With questions abound about who will replace JJ Putz, most are reluctant candidates. Not Mariners reliever Mark Lowe, who is adamant in his belief that the closer role is the one he wants most on the team."There's something about the adrenaline rush you get coming in from the bullpen," he said in an article for the Kitsap Sun. "You've got three outs to get, maybe four or five, and you're letting it loose the whole time. You can use all your pitches for one inning. It's a tough job but, to me, it's the best job in the world."
At 25 and after three seasons in the majors, Lowe is an unlikely contender to be closer. In October of 2006, Lowe received surgery on his right elbow, surgery that threatened to derail his baseball career permanently. Doctors gave Lowe a 30 percent chance of returning.
Lowe entered the majors in 2006 with a fastball that would occasionally reach 100 miles per hour and a wicked slider. Before injury hit, Lowe completed 18.7 innings for a 1.93 ERA. Lowe's first victory came after relieving the Mariners of a bases loaded jam in Yankee Stadium. With an unwavering confidence and unflappable attitude, the Mariners coaching staff loved him and Lowe seemed on the fast track to being a permanent ace in the Mariners bullpen.
Lowe only appeared in four innings in 2007, but last season, he managed to appear in his most innings yet, 63.7. With a 5.37 ERA and a 1-5 record, the main success Lowe had was being able to get through the season with no signs of injury to his elbow.
Now, with his dream job completely open this season, the former fifth round pick hopes to make his comeback complete. If Lowe can return to the ways that made his a success his rookie season, then Lowe may well be the front runner for the closer job. He certainly seems to want it more than anyone else, as all the other candidates have only said they'd do it if the team asked them to.
If Lowe's fastball can get back over 100, he may make the city forget the name JJ Putz. Or he may never fully recover, and his heroics and positive press clippings of 2006 may remain the high point of an injury-derailed career.
