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Red Sox Preview: Mike Lowell

Mike Lowell

	Pos 3B Age 33 Bats R Throws R Experience 9 years 2008 Salary 12.5 million

2007 Stats:

Current Affairs:

After coming off a great season and being named World Series MVP, Lowell will look to continue to his excellent performance at the hot corner in 2008. In the offseason Lowell signed a 3 year contract with the Sox for 37.5 million, keeping the gold glove 3rd baseman in Boston until 2010.

Offense: Grade B

Although Lowell had a huge season last year batting .324, his career stats just don’t support this being more than a contract year performance. One thing Lowell has going for him though is that he only struck out 71 times in 589 at bats last season and has a career strikeout/ at bat ratio of 1/7.

Lowell is a career .280 hitter and we should look for his 2008 season to be right around there perhaps a little higher due to the fact that Fenway is a hitters ballpark. In terms of fantasy impact, Lowell is just not a viable fantasy option with many other better offensive 3rd basemen around the league.

Defense: Grade A

While Lowell made more errors in 2007 than any other major league season, (15 errors) he is still an excellent defensive 3rd baseman. He normally averages nine errors a season and was a gold glove winner in 2005.

Lowell has very good range and takes away a lot of would be hits with his glove. He has a career .976 fielding percentage and is a huge asset to the Sox on the left side of the diamond.

Baserunning: Grade B-

Lowell just isn’t a base stealer, plain and simple. He stole three bases last season and usually averages that each season. He has average speed but you will always see him hustling down the 1st baseline on a routine groundout.

One thing that Lowell is known for is that he is a smart baserunner. You never see him getting stuck in “no mans land” or making other bonehead moves that some of his teammates will make.

Clubhouse Presence: Grade A

One word can be used to describe Mike Lowell: Professional. In a society where athletes are getting press by running their mouth, it always impresses me when you see a guy like Lowell, who comes day in and day out and just does his job and doesn’t complain.

He’s a leader, a professional, a pro’s pro. – Terry Francona

In a city that is notoriously difficult to play in, it’s good to see a player like Lowell come in and show younger more influential players how you should act in the clubhouse and with the media.

2008 Player Projection:

Tags: Mike Lowell, Player Preview