I clearly remember November of 2007. I watched the Red Sox World Series parade from the window of my dorm room during my senior year of college and got to see a then-beloved Manny Ramirez initiate a chant: “RE-SIGN LOWELL.”

After being a throw-in piece in the Josh Beckett/Hanley Ramirez trade with the Marlins, the third-basemen would have been eligible for free agency immediately after becoming the MVP of the 2007 World Series. The Red Sox seemed hesitant at first, well with Alex Rodriguez opting out of his contract with the Yankees and heading towards of a future of uncertainty and because of Lowell’s age; he would be turning 34 prior to the 2008 season. Still, the RE-SIGN LOWELL chants, Facebook groups and emails must have set off something because the Red Sox did just that.

However, two years into his three year deal plus a few stints on the disabled list later and Mike Lowell suddenly becomes disposable. Trade talks circulated around the clubhouse last season in regards to acquiring a power-hitting first basemen while moving Kevin Youkilis over to third base. Mike Lowell’s position was long-gone not even halfway into his new contract.

During this past offseason, Theo Epstein brought in Adrian Beltre to play the hot corner. Beltre was instantly thought of as a defensive upgrade over Lowell but was presumably unable to determine whether or not he’d power over number 25 offensively.

As it stands as of June 9, Lowell has only 70 at-bats with only one RBI in his last ten games dating back to May 11. He has become a bench player along with the likes of Jeremy Hermida and Josh Reddick. His numbers are disappointing and his general attitude towards the media and recent comments have been discouraging to hear–all after receiving the biggest ovation of any Boston player on Opening Day.

How quickly will the fans chant RE-SIGN LOWELL at the end of this season? That is, if he’s even in a Sox uniform for that long.

So what can the Red Sox do with Mike Lowell now?

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

David Ortiz suddenly produces and becomes the instant option for DH–once an option for Lowell has become a distant memory. Beltre has been playing great baseball despite some of his defensive blunders. Still, his .333 batting average and 40 RBI are good enough to lead the team in each stat. Is Lowell’s talent (and .229 batting average) being put to waste on the bench? Not exactly.

Lowell still can produce when necessary and can provide more depth as a third and perhaps even first baseman for the Red Sox. That being said, it’s time to trade Mike Lowell, if for anyone, for Lowell himself.

There are plenty of teams in need of what Lowell could provide. The Red Sox could ship Lowell to the West where a team like Seattle could benefit from him filling in the role of a DH. The White Sox have expressed interest too as Lowell could fill in as the primary third baseman.

In return? Don’t expect too much. Lowell’s stock is down and a mid-range prospect or another bench player seems to be likely.

After all that Lowell has done for the Red Sox, it’s only right to do what he wants. Get him more playing time elsewhere.

Let that sit for a second, and read it again: David Ortiz’ career is winding down.

I know what you’re thinking too, this happened last season and he ended up an RBI short of 100 and 28 home runs. Sure, his batting average left a lot to be desired at a .238, but this is different. In fact, Ortiz’ batting average hasn’t been above .200 all season and currently sits at a .178 as on Monday morning. The electricity that once lit up Fenway Park whenever number 34 came to the batter’s box is gone and has been replaced with sighs, cringes and the clenching of knuckles. He’s more of a wild card now, often an easy out for pitchers rather than a threat at the plate. Ortiz isn’t even a lock as the designated hitter for the Red Sox anymore.

As badly as the Fenway faithful want to believe that this is a slow start rather than an ending, it might be best for the Red Sox to start to let go of David Ortiz. Problem is, no one really knows how to.

Last week’s LOST episode gave a perfect example of just how difficult letting go can be. In the show’s alternate reality sequence, a wheelchair-ridden John Locke talks to Dr. Jack Sheppard about his refusal to have his paralysis on his legs reversed. Locke is punishing himself for a plane accident that made him unable to use his legs but also caused his father to become brain-dead. (In the other reality, his father was the reason why Locke was in the wheelchair in the first place, but I’ll save that analogy for the pushing-the-Sox-out-of-the-window column.)

Jack had to explain to Locke how difficult it was to let go. Earlier in the same season (and same alternate reality) Locke spoke with Jack about letting go of his issues with his own deceased father. Jack brought that up again making a skeptical Locke question how easy letting go could be.

“It isn’t,” Jack said. “In fact, I really don’t know how to do it myself. That’s why I was hoping that maybe you could go first.” The scene ended without a reply from Locke as he wheeled himself away as Jack pleaded from afar, “I can help you. I wish you’d believe me.”

No one really knows how to let go of the notion that David Ortiz of 2010 is not the same as the David Ortiz from 2003-2008. Fans got used to the clutch player who would save the day whenever his red 34 jersey popped up (no pun intended) from the dugout. His four home runs and nine RBI from this season are telling; the hitting prowess isn’t there.

Maybe it’s a bit our fault, not being able to figure out how to let go. The 2004 Boston Red Sox will always hold a special place in fans’ hearts. The three remaining players on the roster from that championship team, Ortiz, Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, are still very much fan favorites despite their age and declining stats. In fact, it’s unlikely any of those guys ever pay for a drink when they’re out in Boston.

But Ortiz is different. He was the impact player in that postseason; the hitter that pushed the ball club through a 0-3 deficit against the New York Yankees and contributed in the sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. And many still hold on to the thought that he can do it again when in truth, he can’t.

Few American League hitters who debuted in 1997 are still considered “stars”. Along with Ortiz, notables include Magglio Ordonez, Torii Hunter and Miguel Tejada. Oh, and Jason Varitek. Which in that group can still put up undisputed power numbers? Maybe Hunter, but that might be a bit of stretch. Ortiz is winding down and rightfully so, he can’t play forever. With a club option for renewal on his contract coming at the end of this season, it’s very possible Ortiz doesn’t get asked to return back to Boston.

So to begin the process of letting go, one must look at the bright spots in the Red Sox.  Young stars such as Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis (YOUUUUUK) are poised to become Red Sox greats for years to come–and are locked up to do so too. They’ll be looked upon to carry the production as Ortiz slows his pace down.

Next, remember the past, but don’t live in it. The Red Sox’ remarkable championship won’t happen again the way it first occurred. The 86 years, the clutch performances from Ortiz, the three game deficit against the Yankees and other events won’t make for the same storybook ending as before. There will be another Red Sox championship team with different players than 2004 and 2007, different circumstances and most importantly, different fans. The way fans felt about Ortiz leading the way to the World Series is entirely different than the way fans felt about Carlton Fisk in game 6 of the 1975 World Series. And that’s perfectly okay.

Most importantly, there will be another David Ortiz. Maybe not the same 6’4″, 230 pound frame, but with the same ability to capture the attention of baseball fans around the league with his power and clutch ability to win games. There will be another Red Sox hitter who tallies up 40+ homers and 100+ RBI in a season. There’s going to be another hitter whose jersey, it seems, that you see everywhere. Could be months, could be years, but waiting for the next big thing is half the fun.

Ortiz will always be revered as a legend around Boston. But for now, it’s time to slowly back away from the thoughts of Big Papi being immortal. Ortiz won’t be a Red Sox forever the same way that Bird wasn’t a Celtic, Orr wasn’t a Bruin and Brady won’t be a Patriot.

Better to begin now then be swept away later.

I mean, why not, right? The Orioles have a potent, young team, made some key acquisitions in the offseason and have pick of the litter when it comes to the seating options in Camden Yards. Enter here a blah, blah, blah complaint about currently having the worst record in the majors but in all actuality the Orioles are in a much better position than a couple of teams in the American League.

The Boston Red Sox, insert groans here, are one of those teams.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein gave New Englanders the motto of “pitching and defense” during the winter that included promises of a better Sox team, even though on paper, most of us knew better. And now, just 25 games in, Sox fans are pushing every panic button they can lay their hands on. Rightfully so, if you ask me, approximately six hours after a sweep courtesy of the statistically worst team in the MLB.

AP Photo/Gail Burton

So who’s to blame? Is it Boston’s new “big three” of Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey? Not one of the trio has an ERA that stands below a 4, nor more than two wins. In fact, pitching as a whole has been pretty ugly for Boston. The Red Sox’ team ERA stands at a discouraging 4.78, 23rd amongst all major league teams. They’ve given up 29 home runs already, sixth highest in the league while they stand in the middle of the pack with a total of 178 strikeouts.

Maybe it’s more than that. How about the Red Sox defense that has a fielding percentage of .980 that sits in the bottom ten in the majors? Pair that with the seventh-most committed errors in the league and suddenly, Epstein’s offseason quip seems to lack less punch than originally expected.

Pitching and defense, right?

To be fair, newcomer John Lackey has seemed to stabilize with two back-to-back solid outings after suffering a huge loss against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 19. Lackey gave up eight earned runs in a matter of three and a third innings of work striking out only three. The righty started off the year well with a strong first game against the New York Yankees and following with his first win against the Minnesota Twins.

Lester, too, seems to have gotten better, earning his first win this season with a one-hit, 11-strikeout performance against the Toronto Blue Jays. The seven-inning outing was his longest of five this season and without question, his most dominant. Beckett hasn’t been great by any means, but has been able to at least go seven innings in four of his six starts. The other two games, a three-inning, eight earned-run performance against Toronto and a season-opening stinker against the Yankees have been pretty poor.

Aside from that, not much to write home about if your a Red Sox fan. It’s difficult to watch Daisuke Matsuzaka continue to disappoint. His debut back with the Boston club on Saturday turned out to be a pitiful outing four and two-thirds innings and six earned runs later. The amount of walks and home runs given up were still an issue as were Matsuzaka’s ability to go deep in the game.

AP Photo/Gail Burton

Troubling, as well, to see defensive “gems” such as Adrian Beltre have a .921 fielding percentage. He leads all starters in this category as do his five errors. In 19 games less, Beltre’s predecessor, Mike Lowell has zero errors and a pristine fielding percentage. Wasn’t Beltre supposed to be an improvement at the hot corner? It doesn’t help either that defensive catalysts Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron are still on the disabled list.

Too early to start worrying about the Boston Red Sox? If you’re a Boston fan with a pulse, then it’s not. Although Sox captain Jason Varitek, seems to think differently.

“We haven’t quite clicked, but we’re better than our record. And we will be better.”

Maybe, but when you’re 25 games in, under .500, and you just got swept on the road against the worst team in the league–watch out.

I envy Baltimore sometimes.