Derek Lowe: Prize of the Off Season?
By Mike Silva ~ November 16th, 2008. Filed under: Mike Silva.
Kevin Kernan of the NY Post wrote about Derek Lowe in his Sunday column. Kernan believes that Lowe very well could be the best pitcher outside of CC Sabathia this off season. He envisions a Sabathia/Lowe 1-2 punch in the Bronx for 2009. As I have wrote before the Mets and Yanks look to be going head on for numerous free agents this off season. Many would have thought Sabathia would have been the prize of the off season, but with Sanana in the fold, could Derek Lowe be a neccessity in Flushing?
I still support the idea that the Mets should resign Oliver Perez. But, if Omar is serious about bringing two starting pitchers in the fold, Lowe should be someone you consider. I don’t put as much stock into the whole “AL East factor”, it’s not like the division is stacked top to bottom, but more so into his history of big game pitching.
Everyone remembers the Curt Schilling game during the 2004 ALCS. Very few realize that Lowe started, and won, Game 7. He set the tone for the Dodgers this year against the Cubs in the NLDS. Since his early career was spent as a top line closer you could argue that his arm doesn’t have the typical “35 year old wear and tear”. I think Kernan is on to one very important point: He is the perfect number two.
The Dodgers seem to be full of #2 starters the last few years (Lowe, Penny), but never really had an ace. Pitching behind Johan Santana, during the regular season or the playoffs, puts many matchups in your favor. Very rarely, unlike his time in LA, will he be matched up against Cole Hamels, Tim Lincecum, or Carlos Zambrano. Eating innings at the top should allow the Mets to be more cautious with John Maine, and potentially be able to play “fast and loose” with the fifth spot. As much as I like Perez you can’t say you know 100% what you will get at times.
I still believe the Mets should re-sign Oliver Perez. If reports about the Yankees going hard after Lowe are true, then it might be prudent to pass on a Lowe contract. Lowe, just like Perez, only has so much monetary value. It’s clear that Omar Minaya is going to let the market develop before he pounces on his targets, but I wouldn’t stand too long on the sidelines with the Yankees “shock and awe” spending already geared up.
November 16th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Why is everyone afraid of the Yankees?
November 16th, 2008 at 10:23 am
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
WITH THE ’09 LUXURY TAX THRESHOLD SET AT 162M FOR ’09 & METS ALREADY AT 100-110 THEY’LL HAVE APPROX 40-50M TO ALLOCATE/SPEND. WITH CLAMORING FROM FANS FOCUSED ON CL (10-15M), 2B (8-10M), LF (10-30M) SP(10-15M) IT’S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT TO PLAY AMONGST THE TOP SHELF CANDIDATES THE METS MAY NEED TO STEP OVER THE LINE IN ’09; BUT WITH 22M COMING OFF FOR ’10 IN WAGNER(10M) & DELGADO(12M) THEY’LL HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD ACCURATLY SINCE THEY;LL ONLY HAVE THIS ONE SHOT TO SET A ROSTER THAT’LL DO IT FOR 11 AS IS WITH INTERNAL CHEAPER 1B SOLUTION IN THE MIX. THEY’LL CERTAINLY HAVE TO CHOOSE & CAN’T DO IT ALL. I’M CONVINCED AFTER FOLLOWING THIS TEAM FOR 46 YEARS THE LUXURY TAX IS A VERBOTEN DEATH LINE IN WILPONVILLE. FRED HATES TO PUT OUT $ FOR NOTHING IN RETURN SUCH AS BUYOUTS & LUXURY TAXES.
November 16th, 2008 at 11:10 am
“Why is everyone afraid of the Yankees?”
Fear is a rational instinct. Besides, the Met fan, at bottom, is a second-hander.
“Second-handers have no sense of reality. Their reality is not within them, but somewhere in that space which divides one human body from another. Not an entity, but a relation—anchored to nothing…Opinion without a rational process. Motion without brakes or motor. Power without responsibility. The second-hander acts, but the source of his actions is scattered in every other living person. It’s everywhere and nowhere and you can’t reason with him. He’s not open to reason. ” — Ayn Rand
November 17th, 2008 at 2:56 am
I got to watch Derek Lowe all last season. I’m a diehard Yankee Fan, but stuck in LA for the last 30 years. So, I’m a part time season ticket holder with the Dodgers. Lowe would be great. He was a very consistent pitcher for the Dodgers last season. I would love to have him on the Yankees. The numbers don’t tell how good he actually was. Nothing like having a work horse on the team.
David Malin