Joe

Crede

He has had a very disappointing year hitting .236 with 17 homers and 59 RBI while battling mechanical problems with his swing. However, in his last 13 games, Crede is batting .311 (14-for-45), and showing signs of being the hitter he was in the 2003 season. Don’t give up on him just yet.

Walker said Crede was vulnerable to certain pitches because his swing had an uphill plane and came out of the hitting zone too soon. ''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.’' Crede might lose some power with his uppercut gone, but he could make up for it by making more consistent contact.

''Just maybe one day, maybe a couple of days. We’ll see how [Tony Graffanino] does,’' manager Jerry Manuel said. Crede is hitting .215 overall, and is in an 0-for-13 slide with seven strikeouts. Hitting coach Greg Walker plans to work with Crede to shorten his swing.

He is not seriously hurt, and could return to the White Sox lineup tomorrow night. Manager Ozzie Guillen does not want to rush Crede back into the lineup this evening.

Despite a four hit game Wednesday, Crede is now 12-for-68 (.176) in his past 19 games. With Magglio Ordonez out of the Sox lineup, the White Sox need Crede to pick up his game, something his fantasy owners have been hoping for most of the season.

Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen had benched Crede for the team’s last three games after the third baseman hit .095 last week (2-for-21). Crede will have to hit, to play, as Roberto Alomar’s presence on the roster creates a significant logjam at three infield positions.

Crede had an 871 OPS in June and an 893 OPS in July, but now he’s back looking like someone who could be a major liability in the postseason. That Geoff Blum was GM Ken Williams’ only pickup at the trade deadline is probably going to cost the White Sox in the end.

Crede singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th, and the White Sox went on to score twice more, which was a good thing since Angel Berroa homered off Bobby Jenks in the bottom of the inning. Crede surpassed his career high established last year with his 23rd homer.

“I took him out when I saw him grab his back,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I’ll make sure he’s ready to play when we get home. It’s nothing big. It’s not a big deal. I just don’t want to take a chance with him.” Pablo Ozuna or Rob Mackowiak will start at third base on Sunday.

The homer was his 22nd, equaling his career high from from last year. Also, at 71 RBI, he’s four short of his previous best total from from 2003.