Face it.  Joe Crede is clutch.  There is no one on the Sox roster that you want to see coming to the plate with the bases loaded late in the game.  No one.  And yesterday, as if on cue, Crede came through, as he often does, with a big hit.  In this case it was a grand slam, giving the Sox a 7-4 win over the Twins yesterday.

And yet, some Sox fans have drunk gallons of the Josh Fields kool-aid and are clamoring for Crede to be traded and for Fields to be brought up to take his place at third.  I'm not one of those fans and you shouldn't be either.

In the magical season of 2005, Crede came up clutch time after time.  Be it a big hit or a big play in the field, Crede is much better when he wears your uniform.  Health issues aside, the guy is solid and consistent in what he brings to the table.

Unfortunately, he insists on bringing evil agent Scott Boras to the negotiating table.  Boras and the Sox brass get along as well as Ozzie Guillen and Phil Cuzzi.  There is no love lost, and the Sox, in a typically hard stance, refuse to negotiate with economic terrorists.  Even ones who are vital to the success of this team.

After only seven games, it is becoming obvious that this team may, we stress may, have some magic to it.  The comebacks against Detroit on Friday and Saturday.  The comeback against the Twinkies yesterday even though the Sox were totally flat for six innings and coming off a 13 run output the night before.  These are the things needed to turn 2008 into a magical year, and after a week, the cosmic tumblers seem to be slowly positioning themselves.

Joe Crede is a big part of this.  Make it a huge part.  And as spring turns into summer and summer turns into what will hopefully be a strong stretch run, Crede will be front and center like he was yesterday, getting the big hit, driving in the big runs and helping the team win anyway he can.

For the Josh Fields fans, one word of advice.  Be careful what you wish for.