Poll: Should Braves start Lowe in playoffs (if they make it)?
Derek Lowe wasn't awful Wednesday. Would you want to see him in playoffs?
When the Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez went to the bullpen at Florida Wednesday night, play-by-play announcer Chip Caray said, “Pitching change for Atlanta. Derek Lowe did not pitch poorly.”
Interesting choice of words. Then again, it seems this qualifies as news.
After allowing 15 earned runs and 26 hits in 13.1 innings over his last three starts, Lowe didn’t stink against the Marlins. He allowed three runs and six hits in 6.1 innings. It wasn’t Cy Young, but it wasn’t bad Vaudeville, either.
Loading ...So here’s the thing. Last season, I made the mistake of writing off Lowe — for which he never let me forget — and he ended up becoming the Braves’ best pitcher down the stretch and in the postseason. This year, he has been a mess. But minus Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens, the team needs a third starter for the playoffs, assuming they make the playoffs, and, yes, I realize that’s a dangerous assumption. (The Braves lost to the Marlins 4-0, St. Louis defeated the Mets 6-5 and suddenly the wild card lead is down to 1½ games.)
Bit if they make it, here’s the question: Do the Braves start Lowe?
For the sake of this argument, let’s assume Jurrjens will not be available for the wild card round (safe assumption) and Hanson will still be rehabilitating from a shoulder injury (50-50). That leaves Tim Hudson and Brandon Beachy as the logical Nos. 1 and 2 starters.
Your choices for the No. 3 starter: Lowe (9-16, 4.92), Mike Minor (5-2, 4.27), Randall Delgado (1-1, 2.70) or Julio Teheran (1-1, 5.40). The debate is whether you go with the veteran with postseason experience in the hope that he comes through, or one of the young pitchers in the hope that he doesn’t implode.
I’m going to play Switzerland on this subject. At least for another week.
But you may now vote, and fire away . . .
By Jeff Schultz
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519 comments Add your comment
Larry30
September 22nd, 2011
11:06 am
Start Delgado. Lowe to the bullpen. Amazing how he gets a pass for a 4.50 ERA last night. Those kind of numbers got kawakami banished to the minors.
schmeckdawg
September 22nd, 2011
11:07 am
Besides pitching, could the fact that half of our starters are batting under .240 have anything to do with this?
Bro
September 22nd, 2011
11:08 am
When George came up the Braves had their best games of the year. When he got hurt they did not play as well. When he got better he did not play and the Braves lost. Also, Fredi Cox started playing Hayward again for no apparent reason and the Braves still lost. Now it maybe too late to correct his fooling with the lineup. Now everything is not Haywards fault by a long shot. Fredi Cox still continued to play B-Mac when he did not hit. Why? Sometimes you have got to do what is best for the team and not what a player wants. You have got to be in charge and make decisions and some of them will hurt some high price feelings. Players managers do not really win the big ones-ask Cox.
Sonny Clusters
September 22nd, 2011
11:08 am
Almost good enough. Chipper chose to sit out a game with flu-like symptoms because he thought they could let up a little with the lead they had on the wild card. We was wondering what happened to that lead? The team quit playing to win the division (or at least couldn’t compete in the 3-game series with the Phils). Then, they started to play to not lose the wild card. Guess what? They are losing it. No heart. Nothing will change. Station to station will continue next year with a 40-year old hitting 3rd and catching only the balls hit directly to him unless they get up in the lights and can’t be caught. We are not happy seeing this team implode like this. The last game Lowe pitched at home says everything that needs to be said about this year’s team. Fredi will probably get 2-3 more seasons but these young players might flourish with a tougher, more demanding, manager.
Fols
September 22nd, 2011
11:09 am
There won’t be house cleaning because the line-up is basically in order for next year. Where are we going to see drastic change over in our everyday lineup? AND….what does it matter, they put on a Braves uniform and within minutes they forget how to use a baseball bat.
Hitting is our problem and all we complain about is pitching. In the off season they are going to deal with who’s pitching, both starting and bullpen. All this club ever talks about is pitching.
I’d like to see SOMEONE hit the ball. If there were runners in scoring position it would be like seeing a Gravy boat on Thanksgiving.
HIT
THE
BALL
wordy
September 22nd, 2011
11:09 am
they are not going to the post season. St Louis will be 2 up by the end of the season.
STRETCH
September 22nd, 2011
11:12 am
And im sick of Freddie saying Lowe will come around. Stop judging players for what they did in the past! The fact now is Derek Lowe is the NL version of John Lackey right now. Eventhough he pitched well enough for them to win the game last night, you just cant win when you dont score.
This has been the case for several seasons now, and that is just the economics of it. They just dont have the money for big time players. The organization develops pitching like no other organization, but year after year, they usaully settle for lower tier hitting.
And the stats show it from the start of the season up until now. A few more hits w/RISP and they wouldnt be in this situation. And NO, i dont have faith in this team, havent had any in quite some time. Thats just what happens in “Cleveland South.”
Us fans just need to be prepared for the worse, take it on the chin, standing up and hope Wren can once again try and address and upgrade some areas like:
1. Big bat in LF is definitely needed. Prado is ok, but he is showing what he really is the 2011 version of Omar Infante…a super utility guy.
2. This has got to be the last year for D Lowe, most of his starts have had the team in holes too early and too often this season. I dont see that trend ending.
3. I love Chipper and i must admit that i havent seen him play this long in a season, but its time to start looking to the future.
4. B-Mac/Heyward/Freeman/Bourn…no doubt about it will be the core of the offense next year, but they could use a little help.
5. Next season would be a good oppurtunity to get those young arms inclimated into the rotation. Top to bottom, no. 1 to closer, they are gonna be scary next season. THE PHILLIES DIVISION RUN ENDS NEXT YEAR.
Shaggy1973
September 22nd, 2011
11:14 am
What is the point of this column/blog? He can’t pitch in games they are not playing in.
Fols
September 22nd, 2011
11:15 am
Pitching is what gets us to this point so consistantly. It did so in the 90’s and we’re right back to that again. First half, our starters looked great, most of the year our bullpen was shut-down all-mighty. Just like every other Braves season we’re going to come up short, regular season or first round because we can’t score runs.
Lowe gives up 3 and we all complain that it’s KK numbers. It’s not good enough.
No, what’s not good enough is that 3 runs against us is such a tall order. Why can’t we score 4-5 on a more consistant basis? With speed at the top, Chip/Uggla/Mac in the middle and a solid rookie performance from Freeman that alone should be getting the job done.
It’s not.
George Allen
September 22nd, 2011
11:15 am
Do not worry about tomorrow. For Today has enough trouble of its own.
tony
September 22nd, 2011
11:16 am
fredi is a terrible manger and lowe is a equally as terrible player, but our problem all year lies with the hitting. when the team was winning we were barely winning with unbelieavable pitching performances. They never last, you need to score runs to win in the regular season. Now it is just cathcing up to us. People are complaining about Lowe last night, but truth be told, it was a quality start, even if he only gives up one run, we lose.
KW
September 22nd, 2011
11:18 am
First and foremost is Chip Carey not the worst annoucer ever? I really thought John Sterling was the worst but I don’t know Chip might have him beat!
Fols
September 22nd, 2011
11:20 am
Where do the Braves rank in these…
In Play (runs)
atlbraves
September 22nd, 2011
11:21 am
Warm up Niekro
varoadrunner
September 22nd, 2011
11:21 am
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
IF (and now that’s a huge IF) the Braves make it to the playoffs, Lowe needs to SIT. But contrary to the positive attitude I’ve displayed on here has been replaced with “realism”. The Braves are on a collossal downward spiral. If not before, the last three games of the season will spell their doom. Not sure what to blame it on, but the Braves have blown it. I find it hard to blame it on injuries to Hanson and Jurrjens. Our true “rookies” have filled in for them in a fine fashion BUT the Braves offense has disappeared. They cannot score runs and when you can’t score runs – DOOM sets in.
TechRon
September 22nd, 2011
11:22 am
What an utterly disgusting disgrace. Braves have zero heart and Cards have nothing but heart. If they beat us, I will be cheering for them to win it all. They deserve it. Our collapse rivals the Phils collapse in 64. I really cannot believe how crummy our hitting is. Our deficiency in pitching is nothing compared to failure of the bats. They should put these idiots on minimum wage. A bunch of lazy, unmotivated millionaires. The one guy who busts his ass all the time, Constanza, is on the bench. Brilliant move, Braves management. And you have the nerve to ask people to buy playoff tickets?
mark p
September 22nd, 2011
11:23 am
I would hope a rehabbed Medlin is in the mix…..
Fols
September 22nd, 2011
11:23 am
I hate DOOM…especially when it’s mixed with GLOOM!
Fols
September 22nd, 2011
11:24 am
Relax, Braves are just waiting for another Trade Deadline to come and we’ll fix this up……..there is one more right?
yunel asscobar
September 22nd, 2011
11:25 am
I was fortunate to live in Seattle for years and was there for the hiring and tenure of Lou Piniella. Mariner leadership understood what the current Braves’ regime does not – it’s about changing the CULTURE. Fed up with losing, the M’s brought in someone with passion, fire, and leadership – someone who built in accountability and made it stick.
Lifeless, heartless efforts were not tolerated. If that was your game, your butt was on the bench or was shipped out. Incredible memory inside the Kingdome the day the M’s won the one-game playoff with the Angels, after California spit out their late summer lead.
Leadership at the managerial level DOES matter. All the more with the young guys that are currently and will be on the roster. Gonzalez is no Lou Piniella and never will be.
Robert
September 22nd, 2011
11:26 am
I just love Chipper’s comment from last night
“Again, we’ve got six games. We’ve got to go balls to the wall and not hold anything back”
I guess playing trains with his son after elective surgery while his teammates struggle is Chipper’s idea of balls to the wall
What a frickin self-serving hypocrite
Roger Dorn in the flesh
LoweBlows
September 22nd, 2011
11:26 am
Do you people see the numbers being thrown around? “Our collapse rivals the Phils collapse in 64.” Just goes to show that when a team does what our Braves are doing this year, it is not forgotten.
J. Bell
September 22nd, 2011
11:26 am
Forget the pitching,,it has been more than enough to ease us to the playoffs. I put 99 percent of the blame on the offense. McCanns averaged has dropped 30 points in the past 6-8 weeks. Prado is nothing near to what he was last year. Heyward gives you nothing other than a 225 average. Gonzalez is not much better. The rest of the lineup are average at best. We’ve needed a power outfielder for two years and we answer that question with Matt Diaz and Constanza who are basically no better than a couple of pinch hitters. If they want to compete with the big boys you’re not gonna get it with a bunch of ho-hum 250 hitters.
Sonny Clusters
September 22nd, 2011
11:28 am
Constanza plays hard, runs hard, and made a difference. His reward? The bench. Heyward’s weakness has been found. ML pitchers will exploit that weakness. Grounder to second, as many hops as possible. Nobody loses his choppers in the lights.
STRETCH
September 22nd, 2011
11:28 am
TechRon,
im thinking the same thing, Constanza hustles, and not to take anything from Prado, but Constanza is faster and bunts for base hits. I just dont understand how Freddi does not have he and Bourn in the lineup at the same time?!
Eventhough he struggling, guys like that, find ways to get on base and ways to move around the bases. Once again it will be a dissapointing September/October in Atlanta cause of the managers blundering.
VABravesFan
September 22nd, 2011
11:29 am
I say start Lowe #3. He pitched a decent game last night because he knew the team needed it. But it wasn’t a must win situation (like every game for the Cardinals is). In a must win situation, I’d take Lowe over the young guns. If he knows it’s do or die, he’s going to play out of his mind.
Fols
September 22nd, 2011
11:30 am
I’m out….anyways, just so tired of the Braves investing so much time and effort into pitching to get us there. At some point the Braves need to start getting there with the ability to do a little more damage.
The few guys that truly light up a line-up like Tex Mex did, we had to sell the farm to get, then watch him leave.
Chip is still solid but he’s not bringing home a WS……we’re used to that……MAC is fumbling and Uggla is just a swing for the fence kinda guy. Great when he hits one, but that average doesn’t come through enough. Until they cough up the dough….they better hope that Freeman is THAT guy to plug the order for years to come. Sure asking a lot from a kid.
BaseballBuff
September 22nd, 2011
11:30 am
Chip doesn’t drink like his dad, controls his weight better than his dad, and has a higher regard for other people than his dad. But his dad was a better announcer.
Geno
September 22nd, 2011
11:32 am
What has he done in the past 3 months that would make anyone believe that he will be effective? I’d go with who’s hot right now. And if Delgado or Minor pitch well in their next outings, go with either of them.
Robert
September 22nd, 2011
11:34 am
Fredi G – “What I was concerned with was why you didn’t come up with that grounder that Bonifacio hit in the 9th ”
Chipper Dorn – “It was out of my reach, what do you want me to do dive for it? ”
Fredi G – “Chipper, it would’ve have meant the game! ”
Chipper Dorn – “oh come on cut the rah rah shit Gonzalez! Year after this I go free agent. Plus me and my agent got a couple of plans for life after baseball. And did I tell you I’m taking the day off Wednesday to be with my son while he gets a cavity filled? I am not about to risk major injury or lose any hunting time for a collection of stiffs! “
Bernard
September 22nd, 2011
11:34 am
The National League Eastern Division Delusional Champion Atlanta Braves!!!!!….Get REAL PPPPLEASE?!!!!!:-(
Sonny Clusters
September 22nd, 2011
11:34 am
Well, it’s good to know Chipper’s not holding anything back. How many strikeouts does he have in the last few games? How many with runners on? He is part of the “we won the division umpteen times in a row” crowd. He has ten fingers and one ring. The team has one ring in 14 chances. What is wrong here? Somebody needs to go out and hire Stinky Wintes and put him in the dugout and change things around.
Melvin Flowers
September 22nd, 2011
11:35 am
It don’t matter who pitch out the regular, the Braves are finish they have no heart they are lossers, St Louis will beat out the Braves for the wild card. They will play better in play-offs.
Come back Bobby Coxs this guy can’t coach a lick.
jerry
September 22nd, 2011
11:35 am
Of the top 38 home run leaders in the NL, only two have less than 20 doubles. Dan Uggla and Brian McCann. They have 78 and 69 rbi’s, respectively. May they join Lowe under the bus?
Robert
September 22nd, 2011
11:38 am
This just in – Chipper’s wife is scheduled to go the dentist on Friday and might need to have a cavity filled. Chipper will miss the weekend series to be at her side
Scarface
September 22nd, 2011
11:39 am
Seriously?!?! Why is the AJC even asking this question with a 1.5 game lead (will be 1 after tonight). This team with no heart is not even making the playoffs.
TechRon
September 22nd, 2011
11:41 am
Plus, I have said this before and it becomes truer every day: House shills Dowdle, Mazzone and Belue and their constant Pollyanna reviews of Braves failures. Every PM you can turn to 680 The Fan and hear how everything is just hunky dory. What a bunch of BS. They know it, too.
bill
September 22nd, 2011
11:41 am
What has happened to the pitching staff with all the injuries? Don’t recall all of these problems with Leo as PC. Is it their pitching routines, just young, what? Very frustrating year, started off great but it really looks like they’ve given up, maybe it’s Bobby being gone. He got a lot of grief but we were always there with him. I hate it for them, a promising year gone done the tubes….very disappointing.
LoweBlows
September 22nd, 2011
11:43 am
What the announcers say is BS. What Braves.com says is BS. What the players say is BS.
Brave Hokie
September 22nd, 2011
11:47 am
Gutless, heartless, losers…
Sonny Clusters
September 22nd, 2011
11:48 am
Who are the players that run hard and hustle every play? Bourn and Constanza . . . both from other organizations. Atlanta has talented young players but they are counseled by Chipper Jones and his group of underachievers. That’s why our players look so cool and play that way, too. Forget being almost good enough. Get some leadership and get the most out of the talent assembled. This organization is inbred. Bring in somebody that picks his nose with the wrong hand.
TechRon
September 22nd, 2011
11:51 am
AND — Mark Richt could coach this team better than Gonzalez. I am sure of that.
Brave Hokie
September 22nd, 2011
11:53 am
choke [chohk]: verb, choked, chok·ing, noun
What the Atlanta Braves do EVERY time they put in a position to show they actually have male testosterone, each & every Fall for the past 21 years except for 1995
{which much have been a ‘leap’ year for heartless quitters}
This blog is crap!
September 22nd, 2011
11:54 am
All I can say is all of the comments on this page is pure idiotology. If we were Yankees fans and they were going through the same slump right now the Braves are going through then we would be blaming it on Jeter and Arod. At least chipper decided to put his family first unlike all of these bloggers who make braves baseball their life! I love Braves baseball and will be disappointed if they don’t make the postseason. But no body can say they’re not playing with heart until you have been in their shoes. Its really amazing how far they have gotten with all of the rookies they have on their team right now! I think its been a heck of a year for gonzo and OUR Atlanta Braves!
b
September 22nd, 2011
11:54 am
Schultz, why not a poll on whether you think it’s a good idea
constanza was removed from the starting lineup when the collapse started.
mr. baseball
September 22nd, 2011
11:57 am
What’s all the hub bub? What’s the big deal about making the playoffs? That has always been the Atlanta mantra – just make the playoffs and it has been a good and successful season. That’s why Atlanta is Loser Town – winners don’t aspire to make the playoffs, winners aspire to win the Championship. And when you consider that this team has not won a post season series since 2001, what’s the big deal if they miss the playoffs? It would most likely be another 3 and out anyway.
And I agree, Lowe is not a clutch pitcher. But gee, is it his fault that the entire lineup mustered 2 hits against a pitcher that was not good enough for the Braves to keep?
Guthro
September 22nd, 2011
11:58 am
The team has been amongst the top four winners in MLB most of the year, but about 15th in attendance. This isn’t new. So management can’t afford as good a team as, say, the Phillies, who sell out every night. And now that the exhaustion of many of the top players is taking its toll, Braves’ fans here are quick to dump on them. Y’all don’t deserve a winning team.
savannahdawg
September 22nd, 2011
11:59 am
Here is an intelligent response. Something you no-life, negative bloggers can’t seem to do.
Because of injury’s and his experience, you really don’t have a choice. However, you make it clear to him and the bullpen that the first sign of trouble, he is out. In a three game series, I would sacrifice two position players for the extra arms in the bullpen.
NocA
September 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm
Lowe has got to go. He is paid too much for what he is giving and he just slings the ball up there like it’s BP. Last night it didn’t matter if he pitched a no-hitter because the offense didn’t scratch.
That being said, “Hang on Braves, the next one is the most important!”
Dennis Reynolds
September 22nd, 2011
12:00 pm
The wheels have fallen off. Whats the use of even asking these silly questions?