He has this thing on ESPN insider about third baseman who are struggling. Its amazing how many top tier third sackers are struggling. Chavez is having a terrible year as is Beltre, the latter of which is more expected.

 

On Lowell, its a lot of stuff that we already know but there are some extra tidbits. I highlighted one portion I liked reading. Here is what he said about Lowell:

 

With the exception of Florida's pitchers, no one figured to benefit more from the arrival of Carlos Delgado than Lowell, who was miscast as a cleanup man.

 

"I consider myself a good No. 5 hitter," Lowell said in spring training. "I can hit a few balls out, but I'm more of an RBI guy than a home run guy."

 

Lowell has been neither through the first two months this season. He is batting .083 (2-for-24) in "close and late" situations ? the seventh inning or later in one-run games. In an effort to get him to relax, manager Jack McKeon has given him 47 at-bats in the No. 7 spot in the order. Last year McKeon never hit Lowell any lower than sixth.

 

Lowell's slow start runs counter to his career profile. April is his best statistical month, and last year he hit .314 in April and a sizzling .373 in May.

 

During one recent game, Lowell swung through a belt-high, 93 mph fastball down the middle, and an opposing team's broadcaster observed that it was a pitch he routinely used to crush.

 

"Teams try and work him away, because he likes to pull the ball," said an NL scout. "He'll work the count and foul off balls that he can't handle. Then if he has to go to right, he'll go to right. But when you're going bad, it seems like you're always 0-2 or 1-2. Then guys make some good pitches, and maybe he's swinging a little too hard."

 

Since the 2004 All-Star Game, Lowell has nine home runs in 428 at-bats. But a second scout said he believes Lowell will turn it around soon and get on a roll.

 

"His bat speed is fine,'' the scout said. "I think he'll be fine.''

his bat speed may be fine, but his eyes arent

Lowell cannot hit outside pitches, he likes the ball middle to in. Pitchers are working him outside and last year he used to fight them off and then pitchers come inside which was what he can handle.

 

Now he cant fight off those pitches away. When they do pitch him inside he crushes it but to an outfielder or something.