Lowrie, who plays shortstop and third base, is rumored due back from the DL just before the All-Star break but could be activated sooner if the Synvisc shot Lowell took Monday to treat his sore hip doesn’t cure the pain and help him regain mobility. The Sox have until the start of this weekend to put him on the 15-day DL if they intend to get him rested and ready to start the season’s second half, which for Boston is July 17 in Toronto.
Knowing how cautious Francona is with players, if Lowell is any less than 95-100% pain-free, he will go to the DL before this time next week. If this should happen, it will be a big blow to the Sox offense, but it will also allow Lowrie the chance to again prove he can be a productive fill-in as he did last year in his rookie campaign. And if that doesn’t work or happen, the suddenly reliable Nick Green or Kevin Youkilis could play third (while veteran Mark Kotsay plays first base).
Whatever happens in the near future, GM Theo Epstein has built a deep enough pro team and farm system that the Sox can and in some cases already has addressed key injury or ineffectiveness issues in-house and still have one of baseball’s top records. Examples include Jeff Bailey at first base for a briefly injured Youkilis, Smoltz for Dice-K, and Green at short for Lowrie/Lugo. And Pawtucket pitcher Clay Buchholz, who has been lights out since the spring, hasn’t been needed to this point. Most other teams wish they could be this loaded, fortunate and successful to this point in the season.
Article comments
1 - Tony
Watching Papplebon make that stupid little face he makes when he stares in at the catcher, and then blow the rest of that 9 run lead was priceless.
2 - ebooker
Know what else is priceless? Sox-Haters..
3 - Tony
Well thanks, I agree.