Lowrie Back With the Red Sox

Jed Lowrie is back on the Red Sox after rehabbing with the PawSox but he may not be able to contribute much to the team. The wrist injury that sidelined him in the first place continues to impact his swing and limit his production. He finished his time in Pawtucket by going 0-3 and was just 3 for his last 37. With Alex Gonzales hitting well and Nick Green still on the bench it is unlikely that Lowrie's return will have much of an impact on the team. He told the ProJo that he is still having issues with the wrist:

"At this point, it's just about managing it and doing what I can to help (Boston) win,'' he said. "It's something I have to deal with. It's fine. It's not 100 percent.''

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Lowrie Headed to DL

Jed Lowrie was placed on the 15 DL and pitcher Enrique Gonzalez was called up to fill the roster spot.

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Smoltz, Lowrie, and Lugo

John Smoltz pitched very well in his second to last rehab start with the PawSox last night. He went 6 innings allowing just 1 hit in the 2nd inning and a run on a sac fly before retiring the last 10 batters he faced in order. In 4 minor league starts, Smoltz is 1-0 with a 1.56 ERA. He spoke with the media after the game:

“I still have to work on that changeup,” he said. “I know it’s not a pitch that I absolutely have to have but it’s a nice pitch to have if the other ones aren’t where they need to be. In the past everyone thought I could rely on stuff to get hitters out. Now I’m going to have to rely on pitching. I’ve been pitching for awhile so coming back from this surgery will be no different for me. I’ll go out and hit my spots and take the sting out of the bat. That’s the goal of every pitcher.”

Jed Lowrie is about three weeks away from returning to the team according to Terry Francona:

"He's doing good. The biggest thing right now is stamina [with the wrist] and as he goes he feels a little fatigued, which is certainly understandable. He's doing terrific. He's a real conscientious kid. He puts in his time and he's thoughtful when you ask him a question."

Julio Lugo still loves playing in Boston even when fans boo him:

“It’s tough. Nobody wants to be booed,” he said. “Not me, not anybody. Sometimes the only person who knows what’s going on and why you missed a ball is you. You’re the one out there. The fans just want you to make the play.

“At the same time, I’m not making excuses. . . . I’ll tell you the truth. I think the fans have been fair to me. I signed here because they wanted to see the Julio Lugo hitting the ball and making crazy plays. Sometimes you deserve the boos. Sometimes you don’t, but I love it here.”

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Lowrie to Have Surgery Tomorrow

WEEI's Alex Speier is reporting that Jed Lowrie will have surgery tomorrow and could be back for the second half of the season.

Julio Lugo is now with the PawSox to begin his rehab so Green's role as starting shortstop will not last too much longer.

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Lowrie to DL

The Red Sox have made a roster move by calling up Velazquez from Pawtucket according to the ProJo. We'll know soon if Green is in at short tonight. Lineups coming soon.

UPDATE: Lowrie is going on the 15-day DL with an injury to his left wrist.

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I May Be to Blame for Lowrie's Slump

Before the last practice prior to opening day, the Boston Globe's Tony Massarotti solicited questions to ask players via Twitter. It was at this time that I jinxed Lowrie by submitting this question to Mazz: "Ask Lowrie if he changed anything about his approach at the plate to have such a strong spring.

Mazz responded with this today: "You still want me to ask that question?"

The Bottom Line still believes in Jed...we hope he's right.

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Lugo is This Year's Coco

Last year it was Elsbury and Crisp for the CF spot, this season we have Lowrie and Lugo. Coco showed how to deal with the situation as a professional and still contribute when you are called on. Julio Lugo looks like he is going to take the same approach:

“You want to be where people want you … Nobody’s going to be happy on the bench. I’m not going to be happy,” said Lugo. “I don’t worry about that. I just come here, do what I do, play baseball the best I can. I can’t make those decisions. They know what they’re going to get from me. It’s not my first rodeo.”

Lugo declined to answer whether he would request a trade if he were not the starter, though his non-answer was revealing enough.

“We’re going to have to see, we’re going to have to wait to see what happens,” said Lugo. “We’re going to see at the end of (spring training).”

The competition should make Lugo raise his game and I think he still has a good chance to be the opening day starting shortstop.

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Lowrie Was Hurt For Most of the Season

An MRI revealed that Jed Lowrie had a "sprain and a small non-displaced fracture in his left wrist." This injury gave him more pain as the season went on and could explain the ski slope his average took towards the end of the season. This makes Lowrie look like a much better option for '09 and could be some very bad news for Julio Lugo.

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Lowrie Talks About Yesterday's Game and Playing Third

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Jed Lowrie is Today's Hero

Bottom of the 1st, it looked as if the Sox pitching staff was still working Toronto BP as Dice-K gave up a long ball to Vernon Wells with one on. 'Huh boy, it's gonna be another long night', I thought . The Sox answered with 4 runs in the top of the 3rd. Despite allowing 5 runs on 8 hits, Dice-K only issued 1 free pass today, and had a relatively low pitch count as well. The 2 teams alternated leads only to come up tied at 5 apiece at the end of the 9th. Masterson and Okajima put in 2 innings and only allowed 1 hit and 1 BB. Papelbon pitched 2 scoreless innings, but only threw 16 pitches. Jed Lowrie is today's hero, hitting a solo shot in the top of the 11th to give the Sox the go ahead run.

Because of his low pitch count, I was wondering if Tito was going to send Pap out for a 3rd inning, but out came Manny Delcarmen instead. I could hear the groans 3000 miles away, but he got the job done today. The BJ's made him work for it, though, as he needed 26 pitches to get through the inning and earn the save.

Meanwhile in Chicago, the other Sox also went into extra innings to beat the Rays by the same 6-5 score. The Red Sox are now 4.5 GB the Ray's as they head next to the Big Apple and their last visit to Yankee Stadium.

Sox win 6-5 BOX SCORE

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Oregon Loves the Sox

let's take a storied history of the Boston Area, especially the Red Sox, and the great western state of Oregon (yes, the little one right above California, the "Green" state, if you will).

Jacoby Ellsbury, Obviously an Oregon State grad and Madras, Oregon hometown boy, (My hometown too, originally),
Jed Lowrie from our State Capital, Salem.

Now those are the two current, obvious ones.

Let's start with Johnny Pesky, from "Slab Town" (Portland, where the log slabs were left), worked for the PCL league Portland Beavers (knew the Dimaggios before they made the bigs) was a locker room attendant.

Bobby Doerr was fishing in Southern Oregon, fell in love with a small town Oregon Teacher

Ted Williams, said to have one of his favorite fishing holes, near that small town Oregon.

you want more? OK here we go...............
Don't forget other greats like Luis Tiant, Lou Pinella, Sam McDowell, Ray Fosse and other Local Beavers... I remember when the Beavers were the AAA twin's franchise in the 80's . . . but this doesn't even count the numerous players that have slipped in and out of our Fine cities and states, as ball players (like when I saw Tim Salmon play here in Bend as a A level player. . . )... so ... all tooting aside, I have one more, Not Sox related, but beloved in Boston as all get out, DANNY FRICKIN AINGE. Oregonian, I wont point out that the "NEW" Yankee . . Ritchie Sexson is an Oregonian.... but we'll leave that topic for another day.

Not to mention Scott Hatteberg, Alan Embree, Aaron Rowand, Jamie Burke,the once Yankee Scott Brosius, ok ok ok i'm done. . . OH yeah .. what about good ol' Harold Reynolds?? yeah we claim him too!

Phil Knight, Dan Fouts, Ahmad Rashad, Steve Prefontaine, Bill Bowerman (the Legend) Mary Decker Slaney, Picaboo Streeet, (Gold Medalist 2x) Mariel Zagunis, Dan O'Brien (Decathalete), Dick Fosbury (the Fosbury Flop), Matt Groening (The Simpsons creator LOL) don't forget Ann Curry from the Today Show : )...lots lots lots more, I think I've made my point.

Come To Oregon sometime, it's mellow here, BEAUTIFUL as all get out, and I'd love to buy you a world famous Oregon brew (some of the best in the world). . . Btw. . GO BEAVERS. GO SOX.

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Jeff Bailey Up, Pauley Back Down

Jeff Bailey was called up from the PawSox tonight to give the Sox a backup for Youk and Casey. If Youk needs a break Lowrie can play third and Cora can go to short, if Casey needs a break Bailey can come in at first. Bailey is also a good bat to have on the bench for pinch hit situations late in the game (like when Tek comes up.)

David Pauley was called up in case the Sox needed some relief help tonight after the long outings for most of the pen last night. Since he was sent down today that leaves Buchholz in the rotation. I think Theo and Tito were hoping that Zink could stay longer and take a spot in the rotation with Byrd, but after last night they have decided to stick with Buchholz (this guy has had more chances than Steve Howe.) Who knows what will happen if Clay has another train wreck on the mound, which at this point seems likely.

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How Many Out There in RSN Said "YES!" When They Heard Lugo's Going on the DL?

Lenny Megliola of The MetroWest Daily News in Milford, MA just posted a great piece about Lugo and, Cora, and Lowrie, and the recent history of Sox shortstop's short stays in Beantown.

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West Coast Red Sox

Since this is the Western Home of Red Sox Nation, I thought I would take a moment to salute some of the Red Sox who are from the West Coast:

Jon Lester~ Tacoma, WA

Jed Lowrie~ Salem, OR

Jacoby Ellsbury~ Madras, OR

Dustin Pedroia~ Woodland, CA

Coco Crisp~ Los Angeles, CA

Curt Schilling~ born in Anchorage, AK, college at YJC, AZ

Justin Masterson~ born in Kingston, Jamaica, college at San Diego State U.

Chris Carter~ Fremont, CA, college at Stanford U.

Chris Smith~ Apple Valley, CA

Jeff Bailey~ Longview, WA

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Lowrie Called Up

In a sign that Lugo is headed to the DL, Jed Lowrie has been called up to the big club. You won't have Julio to kick around anymore, lets home Lowrie can be a consistent hitter and fielder at short. I would expect Cora to start today though, lineups coming soon.

UPDATE: Lugo has been placed on the 15-Day DL GoldBlog reports the following about the Lugo injury:

Lugo will miss at least a month with the injury to his left quad. The team is calling it a severe left quad strain, with a timetable of 4-6 weeks. But Lugo, speaking to reporters today, said the quad is torn, and was awaiting the full results of an MRI. But Lugo concurred with the 4-6 week timetable for a return.

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Corey Traded, Cora Activated, Lowrie Sent Down

Relief pitcher Bryan Corey who had 2 stints with the Red Sox this season was traded from the PawSox for a player to be named later.

Alex Cora was activated and is in tonight's lineup, Jed Lowrie was sent to Pawtucket to make room. Casey has not been activated yet so Hansen is still with the team.

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Lowrie Looks Like He is Here To Stay

Jed Lowrie has been finding his way into games since he was called up from the Paw Sox. Today he will start at second and he will be at third on Patriot's Day. Last night he came in to pinch run for Sean Casey. He is a versatile fielder with good offensive skills making him very useful as a utility infielder and as the future shortstop for Boston. The Red Sox locked up Lugo for 3 more years at $12 million each, so he is going to be very hard to move unless they are willing to eat some of the payments. Alex Cora could be the odd man out. If you noticed the Red Sox are in no hurry to rush him back. When Mike Lowell comes back in a little over a week Theo will have a tough decision to make. Lowrie may be sent back down but it will not be for very long if Lugo continues to struggle. The papers would be all over Julio's rally killing double play last night but Manny's moon shot saved his bacon.

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Tito Discusses Lowrie and Lowell

Before tonight's game Terry Francona was interviewed on WRKO and said the Sox were very impressed with Jed Lowrie and that he would start at second base tomorrow and third base the next night. Tito also said it would be a week before Mike Lowell enters a game and he will most likely have a rehab start in Pawtucket.

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Mike Lowell Goes On 15 Day DL

Mike Lowell is headed to the 15 day DL This is the worst case scenario for Lowell and the Red Sox. It was originally believed that Lowell would be day to day and miss at most 3 games, with the choosing of the 15 day DL we know that the injury is much more serious. Jed Lowrie has been called up from Pawtucket to back up Youk at third. Lowrie hit well in spring training but has only hit .160 in 8 games with the PawSox this season. Casey will play first while Lowell is out and we may see Papi in there at times to keep his glove fresh with Coco or Ellsbury DHing

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Monday News Roundup

Bartolo Colon now has soreness in his right side and his next start with the PawSox might be pushed back.

Josh Beckett said he felt good after pitching yesterday...health wise.

Julio Lugo is not a favorite of Red Sox Nation after making 3 errors at short yesterday. The message boards do not have much good to say and the ProJo has a piece on Jed Lowrie in today's paper.

The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct the flyover before the home opener on Monday at Fenway. I hope they can do better than the Oakland flyover that was did not arrive until at least a minute after the National Anthem was over, they had to tell players to stay on the field and wait for it.

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