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Struggling Lugo playing a waiting game

What else can the Red Sox do with Julio Lugo?

They invested $36 million into the shortstop for four years, it’s late June, and he’s hitting below the Mendoza Line. Do they bench him? Rest him? Ride it out? Give him the most extensive video work and instruction possible?

Manager Terry Francona chose to sit Lugo last night but offered no timetable as to when he’ll be back in the lineup. Lugo, in an 0-for-31 skid, spent the afternoon working with hitting coach Dave Magadan. Alex Cora played shortstop against the Rangers.

Lugo, who is hitting .190, wasn’t interested in talking about his woes before the game.

‘‘I do know when a guy is really struggling that a game or two off isn’t the worst thing in the world,’’ Francona said. ‘‘Coming off an offday and working with Mags ..... sitting a guy for a day or two isn’t giving up on him. We did it with J.D. [Drew] in Oakland, and I think it helped J.D. We’re doing the same thing here. Let him work on some things, watch the game, and maybe come in and help us win late or something like that.’’

The Sox are in good position to try some alternatives with Lugo, owning a big lead in the American League East and a suitable replacement in Cora.

‘‘Again, we’re in this for the long term,’’ Francona said. ‘‘We don’t want to necessarily run from him; that’s not going to help. So you have to balance long term and short term and try to do the best with the entire situation.’’

Francona is excellent at calming players in turmoil. He did it with Drew and Coco Crisp. He’s done it in past years with Kevin Millar and Mark Bellhorn.

Asked how much he talks to Lugo, who hasn’t had a hit since June 14, Francona said, ‘‘If the guy is in the midst of throwing his helmet or something, I’m not going to get into the conversation because I don’t want to get into it. And when we say, ‘have a conversation,’ sometimes Mags is down there by the cage and I’m not going to jump in because I’ll just get in the way. Too many voices aren’t good. Mags can handle that area. They know what they need to do. They just have to go out there and do it and carry it over into a game.’’

Left unexplained was the scene captured by NESN late in Wednesday’s game against Seattle, when Lugo was pinch hit for by Cora and was seen slamming his bat, throwing his batting gloves, and looking down the bench toward Francona.

‘‘I actually told him before he came up what we were going to do,’’ Francona said. ‘‘I really didn’t see the display. There wasn’t much of a display from where I was sitting. There’s a lot of times that happens. You’d probably see it more if we invited you down, but you’re not invited. Guys are competing. So I understand. That’s the way it goes. I’d tell them to do it more if it got us runs. There are different mentalities and temperaments for everybody. But it wouldn’t affect the way I managed a ballgame.’’

Lugo has shown some positive qualities. He’s 20 for 20 in stolen base attempts and hasn’t been caught since October, and has only nine errors in 71 games.

Crisp rests

Crisp had a night off for precautionary reasons. He bruised his left thumb diving for a ball Wednesday. ‘‘I feel fine,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re just giving me the extra day, which I appreciate.’’ Crisp’s average is up to .262 and he’s hitting .368 his last 18 games. The man he replaced, Johnny Damon, was hitting .250 with 5 homers and 26 RBIs with the Yankees. Crisp has four homers and 22 RBIs. Crisp has played 122 straight errorless games, and his only error with the Sox came July 21, 2006. He has handled 215 chances in 2007, second among major league outfielders behind Ichiro Suzuki’s 231 ..... The Sox signed fourth-round pick Brock Huntzinger, a righthanded pitcher from Pendleton Heights (Ind.) High. They also signed outfielder Kade Keowen, a ninth-round selection from Louisiana State University-Eunice. Huntzinger is heading to the Gulf Coast team in Fort Myers, Fla., while Keowen is going to Single A Lowell.

Lowell improving

Mike Lowell said his wrist injury is improving steadily. The third baseman could be chosen as Alex Rodriguez’s backup for the All-Star Game, but hasn’t thought much about it. ‘‘If it happens, that would be great,’’ Lowell said. ‘‘I don’t know much about the process. I know they have to select a player from every team, so I don’t know if that plays into the decision. It would be nice, but if it doesn’t happen, it’s three days off with the family, which is also nice.’’ ..... Reliever Brendan Donnelly was scheduled to throw off flat ground yesterday after throwing off the mound two days ago. ‘‘I think he’s doing pretty well,’’ Francona said. ‘‘He’ll be reevaluated after he throws.’’ Donnelly is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday ..... Matt Clement will throw a bullpen session for pitching coach John Farrell and Francona today. ‘‘After this period of time, it’ll be fun to watch him throw,’’ Francona said. Clement has been rehabbing from shoulder surgery in Fort Myers. If Clement stays on schedule, he could return to the Sox in September ..... Curt Schilling (sore shoulder) is continuing with his program and will be reevaluated by Dr. Thomas Gill Monday. There’s been no change in the plan for Schilling to return after the All-Star break.