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
Heath
September 29th, 2010
5:27 pm
Chef!
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
5:27 pm
Lowe got the K ball working again. He might end up being the best pitcher we have in post season.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
5:28 pm
With the voices in his head I believe ol’ Farnsy is never alone.
Heath
September 29th, 2010
5:28 pm
Mr. September.
MSBRAVESFAN
September 29th, 2010
5:29 pm
Great job Lowe! Come on j-hay
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 29th, 2010
5:30 pm
The Braves GM made some idiotic moves during the year, but I would say the Farnsworth one was the absolute worst one. I would have thought BC would have “vetoed” that one, just based on past experiences.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
5:30 pm
Mark, crowd loooks respectable…
kindergarten math
September 29th, 2010
5:30 pm
Maybe we could solicit Forrest Gump to talk to Farnsworth and explain the notion of “Stupid is , as stupid does”, as it relates to a pitcher jumping on top of the outfield wall. He may be mean, but he isn’t immune from rib injuries and twisted/broken ankles.
Josh
September 29th, 2010
5:32 pm
Can Heyward be both a player and a batting coach next year? Nine pitches, Diaz and Infante. That’s how we do it.
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 29th, 2010
5:32 pm
Headley Lamar, you mean besides Craig Kimbrel. Why do people keep overlooking him? Do the AJC sportwriters have you brainwashed too?
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
5:32 pm
There might be 25,000 here.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
5:32 pm
Mr. Miller looks wild in the zone…Really can’t wait on him to walk you.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
5:33 pm
Matt Diaz walks.
anderson jones
September 29th, 2010
5:34 pm
Come on D Lee, how about a bomb?
Confused
September 29th, 2010
5:34 pm
Tried to get tickets for the weekend and it says “standing room only.” If I’m reading this correctly, you can buy a ticket to stand the entire time?
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
5:35 pm
As does D-Lee, again
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
5:35 pm
Here comes the damage.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
5:35 pm
Yes, you can, Confused.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
True confused. In ST, the standing room tickets cost more than the berm seats. Go figure
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
The Braves GM made some idiotic moves during the year, but I would say the Farnsworth one was the absolute worst one
What did we give up to get him? Nothing so it really doesnt matter.
And Kimbrel has pitched great but he isnt a starting pitcher.
SP > RP
5150 P.O.A.D
September 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
Why doesn’t Florida just lay down and die. It is not like they anything to play for.
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
5:37 pm
20 bucks to be there standing room only Sunday. Im seriously considering it.
About a 3 and half hour drive.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
5:37 pm
I always expect the Marlins to drop a fly. I’ve seen them too often
Naboo the Enigma
September 29th, 2010
5:38 pm
Just get there early enough and take over a spot on the railing at the chop house. Best seat in the house until you have to get a refill…
ER Steve
September 29th, 2010
5:38 pm
Diaz had 3b stolen there sadly
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
5:38 pm
Almost 70 pitches now. Gonna be into their BP early.
That works too.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
5:38 pm
There’s the Ross hit. Braves lead.
Josh
September 29th, 2010
5:39 pm
The standing room tickets are legit. You’re much closer than the $10-15 seats, and there are bar-tables set up that you can lean on, put food on, etc…
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
5:39 pm
OK where are the folks that were b!tching earlier this afternoon when they realized McCann wasn’t in the lineup
anderson jones
September 29th, 2010
5:39 pm
BROOKSANI!!!
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
5:39 pm
damage done.
ER Steve
September 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
Brooks!!!! I take back everything i said about you! MR CLUTCH!
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
OK, that’s enough offense for today.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
2 days in a row with Brooks making a huge hit.
Naboo the Enigma
September 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
BOOYA
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
September 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
OK Lowe, there’s your lead..
Hedley Lamarr
September 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
BROOOKSSS!!!!
MSBRAVESFAN
September 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
I will be there in “standing rm only” Headley. Leaving from South MS to see the Braves clinch a spot!
bobbycoxcountdown: 4
September 29th, 2010
5:40 pm
That a way Brooks! way to make up for the minor mistakes earlier.
Hit it hard Raw Dog!
Naboo the Enigma
September 29th, 2010
5:41 pm
test
champ
September 29th, 2010
5:42 pm
lets get about 5 more-marlins will score-melky just throws away abats-he didnt act like he wantedto hit on that at bat-
Headley Lamar
September 29th, 2010
5:42 pm
Conrad can hit.
He is just the kind of player that could get hot in the playoffs ala a Mark Lemke and carry you.
Just sayin
Jack
September 29th, 2010
5:42 pm
At last!!! A hit/homer when it counts!
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 29th, 2010
5:43 pm
HL, O.K. but you didn’t say “starting pitchers”. Also, Farnsworth has hurt the Braves a few times, so it does matter. Better to not have him at all!
urm
September 29th, 2010
5:43 pm
booya!
Christopher Chance
September 29th, 2010
5:43 pm
Brooks FREAKING Conrad. Unreal FREAKING REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And to think that the Braves sent him down to Triple A at the All-Star Break in 2009 so Greg “the only way I can get on base is if the pitcher forgets to throw strikes” Norton could continue getting WELFARE at-bats from Lord Bobby.
Brooks TURNED on that pitch.
Prado was already hurting before he REALLY got hurt on Monday. It was our good fortune that he “really got hurt” because it forced Bobby Cox to put Conrad in there.
A healthy Conrad is MUCH BETTER than a hurt Prado.
tootrue
September 29th, 2010
5:43 pm
OK take Melkey out and put in some defence since we lead 4-0
Heath
September 29th, 2010
5:43 pm
I wonder if you can take in a chair. I could stand the whole time but my wife would have to be thrown over the railing to keep her quiet over the whole thing.
Brooks, Mr. Clutch!
ER Steve
September 29th, 2010
5:43 pm
so how about this scenario mark, braves win tonight, SD and SF lose their next two games. Braves clinch WC before philly series.
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
September 29th, 2010
5:44 pm
Lowe showed short glimpses of this all season. Seems he really has it together now.
Maybe it’ll carry over to the playoffs and next season. That would be huge for us.