Around the Horn: Mike Lowell

"I'm kind of pumped." - Mike Lowell

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Me too. I have to admit that I was one of those people clamoring for Theo to sign Teixeira, at the expense of Lowell if necessary. I won't pretend that I was happy that Teixeira's coming would mean the departure of Lowell, but it seemed like a sacrifice that, if made, I could accept. However, knowing what we do now [that Teixeira is only in it for the money - and what his wife tells him], Lowell's own loyal sacrifice is that much more admirable.

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Mike Lowell gave up years and money by returning to Boston last off season after being named the 2007 World Series MVP. Most players go to the highest bidder, regardless of so-called "intangibles" like positive environment, dedicated fans, or good team chemistry. However, it's good news for the Red Sox that they can retain someone like Lowell: they must be doing something right. Just this off season, Dustin Pedroia admitted that he didn't mind leaving money on the table in exchange for reasonable job security. If I had my choice, I would take a team of Mike Lowells and Dustin Pedroias over Alex Rodriguezs and Mark Teixeiras any day.

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Lowell has never been that flashy player who talks a big game and only sometimes delivers. Mike Lowell is the man who never stops trying to get better. He quietly goes about his business, putting together strong season after strong season, and rarely getting the recognition he deserves. Though Lowell was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1995, Lowell made a name for himself with the Florida Marlins, winning a Silver Slugger in 2003 and a Gold Glove in 2005, before being traded to Boston before the 2006 season. At the time, Lowell was viewed as a salary dump, a player that we needed to take if we wanted Josh Beckett [and we really, really did], but he turned out to be an integral part of the 2007 World Championship Red Sox. Without #25, Boston probably doesn't make it that far.

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Add all of these things to the fact that Mike Lowell and his wife are both cancer survivors, and you have an inspirational story that can only be trumped by Jon Lester's. I highly recommend Lowell's book, Deep Drive, to anyone who has a cancer survivor [or patient] in their family, or anyone who likes the Red Sox, baseball, or entertaining literature.