Defense-less?

Don't look now, but the Red Sox winning streak is over. And surprise, surprise, Julio Lugo can get some of the blame for the loss. Maybe this is a small sample size, maybe I'm reading too much into this but Nick Green (becoming a favorite of mine) has hit almost .300, played OK(better than Lugo) defense and had come up with the timely hit when needed. Not to mention the Red Sox had the best record in the "Bigs" entering last night's game, and an 11 game winning streak with Green manning down shortstop.

Yes we all know that Lugo signed one of the most lucrative contracts that Theo has dished out, but the Boston Red Sox are a juggernaut that can afford to eat a few bad acquisitions. I was outraged when I heard that they signed Lugo. 4-years 36 million, for someone that has never hit more than 15 HRs. Yes I know that SS isn't normally a power position but C'MON! I actually asked Jim Rowe (former Red Sox trainer) "What is Theo thinking?" He then proceeded to take out his Blackberry and search for Theo's number for me to call him and tell him what I think but as I reached for the phone he laughed at me and put it back in his holster. That was my closest moment at being a GM in baseball thus far.

Let's flash back to last year, shall we? In 2008 Lugo played 81 games at SS. He made 16 errors. 16! That planted us almost in the basement through the first half of the season for team defense. Then Lugo goes down with a quad injury (there is a god). We call up Jed Lowrie to take over the helm and does not make one error in the rest of the regular season. He started out like a house on fire with the bat but a wrist injury hampers his stick for the rest of the season.

In the midst in our best winning streak in 3+ years Lugo has "fully recovered" from his knee injury and is ready for active duty. The first night he's active he doesn't get into the game and they win after a Jason Bay heroic home run. Then because the "9-million Dollar man" thinks the position is his to lose, gets into the game and muffs and EASY 3-6-3 DP. Yes he had 2 hits but the error lead to 3 Cleveland runs…By my count that's Opposition 3 Julio Lugo 1 (RBI)…We lose.

How about this? Instead of bulking up to hit for more power the year after you're the statistical worst SS in baseball you work on your footwork around the bag, and your hands at second base. If you watch the replay from last night's game his throwing hand is nowhere near his glove. Any self respecting middle infielder knows that your hand has to be at least close to the glove to get the ball out as quick as possible to spin the twin.

This offseason we tried to unload his contract on the Tigers, and smart on their part Dombrowski (Tigers GM) didn't want any part of it. I have no faith in this man manning down one of the most difficult positions in baseball night after night and if "Defense Wins Championships" then we could be in for a long summer Sox fans.

Stay Tuned

Ryan