"No doubt, it's a dark day for the Braves. While sorting out the next step to take with pitching coach Roger McDowell and allegations that he made anti-gay remarks and gestures to some Giants fans, came this morning's news about Derek Lowe.

The 37-year-old Opening Day starter, one of their team leaders and on a normal day the most positive guy, and great clubhouse influence, was arrested last night at 10 p.m. for DUI in Buckhead.

To have two things of this nature come to light in a span of 36 hours is as big a one-two punch as I can remember in my 16 years (off and on) around the Braves. McDowell, at least so far, has not been nearly the firestorm kicked up by John Rocker in 1999 with his tirade in Sports Illustrated. That seemed to drag on and on as Rocker wouldn't diffuse anything by addressing the media, and then kept making news with run-ins with reporters.

*Update: The Braves announced they have placed McDowell on administrative leave pending the outcome of their investigation. Minor league pitching coordinator Dave Wallace will be their acting pitching coach in McDowell's absence.

The Braves seemed to be acting swiftly on the McDowell front and ready to take action before the team got back on the field tonight, which would be a big step toward working through this. But now the Lowe arrest has the Braves battling on two very serious PR fronts. And let's not forget this could have been much, much worse if someone had been hurt last night.

The latest detail reported this morning by my AJC colleague Mike Morris is that Lowe was allegedly racing another driver down Peachtree Road when he was arrested.

The Braves released a statement about Lowe this morning, saying:

"Obviously we are concerned and disappointed about the events involving Derek Lowe overnight. We are currently gathering information and plan to address this matter later today."

Add it to the list."