Live from the ballyard: The Lowe-down on a big-game pitcher
Derek Lowe started Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS in the old Yankee Stadium. No pressure there. Only 85 years of Red Sox angst bottled into one night in the Bronx.
He won the game. Went on two days’ rest. Pitched six innings, yielded one hit and one earned run.
One week later, Derek Lowe started Game 4 of the World Series in the old Busch Stadium. No pressure there. Only the Curse of the Bambino and all that other sad New England history to put to rest.
He won the game. Pitched seven innings, yielded three hits and no runs.
Yeah, 2004 was a while ago — but not so long as 1918 was to Red Sox Nation — and we in Atlanta haven’t seen much of that D-Lowe in his two seasons here. But the Braves signed him for $15 million per annum for two reasons: First, Lowe never misses a start, and second, he’s a big-game pitcher.
Lowe missed one start this season. It came early this month after he received a cortisone shot for the bone chip in his elbow. He’s 4-0 since. He has yielded three earned runs in 25 September innings. He’s the reason the Braves lead the wild card chase by 1 1/2 games with four to play. He has done what even Tim Hudson couldn’t do — won big games by the bunch.
A lot of people wanted rid of Lowe after last season, Frank Wren chief among them. But the GM couldn’t find anybody willing to take that salary, and you know what? Sometimes the best trades (all together now) …
Are the ones you don’t make. The Braves would have been long gone without D-Lowe, and today they dispatch him to the hill again. He’s pitching on three days’ rest. Doesn’t matter. He’s Derek Lowe. He’s a gamer.
And with that, the floor is open for questions, comments and postseason projections. (I think the Braves will play the Giants in Round 1.) I’ll be here until the end of this strangely timed — game time is 4:35 p.m. — tilt, and I’d be obliged if you’d ride along. And I offer my thanks in advance.
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673 comments Add your comment
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
6:59 pm
Hee Haw ran for over 20 years.
Ill bet anything Conway Twitty was on half of em.
Paul in RDU
September 29th, 2010
7:00 pm
You remind me of him Mark – apart from one or 2 things
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:00 pm
You’d be surprised how few people say I remind them of George C., Paul.
Paul in RDU
September 29th, 2010
7:01 pm
I actually drove past George C’s house my last business trip to the Greater Maysville Metropolitan Area. Now my wife wants to go there.
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
7:01 pm
Little known trivia.
Elvis desperately wanted to appear on Hee Haw but the Colonel wouldn’t let him.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
7:02 pm
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
6:59 pm
Ronnie Stoneman was the ironing lady. Helluva bajo picker
She certainly had the teeth for it
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:02 pm
There’s a street in Maysville named for George’s aunt Rosemary. Down by the depot.
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
7:03 pm
Who made the most guest appearances all time on Hee Haw?
Paul in RDU
September 29th, 2010
7:03 pm
It’s those “one or two things” difference that is the killer Mark – kind of like between me and George’s friend Brad
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:03 pm
Meanwhile, back at the game … Craig Kimbrel getting people out again
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
7:03 pm
George Jones?
Tim
September 29th, 2010
7:03 pm
Why is it time for Bobby Cox to go?
7th inning … perfect example. Why did he not bunt with Alex to get Lee to 3rd??
If he had bunted Lee to 3rd he could have squeezed another run in or brought in the infield.
He’s old and out of ideas.
Sorry … he’s a nice guy but time for him to GO!!!
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:04 pm
Most guest appearances on “Hee Haw”: Tom Jones?
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:05 pm
One inning to go.
Paul in RDU
September 29th, 2010
7:05 pm
Nice to see you honoring the local successes – Can Bradley Alley be next – or will that be on the wrong side of the flood wall?
JD
September 29th, 2010
7:05 pm
Porter Wagner?
count_schemula
September 29th, 2010
7:05 pm
Braves are all pimp now… AND it’s ALL Bobby Cox’s fault!
Tim
September 29th, 2010
7:06 pm
Braves clinch Friday night. Gay-run-teed!!
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
7:06 pm
Mark, I look forward to your in-game blogs. Baseball with other good stuff peppered in.
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
7:06 pm
Kimbrel and Venters could be a helluva one two next year.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:06 pm
I would imagine anything named after me would be 20 feet down in the muddy river.
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 29th, 2010
7:06 pm
WOW Kimbrel ! 38 strikeouts in 20 innings. That’s almost 2 per inning. There’s your “secret weapon”. The kid is from Huntsville AL and played at a small college, Wallace Community College.
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
7:07 pm
Most guest appearances on Hee Haw.
Mrs Loretta Lynn
She was on the very first show.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:07 pm
Thanks, Jesse. I enjoy them myself, I must say. They provide constant enlightenment.
JD
September 29th, 2010
7:08 pm
While getting wayyyy ahead of myself…Kimbrell is reminding me of the rookie Wainwright and his dominating stuff in the 2006 playoffs and WS…Dare to dream! or course the Cards could score a run or two.
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
7:08 pm
I was leaning toward George Jones.
Paul in RDU
September 29th, 2010
7:08 pm
Three more outs to go.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:08 pm
Oddly enough, there’s a Bradley tie-in to Miss Loretta Lynn: My dad used to drive a bus — my mother’s dad owned the bus company in Paintsville, Ky. — to the head of Butcher Hollow.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:09 pm
I guessed Tom Jones only because they played that song “She’s A Lady” between innings today.
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
7:09 pm
Go Freddie!
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:10 pm
Freddie just missed HR No. 2.
Joycee Banicheck
September 29th, 2010
7:10 pm
Nice cut Freddy! Think Lee was watching and taking notes?
Mike S
September 29th, 2010
7:10 pm
Freddie Freeman rips a double to right! God the kid has a nice looking swing.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
7:10 pm
Pitcher in the Marlins pen Steve Cishek(Sea-sheck) pitched for my Jupiter Hammerheads this year in the High A Florida State League
JD
September 29th, 2010
7:10 pm
speaking of player sentence names…Freddie
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
7:11 pm
Tom Jones just put out a new “Country” album. Kind of like Johnny Cash’s last few albums.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:11 pm
Quoting from the late Warren Zevon: “Freddie get ready/rock steady/when Johnny strikes up the band.”
Paul in RDU
September 29th, 2010
7:11 pm
I had to use Google Maps to find Paintsville – now that is the back of beyond.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:12 pm
I remember my pal Russ telling me he could dance like Tom Jones. He couldn’t.
Jack
September 29th, 2010
7:12 pm
That’s BAD JD! lol
JD
September 29th, 2010
7:12 pm
was warren a werewolf?
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
7:12 pm
Sweet Home Alabama, Play that deadman’s song……….
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
7:12 pm
Is that Russ, the Temporary Mascot?
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
7:12 pm
It’s the county seat of Johnson County, Ky., Paul.
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 29th, 2010
7:13 pm
bucky o, just cannot even picture Tom Jones singing country. Not with that Welsh accent.
Paul in RDU
September 29th, 2010
7:13 pm
Jesse – Are the Marlins still affiliated with the Mudcats?
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
7:13 pm
No, the Mudcats are with the Reds now
bobbycoxcountdown: 4
September 29th, 2010
7:14 pm
MB- i know Omar’s average has dipped a bit putting him behind Gonzalez .341…
but home many more AB’s does he need to get recognized by MLB?
just curious.
bucky oneil
September 29th, 2010
7:14 pm
Some people would tell you that Zevon and Hunter S. Thomnpson we truly elightened …….and werewolves.
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
7:14 pm
Will the Braves do the whole Champagne thing if they win the WC?