Has Lowrie earned the starting spot?

[GregB]

Julio Lugo has been considered a bust since signing with the Sox. His stats actually arent that bad. But Lowrie has really been playing well. Does Lugo get his starting spot when he comes off the DL or does Lowrie keep the spot?

[Prophet_C]

I think we've seen the last of Lugo. Lowrie will stay and Lugo will be dealt in the offseason but we'll have to pay a lot of Lugo's salary to do that. Lugo sucks and I was against the signing in the first place.

[Bleeding Green]

He earned it in April, but I really doubt they'll let Lugo sit on the bench.

[Dirty Water]

He's definitely earned it. It's the whole Lugo making a ridiculous amount of more money than Lowrie situation. Be interesting to see what they do with Lugo. I'd imagine if Lowrie keeps it up Red Sox will try to trade Lugo and eat a lot of his contract. If Lowrie comes back to earth I'd see them keeping him as a utility player and even into next year while letting Cora walk.

[greenbeans]

im not sure, but i friggin hope he has

[canman1971]

His competition is Lugo. Of course he has earned it.

[mr_sunshine]

Yes.... I hope. Although Tito and Theo seem to love that POS Lugo for some reason. He's done nothing but suck really. I think he hit .088 last June or July. Egh!

[sunshinekids99]

I don't know how Lowrie will not be the guy for the rest of the season. He does everything better than Lugo. Use Lugo as a pinch runner once he's healthy. Atleast he can provide the team something that way.

[canman1971]

I don't know how Lowrie will not be the guy for the rest of the season. He does everything better than Lugo. Use Lugo as a pinch runner once he's healthy. Atleast he can provide the team something that way.

Hey, he doesn't do everything better. Lugo gets paid better

[NH_soxfan14]

It pisses me off how people say Lowrie can't be a starter because of his defense. From what i've seen his defense is better than Lugo. Hopefully lowrie will take over like Jacoby did last year.

[sunshinekids99]

I'm not sure Lowrie has the range of Lugo, but I do agree that his defense has not been a problem at all.

[Chach]

Lugo has more range and a stronger arm but Lowrie is fundamentally sound and makes the regular plays and is consistent. Lugo may end up making more total plays but he's also going to have more errors. Having gold glovers around Lowrie with Lowell, Pedroia (who should win one), and Youk will make Lowrie's defensive limitations easier to live with, especially because he is such a good offensive shortstop.

It is almost a given that Lowrie has taken over, at least for the season. They may work out a super-sub system where Lowrie gets 500 plate appearances giving guys rests next season. Now that Moss is gone, I wouldn't be surprised to see Lowrie get some time at first base in ST and have he and Chris Carter share the back-up ABs at first. (If they can move Lugo then even better. mahalo
~Chach~

[greenbeans]

Gammons said in a chat(Boston.com maybe) he thinks they may go that route but with Lugo as the super utility guy.

[Chach]

Lugo did it in the past in LA, he hated it and we just got rid of one clubhouse cancer. Lugo makes sense because he is a poor defensive player who starting him around the diamond and then subbing in a more defensively sound replacement makes sense but I don't know if it works clubhouse wise. I would rather pay a ransom to send Lugo elsewhere and just continue to use Cora at the utility guy because I don't see Lugo playing utility and it might not be the best choice to play Lowrie there either. mahalo
~Chach~

[GreenGrizz]

Lowrie is too talented to get demoted or even benched. He is way better than Lugo but I fear that he may make Lowell look less tradeable.