So much news, so little time

Jed Lowrie is likely out until at least the All Star break after reportedly being close to choosing surgery on his injured left wrist. Lowrie hurt himself during spring training and then hid it from team officials although there’s no knowing if this contributed to the injury. Given that the scale of recovery seemed to be between a few weeks and the whole season, losing the teams best shortstop for half the year is a blow, but it could have been a lot worse.

Fortunately the Sox do have other options; Nick Green is handling himself pretty well after making the team during camp and Julio Lugo, who I would otherwise have confined to the bench or removed entirely, should be back with the big club in a couple of weeks after his own hamstring problems. Lugo isn’t the answer but he will suffice in the absence of Lowrie, whom I still have extremely high hopes for long term.

Rocco Baldelli has also been placed on the disabled list with hamstring injury of his own and as Mark Kotsay is still on the DL himself, Jeff Bailey has been called up from Pawtucket to assist in the outfield. Couple that with Dice-K’s absence and you’ve got a team that’s pretty thankful for its depth right about now.

Elsewhere, Brad Wilkerson has chosen to retire after failing to make the big club and struggling in the minors.

Meanwhile, Justin Masterson and his Red Sox smashed the Orioles to complete a four game sweep.