Julio Lugo is the Red Sox starting shortstop no matter what.

That is what WEEI’s Pete Shepard, American Defenders of New Hampshiremanager Brian Daubach and Patriots Football Weekly’s Paul Perillo stressed during Thursday’s Big Show broadcast.

(AP PHOTO) Red Sox shortstop Nick Green looks on as teammate Dustin Pedroia turns two during April 22 game against the Minnesota Twins.

With fans calling in one after the other calling for Nick Green to remain on the field, the trio of hosts would not give up. Lugo makes too much money to sit. Lugo was the starter, got hurt, returned and should once again be the starter. Good thing Bill Belichick didn’t take the easy way out when Drew Bledsoe returned from injury. That’s right, who the heck was Tom Brady before Bledsoe was sent to the hospital by New York Jets linebacker Moe Lewis?

In late November of 2001, Bledsoe was declared healthy to play again, but Belichick stuck with Brady. Get this, Belichick sat a $100 million Pro Bowl quarterback on the bench for a sixth-round nobody. I’d love to hear all three of today’s Big Show hosts tell Bellichick he made the wrong decision. That sitting a guy because he makes that much money is a bad move. That benching a returning starter for what everyone considers a nobody was the wrong move.

Driving down 111 on my way to the office, I did all I could not to drive off the road. How could all three hosts not even consider the Brady-Bledsoe situation? Especially Perillo.

All the hosts kept saying was that Green is not an every day shortstop. Green is not an everyday player. He’s more valuable on the bench because he can play three positions, and Lugo can only play short.

Now if we look at the logic, it just doesn’t add up.

First off, he’s not an every day player or shortstop because his manager is not giving him that opportunity. You will not know for sure if he can handle the every day grind unless he’s given the opportunity. It’s that way for every player who takes the field in any sport. Terry Franconais taking his stand as manager and sticking with Lugo. Whether it’s because of money, loyalty to a one-time starter or pressure from Theo Epstein - who has been in love with Lugo for far too long now - it’s Tito’s decision. I’m on the side that says he’s wrong.

Even more ludicrous is the idea that Green best serves the team on the bench because he can play three positions. Kevin Youkilis can play multiple spots too. Hmmmm, let’s put Youkilis on the bench because he can play first or third and have Lars Anderson come in and play first base. That way if third baseman Mike Lowell gets hurt Youkilis can go over there. What? Youkilis can play first every day and switch to third base if Lowell were hurt anyways? Interesting.

So with Green starting at short on a daily basis, he could easily switch over to second if Dustin Pedroia needed a rest and Lugo could come in to play his one position? Sounds good to me.

I just can’t believe that in this region, the idea that a starter is guaranteed his spot upon return from injury is still debatable. Had Bledsoe not gone down, Brady may not be the quarterback he is today. He may still be riding the pine as a sixth-round draft pick that never got a shot.

Nick Green will be nothing more than a journeyman as long as his managers keep treating him that way.

Tags: Bill Belichick, Brian Daubach, Drew Bledsoe, Julio Lugo, Moe Lewis, Nick Green, Patriots, Paul Perillo, Pete Shepard, Red Sox, Tom Brady, WEEI