Lugo accepts cold truth

BALTIMORE - Even when he was playing for the old Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Julio Lugo thought about how cool it would be to be a member of the Red Sox . He'd stand in the Fenway Park infield, listening to Red Sox stars of the moment being serenaded by the fans, and he wanted in. Now it would be wrong to view Lugo as an example of how you should be careful what you wish for. After all, he signed a four-year, $36 million contract to play for the Red Sox . So no matter how it all turns out, Lugo is considerably wealthier than he was before he came to Boston. Once you get past the money, though, the reality is that Lugo's tenure with the Red Sox just hasn't worked out. Management certainly knows it. So, too, do Sox fans who keep waiting for Lugo to be a complete player. Now, even Lugo himself admits it hasn't worked. ``No, it hasn't,'' he said late yesterday afternoon, after his 11th-inning single drove in what would be the deciding run in the Sox' 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. ``I thought it would work, but that's not where we are,'' he said, almost matter-of-factly. ``But one thing I am not going to do is throw a log on the fire. It's just the way it is right now and I have to deal with it.'' Give the guy some credit: He has yet to get all Jay Payton on the Red Sox and demand a trade. Though certainly not happy to be demoted from everyday shortstop to spare part - sometimes you can see the hurt in his face as he's walking around the field during batting practice - there have been no public displays of anger. In that spirit, then, it's best that the Sox act sooner rather than later when it comes to deciding what to do with Lugo. He fills a need for now - he can hit - but a time will come when Jed Lowrie, the young shortstop rehabilitating from wrist surgery, is ready to return. Lugo, remember, came to spring training fixin' for a good, healthy fight with Lowrie for the honor of starting at shortstop. Turns out both of them wound up ailing, and that's when Nick Green, who this time last year was scooping up grounders for the New York Yankees' Triple-A club, emerged as the starter. Lowrie is still out. Lugo has long since returned. When he did return, he looked sluggish and slow at shortstop. So manager Terry Francona eased him out of the lineup, and Green seized the moment. Lugo wants back in, but it's just not working out. Yesterday, he sat and watched as the Sox made a late-inning comeback against the Orioles. He entered the game as a pinch runner in the ninth inning. He remained in the game, and in the top of the 11th he singled through the hole at shortstop to bring home Jacoby Ellsbury with the go-ahead run. ``He's been good offensively,'' Francona said. ``That hasn't been why he hasn't played. But he hasn't thrown at-bats away, that's for sure. And today is a huge example of that.'' Lugo seemed almost to enjoy yesterday's gathering of reporters at his locker, because for once their questions were about his contributions rather than a lack thereof. ``When you don't play every day, it's hard to go out there and be sharp,'' he said. ``But I try to stay as positive as I can and do my best. When I play, I'm not going to go out there and feel sorry for myself. I know what I got and what kind of player I am.'' ``You try to stay loose the whole game. If you go out there trying to get loose in one at-bat, it's going to be hard. ``Now,'' he said, ``I feel good again. I can play.'' But it won't be with the Red Sox . It just hasn't worked out. The day will come, and soon, when Julio Lugo is sent on his way, and, well, good for him. All in all, he has handled this well. Sox fans should wish him well and hope he can rebuild his career at the next stop. - sbuckley@bostonherald.com