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
Bravos33
September 29th, 2010
6:13 pm
Don’t look now, but for all the negetive talk about D-Lowe in the offseason and earlier in the year he could end up with 16 wins and an ERA in the 3’s. I’ll take that any year! Not to mention that last season he managed 15 wins as well (all be it in a sub-par year). Not a bust pickup afterall, huh!?
Dickson Bainbridge
September 29th, 2010
6:13 pm
DAMN RIGHT, and I don’t care if it’s off of Florida’s crappy pitching.
Mike S
September 29th, 2010
6:13 pm
If Derek Lowe is not NL Player of the Month for September there is something majorly wrong with how they decide the award. He has a 0.90 ERA in 30 innings and is on the verge of being 5-0 for the month.
The braves are on the cusp of winning the Wild Card, and D-Lo is a mojor reason they are there.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:14 pm
Wins don’t mean squat. Felix Hernandez is like 13-12, but has had just as good a year as CC and Price
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:14 pm
Bravos33 – Only a bust considering he’s our highest paid player on the whole team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:15 pm
The Mariners have scored 0-1 runs in 8 of Felix’s 12 losses
Nelson
September 29th, 2010
6:15 pm
The Marlins were nice sending this looser Andrew Miller to the box today, I hope if Moron Cox wants to retire in a decent way, from now on, he has to place on the field a more agresive line-up, sacrifiying defense and if they are ahead on the game then bringing the defendors like Lee who doesn’t scare nobody as a clean-up hitter!!!!
Conrad responded again today!!!, and Moron Cox had him in the bench, he is playing because we lost Prado (a high price toll), even Ross is doing much better than Mc Cann, this team is not that bad is just Moron Cox Loyalty selected player that make it look so bad.
Dickson Bainbridge
September 29th, 2010
6:15 pm
Mike, it’s about time he’s done something since signing for all that $$…
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:16 pm
Mike S- Two words: Troy Tulowitzki
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:16 pm
It’s Tool Race time! I got Saw
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:17 pm
It’s all relative though. For 5 of the 6 months, the biggest bum on the team has been Troy Glaus. But without his one big month, we’d be saying “Wait ’till next year” already.
Andy
September 29th, 2010
6:17 pm
Mark
On another subject, how long do you think it will take the Braves to find a replacement for Bobby? I think it will be done by the end of the year at the latest.
Greg Norton's pee wee hitting coach
September 29th, 2010
6:17 pm
Hammer
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:17 pm
Alas, Saw is the gallant runner-up. Hammer prevails
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:17 pm
What? Tool race? I’ll take Nelson
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:17 pm
Jesse – there is no such thing as player of the month. It’s pitcher of the month & hitter of the month – 2 separate awards!
Mike S
September 29th, 2010
6:18 pm
Jesse – one word that takes is away from Tulo — ELIMINATED.
Bravos33
September 29th, 2010
6:18 pm
I’m sorry, for how volatile starting pitching can be as an investment, us getting what we have gotten so far from Lowe is not a bust. Last season was sub-par, I will concede that. But any pitcher that eats innings like Lowe and has an ERA in the high 3’s is worth a pretty penny. Ask the Yankees if they wish they would have taken Lowe over Vazquez from us. You know that answer!
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:18 pm
I think it will be done by the first of November, Andy.
Dickson Bainbridge
September 29th, 2010
6:18 pm
I get a little choked up everytime they play that commercial about Cox. It’s like having a grandparent that’s livin’ in an assisted living home and getting up there in years. You know the end is near but enjoy simply seeing them trying not to think that the end will be here before you know it.
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:18 pm
But you are right about Tulowitzki – clear hitter of the month winner.
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:19 pm
Bravos33 – There is a HUGE difference between a pretty penny and FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS!!!!!
Mike S
September 29th, 2010
6:19 pm
DOH! Thanks Gwinnett — I was being an idiot along with Jesse. LOL.
Tulo should whin Hitter of the month without a doubt.
Lowe will of course not win POM, they will give it to Oswalt or Halladay.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:19 pm
Nine strikeouts for D-L.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
6:20 pm
Mark, check my math but it is POSSIBLE, KK and Beachy pitch Sat and Sunday…
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:20 pm
Mike S- The fact that the Rox are eliminated doesn’t take away the fact that his September has been far superior to Lowe’s
Naboo the Enigma
September 29th, 2010
6:20 pm
No joke, hopefully he gets tossed in his last regular season game. Just for old time’s sake.
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:21 pm
BTW – Tulowitzki went 4 for 4 today with 4 runs scored.
Jack
September 29th, 2010
6:21 pm
Mark, you think one day balls and strikes will be called by technology and not an umpire! It could happen, but would be sad!
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:21 pm
Beachy is listed as Friday’s starter, Chef. Hanson is Saturday’s, Hudson for Sunday.
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:22 pm
If KK pitches Saturday – I’m giving my tickets to charity – I don’t have the stomach to watch him.
Howard Moon
September 29th, 2010
6:22 pm
Bradley any word on the CF kid for the Marlins that got hurt last night?
Mike S
September 29th, 2010
6:23 pm
Hanson will go Saturday for sure.. Hudson will only pitch if the WC is still in doubt. If the braves have clinched, Hudson will rest and start Game 1 of the NLDS and I would guess that Minor would get the Sunday start.
Jack
September 29th, 2010
6:23 pm
So Mark…..who do you like for Dancing With the Stars!? lol
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:23 pm
Preston Hanna is pitching Sunday, but only if Adrian Devine can’t go to the post
the truth...
September 29th, 2010
6:23 pm
For you deaf, dumb and blind bloggers that can’t tell the difference in Troy Glaus and a train wreck….get a life. The guy CANNOT move faster than Stone Mountain and cannot possibly play a major league third base any longer…certainly not this year….
…do you get that ?
…and bad mouth Brooks Conrad..?????….guaranteed we are not playing for a chance at the wild card without him and his clutch home runs….period…
Did you miss Brooksy’s triple last night?….did you miss his three run Dinger today?…
Brooksy is a scrapper….and a winner….
Raw Dog Chipper calls him…Troy is a great guy but he is a big lumbering slow motion character now…he’s done for this year….
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
6:23 pm
Mark, Sat and Sunday subject change if Cubs sweep and Braves win Fri?
Mike S
September 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
Enjoy the Game Saturday Gwinnett…. I will be there Sunday with my THANKS BOBBY! shirt on.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
I would think, Chef.
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
Good call Jesse – and I think I heard Rick Mahler will be ready in long relief!
Andy
September 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
I don’t know what has happened to Lowe but whatever he has done to start pitching like this has been nothing short of a miracle. He now has an ERA starting with a 3.
Bravos33
September 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
Well Fred, that $15 million got us close to 200 IP, with a 3.90 ERA (right on par with his career ERA). I still think it was worth it. (remember, we had to overpay a bit to pull him away from other teams that might have wanted him lik the Dodgers, Mets, etc.)
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
Jack, read an article in a magazine that the technology is already there using lasers. All they need is the O.K. It could be adjusted almost instantly for the players size.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
There goes the shutout.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
And that’s all for Derek.
Joycee Banicheck
September 29th, 2010
6:25 pm
Please dont bring in Moylan
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:25 pm
Looking forward to it Mike – would go Sunday too, but already have a bigger investment in Falcons tickets and they deserve a full house after their win last week!
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:25 pm
He’s getting a huge ovation. Threw 99 pitches.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
6:25 pm
We ran Mike Stanton to the Yankees and he got a bunch of rings.
bobbycoxcountdown: 4
September 29th, 2010
6:26 pm
I think it’s already done MB.
When Fredi Gonzalez removed his name for consideration for the Cubs manager.
You don’t do that unless something else is in play.