December 11, 2004
Lowe Ball coming to St. Louis?
A first look at a potential Cardinal
By Ray Mileur
If our sources are correct it appears that the Cardinals may reach a deal with Derek Lowe the former All Star and 20 game winner free agent from the Boston Red Sox, before the end of the weekend.
He may not be the biggest name on the market, but he may be the hottest. He was the winner of the deciding games of the American League Division Series, American League Championship Series, and World Series this year. Look at these 2004 post season numbers; in four games and three starts Lowe was 3-0 with a Bob Gibson type ERA of 1.86 over 19 and a third innings.
Looking for a winner? The Cardinals may have found him here, maybe?
In spite of his dramatic post season success this year, during the season Lowe was just 14-12 with a 5.42 ERA, was his post season success a fluke or the beginning of a great run?
The Boston Red Sox offered salary arbitration to free agent SP Derek Lowe, this past Tuesday. Boston has until Jan. 8 to re-sign him, while he has until Dec. 19 to accept the offer, All this may be mute by the end of this weekend if our sources are correct.
On a personal level Derek and his wife Trinka make their winter home in Fort Myers, FL with sons Phillip and Tanner (born this past off-season) and daughter Taylor...graduated from Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn, MI in 1991...was All-League in baseball, basketball, soccer and golf and first-team All-State in basketball
Background Information
From Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia's;
Derek was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 8th round of the 1991 amateur draft and made his Major League debut in 1997. Seattle, however, was desperate for immediate bullpen help and packaged Lowe and catcher Jason Varitek into a deal with the Boston Red Sox for Heathcliff Slocumb. With the gift of hindsight, it has become a very popular deal among Red Sox fans.
Derek compiled a very mediocre 5-15 record over his first two seasons, during which he split time starting and relieving, but came into his own in 1999 after being transferred into the closer's role, finishing the season with 15 saves and a sparkling 2.63 ERA.
Derek had his best season as a closer in 2000 when he led the American League with 42 saves. Derek was regarded as an unconventional closer, however, as he didn't overwhelm hitters. As a result, despite 24 saves early in the 2001 season, Derek lost the job of closer at the trading deadline, July 31, when Boston acquired star closer Ugueth Urbina from the Montreal Expos. Derek was left in limbo, forced to take jobs in the bullpen.
In 2002, Derek moved back into the starting rotation, a move which paid off immediately. Derek posted a 21-8 record, a 2.58 ERA and finished 3rd in American League Cy Young Award voting behind Barry Zito and teammate Pedro Martinez.
Derek struggled through much of the 2003 season but, boosted by the strength of Boston's unflinching offense, posted a 17-7 record despite an atypical 4.47 ERA.
Accomplishments
All-Star (2000, 2002)
Finished 3rd in American League Cy Young Award voting (2002)
Led the American League in saves with 42 (2000)
Finished 2nd in the American League in wins with 21 (2002)
Winner of the deciding game of the American League Division Series, American League Championship Series, and World Series in the same year (2004)
Scouting Report from STATS Inc
Lowe comes as close as any non-knuckleballer can come to being a one-pitch pitcher. When his dandy sinker is working, he doesn't need much else. He'll change speeds with it, and mix in an occasional slider and cutter to lefthanded hitters. Year after year, he is the most extreme groundball pitcher in baseball. He therefore relies unusually heavily on his infield defense. For some reason, he was more hittable with men on base last year. It usually had been the opposite, since he always has been able to escape trouble via the double play.
