Mike Lowell said today that he will almost certainly retire from baseball when his deal expires at the end of the year, tweets Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe.
The BoSox agreed to deal the 36-year-old to the Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez back in December. However, the deal was called off when Texas discovered that Lowell had a torn ligament in his right thumb.
For his major league career, Lowell has hit .280/.343/.468 with 218 HRs.
Good player. Gave the Sox a couple good years. He’ll be remembered, but the HoF discussion should be short: no.
HOF:Not even close
What HoF discussion?
The one that almost invariably comes up when a well-known player announces retirement. Heading it off at the pass!
I understand what you are saying, but I doubt it would even come up with him.
He says that now. Lets see if he actually does it.
well, you would think this would end the discussions of Lowell be traded now.
How so? He could still be traded mid season if a team loses a starter for more than a month.
Exactly. No one was trading for him for 2011. Rangers wanted him as 1B/DH insurance in 2010, not as an answer for the future.
Wow…I’m shocked. Mike Lowell is NO windbag so I believe him if he says it…at least I believe he believes it right now. This is shocking and sad.
Lowell is starting for the fist time of the season tonight. If he does well, you can expect Red Sox Nation to DEMAND a DH platoon with Big Papi for the rest of the season…something that would likely make the retirement decision harder for him given that a season of solid #’s as part-time DH (which is to be expected from him) would certainly get some teams interested in him as a FA next year. Personally, I don’t think it’s time for an official platoon just yet but the team should really only give Papi the month of April to prove he has anything left.
More like a Hermida/Lowell Platoon.
I’d think if he would work out a payment arraignment on his contract….the Sox would allow him to retire now.
I’m sure they would. But I imagine that a big reason why Lowell is playing even this year is to cash in one more time.
I think Lowell should be considered, I don’t think he has a chance to come in but he is a good player. I mean David Segui was up for the HOF so why wouldn’t Lowell?
I think Lowell should be considered, I don’t think he has a chance to come in but he is a good player. I mean David Segui was up for the HOF so why wouldn’t Lowell?
I sorta feel a Lloyd Bentsen moment coming on:
Mike Lowell, I played with Jackie Robinson. I knew Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a friend of mine. Mike Lowell, you’re no Jackie Robinson.
Seriously, though, the comparison isn’t at all valid. And sure, baseball does elect players into the HoF who’ve made significant contributions to the “world of baseball” – but being a good guy isn’t sufficient. Being a three-time All-Star and finishing in the top *10* MVP voting just once also isn’t sufficient. Let’s give him our respect for having a nice career, but let’s not be ridiculous and push this HoF discussion.
There are about 100 players that should get into the HOF before Lowell.
Great guy, great teammate, great story. That’s where it ends. No debate necessary.
The day he (or a player of similar stats) gets elected into the HOF is the day they should just close Cooperstown and tell the BWAA thanks for nothing.
I personally feel that he deserves the HOF more then anyone in the PED era, a great all around person let alone ball player.
The day he (or a player of similar stats) gets elected into the HOF is the day they should just close Cooperstown and tell the BWAA thanks for nothing.
There are about 100 players that should get into the HOF before Lowell.
Great guy, great teammate, great story. That’s where it ends. No debate necessary.
Obviously not HoF. Guys with comparable stats over their careers: Mike Sweeney, Cliff Floyd, Raul Ibanez, and Pedro Guerrero. Hardly HoFs. Though he should go down as one of the best defensive 3rd basemen.
Lowell’s a great guy, he had some big hits, a couple of truly respectable years, and in his prime he was a good defensive player. I’d love to sit down and have a beer with him, but he is NOT HoF.
This sort of feels like a “I’m going to stick it to them” move. The Sox are keeping him around and giving him minimal playing time and teams aren’t willing to deal for a potential injury risk so he’s throwing out the retirement card to nail any potential of being traded….
Solid player, was very underrated defensively for a solid 6 year span, but far from a HOF.
If Mikey does retire then i wish him the best… thanks for everything you did for the Marlins
I really like Lowell a lot and don’t think there is any reason that someone should even consider him. He is a class act but not a HoFer.
I really like Lowell a lot and don’t think there is any reason that someone should even consider him. He is a class act but not a HoFer.
3000 and 500? Dude has 1567 hits and 218 HRs. If he even gets 20% then those BWAA writers should have their voting rights revoked.
3000 and 500? Dude has 1567 hits and 218 HRs. If he even gets 20% then those BWAA writers should have their voting rights revoked.
You need to check what the HOF is about and what players did during their career to get in. Just because he won two world series, it doesnt make him a HOFer, even if he played a crucial role and was the MVP in one. Zack23 summed it up perfectly, his stats are not even worthy to consider and writers who would vote for him should never be able to vote again. If players like Lowell got in, the HOF would mean nothing.
You need to check what the HOF is about and what players did during their career to get in. Just because he won two world series, it doesnt make him a HOFer, even if he played a crucial role and was the MVP in one. Zack23 summed it up perfectly, his stats are not even worthy to consider and writers who would vote for him should never be able to vote again. If players like Lowell got in, the HOF would mean nothing.
Ok I don’t know anything about Ozzie Smith, but Jackie Robinson? Really? Your comparing Mike Lowell to JACKIE ROBINSON? Lowell has 79 more career HR yes but it was in 453 more PA, Robinson had a career 2.54 BB/K ratio while Lowell’s career BB/K ratio is 0.67, Lowell’s career slash line is .280/.343/.468, Robinson’s is .311/.409/.474, Robinson played all 3 infield bags and some outfield throughout his career, Lowell played only 3B (I’m not really counting his 9 games at 2B), Oh and the most important thing Robinson was the FIRST African-American in the modern era of the MLB. If you honestly think Lowell meant even 1/20th of what Jackie meant to the world of baseball then you really don’t know anything at all.
Ok I don’t know anything about Ozzie Smith, but Jackie Robinson? Really? Your comparing Mike Lowell to JACKIE ROBINSON? Lowell has 79 more career HR yes but it was in 453 more PA, Robinson had a career 2.54 BB/K ratio while Lowell’s career BB/K ratio is 0.67, Lowell’s career slash line is .280/.343/.468, Robinson’s is .311/.409/.474, Robinson played all 3 infield bags and some outfield throughout his career, Lowell played only 3B (I’m not really counting his 9 games at 2B), Oh and the most important thing Robinson was the FIRST African-American in the modern era of the MLB. If you honestly think Lowell meant even 1/20th of what Jackie meant to the world of baseball then you really don’t know anything at all.
“its what they meant to the world of baseball, and Mike Lowell showed what a good baseball player can be like”
You’ve got to joking right? Guys dont enter the HOF because they are “nice guys” they enter because they are suppose to be elite talents of their generation for numerous years.
And dont even mention Lowell and Jackie Robinson in the same sentence for what they meant to the world of baseball, that’s a slap in the face to Jackie.
“its what they meant to the world of baseball, and Mike Lowell showed what a good baseball player can be like”
You’ve got to joking right? Guys dont enter the HOF because they are “nice guys” they enter because they are suppose to be elite talents of their generation for numerous years.
And dont even mention Lowell and Jackie Robinson in the same sentence for what they meant to the world of baseball, that’s a slap in the face to Jackie.
Nice. So I guess all you look at is home runs to get in the HOF. I guess Ozzie’s 13 Gold Gloves means nothing.
Wow, what an ignorant comment. I will not even touch the Jackie Robinson part as you must be on crack, however the Ozzie Smith one is more arguable. Ozzie Smith played 19 seasons. He stole 580 bases with a 80% success rate. Scored 1257 runs. Knocked in 793 batting mostly 8th or leadoff. And there is also the 13 Gold Gloves and the 15 All Star games!! Those are Hall Of Fame statistics. Mike Lowell, as much as I love him, is no Ozzie Smith.
Phil Rizzuto, hits 1588, home runs 38, .273/.351/.355/.706 Hall of Fame. If they do it for him, why can’t they do it for Mike Lowell? (NOT saying he deserves it but still)
Because you fail to mention that The Scooter won seven WS, was the 1950 AL MVP and had a great broadcasting career. Rizzuto was a fringe HOF in my opinion.
But it wasn’t just him that won those world series it was Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford(all legit HoF). Also, he wasn’t entered in as a broadcaster (which I could see as he was great on the Meatloaf album) he was entered in as a player. He did not even have fringe HoF numbers. According to Baseballreference his closest people are Kevin Stocker and David Eckstein and nobody could make the argument for them getting in.