Missing the field, Mike Lowell returns -- briefly -- to help an old friend, Devers

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mike Lowell, the father of two school-age children, has his hands full and his days spoken for. There are youth baseball games to coach and volleyball games to attend.

But there are days when Lowell clearly misses the game he retired from eight years ago.

‘’I really enjoy being on the field,’’ said Lowell. “I do. The only part of the game I really miss is getting excited every day for a game. I think when I retired, I was pretty realistic. I knew that I wouldn’t find anything to replace that, and I haven’t. I mean, I’m going to play golf later and I’m going to suck at golf. I’m going to fish and I might not catch fish.  I don’t mind waking up early and coming to the field. It’s fun for me.

“I love it. I love being on the field. I’d like to (manage), but it’s got to be the right time in my life. I’m enjoying my kids. I’m spoiled in that sense. I don’t think I’d be able to do that if I was with a team full-time. I don’t want to close that door ever in the future because I enjoy being here. When I drove over here (from Miami), I felt like when I was playing and driving to spring training.’’

Had he wanted, Lowell certainly would have been invited to be part of Alex Cora’s coaching staff. Lowell and Cora, teammates with the Red Sox from 2006-2008, are very close and speak regularly. But Cora didn’t extend the offer when he was hired last November, knowing Lowell wasn’t yet ready for the 162-game grind.

“I’m thrilled for him,’’ said Lowell of Cora and his new opportunity. “I really am. I think he’s a guy who’s in the right spot for this team. I think Boston and the players are really going to like what he brings to the table.’’

Unwilling to make a full-time commitment, Lowell was more than ready to come to Red Sox camp for a few days, mostly to work with third baseman Rafael Devers.

“I don’t think he needs anything to be fixed,’’ Lowell said. “I think he needs repetition. I think his physical skills are so far along, the number of reps he’s had for being so young, he’s at the stage where he can soak up a lot of good things.’’

Prior to arriving, Lowell watched video of nearly every ground ball Devers fielded in his rookie season so he could be familiar with his strengths and weaknesses. He discovered far more of the former than the latter.

“He does not have fundamental flaws in his defense,’’ said Lowell. “He needs repetition so he can repeat the good things he does more often. That’s the thing I see the most. He has plenty of arm strength. For a big guy, he actually moves around pretty well. It’s more just talking about the adjustments and angles. It’s more a conversation rather than a fundamentals thing. It’s not, ‘Your elbow is here,’’ or, ‘Your leg is here.’ It’s not any of that.’’

Lowell also believes Devers could use some work on his internal clock – knowing how much time he has to make a play or a throw across the diamond.  But that, like everything else, will come in time.

“I’d say understanding who’s hitting, the speed of the guy hitting, the speed of the guy at first…,’’ said Lowell. “I think he’s much more athletic than I was. I tried to put myself in position to make the easiest play possible to get the out. It’s more (about) understanding of the situation in the game.’’

Beyond his physical attributes, Lowell marvels at the maturity shown by Devers.

“Being 20, thrust into Fenway Park and every part of your game is being dissected – that’s a big adjustment,’’ said Lowell. “Jokingly, I said, ‘Keep hitting home runs and people won’t (care about your defense). But he has a chance to have such a well-rounded game. I mean, he’s a guy who can wear this uniform for 10-plus years and be a big factor.

“I’ve enjoyed working with him so far. He’s very receptive. And I like the fact that he wants to learn. If you have someone who pushes back, you might feel like you’re wasting your time a little. But I don’t feel that way at all. ... He’s a good kid, easy to root for. He’s a special talent.’’