Boston third baseman Mike Lowell gritted through Game 1 in Anaheim Wednesday night with a torn labrum in his right hip. He even stung a ball hard against Angels ace John Lackey. But his injury is so painful there's no guarantee he'll be in the lineup Friday for Game 2.
"We may have to make some changes as we go in the series," Terry Francona said. "I spent a lot of time talking to Mike Lowell this morning. It's not just like a little nagging hamstring he's dealing with. I really don't know what we're going to do tomorrow. It's actually a very difficult decision for me. You've got a guy who's the ultimate gamer. He'll go out there every day. We're going back in a couple days to Fenway, facing a lefty. It's very important having his bat in the lineup.
Perhaps the most interesting thing Francona said was this, though:
"Mikey Lowell, what he's going through right now, he's going to pay for this later. He knows that. He's beating his body up.
Lowell is a former World Series MVP and a consummate professional, but it's painful to watch him right now. It seems like he's wincing with every check swing and every slow roller to third.
He's important to the Red Sox's chances of a repeat title, but with a win in their pocket already in the ALDS and with J.D. Drew looking healthy and Josh Beckett on schedule to start, they should be as judicious with Lowell as possible. If Boston picks its spots and rests Lowell appropriately, it's possible he can be a factor in another World Series run.
