Projo Sox Blog

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The Mike Lowell experiment has hit a serious speed bump.

After playing in two of the first three games of the American League Division Series against the Angels, Lowell was removed from the Red Sox' playoff roster last night and replaced by rookie infielder Gil Velazquez. Because Lowell was removed during the ALDS, he will not be eligible to play during the A.L. Championship Series. He would be available for the World Series if the Red Sox can advance that far in the postseason.

The torn labrum in Lowell's hip was clearly hindering his ability in the 5-4 loss to the Angels in Game Three, both at the plate and in the field. He was 0-for-4 with a walk in the game and was removed once he reached base in the 10th inning. Lowell was 0-for-8 with a walk and three strikeouts in his two games in the series.

"Where it goes from here, we don't know yet," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before the roster move with Lowell was disclosed. "He needs to be seen by the doctors. We're going to try to get this figured out.''

There were several tell-tale signs in Game Three that Lowell was badly hurting. He barely ran out a ground ball in the eighth inning and while he made several plays at third base, he was severely restricted in his lateral movements. During the eighth inning, Mark Teixeira grounded a hot one-hopper to Lowell's left that he barely knocked down. The ball scooted into short left field and Teixeira reached base.

After Lowell walked in the 10th inning, Francona lifted him in place of Alex Cora because of concerns about his ability to run the bases.

"I just didn't think it was fair to put him in a position where, if someone hits a ground ball in the hole and we're going to score a run, he can't run to second. He's halfway there and they get an out they shouldn't. I can't let that happen," Francona said.

Lowell was hoping treatment and some rest would dramatically improve his range of movement, but instead the opposite was apparently true. Lowell was not made available to the media before Monday night's game.

"I think it's affected him everywhere," Francona said. "Again, that's not a knock on him. When you do what we do for a living and you have a guy who is willing to try to [play], it's hard not to want to give him every opportunity possible. But he's hurting. We're going to have to figure out what's in his best interest. Short term, long term, those are answers I can't give."

Lowell, 34, is under contract with the Red Sox for two more seasons. He signed a three-year, $37.5 deal with the Sox last November after a superb postseason that was capped by an MVP performance in the World Series. Lowell hit .353 in 14 games with two home runs and 15 RBI with the Sox in last year's playoffs.

Lowell hit .274 with 17 homers and 73 RBI this year but was limited to 113 games after two stints on the disabled list. Lowell missed time early in the season because a sprained thumb and landed on the list again from August 13-September 5 because a strained oblique muscle in his ribs. The hip injury occurred in mid-season but he never made it to the D.L. for that issue.

Lowell slowly worked his way back into contention for the ALDS and was added to the roster, if only to pinch-hit. Francona deemed him ready to start for Game One but he sat Game Two in Anaheim and struggled on Sunday night. Asked if Lowell's condition was markedly worse, Francona said, "I think so. (Sunday) was a long game, it's cold, he had to dive to his right he had to dive to his left. He got pushed a little bit and that definitely aggravated it.''

Velazquez, 28, spent virtually the entire season (101 games) playing the middle infield with the Pawtucket Red Sox. He was added to the Boston roster on Sept. 25 as Lowell's condition remained unstable. Velazquez is seen as a solid defensive replacement but nothing more. Kevin Youkilis started at third base for the Sox last night and Jed Lowrie could also move from shortstop to third as the playoffs unfold.

 Tags  Mike Lowell

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