Lowrie Injury Bad News for Sox

Boston Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie went to see a specialist to get his ailing wrist examined yesterday. He first injured it last May, and was hampered by it all year. He thought, albeit without professional input, that he needed surgery and could miss the year. If he is lost for an extended period of time, it is bad news for the Sox.

Julio Lugo has been very disappointing in his Red Sox career. The Fenway Faithful will likely not be enthused to see him assume the starting role once he returns from extended spring training, where he is himself recovering from an injury.

I think Lugo is a pretty solid shortstop, but his recent injury is troubling. If that should recur, the Sox would be stuck with a combination of journeyman Nick Green and Gil Velazquez at the most important infield position. Lowrie was only hitting .056 in his first 18 at-bats, but he is a serious upgrade over Nick Green in every element of the game. The Sox better be praying to the baseball gods that either Lowrie can come back sooner than he thinks, or that Lugo can stay healthy and regain some of his old form.

The Sox seem to be doing fine without Lowrie so far. They've won three in a row to improve to 5-6. But the shortstop problem could hang the team out to dry in their spiffy new hanging Sox uniforms over the course of the season.