Julio Lugo, out since July 11, should be back soon, and when he does you can expect Tito to put him in the lineup as his starting shortstop once again. Francona has always been a "player's manager" and thus I wouldn't expect him to replace a starter due to injury. But Lugo's problems go far beyond injury. His struggles are well documented, so no need to recap in full here, but the summary is this: 261 at bats, .268 average, 1 home run, 22 RBI, .330 slugging percentage, .945 fielding percentage and 16 errors. Not good. His primary replacement, Jed Lowrie, has played far less but his sampling is impressive nonetheless: 88 at bats, .295 average, 1 home run, 18 RBI, .420 slugging percentage, 1.000 fielding percentage and no errors. Not bad. The one thing everyone seems to be saying about Lowrie, myself included, is that he doesn't hurt you when he's out there. He makes all of the routine plays, he hustles all the time, and I haven't noticed him doing anything dumb that made me yell at the television yet. That same cannot be said about Julio. And while I will understand if Tito gives Lugo another shot when he returns (he was, after all, the starting shortstop on the World Champions last year) I will not understand it if he gives him a long leash. If the "new" Lugo looks just like the pre-injury Julio the Sox need to get Jed back in their quick...this is not the time of year to be making errors, whether you are the shortstop or the manager.
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Either way I don't see Lugo back here next year...but I'm more concerned with this year for now.
It's also strange that he's only been out less than a month. Seems like he's been gone forever. I think that week of Manny stress happened in dog years for me and made it feel like 7.
Jason Bay hitting .421 since the trade. Sox are 4-1. Wow.
by the way...JD looks solid in the leadoff spot. Although Ellsbury, if he can put a couple of games like tonight together, should have it back soon. Long story short, Coco should start once every 5 games with Jacoby cold and once every 10 games with Jacoby hot (vs tough lefties). We no longer need Coco as a defensive replacement...so....hello Dave Roberts role.
As for Lugo, his job is lost, period. Lowrie fits so well with Theo and Tito's hitting philosophy to make any change regardless of money. Lugo's injury could potentially be the best thing that has ever happened to the Sox. Plus, the September 40 man roster is going to save the issue of not being on the team. He will have to earn his job back...which will happen if he reverts back to his TB Devil Rays stats....and not his LA Dodgers stats that Theo seemed to ignore when he signed him.
Trade Lugo for a bat boy and a six pack. But i settle for one or the other.
I'm thinking if we were willing to eat Renteria's deal and Manny's deal we would have no problem eating Lugo's either.
And though I said Lowrie makes all the routine plays, he also got a "Web Gem" last night. Sick play.
For those who don't think Lowrie can be the every day shortstop, the free agent list....
Felipe Lopez
Orlando Cabrera
David Eckstein
Adam Everett
Rafael Furcal
Cesar Itzuris
Edgar Renteria*
Juan Uribe
Omar Vizquel*
* Club Option
Career FPCT(at SS) and bat avg for ea of Dk's free agents.
Lopez .959, .256
Cabrera .979, .272
Eckstein .978,.285
Everett .977, .245
Furcal .966, .287
Izturis .978, .257
Renteria .970, .290
Uribe .975, .252
Vizquel .984, .272
Lugo .970, .271 (this year .945, .268)
side note. Joba the hut on the 15 day DL.
Based on those stats Renteria would be the man for the job...but unfortunately we all know how that worked out.
Word is that the "Shortstop of the Future" is not Lowrie, but rather Portland's Venezuelan-born shotstop Argenis Diaz. The scouting report on the 21-year old Diaz....
Scouting Report: Diaz is an elite defensive shortstop, and could compete for a gold glove in the bigs right now. He has plus range, excellent footing, an impressive glove, and an average-to-above-average arm. Makes impossible plays in the field. An inordinate amount of errors in 2008 have largely been attributed to off-the-mark long throws off of grounders that Diaz had no business getting to in the first place. The key for Diaz is how much he will hit. He's a slap hitter with average on base ability and without much power, but he's swung the bat very well during a few prolonged stints here and there. Hits lefties significantly better than righties. Speed on the basepaths isn't where it should be for a middle infielder. Needs to work on endurance over the course of the season.
And speaking of Portland, Larz Anderson has been tearing up the Eastern League since his second promotion of the year. In 16 games he is batting .346 (18-52) with 4 doubles, 3 HR and 12 RBI. .596 SLG and .426 OBP for a 1.022 OPS. It's only 16 games, but quite a start.
Lugo in my book is the single worst theo aquisition.
The sox brass had a hard on for this a-hole back as far as when he was throwing his wifes face of the front of his car in his Houston days. This guy is a hot head, a Jerk, and unfortunetaly, besides Rent-a-wreck, the worst SS in the last 6 years for the sox. I mean when Im pining for pokey u know somethings fishy
That's a good question...worst Theo move. You may be right on with this one....although that trade for Gagne last year isn't exactly one he's going to be putting on his greatest hits album.
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