Mike Lowell, the New Boggs?

[FlashGordon]

In the first weeks of the season I was struck by how many 2B Mike Lowell was hitting in this very young season. Tonight he hit his 12th in the bottom of the 1st and his BA is right around .325. His batting is reminding me of another Red Sox thirdbaseman who put many a dent in the Monstah!

[DoubleX]

In the first weeks of the season I was struck by how many 2B Mike Lowell was hitting in this very young season. Tonight he hit his 12th in the bottom of the 1st and his BA is right around .325. His batting is reminding me of another Red Sox thirdbaseman who put many a dent in the Monstah!

Scott Cooper?

[Blowfly]

Originally Posted by FlashGordon

In the first weeks of the season I was struck by how many 2B Mike Lowell was hitting in this very young season. Tonight he hit his 12th in the bottom of the 1st and his BA is right around .325. His batting is reminding me of another Red Sox thirdbaseman who put many a dent in the Monstah!

Butch Hobson?

[efin98]

His pace and his position are the only things he has in common with Boggs.

[Mariano_Rivera]

not that good

[runningshoes]

http://www.ajclay.com/PTC/pictures/393.jpg

[Jager]

I don't really care if he's as good as Boggs, all I know is that he's playing fantastic. Anytime you have a Gold Glove caliber 3Basemen, and he's not only hitting great, but hitting doubles, and getting good clutch hits that's great. I was very afraid that he wouldn't do good this year, but so far he's been one of our best.

[Plummer25]

Yeah, looks like he's bouncing back from his sub-par hitting season last year. I've been saying it all along to friends and other fans I see. The guy will bat .280-.300 and bang out 25-30 HR's with loads of 2B's in Fenway Park. Glad to see I was right ------ so far anyway.

[KCGHOST]

Just an early season coincidence.

[Mike D.]

I'm sure the Sox are THRILLED with Lowell's performance so far...he was basically written off after one bad year last year, and the Sox basically took on his salary in order to get Beckett. And here the guy is hitting over .300 with good doubles power...a huge boost to a lineup that's had trouble scoring runs at times with injuries.

That being said, six weeks doesn't make him Wade Boggs. But having a plus bat and plus glove at 3b is certainly nice.

[efin98]

I don't really care if he's as good as Boggs, all I know is that he's playing fantastic. Anytime you have a Gold Glove caliber 3Basemen, and he's not only hitting great, but hitting doubles, and getting good clutch hits that's great. I was very afraid that he wouldn't do good this year, but so far he's been one of our best.

Wasn't the biggest fear in getting him was that he wouldn't hit for power, not hit at all?

If that's true then the hell with the power, I'll take consistant hitting, RBIs, and runs scored any day!!!

[FlashGordon]

Wasn't the biggest fear in getting him was that he wouldn't hit for power, not hit at all?

If that's true then the hell with the power, I'll take consistant hitting, RBIs, and runs scored any day!!!That's the reason I drew the comparison with Boggs. Boggs was not really a homerun threat, but man could he get hits, especially doubles. If Lowell gets moved up in the batting order, he'll knock in his fair share, too. I realize he's got a long way to go (like 5 batting titles to go) before he's Wade Boggs caliber, but it's nice to see him mount a challenge this early in the season.

BTW: Record for 2B's in a season? Earl Webb 67 for the 1931 Boston Red Sox--Team and MLB record.

[Mattingly]

Just curious, why is he batting 7th if he's that good? Shouldn't he be batting 5th or somewhere around this?

[FlashGordon]

Just curious, why is he batting 7th if he's that good? Shouldn't he be batting 5th or somewhere around this?That will probably change. The batting order was probably established based on ST and last year's performance.

[MudvilleMike]

Just curious, why is he batting 7th if he's that good? Shouldn't he be batting 5th or somewhere around this?

I'd like to see Pena higher up in the order. I want to see Ortiz-Ramirez-Pena.

[CJMorello]

Well Lowell is definitely doing something right. With 3 doubles on the night and a spectacular fielding play he is the best off season acquisition that the sox made.

To think we where " getting stuck with Lowell" in order to get Beckett.

[FlashGordon]

Well Lowell is definitely doing something right. With 3 doubles on the night and a spectacular fielding play he is the best off season acquisition that the sox made.

To think we where " getting stuck with Lowell" in order to get Beckett.Amen. Even though one of those doubles went to right, that wall has got his name written all over it. He has also lifted his BA to .350.

[RedSoxVT92]

Seems like Lowell should be called "Mr. Double". Leads the majors with 16, two baggers so far this year and 5 in the last 2 games. He is taking advantage of Fenway and he keeps getting it down the line to the Green Monster. Lowell has been playing very good for us thus far, with his defense and the bat. Hopefully he can keep this up the whole year.

[MudvilleMike]

To think we where " getting stuck with Lowell" in order to get Beckett.
Heh heh, what a difference a month makes. The great thing is that Lowell could stink and the deal would still make sense. If Lowell is a star, it's the ultimate steal.

[Kdub Red Sox Fan 4Life]

Thanks to my long commute, I listen to alot of XM 175 (MLB Homeplate).

I remember at the time of the Josh Beckett trade, there was alot of analysis, (as there always is with trades,) about how the deal would impact both teams.

From the Red Sox side, I recall there were several opinions that the sleeper, or X-factor in the deal was in fact Mike Lowell. They seemed to think that going to the Red Sox and Fenway was exactly what he needed to resurrect his career.

Sure there was a chance that he'd be the albatross the Red Sox had to take in order to make the deal happen, but there seemed to be a consensus that playing 81 games at Fenway would be an ideal situation for him. Not so much that he'd be pounding the ball over the monster, but making dents in it.

Let's just hope he keeps it up and gives some of the talking heads a chance to say " I told you so".

[ESPNFan]

Mike Lowell the new Wade Boggs?!?!

Please dear god make sure he stays the hell away from Margo Adams and or Moving Jeeps!!!!!!:laugh :laugh :laugh

[Fuzzy Bear]

I don't know what kind of injury Lowell sustained, but there are lots of stories where ballplayers became better players as a result of adjusting to an injury.

I don't know if this change in style is permanent, but Lowell has proven himself over time to be a determined player. Look what he's already come back from just to play. His defense has always been top shelf, and if he's made a change in his hitting style to adapt to a new physical reality/take advantage of a different kind of park/league, etc., well, that's intelligence and adaptability that you don't see everyday in a player.

How many guys do you see trying to swing for the fences when their bodies, due to injury, have rendered them as whiffers and long fly ball out hitters? If this change takes, I am EXTREMELY impressed with Lowell, as a player and as a person.

[Jager]

When was he injured? I'm a bit confused about what your saying. What did he adapt to? I know he's in a different park, but most players will hit better at Fenway.

[efin98]

Just curious, why is he batting 7th if he's that good? Shouldn't he be batting 5th or somewhere around this?

He should be hitting at least 6th in the order right behind Nixon considering Varitek is in a bit of a slump(.247 avg.)

He does move up in the batting order when Mirabelli plays, he batted 5th yesterday.