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Saving Lugo is becoming more and more difficult

Published: July 9, 2008

Bill Burt

BOSTON — Last year it took a World Series to save him from ridicule. Last night it was Manny Ramirez and Brandon Moss, among others.

Julio Lugo's struggles, now 15-plus months and counting, continue.

There was no official statistic to record what could have been the most meaningful play of last night's game, which started as an innocent ground ball, albeit a hard hit one, by Minnesota Twins designated hitter Craig Munroe.

The grounder went toward the second base hole, where Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia went down on his left knee and snared the ball, immediately turning toward second base to start an inning ending double play.

Pedroia threw it to Lugo, who was running toward second base, and for some reason Lugo caught the ball and spun around completely before flinging the ball, off-balance toward first base.

The throw was a tad high, pulling first baseman Kevin Youkilis' right foot off the base by only a few inches, and Munroe was safe.

It was an expensive two inches for the Red Sox.

The next three batters went single (Delmon Young), triple (Brendan Harris) and single (Nick Punto), chalking up three runs for the Twins.

It could have cost the Red Sox a win if not for Ramirez, who tied the game at 5-5 with a two-run homer in the eighth, followed by the game-winning RBI single from Brandon Moss.

There is no statistic for not completing the back end of a double play. And, the point should be made, it was not an easy play.

But Lugo blew it, which is becoming commonplace.

A year ago, Lugo had a partner in crime. He and J.D. Drew, a couple of free agents making a combined $106 million, were equally bad.

Maybe it was the pressure of playing in the Boston pressure-cooker or their trying to play up to their bloated contracts — Lugo signed for four years at $36 million and Drew signed for five years at $70 million.

It is hard to find a meaningful Lugo highlight from 2007, when he hit a career low .237. I guess his Mother's Day Miracle dribbler against the Orioles. Although even that bleeder, which scored the tying and winning runs, was an error.

Defensively, he committed 19 errors, tied for eighth worst among American League shortstops. His 73 RBIs and 33 stolen bases earned him some leeway. That, and the fact that the Sox won the World Series.

Drew, on the other hand, overcame a miserable start to hit .289 in August and .342 in September.

His first inning grand slam in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Indians helped people forget his underachieving season. Also, he was cut some slack because he had a sick infant son at home.

This season, Lugo is alone.

Drew (.299, 16 HRs, 52 RBI) was recently named to the All-Star team and, well, Lugo is still struggling for survival.

He is hitting .263, but with only one homer and 19 RBIs. Worse, he has 16 errors, the most for all shortstops in the major leagues.

The problem is David Ortiz hasn't been around to hide Lugo's woes. And the bullpen, which was a staple in 2007, is a shell of itself.

The recent slumps of Jason Varitek (3-for-31, .097) and Jacoby Ellsbury (.265 on-base percentage in June) have magnified things, too.

What can the Red Sox do about the shortstop position?

Probably nothing because of needs for relief pitching and an RBI man, especially if Ortiz doesn't heal properly.

Lugo's remaining contract — 2 years, $18 million — muddies the picture because they couldn't give him away without a buyout.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein has made some gutsy pre-trading deadline deals (Nomar Garciaparra in 2004!), and he might have to make another one here.

Otherwise, there is no guarantee the Red Sox can continue to save Lugo from himself.

E-mail Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.

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