Crede Goes Nuts

Joe Crede is (insert your own hypberole here). Since last Wednesday, he’s had the following games:

June 4th, vs KC: 2 for 3, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, .326 WPA
June 6th, vs MIN: 4 for 4, 2 HR, .194 WPA
June 7th, vs MIN: 2 for 4, 2 HR, .120 WPA
June 8th, vs Min: 2 for 4, 1 2B, .018 WPA

He’s reached base 12 times in 17 trips to the plate (.705 OBP) and has seven extra base hits (1.800 SLG) since Wednesday. Five days ago, he was slugging .465, but after this stretch, he’s raised that mark 100 points. In four games. In June.

All winter, the White Sox did what they could to trade Crede. With Josh Fields around, Crede coming off a disastrous 2007 season, and heading into his free agent season, he didn’t seem to fit in Chicago’s plans, but they couldn’t find anyone willing to give much up for Crede, so they kept him around. That’s turned out to be a season saving decision, as he and Carlos Quentin have saved the White Sox offense amid struggles from Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko, and Jim Thome. Ozzie Guillen might not be very happy with his offense’s consistency, but Joe Crede certainly isn’t going to be the reason the hitting coach gets fired.