March 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Five days later, the only things Derek Lowe blistered were his pitching line and Washington bats. The Braves veteran rebounded from a one-inning, toe-blistered debacle by pitching four hitless innings with six strikeouts Monday night in a 5-2 win against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. "You wish the game was in the [regular] season, because you want to keep pitching," Lowe said after throwing 32 strikes in 45 pitches in his third spring start. "It's just good to see that the stuff I worked on in the offseason is paying off." Martin Prado went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI, and utility-infield candidate Joe Thurston hit his second homer in as many days for the Braves. ..."
March 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A day after Derek Lowe lasted just one inning because a a nasty toe blister, the Braves and head trainer Jeff Porter were optimistic about him making his next scheduled turn. "Bubba [Porter] thinks he can make his next start," manager Bobby Cox said. "They're just going to have to wrap it up somehow." The Braves' planned opening-day starter, Lowe lasted one inning in his second spring start Wednesday and allowed five hits and three runs against the New York Mets. He said the blister formed quickly on the inside part of his right big toe and popped after the third pitch. He worked the rest of the inning trying to avoid dragging the toe as heavily as usual in his delivery. The result was ..."
March 11
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Three pitches into his second spring start, Braves pitcher Derek Lowe sprung a leak. In a large blister. On the inside of his right big toe. This is not good. "I felt it pop," Lowe said. And after that, "Instead of worrying about pitching I was worried about how not to drag my back toe." Now, the Braves and their announced opening-day starter are worried about whether he'll be ready to make his next scheduled turn, and about how far he might fall behind if he can't. (And we wonder sometimes why Cox usually waits until late in spring training to announce his opening-day starter.) The blistered toe was painful, and the distraction painfully obvious: After striking out the first batter, Lowe ..."
March 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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As fidgety a person as Derek Lowe is, you didn't think he wasn't going to sit still after how last season went, did you? While the Braves were contemplating trading Lowe after his troublesome 2009 season, the veteran right-hander was busy re-inventing his pitching mechanics. He put them on display in two perfect innings Friday against the Nationals. "I've completely changed my whole delivery, and it was good to be able to locate (pitches) the way I think I should be able to," said Lowe, whose 4.57 ERA was highest among Braves starters last year, despite his 15 wins which tied for the team lead. "Being a sinkerball guy you have to be able to locate, so that was the most encouraging thing." ..."
March 1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Derek Lowe appreciates the assignment and the responsibility that goes with and all that, but he's also savvy enough to keep it perspective. Because this time, factors other than just his track record or veteran status went into Bobby Cox's decision to make Lowe Atlanta's opening day starter a second consecutive year. "Our situation is unique because we have so many good pitchers," Lowe said Monday morning. " This is more of a plan for a long haul, instead of 'OK, we need to pick a guy for the first game,' if that makes any sense…. "I'm definitely excited about it. It would be crazy to say you don't look forward to it. But again, it's more [about] setting guys up for the whole month." With ..."
March 1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Ten weeks after the Braves gave up on trading Derek Lowe, manager Bobby Cox named him the opening day starter. The surprising announcement that Lowe would start the April 5 opener at Turner Field against the Cubs came Sunday, weeks before Cox has named opening day starters in previous years. "I wanted to do a good job with the reporters in my last year," quipped Cox, who intends to retire after the 2010 season. Jair Jurrjens' sore shoulder and a plan to find extra rest for Tim Hudson in the early season played in the decision. It was also a vote of confidence in Lowe, the focus of trade rumors this winter. Lowe left Champion Stadium before Cox made the announcement after Sunday's workout. ..."
March 1
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Derek Lowe is perceived by most as the fourth-best pitcher in the Braves' starting rotation. He also is the only starter the team tried to trade this winter. And what does he get for these two distinctions? A start on opening day. If Bobby Cox wanted to go out with a bang, this is a good way to start. "He was our winningest pitcher [last year]," Cox explained. But if that told the whole story than the Braves' never would have tried to trade Lowe and the remaining three years and $45 million on his contract. They couldn't. So instead they were forced to deal their best pitcher a year ago, Javier Vazquez, for Melky Cabrera and a prospect. But you probably heard about that.) Here's David ..."
February 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Derek Lowe was upset when the Braves tried to trade him this winter, but the veteran starting pitcher reiterated Saturday that it won't have any affect on how he approaches the season. "It is something that has come and gone," Lowe said before the Braves' first pitchers-and-catchers workout Saturday at Champion Stadium. "To continue to talk about the what-ifs and what happened and what you were thinking - it doesn't really do us any good Feb. 20." The Braves tried to trade Lowe, but couldn't find a suitor willing to pay most of $45 million he's owed over the final three seasons of a four-year contract. He was 15-10 in 2009, but his 4.67 ERA and .301 opponents' averages were among the worst ..."
January 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Four weeks ago, Derek Lowe was so sure he was going to be traded that he told MLB.com: "I'm just waiting for it to happen. I don't think it's a matter of 'if' anymore. It's just a matter of when." He also said if he had known the Braves might trade him one year into his four-year contract, he never would have signed with them. A week after those comments, the Braves traded one of their two 15-game winners of 2009. Only it was Javier Vazquez, not Lowe. They tried to trade Lowe, but no team would do it without Atlanta picking up a large portion of the $45 million he's owed over the remaining three seasons of his $60 million contract. They turned to Plan B and traded Vazquez, coming off a ..."
January 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Perceptions, assumptions and perceived ultimatums sure can change a lot in the space of three or four weeks. Take the case of Derek Lowe, who was so sure four weeks ago that he was going to be traded, he told MLB.com: "I'm just waiting for it to happen. I don't think it's a matter of 'if' anymore. It's just a matter of when." He also said that if he had to do it over again, if he knew the Braves would try to trade him a year into the deal, he would've signed elsewhere. Seeing those quotes, Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz wrote on Dec. 16: "Before, the Braves wanted to dump him. Now, they almost have to dump him." Six days later, the Braves traded one of their two 15-game ..."
December 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Even before Derek Lowe complained about being singled out for his struggles last season - and I'll get to that in a minute - it was safe to assume the Braves were not going to get much for him in a trade. Now that he admits he's miffed about the trade talk and has made the need for a deal a little more desperate, I'm sure they won't get much. Trade him anyway. It would be significant addition by subtraction. Lowe, a relative bust as the Braves' $60 million free agent last season, told Mark Bowman of MLB.com: "I'm just waiting for it to happen. I don't think it's a matter of if anymore. It's just a matter of when." And then came the money quote (pun absolutely intended): "It kind of ..."
June 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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At Fenway Park on Friday, former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe answered questions about what he expected when he faces his old team Saturday. Lowe is scheduled to start for the Braves in the second game of a three-game series against Boston at Fenway Park, where he was a successful starter and closer who carved a reputation as a big-game pitcher during his first eight major-league seasons with the Red Sox through 2004. Sort of like John Smoltz with the Braves, if not even for half as long a period. And unlike Smoltz, who spent two decades with the Braves before signing with the Red Sox last winter, Lowe had a four-year stint with the Dodgers between his departure from Boston and his return to ..."
June 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Braves picked a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Baltimore to come completely unraveled. No phase of the game went unscathed. On the mound, Derek Lowe had his worst outing as a Brave, lasting only 2-1/3 innings in a 11-2 shellacking by the Orioles. Defensively, Yunel Escobar made a pair of miscues to open the door to four runs by the Orioles and got benched by manager Bobby Cox. He failed to complete a double play in the first inning and hesitated on a rundown in the second inning, which allowed Robert Andino to steal home. At the plate, the Braves were limited to five hits in a complete game by rookie Brad Bergesen, who gave up his only runs on a pair of David Ross solo home runs. ..."
June 2
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Chris Vivlamore
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After two months of the season, it's a good time to examine the Braves' off-season acquisition of pitcher Derek Lowe. Here is a glimpse at how he compares to two other aces the Braves pursued last winter - and one they did not. Derek Lowe, 6-3, 3.49 ERA"
May 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Now Derek Lowe knows what Jair Jurrjens feels like. After winning four consecutive starts while runs virtually rained down upon him, Lowe got a Jurrjens-like jolt Monday night. The Braves scored only once to spoil Lowe's eight solid innings in a 5-1 loss to the Rockies. Could it be because Lowe was pitching in Jurrjens' spot after Sunday's rainout against Arizona? "You hate to waste a game like that - a three-hitter," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He didn't give up anything hard." Jurrjens, who has only three wins despite a 2.06 ERA, pitches Tuesday night. He'll try to right the Braves after their 11th loss in the past 14 home games. The Braves are not getting much inspiration from their ..."
May 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Braves' game against Arizona got rained out Sunday at Turner Field, and the good news was that it happened before any pitches were thrown. That meant that Braves pitcher Derek Lowe (5-1), who was set to start Sunday's game, instead will start Monday's series opener at home against Colorado. Fans with tickets to Sunday's game can use them for the makeup game or any remaining Braves home game during the 2009 regular season, subject to availability. Sunday's game will likely be made up Aug. 17, a mutual off day on the schedules of both teams. That plan must first be approved by the players' union because of the amount of games the move would cause the teams to play without a day off over ..."