I'd like to think at some point, Red Sox Nation is going to appreciate what they have in third baseman Mike Lowell and not attempt to drive him out of town anytime a trade rumor appears on Twitter or a blog.
In his time as a member of the Boston Red Sox (Lowell was acquired a few years back in the Ramirez/Beckett deal), Mike Lowell has always been a reliable source of offense and defense for the team. While he's entering his later years at 35, he's still effective. This past Tuesday night showcases his abilities, as his two home runs in the game against the Tigers won a game the Red Sox sorely needed.
Lowell has always had to contend with potential opposition, as players like Victor Martinez, Casey Kotchman, and Adam LaRoche have all threatened Lowell's playing time, often sending him to the bench. Lowell has never seemed to have a problem with this.
Offensively, he's been one of the best in Boston, and is often overlooked. His 2006 campaign was phenomenal, and his 2007 season even better. With a .324 average, 21 long balls, and 120 runs batted in, Lowell finished fifth in American League MVP voting that season. Yet Lowell is always the center of trade talk, with the team always showing willingness to lose him at the expense of players like Gonzalez (Adrian) and Teixeira.
It was always about trading Lowell away for one of these players, or to bench him in the event that they couldn't trade him after acquiring someone else. Many players would pain this situation in a negative light, and it might effect their attitude about their team. Lowell, however, has always been as classy as can be, going on with his duties and playing his best.
Fast forward to 2009, and Lowell is still a valuable contributor to the Boston team. While he's 35 years old and spent parts of the summer on the disabled list, he's still in the midst of a respectable season, with a .297 average, 13 home runs, and 57 runs batted in with just 323 at bats. These numbers are much better than those of David Ortiz.
Boston's management may dangle Lowell around as trade bait and show little appreciation for what he's worth to the team, but fans need to recognize how valuable he's been, and will continue to be to the organization for as long as he's here. This may be his last season in Boston, but he'll give it his all no matter what.
If only more players were like Mike Lowell...
In his time as a member of the Boston Red Sox (Lowell was acquired a few years back in the Ramirez/Beckett deal), Mike Lowell has always been a reliable source of offense and defense for the team. While he's entering his later years at 35, he's still effective. This past Tuesday night showcases his abilities, as his two home runs in the game against the Tigers won a game the Red Sox sorely needed.
Lowell has always had to contend with potential opposition, as players like Victor Martinez, Casey Kotchman, and Adam LaRoche have all threatened Lowell's playing time, often sending him to the bench. Lowell has never seemed to have a problem with this.
Offensively, he's been one of the best in Boston, and is often overlooked. His 2006 campaign was phenomenal, and his 2007 season even better. With a .324 average, 21 long balls, and 120 runs batted in, Lowell finished fifth in American League MVP voting that season. Yet Lowell is always the center of trade talk, with the team always showing willingness to lose him at the expense of players like Gonzalez (Adrian) and Teixeira.
It was always about trading Lowell away for one of these players, or to bench him in the event that they couldn't trade him after acquiring someone else. Many players would pain this situation in a negative light, and it might effect their attitude about their team. Lowell, however, has always been as classy as can be, going on with his duties and playing his best.
Fast forward to 2009, and Lowell is still a valuable contributor to the Boston team. While he's 35 years old and spent parts of the summer on the disabled list, he's still in the midst of a respectable season, with a .297 average, 13 home runs, and 57 runs batted in with just 323 at bats. These numbers are much better than those of David Ortiz.
Boston's management may dangle Lowell around as trade bait and show little appreciation for what he's worth to the team, but fans need to recognize how valuable he's been, and will continue to be to the organization for as long as he's here. This may be his last season in Boston, but he'll give it his all no matter what.
If only more players were like Mike Lowell...
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