How does it feel to be back?

Photo lifted from Boston.com 

Mike Lowell is back.  RSN is happy, very happy.  But how does Lowell feel?  He left a year on the table and another $12 million + to stay in Boston.  At the risk of saying what every other fan is probably saying today, he gets it.  And I’m not just being egomaniacal here.  I don’t just mean "he gets how great he has it in Boston".  I mean, "he gets how great he has it – period".  Some of my favorite quotes from Mike yesterday illustrate that not everyone has the mindset of a Johnny Damon or Alex Rodriguez:

…before this contract I had financial security, so I like to believe that I’m not all about money.

 Wow.  A player admitting that making millions of dollars gives him financial security?  No talk of how more money will help him take care of the orphans in Rwanda?  How is Mike’s third cousin twice removed going to make his car payments if Mike doesn’t get that extra $12 million?  The world may never know.

"I really don’t believe everything should be about money. I’ve had teammates in the past who have gone to other places. Sometimes they have second thoughts that they took more money elsewhere. I didn’t think my happiness should be judged just by dollars."

 And with that,  Mike made every sports agent’s head explode.  Don Fehr’s too.

But I can’t say that I’m upset with the situation.  How can I be upset with the money I’m going to be making and the chance to compete for a world title?    I always expressed how much I enjoyed playing here in Boston with my teammates, my manager, and all the fans, and that hasn’t changed a bit, so I’m actually looking forward to working hard this off-season and getting myself ready for spring training.

There is no denying that Mike wanted four years.  He said so many times during his conference call last night.  In the end, though, his desire to stay in Boston won out.  The realization that many factors  came together (including, I’m sure, how well he plays at Fenway) that outweighed another year and another $12 million or so.  And his family agreed with him.  He has a wife who, seemingly, believes the same thing he does.  That piling more money on, when you already have a boatload of money to begin with, doesn’t always have to be the answer.

I don’t care what team you root for.  I don’t care how you feel about the Red Sox.  Mike did something few players do (but a lot of Red Sox players seem to be doing over the past few years).  That says a lot.

Welcome back, Mikey!

"I feel the fans have embraced me and I’ve embraced the fan base of Boston. I’ve enjoyed playing in Boston since the first day I was traded, so I’m thrilled to remain here for three more years."

Indeed.  🙂