Cardinals 9, Dodgers 6
If you're at all interested in what happened during that eighth-inning controversy that led to the Dodgers playing the game under official protest, it's all laid out in tomorrow morning's paper. It was about the only interesting thing that happened in this one. Derek Lowe got bombed, giving up eight runs on a career high-tying 13 hits, and that was all in just 3 1/3 innings. Dodgers had a 3-1 lead at one point, offering a slight glimpse of hope that maybe they actually CAN win in St. Louis -- they are now 2-16 here, playoffs included, since the start of 2004 -- but the lead didn't hold up. They never really do in this town. D-Lowe said his sinker was flat. Whatever it was, he falls to 2-5 with a 5.88 on the road. He's 6-5 with a 2.72 at home. ... Dodgers fall to 56-57 and remain 2 1/2 behind the Snakes.
Free Derek Lowe Now... from the Dodgers!!!
As "PhillyDodger" mentioned earlier, I have never been "thrilled" to see Derek Lowe in a Dodger uniform. Yes, he's pitched brilliantly for us a few times. But his losses have far outweighed anything positive that he's done to help this ballclub. When Lowe is "on" he's on... but when he's "off"... let's just say that the word "meltdown" doesn't quite describe his "off" efforts, with last nights' debacle in our most recent memory.
For anyone who says that Derek Lowe is a "premium" pitcher, I say hogwash! Premium pitchers don't have the consistent meltdowns that Derek Lowe has, and especially this year... what is supposed to be his "walk" year or "contract" year. His performances over the tenure of his stay here in LA have never matched up to the "World Series hype" he received just because he pitched for Boston in 2004. Folks, it's not even close.
Prior to his arrival in Los Angeles, Lowe had compiled a record of 72 wins and 58 losses. Since coming to the Dodgers, Lowe has put together a .500 record of 48 and 48. At 8 wins and 10 losses on the year thus far, one would suppose that he's really doing "his best" because he wants another big payday at the end of the year. Well, if this is Derek Lowe at his best, then the Dodgers should show him the way to the clubhouse door once this season is over, if not NOW if I had my way!
For the money the Dodgers have invested in Derek Lowe's services, they have gotten very little return on that investment. When I think of a "premium" pitcher I usually think of a guy who isn't going to allow many runs during the course of his career... these guys usually have ERA's in the mid to upper 2's and, once in a while, just over 3. How anyone can consider Derek Lowe to be a premium pitcher when he has a lifetime ERA of 4.6 is simply beyond my comprehension... and this is a guy who was once considered to be the "ACE" of the Dodgers pitching staff??? With an ACE like Lowe, we could be in last place!
For the money, the Dodgers should hang up the phone if Scott Boras calls them to negotiate a new deal beyond this season. He's not worth it, and I'm here to tell you that Derek Lowe will never amount to anything more than a .500 pitcher from this point on during the remainder of his career. He's not shown me anything in his four years with the Dodgers other than flashes of brilliance followed by conflagrations of immense proportions. Sure, one can mention that Lowe hasn't gotten the run support he needs in the close games. However, one can also argue that Lowe hasn't stopped the bleeding when he's gotten the runs necessary to win. It's almost like he can't pitch well unless his team goes scoreless... but put a few runs on the board and he stops working hard to keep the other team at bay.
I'm sick and tired of all the hype Derek Lowe gets because he helped Boston to a World Series Championship four years ago. In that season Lowe had a 14 and 12 record. The Red Sox finished second in their division 3 games behind the Yankees. Do you think that a few of those losses of his might have kept them from obtaining the lead in their division? "Oh, but he had 14 wins" one might say... big deal! Fourteen wins is great if you can keep your losses to a minimum. He could have been a 20 game winner that year with the kind of offense he had beind him! And consider this: that was with a career high in ERA during his "Championship" season of 2004 when Derek Lowe posted an ERA of... are you ready??... drum roll please.... FIVE POINT FOUR TWO!
What has Derek Lowe done for the Dodgers in his four years in LA?? Absolutely nothing, and I say: Free Derek Lowe from the Dodgers!!! I'd let him go now because we certainly can't count on WHICH D-Lowe will show up from here on out! But that won't happen because Colletti and Torre would never let it happen.