a personal best but ranked third among AL third baseman.

FIELDING:

Crede lacks speedy.

RUNNING:

July 2, 1999: Joe finally had surgery to remove a bone fragment from a previous fracture on his right big toe. The injury had bothered Crede for a couple of seasons.

"I played with it all of 1998," Joe revealed.

1999 Season: After the season, he was sent home from the Venezuelan Winter League when he reported pain in that big toe. Rest was all that was needed. But the whole ordeal was major. "Having a bone missing from your right foot means relearning to walk, not to mention striding into a fastball."
July 4, 2005: Crede experienced "shooting pain'' down his legs because of fluid along a nerve. Daily treatment and stretching help to keep him loose. The diagnosis was two herniated discs in his lower back.

Joe played with the pain the last three months of the season. The herniated discs really don't go away, but he is able to play with the problem, most of the time.
August 26-September 10, 2005: Crede suffered a fracture in the tip of the middle finger on his right hand while bunting in the 10th inning of a White Sox win over the Twins and went on the D.L. He was hit by a pitch from the Twins' Jesse Crain.
2005 and 2006: Joe continued to suffer with back pain. So when the 2006 season was over, Crede met with doctors to discuss having the surgery he had tried to avoid for two years.

November 2006: Crede chose a six- to eight-week intense rehab program instead of surgery, according to White Sox athletic trainer Herm Schneider. It is a "heavy-duty back stabilization program," Schneider said.
May 2007: Joe missed a couple of games with tightness and pain in his chronically bad lower back, caused by two herniated discs.
June 6, 2007: Crede was on the D.L. with lower back inflammation. It had bothered him all season. In November 2006, Joe had decided not to have offseason surgery to repair two herniated discs. But now, back surgery was required.
July 23�August 25, 2008: Crede was on the D.L. with recurring back problems. Inflammation in Joe's lower back required a cortisone shot. And the first week of August, Joe received an epidural injection.
November 2008: Joe underwent rather minor surgery to relieve pressure in his balky back.
Late in July and early in August, 2009: Crede had cortisone shots to aid his ailing right shoulder.
August 17-September 8, 2009: Joe was put on the D.L. with an ailing back. He receieved an epidural on about August 18, then another one on August 30.

An MRI in mid-September confirmed he'd need season-ending, lower-back surgery -- the third time in three years Crede had undergone an arthroscopic procedure to remove inflammation and clean up the area around his L5 vertebra.
2010: Crede missed the entire season after the back surgery.

CAREER INJURY REPORT: