David Ross talks about teaching Derek Lowe the suicide squeeze sign just moments before his at-bat (where he suicide squeezed):
"He was like, 'What is the sign for the squeeze?' and then when I touched in the area, he said, 'Are you sure?' Ross said. "So I turned around and asked some of the guys to confirm I was right. [Lowe] is so scatter-brained that it's hilarious.
No, hilarious is not the word I would use. One would think that when you're the team's highest paid player you could bother to at least learn the signs.
0 recs | 31 comments
I’ll trade him knowing every sign for his command returning.
PWHjort - June 20, 2010
when we're in 1st place its hilarious...
otherwise, it would suck
CoxXx - June 20, 2010
+1
dawgs144 - June 20, 2010
Until he screws up a sign, I’m indifferent.
Pavy848 - June 20, 2010
yeah right
like an LA pitcher is going to know batting signs….
traphicg - June 20, 2010
He has ADD. Give him an effin break.
nick9314 - June 20, 2010
He has ADD, not Alzheimers. He should still be able to remember signs.
swainzy - June 20, 2010
What's REALLY important for a pitcher to know
is the sign to do a suicide squeeze, because pitchers do that all the time.
RichmondBraves - June 20, 2010
It makes no difference if they do it “all the time” or once a season. The fact of the matter is, had Lowe not known the sign, the runner breaking from third is dead to rights, which not only gives away an out, but also ruins a scoring chance. For being paid $15 million per year, one should know the things they are REQUIRED to know.
SmokeyBones - June 20, 2010
The fact of the matter is...
he did know the sign. Does it really matter that he had it confirmed right before the at-bat? No. Now if he didn’t know the sign, and didn’t bother to find out, then that might be a problem. But that’s not what happened.
So come on, find something that actually went wrong to whine about.
sddbaker - June 20, 2010
Pretty much
What I was thinking.
Sam Jethroe - June 21, 2010
This!
HEYJUDE - June 22, 2010
Whatever
This is just displaced resentment for him not living up to his contract on the mound. We’re actually making a story about him almost missing a sign?
ajones2522 - June 20, 2010
+1
I think it would have been a non-issue if it was anyone else (excluding KK and McLouth)
kauf67 - June 20, 2010
Wouldn't even be a story with KK
Being Japanese and having a language barrier explains away any problems with learning/remember the signs.
Bronn - June 20, 2010
You get what I'm saying
Those 3 are probably the most criticized players (rightfully so) and any issues they might have seem to be blown out of proportion.
kauf67 - June 21, 2010
Agreed
There is just a lot of angst (I guess that’s the word to use) towards Lowe on here.
Anyways, how many other pitchers on the Braves roster know the sign? I’d be shocked if Hanson, Hudson, Kawakami, and Medlen all knew it.
sag969 - June 20, 2010
Thank you
So true. If Hanson asked about a sign, none of us would know.
eaheckman10 - June 20, 2010
Um...
This is a non story, really. Just sayin’.
Fonce - June 20, 2010
Wouldn’t he just call time out if he saw a sign and didn’t know what it was?
bighop - June 20, 2010
I think it's a big deal. He seems like a unconcerned flake.
FitzFan - June 20, 2010
if he was an unconcerned flake he wouldnt go through the trouble to find out what the correct sign was.
Swo12bv - June 21, 2010
True
HEYJUDE - June 22, 2010
cut him some slack
Rather than pretend he knew the signs, Lowe understood what was at stake if he inadvertently missed a sign. We should be happy he checked, rather than assumed.
hollerin' brave - June 20, 2010
+1
It’s what you do with what you know (or don’t know, as was the case here) that matters. Plus, as noted above, he does have ADD. We could debate the merits of that affliction all day, but it’s documented. Adam LaRoche too. What a possible disaster that was when they both took the infield for the Braves last year! LOL
Old Braves' Fan - June 20, 2010
At least he knew to make sure.
Non-story really, outside of us just turning on Lowe (who has heavily underperformed his contract)
Broccoman - June 20, 2010
He has?
He was worth $12 mil last year, and he could easily put up that number again with the way he’s pitching of late.
MichaelProcton - June 22, 2010
Sigh
Lizziebeth - June 20, 2010
Meh. Signs are hard man. I never knew them. I’d just watch the coach, pretend like I understood, then do the smartest thing for the given situation.
cbwilk - June 21, 2010
Did You...
Never get laps for that stuff? Geez.
XBEARDX - June 21, 2010
i just swung at every…its easier screw signs they pay me to hit (in little league)
Swo12bv - June 21, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Talking Chop to post a comment.