More On Lowell's Thumb

According to Boston Red Sox assistant general manager Ben Cherington, the Boston medical staff says that right-thumb-ailing Mike Lowell should be ready to go,100%, by mid-February. That's great news. I was wondering why the club did not know that Mikey was injured, or where. Cherington had this to say...

"Even at the end of the playoffs, in our exit physical, he barely made mention of his thumb," Cherington said in the interview. "It's just one of those things as a player you get used to being a little dinged up at the end of the season. I think that's how he felt it. And then Mike, as many players do, sort of took his customary break after the season, let the body heal and then when he went to pick up a bat again recently as per his normal schedule he still felt a little bit in there and so wanted to get it checked out."

I guess I understand how it could happen but you wouldn't think it would in a big league baseball physical. Cherington went on...

"Well, I think the main thing for us now is just to help Mike get healthy. He's been a big part of our team for the last several years and the trade, as we talked to Texas, it wasn't about not wanting Mike Lowell. It was about possibly making a move to get a player we liked back and give us a little bit of financial flexibility to do some other things. Mike's an excellent hitter, an excellent hitter at Fenway Park, and so he'll be an important part of our team and certainly if there's interest down the road we can consider that."

At first, Cherington implied that the team DOES NOT LIKE Mike Lowell. In fact, he came right out and said it. Read the second and third sentence of that last quote. To me, having Mike Lowell on the Boston Red Sox gives the team MUCH more flexibility. If he's coming back to spring training at 100%, the possibilities are endless. He can play an occasional third, spelling Youk, he could DH against lefties (way important if Papi isn't going well or when a lefty pitches) and pinch hit when needed. Remember, with a good hand he can pop one out at any given time. He's still "Mr. Doubles." Theo can get Beltre or Gonzales and maybe an arm for the 'pen and finish this off-season rebuilding. He sure has made the Boston Red Sox a better ball club than last year. To be continued? I certainly hope so. One BIG bat would make me very content.

That's it for this Monday, Christmas week and a short one for most. Thanks for stopping in, leave a comment if you'd like and don't forget to click on this post's title for the Red Sox home page of the Boston Globe. As always, BE WELL.