2006 Position Analysis: 3B

The hot corner. It's no secret that we love it here, and it's not just because that was our position back in Little League. A big part of that affection is thanks to Billy Ballgame, that undersized, switch-hitting scrapper who became a certified Yankee killer in his short time with the Olde Towne Team. When Manuel Aristides Ramírez Onelcida was ambling around left field, William Richard Mueller was diving and jumping after ground balls and line drives with no thought about his 34 year old, surgically repaired knees. When Mark Bellhorn was taking long, leisurely swings at strike three and Kevin Millar was hitting 450 ft foul home runs at the box seats over the third base bleachers, Mueller was getting the bat on the ball, fouling off pitches, and doing his best to get on base, move the runner over (yes, he hit into a lot of double plays, but that's ok, at least he tried his darnedest). Unfortunately number 11 is gone after 3 solid years in Boston, and we'll be rooting for him, Nomar, D-Lowe, and Forrest Gump all together out in LA. In the meantime, we've got to take a look at the new face at the oh-so-hot corner. It's really one person, and one person alone. Funny thing though, because this one man costs about the same as 4 Bill Muellers.

His name is Mike Lowell, and both he and his Gold Glove want to get to know you.

MIKE LOWELL
Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
1998 24 NYY AL 8 15 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .267 .267 .267 4 0 0 0 0 0
1999 25 FLA NL 97 308 32 78 15 0 12 47 0 0 26 69 .253 .317 .419 129 0 5 1 5 8
2000 26 FLA NL 140 508 73 137 38 0 22 91 4 0 54 75 .270 .344 .474 241 0 11 4 9 4
2001 27 FLA NL 146 551 65 156 37 0 18 100 1 2 43 79 .283 .340 .448 247 0 10 3 10 9
2002 28 FLA NL 160 597 88 165 44 0 24 92 4 3 65 92 .276 .346 .471 281 0 11 5 4 16
2003 29 FLA NL 130 492 76 136 27 1 32 105 3 1 56 78 .276 .350 .530 261 0 6 6 3 14
2004 30 FLA NL 158 598 87 175 44 1 27 85 5 1 64 77 .293 .365 .505 302 0 3 8 6 17
2005 31 FLA NL 150 500 56 118 36 1 8 58 4 0 46 58 .236 .298 .360 180 1 9 1 2 14
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
8 Seasons 989 3569 478 969 241 3 143 578 21 7 354 529 .272 .339 .461 1645 1 55 28 39 82
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
162 Game Avg 585 78 159 39 0 23 95 3 1 58 87 .272 .339 .461 269 0 9 5 6 13
Career High 160 598 88 175 44 1 32 105 5 3 65 92 .293 .365 .530 302 1 11 8 10 17

OFFENSE: Lowell has lost some bat speed but poor plate discipline was his biggest problem in 2005. Is a better high-ball hitter and a good contact hitter. Loss of power was more worrisome than the loss of bat speed. Is vulnerable to off-speed stuff. Is not a good baserunner. DEFENSE: Lowell is one of the better defensive third basemen around. Doesn't have great speed or range; compensates with good instincts and soft hands. Is better to his left. Has good agility and charges the ball well. Has a quick release and good accuracy. OUTLOOK: Lowell may never hit more than 25 home runs, but he still is a fine defensive player. 7.8

Having never posted an OBP higher than .365, Lowell is a lot like a smart version of Kevin Millar: a high heat hitter, pulls the ball a ton, potential for around 20 HR, give or take a few, but had a really off year in 2005. The difference, obviously, is that Lowell played in a pitcher's park and Millar played in Fenway. The hope is that Lowell could use the Monster and the Cozy Confines to undergo a sort of offensive renaissance. It is definitely a possibility, to be sure, but it would be unrealistic (or rather, incredibly typical of Joe Sox Fan) to anticipate a huge turnaround from Lowell. Over Mueller, he definitely gives you more power potential, but Mueller gave you both sides of the plate and clutch hitting.

Lowell won the Gold Glove at third base in the National League, and so he seems to be in step with the infield reconstruction the front office has manufactured over the last few months. There doesn't seem to be any sort of concern over his glove.

So, I guess there's not much more to say, other than Lowell is our guy at third base, and should he go down Kevin Youkilis will likely be his replacement, with J.T. Snow taking over duties at first. (See the article on 1B for Youk's numbers)

Final "Prediction"
STARTER: Mike Lowell
BACKUP: Kevin Youkilis