Lugo Undergoes MRI For Sore Knee

[BoSox21]

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The competition for the Red Sox's starting shortstop job might have taken a new twist on Friday night, when veteran Julio Lugo left a game against the Yankees after the top of the first inning with right knee soreness.

 

Lugo was then taken for an MRI, of which results werent expected to be made available until Saturday morning.

 

"He was complaining of right knee soreness when he went out in the first inning," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona, "so when we got him in [from playing shortstop], we took him out for precautionary measures -- sent him to get an MRI this evening. As yet, we don't have anything from the medical people. We'll probably have something [saturday]."

 

Lugo is battling with Jed Lowrie to be Boston's primary shortstop this season.

 

Both players are having strong springs. Lugo entered Friday 9-for-20 (.450) with two doubles and four RBIs, and Lowrie was 9-for-24 (.375) with two doubles, two triples and four RBIs.

 

There had been no mention of Lugo having knee problems until he came out of Friday's game.

 

"He mentioned something to [assistant trainer] Mikey [Reinold] a couple of days ago, but he hadn't been getting treatment or anything like that," Francona said. "You start having the guys dig a little bit, and I think he has been feeling it. We'll know more as we get the results back."

 

- RedSox.com

[BoSox21]

Tito says it may be a torn meniscus, which would make Lowrie the Opening Day starter by default

[example1]

This team would be fine with two Jed Lowries. I seriously wonder if they will ever pay for another free agent SS or 2B. It seems they can get at least league average production through the farm system, and that with some good coaching and the Sox development system, they can get more than that virtually for free.

[a700hitter]

This team would be fine with two Jed Lowries. I seriously wonder if they will ever pay for another free agent SS or 2B. It seems they can get at least league average production through the farm system' date=' and that with some good coaching and the Sox development system, they can get more than that virtually for free.[/quote']But we only have one Lowrie. Does this mean that Green makes the team?

[Dipre]

But we only have one Lowrie. Does this mean that Green makes the team?

 

Do. Not. Want.

[a700hitter]

Do. Not. Want.

If not Green, who?

[Dipre]

I wasn't talking about wether there is or isn't an alternative.

 

I just tried to point out how much Green sucks.

[Ionicknight]

If not Green' date=' who?[/quote']

 

WMP.

[Dojji]

If not Green' date=' who?[/quote']

 

Diaz, Khoury or Chavez over Green please.

 

Might just be Ryan Khoury's break. Guy won't ever be more than an MLB utility man anyway, can play all 3 positions and hits with some patience -- and there's no fear of messing him up since he isn't much of a prospect.

[Cocos Disciples]

WMP.

 

Wily Mo Pena can play infield? Neat.

[msubulldogs21]

Wily Mo Pena can play infield? Neat.

 

WMP for player/manager!

[Cocos Disciples]

I hear he sells a mean hot dog.

[TheKilo]

What about Angel Chavez?

[riverside sluggers]

I see Nick Green being the utility infielder. This Sox regime typically give the utility jobs to veteran free agents over kids in the farm system

[BoSox21]

Julio Lugo, amidst a spring training fight for the Boston Red Sox's starting shortstop job, will undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday, more than a week after injuring his right knee.

 

"I don't think this is going to be a terribly long procedure, but we just don't know. That's why we try to be a little careful," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Sunday morning.

 

Lugo was expected to miss at least a month.

 

Dr. Thomas Gill will perform the procedure in Boston after an MRI exam taken Friday night revealed what is believed to be torn cartilage from an injury sustained while Lugo was running the bases last Sunday in a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

 

Lugo, in a battle for the starting shortstop job with Jed Lowrie, has had a solid spring, going 9-for-20 (.450) with two doubles and four RBIs before Friday.

 

But Lugo, in the third year of a $36 million contract, missed the second half of last season because of a strained left quadriceps, which opened the door for Lowrie.

 

Lowrie was 9-for-24 (.375) with two doubles, two triples and four RBIs before Friday.

 

ESPN.com

[jacksonianmarch]

mostly because kids in the farm need to play and keeping a kid from the farm on the roster playing maybe once a week is bad for their long term growth

[jacksonianmarch]

This might be it for Lugo. If Lowrie comes out hot then I dont see how the sox could give the job back to the wife beater

[a700hitter]

Lugo's only hope was to win the job coming out of camp and to get hot in April. Once he loses the job to Lowrie, he will never get it back. Lowrie can hit and he is a switch hitter. Lugo will be the 2009 super-sub utility player.

[Dojji]

I see Nick Green being the utility infielder. This Sox regime typically give the utility jobs to veteran free agents over kids in the farm system

 

This might be different because they have some viable options (as long as you keep your expectations reasonable anyway) currently in Pawtucket.

 

Won't be that hard to find a veteran infielder for a couple weeks if they do go that way however. Esteban German types are a dime a dozen. Maybe you just sign German and use Pedroia at short for a couple games. Anyway, point is it can be done.

[Dojji]

mostly because kids in the farm need to play and keeping a kid from the farm on the roster playing maybe once a week is bad for their long term growth

 

That's why Khoury is perfect for the role. He has options so he's easy to get rid of when Lugo gets back, he's flexible, patient at the plate, and there's nothing to ruin -- he pretty much is what he is.

[riverside sluggers]

If the Sox were serious about Khoury as a backup, he wouldve been getting more ABs. Plus he has yet to see pitching above Double A