Braves’ Lowe debuts in Dunedin

 Dunedin, Fla. –- We’re here in Dunedin for the debut of Derek Lowe, and the crowd brings to mind a recent description that Tampa Bay reliever Joe Nelson had for the Rays’ new spring home of Port Charlotte, Fla.: looks like a casting call for Cocoon III.

 Alright, alright it was just a joke, and not even mine. I just stole and relocated it. We don’t need missives from Dunedin residents.

 Anyway, Lowe is scheduled to go two innings today, like all Braves starters in their first outing of the spring. His Jays counterpart is none other than Roy Halladay, continuing the first-week trend of aces for the Braves.

 They faced Detroi’s Justin Verlander in their Wednesday opener, then Houston’s Roy Oswalt, Pittsburgh’s Tom Gorzelanny, and now Halladay, who might just be as good as any pitcher in the game.

  We get a lot of debate on the old blog and elsewhere about Lowe and whether he’s an “ace” or a true No. 1. My answer is that, while he’s not going to absolutely dominate as many games as a Jake Peavy or (when healthy) A.J. Burnett, the sinkerballer Lowe is capable of going pitch-for-pitch with them or any No. 1 on any given night.

 And some might suggest it’s a good bet that Lowe will average more starts, innings and perhaps even wins over the next few years than Peavy or Burnett. We’ll see.

 Anyway, the Braves paid a lot for him — $60 mill for four years, much higher than other offers he received – but they did so because they felt they had to get a legit top-of-the-rotation starter after falling short with Burnett (not to mention the Peavy epic), and he was definitely the best still on the market.

 As Bobby Cox has pointed out, the Braves were able to add three starters this winter (Lowe, Javier Vazquez, Kenshin Kawakami) without trading any of their top young pitching prospects, and losing only man-mountain catcher Tyler Flowers among their big-time prospects at any position).

  I was just on the field talking to Terry Pendleton about Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman, the two 19-year-old sluggers who’ve created a buzz in camp with their talent, advanced skills, and maturity at young ages.

  As Heyward, Freeman and SS Brandon Hicks was hitting bombs during a round of batting practice a few feet away from us, Pendleton remarked that from what he’s seen of all the young talent in the organization, the Braves’ future is bright.

  Jordan Schafer is knocking at the door. Pitcher Kris Medlen showed his live arm yesterday against Pittsburgh, a day after uber-prospect Tommy Hanson made his debut and showed off both his talent and aggressiveness.

  When Hanson hit the second batter he faced, shortstop Miguel Tejada, right after Oswalt hit the Braves’ shortstop Yunel Escobar, he impressed a whole lot of folks in his dugout.

  Hanson is 6 feet 6, but at that moment he might have been 10 feet tall in the view of some who loved seeing a 22-year-old show that kind of moxy, even if the official explanation was the pitch just got away.

 Anyway, all the young talent in the organization portending a bright Braves future was part of what agent Scott Boras used to sell Lowe on the Braves. Of course, if not for that big offer that Frank Wren made, it might not have mattered in the end.

  But to get him to Atlanta to listen to their pitch, the Boras sell was key — about their young talent and good infield and fair pitchers’ park and, of course, the presence of Bobby Cox, whom Lowe has known for years.

  Anyway, game’s starting now, so I’m gonna get this posted and we’ll fill you in on some other stuff in a while. The bare-bones notes:

 – Tom Glavine is expected to report middle of next week.

 – Most WBC guys will be leaving Sunday to report to their WBC teams, including Chipper and Brian McCann to the U.S. camp in Clearwater, Gregor Blanco (Venezuela) and Jorge Campillo (Mexico). Vazquez will report to Puerto Rico’s camp Monday.

 – OF Garrett Anderson is expected to play sometime next week.

 – The Braves will have a three-inning simulated game Monday for Vazquez and Jair Jurrjens to get their innings on regular schedule, since Monday’s an off day. Braves hitters will face them, and minor leaguers will do the fielding.

“IN SPITE OF ME” by Mark Sandman (Morphine)

 Last night I told a stranger all about you

they smiled patiently with disbelief

I always knew you would succeed

no matter what you tried

and I know you did it all

in spite of me

Still I’m proud to have known you

for the short time that I did

Proud to have been a step up on your way

Proud to be a part of your illustrious career

and I know you did it all

in spite of me

In spite of me

Late last night I saw you in my living room

You seemed so close but yet so cool

For a long time I thought that you’d be coming back to me

Those kind of thoughts can be so cruel

So cruel

And I know you did it all

in spite of me

In spite of me