Are the 2015 White Sox Better Than the 2005 Squad?
Third base
Aug 24, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie (12) hits a home run to right allowing first baseman Jose Abreu (79) (not pictured) to score during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
2015: Connor Gillaspie (ESPN Projections: .269 Avg./8 HR/44 RBI)
2005: Joe Crede (2005 Stats: .252 Avg./22 HR/62 RBI)
Connor Gillaspie will try to build on a successful ’14 this season, but it’s hard to ignore his .192 career average against left-handers. This makes him more of a platoon player, and this is one of the reasons I’m not as high on Gillaspie as others.
Joe Crede
(baseball-reference.com)
In contrast, Joe Crede was a fan favorite, slugged 22 home runs in ’05, and was downright clutch.
Crede hit a walk-off home run in August that turned the tide on recent poor play, and gave the White Sox momentum that carried all the way into the postseason. Then there was his walk-off double in Game 2 of the ALCS, putting a bad loss from the night before in the back burner and helping the White Sox never look back.
Joe Crede was downright clutch
Crede knew his way around the hot corner as well, and was one of the better defenders at the position in the league during the ’05 season. Anyway you spin it, Sox fans would love to have Crede’s defense and power over what Gillaspie can provide in this year’s push for the postseason.
Edge: Joe Crede
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