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Lugo's back in the lineup because Francona 'can't manage like a fan'

BY PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Julio Lugo is back in the lineup tonight, batting ninth and playing shortstop. Manager Terry Francona did his best to downplay the focus on Lugo and his 0-for-31 slump. He used himself, and his love of University of Arizona Wildcat basketball, to make his point.

''There’s got to be a balance, even when a guy is struggling,'' Francona said. ''You can't manage like a fan.

''The only way I can equate it is there are times when Lute Olson will play guys at the University of Arizona and I’m convinced he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He probably does. That’s my point. I'm a big fan. I see things passionately.

''As a manager or a coach, you can’t. You have to look at the big picture also. You try to balance everything the best you can. It’s not always easy. It’s not always perfect. I admit that. But sometimes you take a step back and then you go forward.

''The thing that happened the other night'' -- Lugo's attempted steal of third base with two outs and Kevin Youkilis at bat in the eighth inning, with the Sox trailing by a run --''was tough to take, for him and for us,'' Francona went on. ''But then you end getting to do some communicating that hopefully really helps. . . Maybe barriers come down a little bit where you can make some points that are important and maybe the kid feels like he’s getting another little burst of energy and a fresher start. We do need him to play well, we know that.''

Francona is one manager who does not seem to have a doghouse. He used Lugo as a pinch-runner Sunday, less than 24 hours after Lugo made his baserunning gaffe.

''For me, that would have been a horrible mistake on my part,'' Francona said of not putting Lugo in again when his team needed him. ''Here’s a guy that has stolen 20 out of 20 bases . . . [He] made a mistake and I’m going to put him in the penalty box in an obvious situation where you need a runner? That would be a horrendous mistake on my part.

''I told him, that was our conversation, 'I want you to go out and have a good day of work then I’m going to put you back in there.' ''

Posted by Paul Kenyon  at 5:12 PM | Permalink