A few things . . .
Julio Lugo fields ground balls with the shortstops Monday. (Chris Forsberg / Boston.com)
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- A few things from the clubhouse before players took the field . . .
- Julio Lugo said this morning he'll wait and see how things transpire by the end of spring training before making a decision on whether he'll ask for a trade. The veteran Sox shortstop has two years remaining on a four-year, $36 million contract -- in other words, about $18 million remaining, which was a deterrent in trying to deal him this winter.
The Sox entertained a Dontrelle Willis-Lugo swap, but that one died quickly over the winter when the Red Sox held out for lefty Nate Robertson.
"We're gonna have to wait and see what happens," Lugo said today. "I heard rumors I was gonna be traded [to the Tigers over the winter], but it's a business and you have to do what they tell you. You call and see if they're true . . . you want to be where people want you."
Lugo greeted Rocco Baldelli, his former Tampa Bay teammate, moments ago. Lugo gave Baldelli a hug and shared a laugh as they reunited as Red Sox teammates.
Lugo is about 10 pounds heavier after an offseason during which he not only healed his injured quad but decided to gain muscle, something he said he's been wanting to do for many years. Lugo said he would have been ready for the World Series had the Sox made it, but the team has not indicated whether they would have activated him.
"It wasn't frustrating from a personal level, but that we lost," said Lugo, who said he is 100 percent healthy. "I did what I had to do to be ready. Every year is a new beginning whatever happened last year doesn't matter."
On whether he would accept a bench role, he said, "Nobody's gonna be happy on the bench." He added about his competition with Jed Lowrie, "I don't worry about that. I just come here to play baseball the best I can. I don't make those decisions. They know what they're going to get. This is not my first rodeo, so they know."
- Michael Bowden was one of the stars at the Athletes Performance Insitute this offseason. Overall, he's gained about 10 pounds of muscle and he says while it's too early to see the gains on the mound, he said, "My throwing sessions so far have been great. I feel a lot stronger." Bowden also hinted the Sox might be working on a new pitch with him. He said nothing has been said yet, but he expects to be working on something new, maybe a different changeup.
- Catcher Josh Bard, the former Padre, says he can't believe that Red Sox have former Dodgers closer Takashi Saito in the bullpen.
"In the time I spent in the National League, he had top-five stuff," said Bard. "I mean, he was in a small group of guys who had the filthiest stuff imaginable. This guy never makes a mistake. He hits his spots as well as anyone I've seen in my years in baseball. To have him in this bullpen -- a guy who can save 40 games -- it's almost unreal the Red Sox were able to get him and that he was out there for as long as he was."
- Speaking of Saito, clubhouse manager Joe Cochran wasted no time in handing him No. 24, which for the previous seven-plus seasons was worn by Manny Ramirez.
- Jason Bay was the latest positional player to arrive. Bay is in the final year of his contract and can be a free agent next year, but said he's not worried about contractual issues at this point. Bay said he'd love to sign a long-term deal with the Red Sox because he's really enjoyed his time here.
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It's so nice to know JD Drew would play if asked to. This guy doesn't get it. He's one of the few real bad deals Theo has made. He's just a bad baseball player. No guts!
Jim Rice's #14 will be a worthy addition to the retired numbers in Fenway, but sorry Mr. Saito. #24 should go right next to it for Dwight Evans. HOF or no HOF, c'mon already Red Sox.
"Julio Lugo said this morning he'll wait and see how things transpire by the end of spring training before making a decision on whether he'll ask for a trade"
Lowry describes his situation as 'competing for the starting slot'. Lugo wants it handed to him, or he'll demand a trade. (It's insulting to ask him to prove himself after booting balls at an epic pace - this isn't his first rodeo, you know!) Lugo clearly does not see himself as capable of (or willing to) compete for the starting job - so why on Earth should the Sox even consider him for it?
"it's almost unreal the Red Sox were able to get [Saito]"
The Sox have an almost unreal pitching staff this year. While the Yankees were busy with self-congratulations for writing bigger and bigger free-agent checks (in a year where they were the only fools doing so), the Sox quietly invested in 'sleeper stocks', just as their owner does so successfully. The Sox' moves will pay dividends throughout the year, whereas the long season will expose the Yanks' short-sightedness, yielding another third-place finish.
So he hits one homerun LH and suddenly that is an asset?
If that is an asset it is certainly a depreciating one.
What about the countless times he came up empty in the clutch from the left?
He has woeful bat speed batting LH and it is apparent to everyone but himself.
The .616 OPS he put up batting LH is beyond woeful.
It would be rather impressive if he could actually bat worse RH full time.
T
Ask for a trade? With all that money he's made, Julio still can't even BUY a clue.
I really like what the Sox have done in their bullpen. It makes life so much easier for the starters to be able to throw their innings and hand the game over to this bullpen. I want them to sign bay to a long term deal. He is a pro. I am very happy with Penny and Smoltz and how they can fit into this already great rotation. Nice job. Lets hope our health holds out. We really need a healthy Lowell and Drew.
Why hasn't Jason Bay been signed to a long term deal? He's a very good every day player and this is certainly the economic climate in which to sign him.....
Given Manny's disrespect for the Sox, handing out #24 is warranted. #21 should be next. The only thing Lugo has going for him is the Sox don't really have much of an option. Jed's OK, but just another weak link in this weak lineup.
PS: Drew is a "bad baseball player?" He may be brittle, but the clutch he's shown in fall of '07 (and '08) not to mention carrying the team while Papi was hurt last year are examples of his value. He may be overpaid, but he's come up big in some big spots.
I was hoping Lugo would turn it around, but his attitude is pretty pathetic. Theo doesn't miss that often, but this one really sticks out. Prediction: the Sox will be munching on that salary for the next few years before long.
About Drew: He's not being a wimp, he's being unrealistic. If his back hurts, he won't be worth anything in the field. He'd be better off getting therapy on the back (which doesn't seem the case so far--why not?) then trying to tough it out and failing miserably.
#4:
Lowrie's left wrist was injured last year. When batting LH the left hand is on top and primarily responsible for getting the bat head through the hitting zone. Papi hurt the same wrist and look how that affected him.
Let the kid be reasonably healthy before making judgments.
Mister Snitch, you put it hilariously: "It's insulting to ask him to prove himself after booting balls at an epic pace - this isn't his first rodeo, you know!" Last year, when Coco said that he wanted to play every day, a lot of fans got on him, but others (me included) thought it appropriate that somebody in his prime who'd been a starter and contributed so much defensively for the Sox would want to go on starting and hope for a trade if starting was not to be in the cards here. But somehow when Julio says it it makes me laugh. Why is that? OF COURSE at this point in his career he would prefer to be traded if he can't be a regular starter. That's natural. I guess what makes me laugh is the assumption that, given his stats last year (and the year before) vs. the kid's, Lugo would assume he should start over Lowrie. The kid has earned at least an equal shot at the job: over 80 games, Jed Lowrie proved he can play error-free ball at short, which is way more than Julio has demonstrated--and Julio's had several years in the big leagues in which to demonstrate that.
Put Lugo on waivers and see if there is any fool interested in having Dr. Strangeglove play shortstop. If Lugo can't bring a winning atitude with him, option him to Pawtucket and let him ride the bus.
You can't in your heart of hearts think that you have a better team then the Yankees now, be honest.. A Rod is going to be hitting Lasers all over Fenway
The difference between Crisp and Lugo is huge. And the points against Lugo have been years in the making, that being his sub-par defense. Sure, everybody wants to start, but at no point last year did you ever hear Coco Crisp say he would consider demanding a trade if he didn't start. And Lugo already said he's not utility man, so what else to do with him? He's a 9 million a year stiff if he repeats last year's performance, nobody wants him even if the Sox eat his salary. At this rate he will be DFA by May.
Forget his lousy glove Lugo has been an automatic out for two years strait .I mean seriously can you think of one instance he had a big hit in the clutch. I was rooting for him to finally put it together this year but with that sorry attitude we are better of with Lowrie. At least he's proven he can hit albiet just over one season.
Our only hope is that Lugo has Roided up !!
I just hope this Lugo situation doesn't get ugly...he almost seems to be insulted by the fact that he may be beat out by THE BETTER ALL-AROUND PLAYER in Jed Lowrie.
That's ironic, because for the past two years nobody in Boston has been happy with Lugo...
LUGO WHAT R U SMOKING !! NOBODY IN BASEBALL WANTS THAT CONTRACT, NOBODY !
Bush isn't around anymore, so it doesn't have to be a Manichaen society: explanation for you Yankee fans, I mean that it doesn't have to be either-or: Lowrie hasn't shown himself to be the franchise, and Lugo certainly isn't, but having them together creates some competitive tension and some option value in case either of them slumps, which both of them have been shown to do. I recall another brilliant philosopher's comment: I think Buddy Ryan said if you have to platoon your quarterbacks, it means neither of them can play. I would hope for the best and for the most improvement for both of them, because it means the best play at the position AND the best trade value if we can feel secure enough to make a deal. Wow, Lugo could have drawn Dontrelle Willis? I would have taken that chance. Oh well.
As to the YaShankers this year, they are so good we might as well not play the games... NOT! I think we see another aging and mixed team of non-leading characters. Although their pitching bids has a better chance than most years. Let's face it, they had to in order to fill up the new $tadium, get what I mean?
Commenter #1, what are you talking about? This article was about Lugo, who could help this year if he gets back to Tampa form; Bowden, who could spend time at Fenway; Bard, who looks ready to return to his San Diego form as an excellent hitter and receiver; Saito, who makes a good Pen great; and Bay, who Theo has to sign to an extension so he can hit .290/30+/100/100/.900 for the next five years. Where you get the idea JD was in the conversation? He wasn't. Do you remember him carrying the team while Papi was down, his post-season heroics, his playing hurt (that's called guts), his great defense in RF. JD has delivered exactly what he was signed to do . . . high OBP, high OPS, top D. Why the hate? Doesn't make sense.
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