Entries Tagged 'Mike Lowell' ↓

Mike Lowell turns 34 today. Happy Birthday, man. It’s great to have you at 3rd for a few more years.

Three more years.

According to “a source”.

No overspending for something we don’t need. Check.

It looks like Lowell will either a) stick around Boston for the reported 3-year/$36 Million or b) wait to see if there’s a market once Cabrera (Marlins) is traded (if he’s traded, which I’m sure he will be).

As far as I’m concerned, it’s best not to mess with a good thing, and this counts for both sides. Sure, Lowell could wait and see the market open up in the next 30 to 45 days, but he could also cut himself out of a deal by waiting for a market that never appears. It works well for the Sox that they’re playing the typical (new Red Sox typical, not old Harrington typical) “we’re very happy to pay you what we think you’re worth and we genuinely would like to keep you, but don’t push it” card.

Someday I’ll need to dump my thoughts on the Harrington regime and how it ruined my otherwise magical summer of 1986.

Mike couldn’t get them to budge from their reported 12.5 Million/year/3 years deal, so he swim with the fishes and sharks. Too bad. I think not getting this done leaves a bad taste on everyone’s tongue even if he does re-sign.

The Cy goes out for the AL today at 2:00… Will it be Beckett (20-7, 3.27 ERA) or Sabbathia (19-7, 3.21 ERA)… ?

Hmmm…

PEDROIA AND BECKETT AND EVEN J.D. AND OMG.

The Sox aren’t headed anywhere. They have home field advantage to play the opening game Wednesday night at Fenway Park in the 2007 World Series.

The ALCS was all about the home crowd. If you succumb to the notion of visiting teams during any regular season game that the home crowd is nice, but “we don’t need it”, then you’re fooling yourself. The crowd may not be as electric as they are in the post season, but they’re behind the team; especially in good times.

Beckett is the MVP, deservedly so, but the rest of the team including J.D. Drew, Lugo and the defensive skills of  Coco Crisp were enough to go against the other team with the best record in baseball. The difference? Boston won one more game. That’s it. What separated the entire season is one game. How amazing is it, then, that the Red Sox found themselves in the World Series based on the fact that they won the season series against Cleveland. If it had been the other way around and Cleveland was working with home field advantage, would they be headed to the Fall Classic?

Dice-K had a gutsy first three innings. Unfortunately, that’s all I can say about that specific performance. What irks me and others is the perceived lack of intensity. I believe inside he’s intense and he’s serious about winning. How else do you accomplish the level of success he’s had? You don’t. Interestingly enough, J. D. Drew shows the same perceived lack of intensity. Yes. He wants to win. Yes. He plays hard when he’s trying. But, unlike Dice-K, Drew’s intensity is measured by his bat. A pitcher has the chance for 10 strikeouts or be shown on camera pumping their fist about 100 times during a game. A fielder gets to show off if  a) the ball is hit to them or b) they get into a position where they can perform at the plate in a meaningful situation. Go back and watch J. D. Drew on any tape of any game he’s been in and you’ll see that other than when he’s at the plate, the man is playing hard. It doesn’t make me any more of a fan, but it does make me take a breath and think about his season.

Ellsbury will be a star (if he isn’t already).

Pedroia made himself heard last night and shoved a big, fat “FACE” smackdown to anyone who doubted his ability. Good for him. I’m not the tallest guy either and I can certainly appreciate where he is and what he’s been able to do.

Papelbon got his first-ever six out save AND his first-ever post season save. That dude is really good. Wow. He can dance anytime, anyplace so long as he pitches like that for us until he’s lost the gas in his tank. He will be a Hall of Famer.

And now… we wait. They need the rest. They’re tired and they’re happy. They’ll actually relax a little before the media day and the onslaught of public scrutiny hits them one more time before they get a short off-season. Let’s just hope the World Series sends them off to that short rest with a big smile.