With the 2010 Red Sox season finally over (thank Christ), its time to bid farewell for one of the classiest players to ever put on the uniform.
Mike Lowell was an all-star third basemen for the Florida Marlins, his best season coincided with the Marlins second World Series victory in 2003. On June 27, 2003 the Sox put on one of the greatest offensive displays in history beating the Marlins 25-8 at Fenway Park. Angry the Sox ran up the score in the later innings, Mike Lowell got the last laugh the very next night blasting a 3 run 9th inning homer off Brandon Lyon to defeat the home town team. Lowell finished 2003 with 32 homers and 105 rbi's while batting .276 for the world champions. He raised his average to .296 in 2004 hitting 27 homers with 175 hits while driving in 85 runs. Mike's career took a turn for the worst when he had a miserable 2005 season. He hita paltry .236 with only 8 homers and 58 rbi's in a full 150 game season. At 31 years old, most feared Mike's prime days were over.
The Red sox desperately needed a second ace pitcher for the upcoming 2006 season when Curt Schilling didn't fully recover from ankle surgery and the trio of Matt Clement, David Wells and Tim Wakefield faltered in the playoffs. The Sox felt that 26 year old power pitcher and 2003 World Series hero Josh Beckett was the man for the job. Acting general manager Jed Hoyer wanted to trade highly touted prospect Hanley Ramirez and power pitcher Anibal Sanchez for Beckett, but the Marlins wanted to dump some salary. They threw in Lowell and pitcher Guilermo Mota (who was later traded in the Coco Crisp deal) and the Sox pumped in 2 lower level prospects to complete the trade.
Viewed as a throw in, Lowell then responded by having a fine 2006 season for Boston. He hit 20 homers, drove in 80 runs, played near perfect defense and batted .284 on an injury riddled team that failed to make the post-season. Mike had one final dance in the spotlight with an outstanding 2007 campaign. Lowell was named to the all-star team and finished 5th in the AL MVP voting based on his .324 batting average, 21 homers, 120 runs batted in and 191 hits. He shined in the 07 playoffs hitting 2 homers and was named World Series MVP as the Sox swept the Colorado Rockies to give Lowell his 3rd championship.
Mike started off 2008 with the same production that he showed in 2007 but then suffered a devstating hip injury that left him a shell of himself for the remainder of his career. He did manage to bat .274 with 17 homers and 74 rbi's for the season while fighting through the injury down the stretch. After 2 games against the Angels, it was unfortunate but a fact that Lowell would have to be taken off the post-season roster for the remainder. Even though the Red Sox were blown completely out in 3 out of the 4 losses to the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS, one has to wonder if Mike Lowell's bat could have made a difference in Game 7 over Mark Kotsay.
The beginning of the end came in 2009 as Lowell continued to fight through pain but managed to put up decent numbers. He batted .290 with 17 homers and 75 rbi's while only commiting 9 errors in the field. It was clear he wouldn't be the same because of the injury but batting .290 at age 35 is nothing to laugh at. Years of injuries caught up with Mike as he only appeared in 73 games for the Sox in 2010 batting a paltry .239 with 5 homers and 26 rbi's. Mike was one of many.....many players that were injured throughout the year although he did receiver a proper send-off once he announced his retirement effective at the end of the year. Against the team who drafted him, Lowell beat the hated Yankees in 2 of the last 3 games at Fenway including Mike Lowell Appreciation Night where the fans gave him a much deserved standing ovation every plate appearance.
Lowell came to Boston as a throw-in and left a legend...thank you for 5 years of service and the 20907 World Series Championship.
