Atlanta Braves: Is It Time for Derek Lowe to Head to the Bullpen?

Derek Lowe is mired in an awful slump.  

After a promising start to the season, a DWI arrest and inconsistent performance have left doubt about how much gas the 37-year-old veteran has in the tank.

Lowe is a noted postseason stud, but his record and stats thus far have Braves fans wondering whether he should be sent to the bullpen to work out the kinks or given a chance to find his groove in the rotation late in the season.  

There was a lot of talk around the trade deadline about Atlanta's abundance of young pitching prospects.  

The Braves have a solid staff with Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson, Tim Hudson and Brandon Beachy.

However, Lowe has faltered of late, and is rapidly becoming the odd man out.  

Atlanta GM Frank Wren guarded coveted prospect Mike Minor with everything that he had during trade talks, so the baseball world was left to ponder what the plan was for Minor.  

How will Wren and manager Fredi Gonzalez choose to combat Lowe's ineffectiveness?  

Will they allow him to "work it out on his own," or will they put the fifth spot in the rotation into the young hands of Minor and relegate Lowe to the bullpen?  

This article will take a look at Derek Lowe's entire body of work this season and answer the question, "Should Derek Lowe move to the bullpen?"

March/April

3/31/2011 - Derek Lowe (1-0) started the season with a bang, and took the hill on opening day as the Braves took on the Washington Nationals.  

On a cold, rainy day, the right-hander pitches a solid five and two-third innings and gives up a stingy three singles, striking out three and walking two.  

He does, however, throw 105 pitches to get there and earns a much-deserved win allowing no earned runs.

Notable quote - "Probably the best I've seen him pitch in a long time.  His (sinker) was sharp."  Jayson Werth, Washington Nationals OF

4/05/2011 - Lowe (1-1) is handcuffed by Braves killer Yovani Gallardo.  

Gallardo steals the show and gets two hits as Lowe takes a tough-luck loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.  

Lowe allows only one run in six innings of work while fanning seven.  Lowe pitches well enough to win, but the Braves' sputtering offense lets him down as Gallardo throws a complete game shutout.

Notable quote - "(Gallardo) gets all the credit.  He gets a hit, he scores a run, throws a shutout.  That's a pretty good day."  Derek Lowe

4/10/2011 - Derek Lowe (1-2) runs into Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies and comes out on the wrong side.  

Another strong start for Lowe, and another bad performance by Braves hitters.  

Lowe allows seven hits and two earned runs in seven innings of work.  Hamels and two Phillies relievers combine on a five-hit shutout.  Lowe leaves the game with a 1.45 ERA.

Notable quote - "Shane (Victorino) did real good.  He figured Lowe out a little bit."  Charlie Manuel, Phillies manager, on Victorino's three hits off Lowe

4/16/2011 - Lowe (2-2) finally gets some offense as Braves hitters belt four solo home runs.

Lowe gives up five hits and two earned runs in six innings of work.  His ERA rises to a paltry 1.82 through four starts.  

Notable quote - "(The offense) was needed.  It was kind of a struggle, a lot of line drives at people.  I was not as sharp as I have been."  Derek Lowe

4/20/2011 - Lowe (2-3) takes the mound on three days of rest and has his worst start of the young season.  He lasts three innings, and gives up nine hits and five earned runs.  

Notable quote - "Tonight had nothing to do with how many days' rest. I just never got into a good rhythm."  Derek Lowe

4/25/2011 - Lowe (2-3) gets a hard-luck no-decision in this one.  

He lasts six innings and allows two runs on five hits.  

He strikes out eight and walks a season-high three batters, but he leaves with a 3-2 lead in the seventh.  Lowe also hits an RBI single in the fifth inning to put the Braves ahead.  

Notable quote - "We still had some chances late, but they didn't go our way.  We had some plays that went against us.  But you have to give them credit."  Chipper Jones

Lowe ends the month with four solid starts out of five but is unfortunate in that he runs into two shutouts against him.  

Other than a bad outing on three days of rest, he deserves much better than he gets in March/April than a 2-3 record.  On April 28th, he is arrested on suspicion of DWI while driving in downtown Atlanta.   

May

5/01/2011 - In his first start since the DWI arrest, Lowe (2-3) endures a four-run, six-hit performance through five innings against the New York Mets.  

The Braves' bats step up for a change as he is on the hook for the loss when he leaves the game.

Brooks Conrad drives in the winning run with a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning.

Notable quote - "It just wasn't a good start.  We found a way to keep it close."  Derek Lowe

5/06/2011 - Derek Lowe (3-3) carries a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Cliff Lee and the Philadelphia Phillies before allowing two hits and leaving with a blister on his foot.  

He finishes with four strikeouts and only one base-on-balls.  

Shane Victorino, Lowe's nemesis from the clubs' first meeting in April, breaks up the no-no.  Lee notches 16 strikeouts but still takes the loss.

Notable quote - "I knew (the no-hitter) wouldn't be happening.  I knew it would come to an abrupt end.  I'm disappointed in my skin."  Derek Lowe

5/12/2011 - After giving up only two home runs all season, Derek Lowe (3-3) gives up two in five innings against the Washington Nationals.  

Lowe leaves after six innings and allows five runs on five hits.  

On the hook for the loss, Martin Prado hits a grand slam to tie the game in the seventh inning to allow Lowe to escape with a no-decision.  

The Braves go on to win the game in the tenth inning on Brain McCann's walk-off single.

Notable quote - "It makes me sick to think I blew a four-run lead."  Sean Burnett, pitcher who gave up the grand slam to Martin Prado

5/17/2011 - Lowe (3-3) goes seven strong innings, yielding five hits, no walks, and four strikeouts.  

His lone mistake to the Houston Astros leaves the yard and puts the Braves down 1-0.  

Brian McCann, enjoying a rare off-day, comes off the bench with a vengeance in the ninth inning with a pinch-hit, solo home run to tie the game, and then follows with another mammoth shot in the 11th inning to win the game.  

Lowe pitches well enough to win, but enjoys a no-decision.

Notable quote - "Great off-day, Mac!"  Derek Lowe to Brian McCann after the game.

5/22/2011 - Derek Lowe (3-4) pitches a shaky six innings on the road against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing three runs on five hits, while walking a season-high five men.  

For the fifth time this season, Lowe throws over 100 pitches in under seven innings.  

Once again with stagnant offense behind him, the Braves and Derek Lowe fall 4-1.

Notable quote - "I had non-competitive stuff, so I was happy I was able to make it as far as I did.  It was one of those days where my body didn't feel too good, and I was throwing 85 MPH trying to get those guys out."  Derek Lowe

5/28/2011 - Apparently Lowe (3-4) still didn't feel 100 percent against the Cincinnati Reds.  

Lowe blows a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning but is bailed out by Braves bats as Chipper Jones hits a walk-off single in the 12th inning for a 7-6 Braves victory.  

The final line on Lowe is 3.1 IP, 5 BB, 7 H, 5 ER.

Notable quote - "You can't act like 10 walks (in two games) isn't a big issue, because it is.  You really have to try to figure it out."

Lowe weathers the month of May, but leaves with two bad outings in a row to put a sour taste in his mouth.  

On May 26th, his DWI charge is dropped when he pleads no contest to a violation of basic motor vehicle rules. 

June

6/03/2011 - Lowe (3-4) gets a tough-luck no-decision against division rival New York Mets.

Lowe has a pedestrian outing, giving up three runs on seven hits in six innings.  

He walks one batter and strikes one out. Trailing when he leaves the game, Eric Hinske bails him out with a game-winning home run in the ninth inning, and Lowe escapes with another no-decision.  

Notable quote - "That's the first time I've ever hit a home run where I heard the catcher say 'Oh my God!' when I hit it."  Chipper Jones, on his home run in the eighth inning

6/08/2011 - Derek Lowe (3-4) for the second time this season takes a no-hitter into the seventh inning.

His final line is 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER.  Craig Kimbrel blows a save in the ninth, and thus a rare win eludes Derek Lowe against the Florida Marlins.  

Freddie Freeman knocks in the go-ahead run for the Braves in the tenth, and they ultimately prevail.

At one point, Lowe retires 16 straight batters in this game.

Notable quote - "The most important thing is we found a way to win.  We've been in a lot of tight games.  We're used to it, in a strange way.  The majority of our games are this way.  It comes down to one pitch."  Derek Lowe

6/13/2011 - Derek Lowe (3-5) is shelled by the worst team in baseball.  

The Houston Astros get to him for eight hits, five runs, and three walks in five and one-third innings.  

Wandy Rodriguez shuts down any Braves offensive threat, and Lowe drops his fifth decision of the season. 

Notable quote - Derek Lowe made himself unavailable for comment after this game.

6/18/2011 - The Texas Rangers nearly put back-to-back losses on the 37-year-old righty.  

Lowe (3-5) goes five innings and gives up four runs (three earned), on seven hits.  

The Braves tie the game in the eighth inning, before ultimately falling 5-4 in extra innings.  Lowe earns a lucky no-decision.

Notable quote - Lowe again doesn't speak to the press.  This is his eighth straight start without a win.

6/24/2011 - Derek Lowe (3-6) has officially hit his midseason swoon and is praying for the All-Star Break to rest his aging body.  

Lowe lasts five and two-third innings and allows five runs on eight hits.  Lowe enters the sixth only down 2-0, but leaves down 5-0 with runners on base, and falls to the Texas Rangers.

Notable quote - "It's definitely a frustrating game, because it wasn't that they were hitting the cover off the ball.  But they were getting hits and runs.  That inning, from outs to out of the game was pretty fast."  Derek Lowe, on the sixth inning of the game when he was pulled

6/39/2011 - Derek Lowe (4-6) bounces back from a nine-game winless streak by out-pitching "King" Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners.  

Lowe goes six solid innings, allowing one run on four hits.  He earns his first win since May 6 at Philadelphia.  

Before the victory, Lowe is 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA over nine starts.

Notable quote - "I could not let the game get out of hand.  The early innings were important for me to keep it close."  Derek Lowe

Derek Lowe ends June with a tough record and an even tougher ERA.  

However, he hopes his victory over Felix Hernandez will vault him to better things in July.

July/August

7/5/2011 - Derek Lowe (5-6) earns a win with the bat and with the glove against the Colorado Rockies.

Lowe goes five and one-third innings in the hitter-friendly Colorado park, giving up three runs on five hits.  

He helps his cause with a bases-clearing double to knock in three runs in the fourth inning.  

Lowe continues to struggle with control, walking two batters in a two-run Colorado fifth inning.  He also notches his 1,600th career strikeout in the game.

Notable quote - "I think I continue to find ways to make it a game when you seem like you're in control, to making it close.  From my standpoint, that's frustrating.  You get a 4-0 lead and you feel good, and then you end up walking guys."  Derek Lowe

7/10/2011 - In his last start before the All-Star break, Lowe (5-7) plummets back to Earth and gets hammered by the Phillies.  

Lowe lasts four innings and gives up four runs on 10 hits in the loss.  

The Phillies extend their lead over the division and win a crucial and decisive final game of the series.

Notable quote - "They're a good team.  Sometimes you have to say you got your butt beat."

7/18/2011 - A week and a half between starts does Lowe (6-7) some good as he stifles the Colorado Rockies.  

Matching up against another ace, Lowe takes advantage of a few lucky breaks and goes six and one-third innings, allowing two runs on eight hits.  

Todd Helton makes a two-base error on a Derek Lowe ground ball to aid the offensive cause.

Notable quote - "It's one of those things that's a worst-case scenario, a nightmare: bases loaded, pitcher's hitting.  But I couldn't see it.  I put my glove up where I thought the ball was going to go.  It's just a bad break."  Todd Helton after his game-changing error

7/23/2011 - Derek Lowe (6-8) brings a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning, but fails to retire another batter.

Lowe surrenders four runs in five and one-third innings and takes a painful loss.  

The Braves offense fails to keep the game close, and the Reds prevail 11-2.

Notable quote - "That was a gutty performance.  He was in trouble from the beginning.  He wasn't getting any first-pitch strikes.  They were beating him to death, but it was only 2-1."  Reds manager Dusty Baker, on winning pitcher Homer Bailey

7/28/2011 - Lowe (6-9) gives up one run through four innings.  Then a rain delay forces both teams to wait.  

Lowe stays in for the fifth inning after the delay and gets shelled.  His final line is 3 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 5 IP.  

At 37, this is his first career loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.  

Young Kevin Correia of the Pirates fares better than his older counterpart and earns a victory in six and one-third innings.  

Notable quote - "They were sitting off speed early and I wasn't able to make good enough pitches early in the count."  Derek Lowe

8/02/2011 - Derek Lowe (6-10) suffers his worst defeat of the season, and in doing so drops his third consecutive decision.  

He gives up eight runs (seven earned), on 10 hits in four and one-third innings.  

His ERA skyrockets to 4.86.  

Lowe gives up timely home runs to the Washington Nationals, including former Brave Rick Ankiel, who hits a grand slam off him.  The home run was just the sixth of the season for Ankiel.

Notable quote - "Today was a lot of mistakes over the middle of the plate, and not really quality pitches.  It's been a tough stretch.  Long year.  But you've got to keep fighting, hopefully things will turn around.  But it's definitely one of the longer years in my career. 

Conclusion

I know I will probably get ripped for saying this, but it's time for Lowe to take a start or two off.  

At 37, his body is starting to defy him, much like 39-year-old Chipper Jones.  

Lowe has pitched all year while making no excuses, but he is a shell of his former self.  

He can't make it out of the seventh inning and has not in any game he's pitched this season.  At $10 million per season, he demands more than that for this Braves team.  

He is making up for it in grit and determination, but the numbers just aren't there.  

I don't know if Lowe is injured or not, but the simple fact is that his stuff isn't what it used to be.  

At his best, he is a sinker-ball pitcher who encourages ground-ball outs.  At his worst, his sinker ball flattens out and becomes batting practice.  

The Braves have enough young pitching to play with, by admission of Frank Wren himself.  

Let's give Derek Lowe a breather and give the Golden Boy Mike Minor a shot.  At this point, what do we have to lose?

All quotations and game summaries contained in this article are directly attributed to the fine sportswriters at ESPN.com.  You can access any coverage of any MLB game by clicking on http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap .  Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.