Chuck HMike Lowell's Hip Injury Scary..Even To Bo
July 1st 2009 15:23
Remember the Nike 'Bo Knows...." ad campaign? It was great. Bo knew golf, hockey, luge, baseball, and football. Hell, Bo even knew Bo Didley! There was one thing that Bo didn't 'know' though. Bo didn't know how to keep his career afloat after severely injuring his hip--even though he fought like hell and with great vigor to do so. Hip replacement carried him through a couple of painful years but for the most part he was all done. His spirit did however live on through Nintendo Tecmo Super Bowl. God he was awesome in that video game! I digress...
The hips are about as essential to a baseball player as Viagra is to a slightly impotent 75 year old man named Smitty trying to get his groove on one more time with a 'hot' 65 year old 'dame' he met down the TCFB Pub while his wife wasn't around. Very essential! I can't think of a position outside of pitcher where your hip rotation is any more important than third base. Quick crossover to his right to stab a ball heading down the line or to his left toward the hole. Third base defensively is all about ultra-quick reaction no matter what level of ball you're playing, never mind pro ball. Your power is greatly affected at the plate as well. The explosive hip rotation that is required out of a power hitter is off the charts and if you suffer a hip injury like Lowell has it hurts you so much in that regard. Look at his overall numbers in June since the hip has been acting up on him again.
Am I saying that I think it's over for Mike Lowell in his mid-thirties? No. What I am saying though is that a hip injury is just flat out scary no matter how you slice it. It's a very tough and tricky injury to come back from as an athlete. Lowell is a huge class act and a hell of a ballplayer for someone who many in Boston considered to be a 'throw in' when the trade with the Marlins happened for Josh Beckett. I hope this turns out to be a minor bump in the road on his overall road to recovery. With that being said, Theo and the boys on Yawkey Way must have their gears spinning as we speak, on what to do in case this isn't just a minor bump. Time is of the essence now, the trading deadline is rapidly approaching and the Sox are in great postion to grab their third World Series title in the last six years.
Chuck Hanf
Two Cents From Beantown
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