Looking forward to my return to Fenway
There probably isn’t a better way to enter this blogging world than talking about the memories I have from that historical run I shared with the Red Sox had on the way to the 2004 World Series title Here we are five years later and when I go back with the Braves for this weekend’s series at Fenway, it will be the first time I’ve been in Boston since I came back to get my championship ring in 2005.
It was amazing how much media flack I got for returning that year to get my ring. Because I was with the Dodgers that year, some people didn’t think it was right that I came back, put my Red Sox jersey back on and shared a great moment with a lot of good guys that I’d been around for a long time there.
Really I didn’t even know that we were going to be wearing the jerseys. It was one of those things when we were walking on the field, somebody basically just tossed me a jersey and said, “here, wear this.”
We didn’t think anything of it. But it was amazing how people saw that as a slap in the Dodgers face. But I would definitely do it again.
It was just a great way for all of us to get back together and reminisce about what was truly a historical run. The Dodgers had the day off that day. So everything set up perfect and I definitely wanted to be there.
If I had been a first-year player, I might have thought about skipping it. But since I spent eight years with the Red Sox and it was a team that had been together for so long, I wanted to be there with the guys.
I’m really looking forward to heading back to Boston to pitch this weekend. When I think of my career pretty much all my memories are in Boston. There were some good times in Los Angeles, especially last year when we were winning playoff games. But I think any time you win a World Series in any city, that’s where your fondest memories are going to be.
Boston is a great city and that’s basically where I started my career in 1998. When I was there I was able to do a little bit of everything, start, setup and close. That’s where I experienced all of my growing pains.
When I tell people that the 2003 and 2004 Red Sox teams were the funnest that I’ve ever been a part of, they just say, “yeah, that’s because you were winning.”
But it was because we all had a chance to be together for a long time and that’s something you don’t see too often in this game any more. Plus it was also the most laid-back, check-your-ego-at-the-door team that I’ve ever seen.
There wasn’t one guy that wasn’t up for ridiculing and there wasn’t one guy that was bigger than the team. You don’t see that every day. But I think that came because we had been together so long and we respected everybody.
It was a unique group of guys and I think that’s why we were able to come back from being down three games-to-none to the Yanks in the 2004 ALCS. That team had an unbelievable ability to forget yesterday’s game. Good, bad or indifferent, we always felt like we had a chance to win. We just felt like we needed to get through Game 4 because we had Schilling and Pedro going in Games 5 and 6.
I definitely wanted to come back to Boston after the 2004 season. But as it came to a close, it was obvious that wasn’t going to happen.
I really don’t know how I’ll be received when I’m pitching on Saturday. When I was there it seemed like they cheered most of the guys when they came back.
It will be interesting. Either way you take it with a grain of salt. I’m not looking for a standing ovation to make you feel like your time there was appreciated. And if they boo you, you can’t take that to heart either.
Derek's Blog 
Sox fans will always appreciate what you did for the them in ’04.
I think your best moment in a Red Sox uniform was in game 5 of the 2003 ALDS. I still don’t know how anybody to pitch under that kind of pressure.
Thanks for all you did for the Red Sox and welcome back to Fenway.
Agree the last comment… those pitches you were throwing against Oakland in 2003 were just sick. Unbelievable clutch pitching.
I live in Texas now, but if I could be there in Boston for your return to Fenway, I definitely would. Thanks for all the memories… the championship, the no hitter, all the times that you were absolute money in the playoffs. I’ll always wear my Lowe jersey with pride.
Hi! It’s good to see you have a MLBlog! I’ll be reading often. I’m from Dearborn (still), a graduate of Fordson High, and I have followed your career from the beginning. I’m looking forward to your posts!
http://skiponsecond.mlblogs.com/
Derek, welcome to MLBlogs! Let us know if we can help you with anything here and thanks for blogging.
Mark/MLB.com
http://mlblogs.mlblogs.com
http://www.twitter.com/MLB
Derek!
I’m so glad you have a blog now! You were one of my favorite players when you were with Boston, and it was hard to see you go. I actually wanted them to re-sign you this offseason, but it’s OK. If I was at Fenway, I’d give you a standing ovation. I’ll clap while watching on TV though. Thank you so much for everything you did for us.
Elizabeth
The Future Blog of the Red Sox
http://redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com
Hey Derek! We miss you in Boston. I’m sure you’ll get a big ovation. Red Sox nation wishes you the best. Hopefully we’ll see you in the World Series.
Maybe you’ll feel like you’re in the playoffs again and blow the socks of the Sox saturday. Yes, that would be good. Go Braves!
Derek,
it’s awesome to see your new blog! It was cool hearing about your memories in Boston, maybe you can help the Braves get back into the playoffs and make some good memories in ATL. It would be AWESOME if you could get a ring for us Braves fans!
Welcome home D Lowe…………..continued success
(after Sat.)
One of the most interesting player’s blogs I’ve read. Nice to have you as a brave Derek.
Derek,
I am so glad you are a Brave now and I hope that you will stay in Atlanta for many years to come….Hopefully Atlanta will get their bats going soon to go with your and the other pitchers good pitching as of late…I’ll be in Atlanta next weekend for the Boston Series and I hope to get to see you pitch either Sat or Sun…Thanks for all your hard work….GO BRAVES!!!!
Jeremy
I won’t be in Boston for the game, but as a life-long Red Sox fan I’ll be giving you a standing ovation from my living room. I’ll never forget how you pitched in the ’03-’04 playoffs ? absolutely amazing. It will be fun to see you pitch in Fenway again, welcome back.
D Lowe! I just created a name on this site so i could leave this comment, but if you keep posting, i’ll keep coming back. i also will be giving you a standing ovation tomorrow night from my living room. Atlanta is a lucky team to have you, but you will always be a red sox player to me. it was a priviledge to watch you pitch, and im glad i get the chance again. best of luck!
Hey Derek! Glad you can join us!
Great post. I know it must have been hard leaving that place. Winning a World Series and then leaving the team you won with shortly after can be heart-breaking, but I’m glad you are now a Brave and I hope you the best of luck. Go Braves.
Gonna put a link to your blog on my blog so other Braves fans can check it out.
http://darion.mlblogs.com/
Derek, will be great to welcome you back to Boston, and then hopefully put up a snowman in the bottom of the 1st. š Haha.
Greg
Red Sox Ramblings: http://thevendahhh.mlblogs.com
Welcome to the Blog world Derek, I’m from Plymouth/Northville myself.
It was really good to see you and Tommy Hanson spending some time together. Man if you could show him your sinker to go with the rest of his stuff, wow.
You’ve been a big help to the Braves and all of us out here appreciate the way you go about your business. Good luck today.
Wow, I can’t tell you how excited I was when I heard you were going to be a Brave, Derek. I really hope you like being a Brave, because you have no idea how happy we are to have you. I’ve been a Braves fan my entire life and I’ve never been more excited to watch each game. Mac says this is his favorite team to watch and I can tell why. You guys are great and have our unending support, no matter how we end up in the final standings.
Derek! Good luck tonight! Its great seeing the Braves in Boston! Shut down that offense tonight, and maybe our guys, can beat up on Beckett! Good Luck! GO BRAVES!! Brandon
D.Lowe! crazy Dodger fan here. I miss you as a Dodger! I am the crazy lady that always used to tell you I had you in my baseball fantasy team. I know the last tim in Vero Beach you told me not to pick you but I did and when when I yelled to you at the Coliseum that I had picked you, you yell back “I told you not to do that!.” Wish you were still with us! Did you see we have the best record in baseball?
Your buddy Jeff Weaver is pitching tonight! Good luck to him and also you!
.
Thank you for your contributions to the Dodgers, your participation in the WIN baseball clinic and the Dodger Dream Foundations.
.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
Derek,
Great blog-thanks for sharing so much, very interesting read. You absolutely should have gone back to get your ring and spend time with the people you had an amazing experience with. So what if you weren’t on the team anymore? It really is too bad that people couldn’t understand that. I hope that you get the respect and appreciation you deserve @ Fenway. AND I hope you dazzle them. š
~Vanessa
http://yankeetruelove.mlblogs.com
Hey Derek,
That was great that you received not one but 2 standing ovations tonite. Obviously the Boston fans miss you and showed their appreciation for your great accomplishments there.
We miss you in LA! But good job against the Cubs last post-season!
Oh and I forgot D.Lowe! Like I told you one time, I was OK with you wearing the Red Sox jersey to get your ring just as long as you did not wear that ugly Halloween colors of the Giants.
Emma _Bleeding Dodger Blue!
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
Derek – I can’t tell you how great it was to have you in Fenway this weekend! And I loved that you put your Red Sox shirt on to get your WS ring! As a life long Red Sox fan – I was so disappointed when you were no longer playing with us! I hope you have a great season and I look forward to reading your blog!
Welcome to MLBlogs!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
I’m still a big fan of you Derek. When you were in Boston, I was able to see you a lot and I was a huge fan…despite being a Yankee fan.
-Dillon
http://dillonm.mlblogs.com
We miss you Derek! Good luck this season!
Big Braves fan here. Drove up to Boston from NY to see you. It was amazing. You are amazing. Go Braves.
During the Boston game you pitched, it looked on TV like the pitches were moving side to side so much that it was even fooling the umpire, who was calling balls on pitches that did get over the plate.
Hope you like being a Brave.
-Mat
You should write a blog entry before every start. The past 2 starts that you haven’t written a blog entry before have been, well, your combined ERA in those starts is 21.94 and the one you did write a blog entry before was a quality start on the road in a hitters’ park against one of the best offenses in baseball. New pre-game ritual. Blog post. K? And in case you were wondering, I am joking.
Hi D Lowe
I am a Dodger fan first of all but still am your fan. I was extremely upset when they Dodgers didn’t sign you. The Dodger blogs certainy voiced their opinions about that. I truly miss you. The Dodgers miss your pitching for sure. You were the most consistent pitcher last season and helped the Dodgers win the NL Western Divisiion.
If you look at my blog, you will remember who I am.
http://catlovesthedodgers.mlblogs.com
This is just another one post professional blog… Gah. Great game today for the Braves
jturcotte, it is really unprofessional to pester a player like this. Just leave him alone. Players can’t always just answer to fans left and right, they are human after all. Give him some respect.
http://moneyball.mlblogs.com/
D Lowe, say it ain’t so. You can’t possibly be serious. The Braves are rarely willing to spend so much money on someone and when they do, they expect they are getting a true staff ace. You were at best the fourth best pitcher on our staff behind JJ, Hanson and Vazquez… AT BEST.
As a fan, I will cheer you on if you stay in Atlanta, but if you plan to stay in Atlanta, you should at the very least respect the position Frank Wren is in. You do make some good points about the difference between your performance at the beginning of the season and the end of the season, but the next time you decide to vent, perhaps you should be brave enough to tell us which starting pitcher we ought to trade instead of you. It’s easy to play the blame game, it’s a lot harder to sit in the front office and make the tough decisions. I wish you well no matter where you start the 2010 season!
I am so excited the new year is about to start. I am 62 and have been a Braves fan for over 20 years. The changes sometimes I don’t understand, like trading LaRoche, andruw Jones and especially John Smoltz. He should be given the opportunity to retire as an Atlanta Brave. He gave them everything and they did him the way they did. I wish you well this year and will pray for lots of strikeouts. I like you and Tommy Hanson. God Bless You and the Braves this year.
I’m so glad that you are playing for the Braves again. I was worried when your name was coming up in the trade names. I am so glad they didn’t trade you. I hate trades. You as a fan get to where you really like a player and then they are gone. I can only imagine how rough it is on you and your families having to move from place to place. Its got to be hard. Just glad your still here.
I’m so glad that you are playing for the Braves again. I was worried when your name was coming up in the trade names. I am so glad they didn’t trade you. I hate trades. You as a fan get to where you really like a player and then they are gone. I can only imagine how rough it is on you and your families having to move from place to place. Its got to be hard. Just glad your still here.
— You had a great run in Fenway, I remember it well. While the stats only tell half the story of your three years as a starter. Fenway is a tough park to pitch and it was always good to see you out there giving the Sox a chance to win.
— It was weird though in 2004. Everything was going wrong for you all season it seemed like- anybody that got on base seemed to score, bad breaks, etc. And then came the ALCS, where twice you were the last line of defense and twice you kept us in the game for the win. That game 7 ALCS start was especially dominant, definitely the game I most remember you for.
— It was kind of like one of those action movies where the guy who you thought had been killed off way earlier suddenly burst in and saved the day. So yes, congrats on the ring. Don’t let anybody tell you that you shouldn’t have put on that Red Sox jersey to go with your ring. You deserve it.