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
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:27 pm
Howard Moon asked about Cameron Maybin, the Marlin who got hurt. According to the Palm Beach Post, he wasn’t on crutches today but will miss the rest of the season with back and leg injuries.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:27 pm
Moylan to face Brad Davis
Mike S
September 29th, 2010
6:27 pm
Andy – derek Lowe credits Roger McDowell. Roger noticed something in Lowe’s motion, and they sat down at the end of August and changed the way Lowe was pitching and I think his release point. Lowe said as soon as he made the change his feel and bite on the sinker came back.
Joycee Banicheck
September 29th, 2010
6:28 pm
dammit
Gwinnett Fred
September 29th, 2010
6:28 pm
Bravos33 – While DL might no longer fall into the “bust” column – I can’t agree that $15 million was worth it considering that’s what Halladay is getting paid too and that’s TWICE what Felix Hernandez makes.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:28 pm
nice job Moylan
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:28 pm
Moylan fans Davis
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
6:29 pm
Joycee Banicheck : Have faith.
Banicheck: Wasn’t that a short lived detective show?
Joycee Banicheck
September 29th, 2010
6:29 pm
Oh well, good job Peter. Let’s call it a night for ya
you peeps are gettin drunk
September 29th, 2010
6:30 pm
Balls and strikes by tech? Yikes !
Andy
September 29th, 2010
6:30 pm
Aw man, if none of these runners score, Lowe’s ERA will be 4.00.
Joycee Banicheck
September 29th, 2010
6:31 pm
Howard Moon’s alter ego on The Mighty Boosh.
I like Moylan, he’s just been working A LOT lately. Always glad to see him do well
Mike S
September 29th, 2010
6:31 pm
I vote for this lineup Sunday if the braves Clinch — to go along with Gwinett and Jesse pitcher suggestions.
C – Biff Pocoroba
1B – Julio Franco
2B – Glenn Hubbard
SS – Rafael Ramirez
3B – Bob Horner
LF – Jeff Burroughs
CF – Brett Butler
RF – Gary Matthews Sr
Closer – Rick Camp
you peeps are gettin drunk
September 29th, 2010
6:31 pm
Sorry peeps Im the drunk one. Just noticed.
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
6:31 pm
Where’s his kimono and wooden shoes????
Nelson
September 29th, 2010
6:32 pm
Well in favor of Cox I have to say that he just removed Lowe on time, he already has 99 pitches and working in three days rest.
Returning to my previous comment for the next game he has to seat Lee, he is a great 1st base defendor but not hitting one of the worst pitchers in the mayors is telling you that he is not seeing the baall, anyway we have two choices: Troy and Hinske, depending on the pitcher and they did it for us all season long before the front office inability to find the piece of hitter the team requires to go on. and launches Lee (a 250 hitter!!!!).
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:32 pm
Gary Mathews Sr. will be here this weekend — he’s an announcer for the Phillies.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:32 pm
OK…new topic- Players whose names could be a sentence. Jeff Burroughs
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
6:33 pm
Best $ the club has maybe ever spent….signing Ross to a new contract.
you peeps are gettin drunk
September 29th, 2010
6:34 pm
Biff Poke a Reba…opps
Joycee Banicheck
September 29th, 2010
6:34 pm
Howard Johnson…. Errr guess that’d have to be Howard’s Johnson. OK nevermind
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:34 pm
Or comedians whose names could be a sentence. Junior Samples.
Bravos33
September 29th, 2010
6:34 pm
I hear you Fred. Hernandez is still in an early contract, but no disputing the Halladay contract. Remember though, we had to do a total makeover of our rotation two years ago, and we were coming off a 90 loss season. I think we bit the bullet a little bit with his signing.
Jack
September 29th, 2010
6:35 pm
It WOULD be nice to see Braves score in multiple innings. They always seem to have one big one and then nothing else.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:35 pm
How about…Vida Blue (different spelling of course). By the wat Mark, I love the BR549 reference
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:36 pm
I’d never heard of BR549, Jesse. Had to Google.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:37 pm
HeeHaw skit. watched it every Saurday night at Grandma’s. Saturday night meant a little Minnie Pearl and some Gordon Solie
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
6:37 pm
Mark, you REALLY need to get out.
Jack
September 29th, 2010
6:37 pm
Ok…too much beer. Going to take a pee. Save my seat!
JD
September 29th, 2010
6:38 pm
…or Candy Samples …70 era blue film
Andy
September 29th, 2010
6:38 pm
Why does Booby carry 3 catchers in the postseason? When was the last time the Braves had two catchers injured in the same game. Waste of a roster spot if you ask me.
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:39 pm
Junior Samples: From Cumming, Ga.
Joycee Banicheck
September 29th, 2010
6:39 pm
Youtube this “why palestinians throw rocks”
bobbycoxcountdown: 4
September 29th, 2010
6:40 pm
MB- awfully quiet about my Fredi Gonzalez comment. Do you know something or heard anything?
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:40 pm
Ankiel is in center field now. Melky is in left.
And Moylan’s leaving.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:40 pm
Heehaw and Georgia Championship Wrestling over at Grandma’s house every Saturday night
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:40 pm
I think it’s going to be Fredi Gonzalez, too. Everybody thinks so
GO BRAVES
September 29th, 2010
6:40 pm
Got to say I was wrong about Lowe. He has been pitching great since that extra time off they gave him. Keep it up Derek!!!
Joycee Banicheck
September 29th, 2010
6:40 pm
“Peter has work A LOT lately”
"Chef" Tim Dix
September 29th, 2010
6:41 pm
help me folks…
Wife’s birthday is Sat. we’ll be at the game Sat.
I WAS THINKING…. Carriage ride though town, dinner at Ruth’s Cris, overnight at the W….
thoughts?
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:42 pm
Mike Dunn to pitch.
JD
September 29th, 2010
6:42 pm
and then there is the best name-sentence of all time: Kosuke Fukudome
bobbycoxcountdown: 4
September 29th, 2010
6:42 pm
Andy- I can answer that. (3 catchers)
cause he did it once… and the old stubborn goat won’t change anything no matter what logic says.
feel free to apply this answer to many questions involving Sir Bobby Cox.
(sorry, i couldn’t let that one pass)
Joycee Banicheck
September 29th, 2010
6:42 pm
Any Terry Bam Bam Gordy on there?
JD
September 29th, 2010
6:43 pm
MB- best MLB player sentence is the Cubs Japanese outfielder that the blog will not allow his name to be typed (which is ridiculous)
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:43 pm
JD- I teach a kid whose last name is Fuchs (pronounced fyooks). He better learn to fight befor middle school
TTTT-Thumbody Thed Thats Thupid!
September 29th, 2010
6:44 pm
Little known fact about Gary Matthews Sr. He owns an automobile dealership in Clarkesville TN.
Jesse Stone
September 29th, 2010
6:44 pm
Joycee- Gordy’s is the only autograph from a wrestler I ever got. Wrestling coming to Vidalia was a big deal.
Due West Brave
September 29th, 2010
6:45 pm
Mark:
Off topic question, will any saves Billy Wagner have in the post season count towards his overall save totals as he seeks to pass Franco for the most saves all time by a left hander?
Mark Bradley
September 29th, 2010
6:45 pm
No they won’t, Due West Brave