Breaking his (partial) Silence.

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Mike Lowell has not been one to really talk to the media since spring training started but after today's game he spoke about the challenge of playing first:

"I am feeling more comfortable. I was actually glad I got a ball in the dirt and a chance to hold some runners on--just doing more of the responsibilities. There are definitely different things you have to concentrate on but I think the two positions are related. You're involved in a lot more plays, which is better. I would say it's a lot more comfortable position to play because you don't need to make that throw [from third to first]."

and the chattiness involved in playing first:

"Absolutely. I was asked how the kids and family are doing. Is this guy making the team? When the first base coach is up with a runner on first, you almost can't help but talk. When I got to first, I would say hi to the first baseman and all of that but you're almost gone in three or four pitches.

"I feel like I know [Pirates first base coach Carlos] Garcia. He's almost like family after just five innings. No wonder everybody loves Sean Casey so much. He knows your whole family history. A lot more talk, a lot more talk. More bantering."

He also talked about the lack of improvement in his hip:

"With X-Rays and what I've done, I think what I was not aware of was best case
scenario was status quo post-surgery. Meaning whatever cartilage damage I had, which was technically was pretty signficant on the hip side, it wasn't going to get better. I don't know if it was my optimism. But I do believe it was what I was told -- that it was going to get better.

"In that sense, would I compare it to like I was running like in '07? I would say no. So in that sense it was a little disappointing. I still stand that I am better than last year. There's a certain condition in the hip that I don't think will ever allow me to get the point where I was in '07 or prior. In that sense, of course that's disappointing but I think once I got more educated in what happened with the surgery, and I have more range of motion now that can cause more friction, it makes more sense."

He seems really down about the hip, which is too bad.