Frustrated Lowell presses on

"I understand the different pieces and trying to get the offense to click. But it doesn't mean you have to like it." — Mike Lowell

BOSTON — "Old Faithful" has nothing on Mike Lowell.

If you wait long enough, you can always count on the Yellowstone National Park landmark.

Ditto for Lowell.

Nobody knows that better than the Detroit Tigers, who left Logan Airport losers of three of four games. They did win yesterday's matinee, 2-0.

Despite sitting for the opener on Monday, Lowell went 5 for 11 with three homers and five RBIs, and that's including an 0-for-4 yesterday.

"Mikey Lowell is a pro," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "The guy plays the game right."

In 2005, the Sox didn't really want Lowell, but had to take him and his hefty salary ($43 million from 2006-09) as part of the Hanley Ramirez-for-Josh Beckett deal.

Then we saw him play every day and loved him, thumbing our noses at the prospect of replacing him with then-living legend Alex Rodriguez.

Along came a free agent named Mark Teixeira. The Sox wined and dined him last offseason.

When that negotiation proved to be a bag job — the Yankees waited in the weeds until the bitter end — guess who was our third baseman, albeit a limping one, again?

And guess who has been producing at the same clip he's always produced at?

Canobie Lake's roller coaster doesn't have as many ups and downs as the ride Lowell has been on since arriving here in December 2005.

"Do I like hearing about potential trades with my name being part of it? No," said Lowell. "This is where I want to be. I love it here.

"But going back to when I was a prospect with the Yankees, especially when I was in Double A and Triple A, I remember thinking every second that I'd be traded. It was a fact of life. There was so much smoke blowing, you learn to tune it out."

Lowell has quietly had a Mike Lowell season ... lost in one of the worst offensive months of this "dynasty" the Red Sox are allegedly in.

Despite missing 28 of 115 games this year, Lowell is among Sox leaders in batting average (.299, 2nd), homers (14, 4th) and RBI (59, 4th).

If you extend his numbers over 162 games, he is on pace for about 25 homers and 100 RBI.

And that's part of the problem, at least from where Lowell sits — and I mean sits.

Lowell had major hip surgery last October to repair a torn labrum. While he got the green light to play this season, doctors told him it would take another year before he felt 100 percent.

But through 67 games this season, he only sat two games, which was about six or seven games fewer than originally planned. He needed to sit 18 of the next 21 games.

"That probably caused some fluid buildup," said Lowell. "Obviously, there were circumstances. We were struggling a little bit offensively and we had some guys injured. Kevin (Youkilis) hurt his hip."

The "buildup" lately has been frustration.

With the Red Sox offense stumbling from late June to the July 31 trading deadline, the Sox acquired some firepower in first baseman Casey Kotchman and ex-Indians All-Star catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez.

What was the source of Lowell's frustration? Since the trading deadline he was sent to bench three times.

He's not only having a typical Mike Lowell season, but lately he's swinging a hot bat (10 of 25, 3 homers, 9 RBI in August).

The addition of Kotchman and Martinez, however, will probably mean more bench time.

"It's a very weird situation," said Lowell. "It's not like in 2005 (in Florida) when I was having a down year. Ironically, we were playing the Detroit Tigers at the time, and (manager) Jack McKeon says, '(Miguel) Cabrera's going to play third.' I think it was for about 10 games. But I had no basis to get upset. I was hitting .230-something.

"Right now, it's a little awkward," he said. "I realize I need some time off. But I feel like I'm doing my job. When you feel good and you're doing your job you want to be in there. I understand the different pieces and trying to get the offense to click. But it doesn't mean you have to like it."

Again, this is part of the roller coaster he has to accept.

The hip, Lowell says, doesn't bother him when he's hitting.

"I can hit all day," said Lowell. "But if I ran 30 sprints I'd be in a hospital."

His hip surgery was anything but minor. All you have to do is check out A-Rod on the bases, like Lowell did last week.

"I saw the replay on FOX when the Yankees were here and Alex was running from first to third," recalled Lowell. "He sort of fell off stride after he rounded second. That's exactly what happens to me. And my surgery was a lot more extensive than his was. He just had his cleaned out."

While Lowell has never been a speedster, a few key times during the 2007 World Series he took an extra base.

"I realize I'll never be fast," said Lowell. "All I'm looking for is to run normal again. That's all I want. And that's what I'm expecting next year."

Lowell won't predict what the future holds. But he makes no bones about one thing. Boston is where he wants to be ... if the Sox will have him.

"I tell everyone it's the greatest place to play baseball in the world," said Lowell. "Guys on other teams can't believe how many people show up to see us take batting practice on the road. I realize it's not for everyone. But for me it's not hard. The fans here demand a lot of players. But I demand a lot of myself, too."

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

Lowell donates $25,000 to feed poor in Lawrence

While Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell had a big day on Wednesday, going 3 for 4 with two RBI in the 8-2 win over the Detroit Tigers, his wife, Bertha, had a more impressive day in Lawrence.

She came to Lawrence along with other wives of Sox players and coaches and served needy people during dinner at the Cor Unum Meal Center next to St. Patrick's Church.

Mrs. Lowell presented Fr. Paul O'Brien, who originated the meal center with help from ex-Sox reserve Sean Casey, with a check for $25,000 from the Mike Lowell Foundation.

"I got to know Fr. Paul last year when he would come to the park and perform Sunday Masses," said Lowell. "I've always gone to Catholic Church. When I'm on the road I go with (radio play-by-play man) Joe Castiglione.

"Fr. Paul told me a lot about Lawrence and the plight of a lot of people, and he invited me to come to the meal center," said Lowell. "My wife and I were floored when we visited last off-season. It was an incredible place. It was like a restaurant with nice tables, table cloths and flowers. I was struck at how nice it was and how great the people were treated that came in."

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