The most promising aspect of Derek Lowe's 2012 start is that there's reason to believe it will continue, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.
Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerWhen chucking the old horsehide, Derek Lowe may not hum it with some of baseball's power arms, but his sinker ball is providing the results of an ace so far for the Indians. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians are getting a lot more than just innings from Derek Lowe ...
The Atlanta Braves were so anxious to trade Lowe they ate $10 million of his $15 million salary. Asked why he became so expendable, Lowe explained it as a numbers game.
"A combination of the six [bad] weeks I had, and they have five guys [who] are ready for the big leagues," he said during spring training. "It was just a timing thing of bad end of the year and a lot of good hum-chuckers."
Funny thing about Lowe's 2012 season so far. He's not only looked like a steal. Manager Manny Acta treated him like a good young hum-chucker, letting him throw 127 pitches in a complete-game shutout in Minnesota Tuesday. It was just the fourth of Lowe's long, durable career.
After that game, Lowe and the Indians returned from Minnesota to a city that just opened a new casino. You could make the case that after a 17-loss season, Lowe's 6-1 record already means he's playing with house money. That whatever the Indians get from here is a bonus.
Except the durability he's shown in his career -- he's never been on the disabled list -- suggests there's a lot more good to anticipate from him. Not to mention the Indians desperately need it.
There's good reason to feel most optimistic when Lowe is starting. The progression on the Feel Good Graph would go Lowe, Jeanmar Gomez, Josh Tomlin, Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez. It's almost the exact opposite of what we thought in spring training (though Jimenez has never really provided much reason for optimism).
When Masterson was named the Opening Day starter in March, Acta said he looked for Lowe to provide consistency and experience and thought he might benefit from not having to "come in and step up and be the guy."
Maybe that's worked on Lowe's behalf. But so far he's pitching like he was expected to come in, step up and, you know, be the guy.
It's an exaggeration to say the Lowe deal looks as good as the Jimenez deal looks bad. The Indians put their two best prospects in the Jimenez deal, and that hurts no matter how little Drew Pomeranz and Alex White are moving the needle in Colorado at present.
The most promising aspect of Lowe's 2012 start is it suggests he wasn't over the hill last September when he went 0-5 with a 8.75 ERA. That he was able to fix what was broken.
He wasn't throwing his fastball for strikes last year and became "breaking-ball happy." Lowe isn't going to beat you with his second or third best pitch, at least not consistently.
He'll have his bad nights when the sinker isn't sinking. But having that out pitch to rely on makes him more dependable and potentially important in a pennant race than your average hum-chucker.
SPINOFFS
Ricky Williams told ESPN's Dan Le Batard he doesn't buy the link between concussions and brain injuries. So, it's official then. No reason to worry ...
Then Dr. Williams (I presume?) will not be joining any concussion lawsuits against the NFL ...
Metta World Peace never called Oklahoma City's James Harden to apologize for that vicious elbow to his head. World Peace told reporters he had no intentions of shaking Harden's hand in the playoff series that began Sunday either, because he doesn't shake hands with subs.
In case you were wondering, the broad meaning of "Metta" is "goodwill and benevolence." ...
Kevin Na's waggle issues at The Players
Charles Barkley texted CBS' golf reporter Roger Maltbie after watching PGA Tour pro Kevin Na's incessant waggling and self-lecturing Saturday at The Players Championship. Barkley's message: "Kevin Na is my new hero. Welcome to my world."
Comparing Na's mental machinations and good shots to Barkley's tortured swing and worm burners is like comparing Mozart and a spastic spoons player ...
Trainer Brian McNamee told jurors he saved medical supplies used to inject Roger Clemens with steroids because his wife, Eileen, complained that he was going to be the fall guy.
"She kept saying, "You're going to go down. You're going to go down. You're going to go down."
Sadly, the real victims in this trial are wives everywhere. After that testimony, people might jump to the conclusion that wives tell their husbands the same thing over and over when once would suffice ...
According to the headlines, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid "tells other teams they should sign Donovan McNabb." How gracious of him to step aside and give other teams a chance ...
The Louisiana Senate voted 28-1 to urge the NFL to reconsider the Saints' suspensions over the bounty program. One legislator either thought it was a good day to try to get some real work done or recently decided not to run for re-election. Or both ...
Australian shooter Russell Mark has vowed to wear a Borat-style mankini at the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympics after losing a bet on an Aussie Rules football game.
Mark is one of the Australian athletes being considered for flag bearer. Now there's an image ...
Detroit's Justin Verlander has a cereal -- Fastball Flakes -- that's selling briskly. That brings us to the interactive portion of Spin. What would Jimenez's cereal be called? ...
When Kyrie Irving won the MVP of the Rising Stars game and posed with the trophy, he told the photographer to make sure "Cleveland" was prominently shown on his jersey. Said Irving, "I just wanted to make sure they got the Cleveland uniform in it. We're not as publicized as everybody else."
Just a guess here, but I don't suspect we'll see Irving with a "Chosen One, Too" tattoo anytime soon ...
Pat Shurmur told a Pro Football Hall of Fame lunch crowd, "I think there's a case to be made that Seneca [Wallace], Colt [McCoy] and Brandon [Weeden] are all [here] together."
Similarly, there's a case to be made for Spin winning a Pulitzer, just not a believable one ...
HE SAID IT
Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerDan Wheeler may not have had much success with the Indians this spring, but at least he held onto his sense of humor. "Did they really have to?" -- reliever Dan Wheeler when asked if the Indians gave a reason for waiving him after he allowed six runs in one inning against Boston. Still, technically he'll never know whether it was the hits, the runs or the fielders chipping in to keep Tim Misny on retainer.
HE SAID WHAT?
"He asked me if I could help him out with a booty shot." -- McNamee, retelling how Clemens first asked for a steroids injection.
Booty shot? What did Clemens watch when he wasn't watching tape of hitters?
YOU SAID IT
(The Expanded Midweek Edition)
"Hey Bud:
"How many super hot celebrity chicks requested that you escort them to opening night of The Shoe?" -- Dan Coughlin
Depends on how you'd describe Phyllis Diller.
"Bud:
"The Patriots are often called a dynasty. If the recent Browns draft doesn't work out, can we call them an Errorstocracy?" -- Jerry Heckler, Chardon
It's an honor to get an email from the most appropriately named sports fan in Cleveland history.
"Bud:
"Would San Diego State's entrance into the Big East disrupt the time-space continuum, and would Marty McFly never be born?" -- Wayne Kuznar
What if.
"Bud:
"Do your columns look better when you type in shorts and no pads?" -- Joe S
My shoulder pad phase ended in the 1980s. I still wear shorts, but only with leg warmers.
"Hey Bud:
"Last week, you proclaimed Ubaldo had turned the corner and put the worst behind him. What are you thinking about writing this week -- Johnny Damon is excelling in all facets of his game?" -- Vince G, Cincinnati
I said he might have turned the corner. What I feel more strongly about is that Dan Wheeler is here to stay.
"Bud:
"Should Derek Lowe worry about losing a Cleveland Indians World Series ring?" -- Harvey, Solon
First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.
"Bud:
"Are you planning a 'You Said It' tournament of champions? P.S.: My mom's basement is open for the reunion." -- Rick Good
Repeat winners get stood up.
On Twitter: @budshaw