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Thursday, August 02, 2012

Derek Lowe designated for assignment by Tribe

Sky Lowe Lowe’s the limit…

Time ran out on struggling right-hander Derek Lowe. The Indians designated him for assignment after Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium.

Lowe, 39, was dropped to make room for rookie right-hander Corey Kluber, who will face face Kansas City on Thursday night in his first big-league start. Lowe used to be one of the best closers in the American League, but the Indians decided against putting him in the pen — which is getting overcrowded with starters.

...Lowe (8-10, 5.52) lost his last four starts. He opened the season at 6-1, but went 2-8 with a 8.28 ERA in his last 13 outings. In the second half last season with Atlanta, Lowe went 4-10 with a 6.20 ERA.

He allowed 204 base runners (156 hits, 45 walks, three hit by pitches) in 119 innings.

The Indians acquired Lowe from Atlanta for on Oct. 31 for minor-league reliever Chris Jones. They are paying $5 million of his $15 million salary this year.

Repoz Posted: August 02, 2012 at 07:58 AM | 32 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: indians

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1. bfan Posted: August 02, 2012 at 08:49 AM (#4198695)

Frank Wren gets a "+1" for this one; he saved $5 million for the Braves.

2. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: August 02, 2012 at 09:08 AM (#4198710)

Never thought he'd have the post-Red Sox career he did. I thought it was a no brainer to let him walk after 2004.

3. Dale Sams Posted: August 02, 2012 at 09:14 AM (#4198715)

Wern't there 'extra-curricular' activities that the Sox weighed in making their decision?

4. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 02, 2012 at 09:34 AM (#4198735)

Wern't there 'extra-curricular' activities that the Sox weighed in making their decision?

11 herbs and spices?

5. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 02, 2012 at 09:34 AM (#4198736)

It was obvious in April that he was due for a correction, what with a 2.21 ERA but only 10-9 in BB/K. And now with his K rate in the low 3s (3.1), he finally looks done. If he is, then the final chapter has been written on the deal that was an absolute steal for Boston, and looked so at the time:

July 31, 1997: Traded by the Seattle Mariners with Jason Varitek to the Boston Red Sox for Heathcliff Slocumb.

Lowe: 17 WAR with Boston (13 WAR after)
Varitek: 21 WAR with Boston
--------
Slocumb: 0 WAR with Seattle in two years before leaving as a free agent.

6. Nasty Nate Posted: August 02, 2012 at 09:54 AM (#4198750)

Game 7! on 2 days rest!

7. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 02, 2012 at 10:04 AM (#4198760)

Frank Wren gets a "+1" for this one; he saved $5 million for the Braves.

Got rid of a real ####### in the process, too.

8. Textbook Editor Posted: August 02, 2012 at 10:14 AM (#4198767)

Game 7! on 2 days rest!

We'll always have Paris...

9. booond Posted: August 02, 2012 at 10:22 AM (#4198776)

Game 7! on 2 days rest!

Pitched well in the postseason - that game his Jack Morris moment.

10. Nasty Nate Posted: August 02, 2012 at 10:47 AM (#4198803)

Lowe used to be one of the best closers in the American League, but the Indians decided against putting him in the pen

I love the insane implication that although he may be pitching horribly, the Indians maybe should have considered handing him their most important relief innings because he was a closer 11 years ago. I guess the stink of 'proven closer' is really hard to wash off.

edit: OK, on re-reading the implication may be that they could have considered making him just a reliever (not closer), which is a logical idea.

11. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 02, 2012 at 11:35 AM (#4198875)

edit: OK, on re-reading the implication may be that they could have considered making him just a reliever (not closer), which is a logical idea.

Might work for Roy Oswalt. His BB/K rates are still good but he is giving up hits (and home runs, IIRC) by the truck load.

12. Flynn Posted: August 02, 2012 at 11:49 AM (#4198887)

To be fair, D-Lowe in '99 and '00 threw 200 innings of 194 ERA+ ball. He was the best reliever in the game in those two seasons.

13. Petunia inquires about ponies Posted: August 02, 2012 at 07:14 PM (#4199250)

Wern't there 'extra-curricular' activities that the Sox weighed in making their decision?

If this is a real question, yes. Alcoholism and an affair with a reporter.

14. dr. scott Posted: August 02, 2012 at 07:49 PM (#4199275)

I thought the affair was with the Dodgers. He had one with a red sox reporter too? Clearly hes an addict.

15. AROM Posted: August 02, 2012 at 08:02 PM (#4199292)

"To be fair, D-Lowe in '99 and '00 threw 200 innings of 194 ERA+ ball. He was the best reliever in the game in those two seasons."

Second best. I don't care what ERA+ says, nobody tops Mo. Especially when you consider the postseason.

16. vortex of dissipation Posted: August 02, 2012 at 08:09 PM (#4199297)

So, he's not going to sign with the Reds, I presume?

17. gef the talking mongoose Posted: August 02, 2012 at 09:28 PM (#4199344)

I thought the affair was with the Dodgers.

No wonder he drank. I'm sure he was perpetually exhausted.

18. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: August 02, 2012 at 10:05 PM (#4199382)

I hope now that he's unemployed he wasn't just waiting for some time off to finally come beat me up.

19. PASTE Thinks This Trout Kid Might Be OK (Zeth) Posted: August 02, 2012 at 10:10 PM (#4199389)

#18 wins the thread.

20. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: August 02, 2012 at 10:41 PM (#4199406)

I haven't been able to find that article in at least five years, maybe more. A shame. My proudest moment in baseball and almost no evidence exists of it. :(

21. Ray (RDP)

Posted: August 02, 2012 at 11:42 PM (#4199439)

Voros: Elaborate?

22. jingoist Posted: August 02, 2012 at 11:57 PM (#4199447)

Yes, Voros, please do for those of us who missed your expose'

23. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: August 03, 2012 at 12:16 AM (#4199455)

As a coincidence, after Lowe's one big year when he won 21 and finished 3rd in the Cy (he had a very good season and he halso had a really low BABIP), that was when the Red Sox hired me. The next spring some wise guy local sports reporter decided that it might be fun to tell Derek that his team just hired a guy who says his big year last year was all luck (of course I never said such a thing).

Derek predictably didn't react well and then the reporter explained DIPS theory (I have no idea how well he did). Lowe then asked him to point me out next time he saw me, he wanted to have a word with me. This was all in a story from a local paper (I forget which, not either of the big Boston ones).

Nearly 10 years later the confrontation has yet to occur.

24. PreservedFish Posted: August 03, 2012 at 12:51 AM (#4199470)

But at least you still get Christmas cards from Steve Woodard.

25. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: August 03, 2012 at 01:09 AM (#4199477)

I've been thinking of sending an invoice to Jon Niese actually. :D

26. AROM Posted: August 03, 2012 at 01:17 AM (#4199482)

Maybe Lowe saw you and decided a confrontation wasn't worth it. I think you could take him.

27. Voros McCracken of Pinkus Posted: August 03, 2012 at 01:21 AM (#4199483)

Maybe Lowe saw you and decided a confrontation wasn't worth it. I think you could take him.

Hey that's the old me...

...okay that's still me (minus a few pounds). But it won't be by this time next year.

So he's waited 10 years, he can probably wait another one. Derek's listed at 6'6", what do you suppose it is really?

28. Textbook Editor Posted: August 03, 2012 at 02:40 AM (#4199498)

I would totally pay $ for a live feed of the Voros v. Lowe cage match. Lowe's weapon can be his glove and Voros will pack a TI-80. It'll be a hoot.

29. PASTE Thinks This Trout Kid Might Be OK (Zeth) Posted: August 03, 2012 at 03:15 AM (#4199501)

We'd have to make sure the TI-80 was given to Voros only after he gets in the cage. Otherwise he'd probably rig the TI-80 to explode or something. ####### disrespectful cheating math nerds.

30. JE (Jason Epstein)

Posted: August 03, 2012 at 08:25 AM (#4199539)

Pitched well in the postseason - that game his Jack Morris moment.

I can't wait for Lowe's HOF thread, starring SSB.

31. Random Transaction Generator Posted: August 03, 2012 at 08:28 AM (#4199542)

Just a quick glance at the BR.com lists, and here is a quick list of every pitcher (since 1901) that has led a league in wins and in saves at some point in their careers:

Derek Lowe
John Smoltz
Carl Hubbell
Dizzy Dean
Lefty Grove
Waite Hoyt
Carl Mays
Urban Shocker
Ed Walsh
Mordecai Brown
Christy Mathewson
Joe McGinnity
Cy Young
Bill Donovan

32. Gonna break my Rusty Kuntz and run . . . Arbitol Posted: August 03, 2012 at 09:01 AM (#4199561)

I've been thinking of sending an invoice to Jon Niese actually. :D

Who has been pitching to his DIPS in 2012. :-)

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Derek Lowe designated for assignment by Tribe

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