More photos » by Mary Schwalm - AP

6 months ago: Boston Red Sox's Mike Lowell, right, is congratulated at the dugout after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park in Boston, Saturday, June 6, 2009. Lowell's home run was ruled so after an instant replay review by the umpires. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

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Mike Lowell speaks -- honestly -- about his thumb injury:

"I was in constant and open communication about my thumb situation from the moment it happened to every week after," he said, pointing to a foul ball against Cleveland starter Jeremy Sowers as the cause for what is now diagnosed as a strain of the radial collateral ligament in his right thumb. Lowell said that he was asked by the Red Sox to take an MRI on Dec. 7 after being put in a splint at the suggestion of Red Sox trainer Mike Reinold, who had visited Lowell in Miami on Nov. 25.

"I’ve had very open and honest communication with the training and medical staff," Lowell added. "The day this thing happened it was X-rayed and I told them about the pain, which was Oct. 2. That’s why I didn’t play the other two games. We taped it up in a way that we thought would help me in the postseason. They thought it might be a strain or a bone bruise. I don’t want to lay blame on anybody because in ‘07 my other thumb got hurt and they thought it was a strain as well and it ended up being that way and everything settled down nice and easy.

Love him, hate him, want him here, want him gone -- it's all the same because Lowell will stay a Red Sox for now.

According to Mike Lowell himself, he was always in contact with the Red Sox organization when it came to his thumb injury:

“I was in constant and open communication about my thumb situation from the moment it happened to every week after,” he said, pointing to a foul ball against Cleveland starter Jeremy Sowers as the cause for what is now diagnosed as a strain of the radial collateral ligament in his right thumb. Lowell said that he was asked by the Red Sox to take an MRI on Dec. 7 after being put in a splint at the suggestion of Red Sox trainer Mike Reinold, who had visited Lowell in Miami on Nov. 25.

“I’ve had very open and honest communication with the training and medical staff,” Lowell added. “The day this thing happened it was X-rayed and I told them about the pain, which was Oct. 2. That’s why I didn’t play the other two games. We taped it up in a way that we thought would help me in the postseason. They thought it might be a strain or a bone bruise. I don’t want to lay blame on anybody because in ‘07 my other thumb got hurt and they thought it was a strain as well and it ended up being that way and everything settled down nice and easy.

Regardless, Lowell will have thumb surgery and should be ready to go for spring training. His stock may rise if he shows he can play during spring training, but for now he will stay a Boston Red Sox.

The crew over at The Crawfish Boxes relays a crazy idea. An idea so crazy that it just might work:

What if instead of another nameless businessman as pro sports team owner, Drayton McLane sold the Astros to a businessman with a name above all else- Mark Cuban?

[...]

Yes, I realize the chances of a) Mark Cuban being interested in buying the Astros b) the MLB establishment giving the OK on the sale, and c) a Mavericks-like success story occurring is slim. But hey, it's December 21st. A guy can dream, and so can a city. So Mark, come on down to Houston. We're not that much different than Dallas. We don't have a riverwalk (I hear you have problems with those), and the MLB/NBA seasons don't overlap all that much. Just think about it. Rest assured, Astros fans are.

Mark Cuban owning a professional baseball team creates a couple of interesting possibilities: would he sit behind the dugout and jump on it when something great happens? Heck, would he jump on the field when something great happens? And would he actually get in the face of the umpires, perhaps punching the home plate umpire in the chest protector?

No one knows the answer to those questions except Mark Cuban himself. So maybe the best thing would be for him to buy the team and we'll see what happens.

Crazy, yeah, but don't you know who we're talking about?

More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

about 1 month ago: Los Angeles Angels' John Lackey walks back to the team dugout after Game 6 of the American League Championship baseball series against the New York Yankees was postponed because of rain Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, in New York (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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It's time to get a little insight on John Lackey and what he brings to the Boston Red Sox. But who is better to ask than Halos Heaven leader Rev Halofan? No one.

I asked Rev a few questions regarding Lackey. His answer -- which you're certainly going to want to read -- are after the jump.

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More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

3 months ago: Boston Red Sox's Alex Gonzalez, left, celebrates with teammates, including Dustin Pedroia, far right, after hitting a walkoff single to drive in the winning run for a 9-8 victory against the Los Angeles Angels in the ninth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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We didn't see shortstops Alex Gonzalez, Jed Lowrie and Nick Green work together a lot this season. But why would we? All three are shortstops and while they have some versatility, it's just rare to see three players all at the same position do something significant in the same game together.

Except on Sept. 16.

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Too bad, but Mike Lowell will be staying a Red Sox:

Don't toss out that Mike Lowell jersey.

According to a major league source, the third baseman needs surgery on the radial collateral ligament in his right thumb and the trade to Texas that was agreed upon 11 days ago is off.

Lowell will have surgery after Christmas and is expected to need 6-8 weeks of recovery time. The hope is he will be ready for spring training.

Mike Lowell, despite his horrible defense at third base, will be staying a Red Sox. Theo Epstein will now need to think of a Plan B.

What will that be?

More photos » by Charles Krupa - AP

5 days ago: Newly-acquired Boston Red Sox outfielder Mike Cameron, left, smiles as he sits next to Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein during a baseball news conference at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009. Cameron signed a two-year contract with the Red Sox worth a reported $7 million to $8 million a season. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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It's easy to get caught up in some of Mike Cameron's numbers. For instance, his lifetime .250 batting average. Or, if you don't like the whiffs, his 1,798 career strikeouts (that's nearly one strikeout per game).

But that's only part of what Cameron brings to the table. When we look at the total package, you'll see he's quite valuable -- even moreso than Jason Bay and David Ortiz.

Combined.

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