Lowell returns to Boston, reflects on retirement

By Maureen Mullen
CSNNE.comFollow @maureenamullen
BOSTONFormer Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, in Boston with his family, visited Fenway Park Friday for the first time since retiring at the end of last season. It was as much to satisfy a request of his two children as it was to catch up with his former teammates.

I think after it was kind of in November-ish, Lowell said. My kids asked me, Are we ever going to come back to Boston? because I told them we were selling the apartment. I said, yeah, we were going to come in the summer. So we kind of looked at the schedule and this was put in there about six months ago and its been nice. Took advantage, had a nice dinner with Dustin Pedroia last night. He brought me up to speed. He still thinks hes going to kill everyone. Four more hits tonight. So, thats good. But yeah the kids are good and were enjoying it. I didnt know we were going to get Miami weather here in Boston. Its been good though.

Although he looks fit, and he said his surgically repaired right hip is feeling good, Lowell, who turned 37 in February, is happy with his decision to retire after 13 seasons and two World Series championships.

Well, my hip feels so good right now that I feel like if I had to play, I could, he said. But Im just really satisfied that after another surgery with how well Im moving around. I can jog. I can run. And that was a big thing So from that standpoint, just from my life standpoint, it feels really good. Been able to enjoy the summer. It was weird with the free time. But its been fun. Ive really enjoyed it. I think I miss coming to a challenge every day. Its kind of what Ive known for the better part of 17 years. I miss my friends. Youre in the same grind together. But Im still at peace with my decision. So I think I made the right one.

For now, his baseball activities are limited to coaching his sons 6-year-old T-ball team. Mike Redmond, with whom Lowell played in Florida, is now managing the Lansing Lugnuts, a Single-A affiliate of the Blue Jays. Lowell recently visited Redmond, whose last season was also last year. While Lowell respects the work Redmond is doing, he doesnt see it in his future.

I think if youre going to do something like that, it deserves a lot of time, Lowell said. Im not willing to do that at this point in my life. I dont know. I played around with the MLB network. Im going to do a little more of that. And thats actually fun for me. So, I think in that sense it keeps me in the loop. I still get to follow the game and try to sound educated when I talk about it.

Although Lowell won World Series titles with both the Marlins, in 2003, and Red Sox, in 2007, he doesnt assign himself to either team. He just considers himself an ex-ballplayer.