Red Sox Fans Applaud Lowe

Derek Lowe is the Dodgertown equivalent of a rock star. He wears a cool white necklace and a perpetual grin. He is hounded for autographs and is seemingly unfailingly cooperative with fans wanting him to sign.

Many call his name in New England accents. Some days, in fact, it seems there are more Boston Red Sox fans than Dodger fans lining the walkway from the clubhouse to the practice field.

Several knew Lowe during his eight seasons with the Red Sox, a stint that culminated in his emergence as a postseason pitching star, then ended badly when the team didn’t re-sign him.

Still, the fans adore him. After pitching to batters for the first time Monday, Lowe tossed several baseballs into the stands at Holman Stadium, then put his glove on his head and signed autographs.

Of course, his new teammates were more impressed by the way he pitched. Coach Tim Wallach marveled at Lowe’s curveball and his command of a sinking fastball.

“When he did throw the sinker, it looked very good,” said Paul Bako, who caught Lowe. “He had a good feel for the first day. All his pitches were working, the changeup, sinker, fastball and curve. He worked both sides of the plate. He’s going to be fun to catch.”

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With veteran status comes privilege, even when the veteran is new to a team.

Jeff Kent, the all-time home run leader among second basemen, was given the prime corner locker in the clubhouse. That means he is hemmed in when talking to reporters, but so far Kent has been cooperative.

Even when it is suggested that the Dodgers are weaker defensively with him at second, rather than Alex Cora, who was not re-signed.

“I work hard on my defense,” Kent said. “I’m a really good defensive player. I position myself well. I might prepare for each pitch better than another guy.”

More than one cutting-edge statistical formula that attempts to measure defensive prowess has concluded that Kent is at least as good as the flashier Cora.

“Fielding is one statistic that people have really tried to corner, and you can’t measure it,” Kent said. “All I know is that I want to get to everything. I’m greedy. Every time a ball gets by, I say to myself that I should have got to that ball.”

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The Dodgers reached contract agreements with 14 players on the 40-man roster who lack the major league service time for arbitration or are minor leaguers. Among those signed were pitchers Edwin Jackson, Yhency Brazoban, Duaner Sanchez and Frank Brooks, catcher David Ross, first baseman Hee-Seop Choi and utility player Jason Grabowski.

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Manager Jim Tracy said outfielder J.D. Drew would bat third in the lineup. Tracy also said he was leaning toward having left fielder Jayson Werth bat second behind shortstop Cesar Izturis, and outfielder Milton Bradley bat fifth in the order behind Kent.... Left-handed pitcher Wilson Alvarez did not practice because of flu.