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Happy returns for Lowe
Derek Lowe is almost painfully nostalgic.
Of course, he's earned the right to be. He's back in Fenway Park in an opposing uniform for the first time since leaving Boston for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent after the 2004 season. Lowe spent eight seasons with the Sox, where he was a two-time All-Star and a postseason hero in '04, winning the clinching game in all three playoff series.
So nostalgic -- yep, that makes sense. But lost?
"I spent eight years here and I didn't even know where the visitors' clubhouse was," Lowe said Friday night, just before his new team, the Atlanta Braves, dispatched of Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Red Sox, 8-2.
Aside from testing out the temporary new digs, he's spending his time trying to get back in touch with Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, his two closest friends left from the 2004 championship team.
"You do as much as you can seeing people," he said. "I texted both of them throughout the season. It's hard to keep in touch during the season -- you can't go out to dinner with them or anything -- but it's good to catch up."
Here's how genuine Lowe is about missing Boston.
"Coming in here, you kind of get these old vibes that are fresh in your mind. We had a lot of good memories here, and I have a lot of fond memories of the players," he said. "It's a great place to play, too."
Lowe attributes the chance to start against Josh Beckett Saturday to fate. The Braves had two rainouts earlier in the season, which put him in line to pitch in Fenway for the first time after four years with the Dodgers.
"I would've been disappointed not to pitch," he said.
Lowe says he still tracks the Red Sox when he can -- "I'm still a baseball fan," he says -- and if he plays other AL East teams, he still thinks about the ramifications for his former teammates.
"If they had saw my last start (7 earned runs in 2 1/3 innings)," said Lowe, "they wouldn't be cheering for me then."
And, as excited as he is about returning to Fenway, he still sees the danger in pitching against his former team.
"If you asked them what I'm gonna do tomorrow," he said, "they could probably tell you."
"His last ball thrown in this park is in Cooperstown now -- he won the Red Sox first World Series in 86 years with the thing in 2004, anyway."
Wait, what? The Sox didn't win it at home, you know...
Derek Lowe will always have a place in my heart reserved for special Red Sox. If not for him, the Sox do NOT win in '04. Yes, if not for Big Papi, and if not for Dave Roberts stealing second on Rivera, and if not for Bill Mueller's hit against Rivera scoring Roberts, and if not for Curt and the Bloody Sock, etc., they wouldn't have won, either. But, do not discount Lowe's contributions to that post-season. After a lousy regular season, where the Sox seriously considered NOT starting him in the playoffs, he gave the Sox a terrific Game Four start to keep the Sox in the game against the Yankees in the Championship Series, and then sealed the deal later in the Series with a great win in Yankee Stadium.
Then, he pitched brilliantly in the World Series against the Cards in his one start.
Now, we should all show appreciation for what Derek did for the Sox, and treat him to several cocktails the night before he pitches against us. It's the least the City of Boston can do for an old, returning hero.
Actually, you are incorrect. He might be back as a player for the first time since the 2004 season, but he was back in Fenway at the beginning of the 2005 season to recieve his World Series ring. Remember the ballyhoo about him wearing his Red Sox jersey even though he was a member of the Dodgers?
"He's back in Fenway Park for the first time today since leaving Boston for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent after the 2004 season."
Actually he was here on Opening Day of 2005 collecting his World Series ring.
I believe Derek Lowe was last at Fenway on April 11, 2005... to collect his world series ring.
Didn't Johnny Damon say the same thing?
And Ortiz was also on the team in 2004
The blog reads: 'He's back in Fenway Park in an opposing uniform for the first time today since leaving Boston for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent after the 2004 season. '
What in that sentence do you folks not understand? He is in an opposing uniform as a player, for a team that is playing in this series. In 05, he was here as Derek Lowe, LA Dodger, not a NYY (The team that was playing that day). Stop trying to ridicule the blogger.
So the brain trust with the Sox didn't make DLowe and offer but gave 100 or so million to DiceK. Didn't want Cabrerra but have spent about another 100 million on 3 or 4 shortstops since. Gave away Freddie Sanchez, Bronson Arroyo, Kason Kabbard, David Murphy, Kelly Shoppach, David Eckstien. BTW anyone seen Wiley Mo Pena lately?
I love you Derek Lowe.
Hey Joe Black, you are a tool. Beckett, Lowell, Pap, Oki, Mast, MDC, Bay, Green, Lowrie, Ram Ram, Penny. Oh, I forgot...a championship in 2007 and the ACLS in 2008. BTW, Dice K has been pretty good until this year. You are one of those concern trolls who are happy when the Sox lose.
Joe Black
Attention they won another World Series getting rid of all those guys and came close to going to another and are currenlty the talk of all of baseball about there depth. All those stiffs you are talking about wouldn't even make this roster.
Dice K has won 33 games over the past year 7 more than Lowe. Bronson ERA in the NL is over 5 what would it be in the AL 8.00? Come on now get real.
love you DLowe !!!
everybody knows the big names from 2004 but without YOU + D.Roberts + K.Millar, M.Bellhorn +B.Miller and ALL the rest of the 04 team -- IT simply doesn't happen -- you'll always hold a very special place in my heart Derek Lowe
peace*love
GO Sox !!!
Joe Black
Attention they won another World Series getting rid of all those guys and came close to going to another and are currenlty the talk of all of baseball about there depth. All those stiffs you are talking about wouldn't even make this roster.
Dice K has won 33 games over the past year 7 more than Lowe. Bronson ERA in the NL is over 5 what would it be in the AL 8.00? Come on now get real.
Big D will always have a special place in my heart. Love him or hate him for it, he wore his heart on his sleeve when he pitched and it's great to hear how happy he is about pitching in Boston again.
Joe,
You have a good point but getting Ellsbury and Lowrie for Cabrerra was brilliant.
Derek Lowe had some personal issues with the sauce which worried the Sox about a long term contract. Derek looks like he turned himself around and I wished that he had never left.
Love ya Derek, you are a classy guy and always were. You still show the heart you have for Boston and you will always have a spot here. Welcome Back! Without you we didn't have '04 as special as it was. Good Luck to you but not in tonight's game!
One of the several moves I regret that the Red Sox made--I wish they had first resigned and then later signed DLowe.
I'm sure Derek will pick up where he left off in every bar in Boston getting hammered...
Nice going, Paul
The "brain trust" has delivered two World Series titles as well (if you saddle them with blame, you are obligated to give them credit as well). So tired of the whiners like Joe Black....
Eeee gad. The road has not been kind to the fair-haired boy.
Derek is a fond part of Red Sox Nation history. He should be welcomed as such.
Seeing as he is a Brave now, and I live in Atlanta, I want Josh to throw lights out.
Welcome back Derek.
Joe Black,
How's that selective memory working out for you? You conveniently left out the part about winning the World Series again in 2007, as well as reaching Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS. Did ownership simply toss out a pile of unifoms and achieve that level of success or did they make the hard decisions to make the team a threat to win it all every year? Why don't you do a little more research and examine the fruits of the draft? You do know that the Sox get supplemental picks when they lose free agents, don't you?
Anybody see that hypocrite Joe Black cheering at Fenway lately?
Just wondering,
Robb
Yet still won another World Series in '07, Mr. Black. Another of the eternal pessimists who sees nothing but the negative in things. How many teams has Cabrera played for since '04? The Angels, White Sox, and A's?
I am so excited for this game!
Before the 2004 season, Lowe turned down Boston's offer of $27M for 3 years. He ended up getting $48M for 4 years from L.A.
Derek was a drunk when he was here. Couldnt keep of the bottle. Until the last year here was very un- reliable. Funny how one guy has a good year and Wins the WS and he is a hero. a guy like Buckner was great his whole life, blows one play and he is a goat the rest of his life. Such is sport in Beantown
Hey Joe...can't see them ...two world series trophies in the way...you dope
Joe Black,
In the last seven years this team has been to the playoffs five times, made the ALCS four times, won the World Series twice, averaged 94 wins, and you're complaining about roster moves? Could you lead a more miserable life? I feel terrible for anyone that has contact with you on a regular basis and pray nobody has the unfortunate fate of being your offspring.
Paul, the blog was updated since the three comments regarding the exactness of the post were written.
Oh my, Derek:
Makeover time!!!
The sauce rumors were BS put out by the red sox owners.
D-Lowe is our hero and that will never change.Hey Palm beach. D-Lowe pitched here for 8 years and won more games then Pedro. Shut up tool. You are clueless.
Buckner autographs pictures of the balls going through his legs.He also goes to where the mets play and tips his hat to their fans.
He will always be booed by me
@Bat Insider
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