Joe Crede Is Probably Going To The DL

I've been wondering to myself all season if Joe Crede's back problems have been hindering him more than he's let on. After all, how can my favorite player be hitting only .216 with four homers and 22 RBI? It's unpossible!

Well, after he finally admitted to Ozzie Guillen and Kenny Williams on Monday that his back has indeed been bothering him, Joey Clutch sat out last night's loss and now there are rumors he's headed for the disabled list.

"If it feels the same, I don't mind," said Guillen, who added he wished Crede had told him sooner that his back was bothering him. "I'd rather lose him for 15 days than three or four months."

The Sox had considered calling up third base prospect Josh Fields and moving him to the outfield but recently backed off because of Crede's recurring pain. Fields wasn't in the lineup Tuesday for Triple-A Charlotte, leading to speculation he will be called up. Crede elected not to have off-season surgery to repair two herniated discs. He missed the Oakland series May 21-23 because of stiffness.

If Crede does end up on the disabled list, I hope he realizes that he really should just have surgery on it to fix the problem. He can try to "rehab" the herniated discs all he wants, but over the course of a 162-game schedule those things are going to flare up.

The only question should be whether or not Joe has the surgery now, or whether he waits until the offseason.

UPDATE: Crede has officially been placed on the disabled list.