Lowrie's main focus is on always being prepared
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One of the sturdiest challenges 24-year-old Jed Lowrie has stared down in his rookie year has been the requirement of daily preparation, regardless of the level of physical and mental fatigue he might be feeling.
"For me, I just show up every day and make sure I continue to maintain my routine, whether I'm in the lineup or out of the lineup," the Red Sox shortstop said before last night's game. "As long as I'm prepared every day, it doesn't matter if I'm playing or not playing. I'm ready to play."
It just so happened that when Lowrie peeked at the lineup yesterday afternoon, his name was replaced by that of Alex Cora.
"It's a good night for him to play," Terry Francona said of Cora, back at shortstop for the first time since July 18. "Lowrie went out there last week and played pretty good. We want to let him get on kind of a roll, which I think he did. But [we] also want to keep AC sharp enough that he can be a good player and help us win."
Spot duty for Lowrie might have been the preferred route to ease him into big league duty. But with Julio Lugo on ice because of a left quadriceps strain, Lowrie has been tabbed as the starting shortstop, with Cora serving in his regular utility role.
This month, the switch-hitting Lowrie is 7 for 28 (with a multi-hit game a week ago against Seattle in which he drove in two runs) while filling in for Lugo.
"I feel comfortable," Lowrie said. "I got those six days and some regular at-bats. They're just going to get Alex some playing time. That's what I expected. I expected to play, but at the same time Alex is going to play. That's the situation we're in right now."
While he was scheduled to sit out last night's series finale against the Yankees, Lowrie got an up-close look at the rivalry and how dangerous New York pitching can be.
On Friday, Lowrie saw the heat and sharp breaking stuff of Joba Chamberlain, who limited the Sox to three hits. On Saturday, Lowrie drew a second-inning walk against Andy Pettitte, but the lefty came back in the fourth to strike out the rookie.
"Each level, there's new stuff you learn," said Lowrie, who split last year between Pawtucket and Portland. "There's new pitchers and you find out stuff about those guys. You're going to find out stuff about yourself. That's what this game is about - making adjustments personally and see how they attack you."
Three months earlier, Lowrie was Mike Lowell's replacement at third base, batting .323 with five RBIs in 31 at-bats. On May 11, Lowrie was assigned to Pawtucket and was recalled July 12. In 58 games with the PawSox, Lowrie hit .268 batting average (53 for 198).
Overall, Lowrie has recorded 20 hits in 70 major league at-bats this season (.286), belting one home run while driving in 10.
Lowrie has not committed an error as a major leaguer, so far showing little flash but hints of dependability to his quiet game, battling the mental grind that he never knew as a minor leaguer.
"I feel that might be one of the biggest differences," Lowrie said. "It just seems like guys here know what they have to do to be successful. They do it. That's the biggest thing: Being mentally locked in, having that same approach, and being focused every pitch of the game. That's what really makes it such a grind."
Lugo could be sidelined for another month because of his injury, making Lowrie the temporary starting shortstop. Aside from the spare days Lowrie will sit to keep Cora sharp, the rookie projects to be in the lineup .
"Showing up and knowing you're going to play the next day and knowing you're going to get those at-bats, it helps," said Lowrie. "It's more of a sharpened focus. I'm not saying you show up not focused on a day you're not playing. The focus is just a little more keen."
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at FShinzawa@globe.com. 
