Good News For the Red Sox and Their Fans

[savage1]

ARLINGTON -- The Red Sox added another piece to their shortstop puzzle after acquiring Alex Gonzalez from the Reds on Friday.

He was hitting .210 with three home runs in 68 games this season for the Reds.

Nick Green (73 starts), Julio Lugo (27) and Jed Lowrie (16) have all played the position, but Lugo was traded on July 22 and Lowrie was placed on the disabled list last Saturday.

"All year, we thought we had a couple of shortstops," manager Terry Francona said. "But then we had none."

This is Gonzalez's second stint with the Red Sox. He was the starting shortstop for the Red Sox in 2006, but a strained oblique limited him to just 111 games. Gonzalez still managed to hit .255 with nine home runs.

Lowrie expects to come back once he's eligible to return from the disabled list on August 23.

"They've never pinpointed why [his wrist is tingling]," Lowrie said. "It hasn't gone as planned or how I wanted it. All that matters is what I do going forward."

Francona downplays the Gonzalez acquisition as an indicator that something is seriously wrong with Lowrie's wrist.

"This does nothing to diminish what [Lowrie] means to this club," Francona said. "We need to protect our season. We're trying to win right now."

He plans to split time between Gonzalez and Green for the time being, but doesn't know how often.

"I don't write my lineup card for a week from now," Francona said.

Gonzalez still holds the club's all-time fielding percentage record at shortstop with a .985 mark in 2006.


Daniel Paulling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[wayne1218]

There is nothing exciting about a guy hitting .210

[savage1]

There is nothing exciting about a guy hitting .210

True, but I like the idea that he is so good defensively and did so well in 2007 (including some key hits in 2007).
Perhaps a change of scenery will help-time will tell.

[savage1]

Part of above is erroneous.
In actuality he played for the Sox in 2006 and contributed quite a bit.
However, he was not with the team during the championship season of 2006;he was let go for superstar Julio Lugo(how they won a WS with him is still a mystery to me).

[bryce]

I agree with Wayne---really don't like this move...but then again I thought Matrinez was a good selection and a good fit...which hasn't been all that bad---HAS it?

[10DimeBry]

the guy couldnt hit his way out of a brown paper bag.

[bryce]

the guy couldnt hit his way out of a brown paper bag.

We can eat our way through a brown paper bag--if there is enough food....I agree with that and can't get excited for this guy at all.

[bryce]

He is barely above the Mendoza line--which was .190 I believe

[wayne1218]

He is barely above the Mendoza line--which was .190 I believe

Isn't the baseball Mendoza Line .199 ?


If you are hitting .200 it is over the mendoza line?

[10DimeBry]

i thought the mendoza line was .200 above it you are above 200 below it you are in the 100's

[wayne1218]

i thought the mendoza line was .200 above it you are above 200 below it you are in the 100's

That sounds right. I thought it had something to do with .200

I think you are right Bry. The Mendoza line is .200 (I think)

[savage1]

If the Sox can gamble with a 42 year old pitcher like Smoltz coming of a serious injury, I think it is least worth a shot to give a player a shot who is about 10 years younger and who played well here in 2006.

[wayne1218]

If the Sox can gamble with a 42 year old pitcher like Smoltz coming of a serious injury, I think it is least worth a shot to give a player a shot who is about 10 years younger and who played well here in 2006.

Who gives a fuck about '06????

Of course you think picking up a .210 hitter is worth a shot because in your eyes, every move the Red Sox make is a "Good" one.

[wayne1218]

I bet you think Francona running Buchholz at 2nd last night was a good move too right. Go ahead, tell me it worked out in the end. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!!!!!!!

[bryce]

That sounds right. I thought it had something to do with .200

I think you are right Bry. The Mendoza line is .200 (I think)

I hate being wrong...you guys are right

The Mendoza Line is an informal term used in baseball for the threshold of incompetent hitting. Even though Mario Mendoza's lifetime batting average is .215, the Mendoza Line is said to occur at .200, and when a position player's batting average falls below that level, the player is said to be below the Mendoza Line. It is often thought of as the offensive threshold below which a player's presence in the Major Leagues cannot be justified despite his defensive abilities. National League pitchers are not held to the Mendoza Line standard, since their specialized work and infrequent batting excuses less competence in hitting. American League pitchers do not bat at all, except in away-games against National League opponents.