Davidoff: Will Braves try to deal Lowe?

The Braves are pitching very well and hitting quite poorly, with neither development a surprise. Their imbalance seems so deep that they could partake in some interesting trade discussions this summer.

“They could be in the race and still trade Derek Lowe,” said a scout who follows the Braves. “They have enough other pitchers to cover for that.”

Lowe, who will turn 38 on June 1, has pitched very well in his first six starts this season, compiling a 3.21 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 11 walks in 332 / 3 innings. He is due $15 million both this year and next year.

On Thursday night, Lowe was arrested in Buckhead, Ga., and charged with driving under the influence, another strike against him.

Meanwhile, in Brandon Beachy, Tommy Hanson, Tim Hudson and Jair Jurrjens — with Kris Medlen rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery and youngsters Mike Minor and Julio Teheran impressing at Triple-A Gwinnett — you can see why the scout admired the Braves’ pitching depth. Moreover, veteran Rodrigo Lopez is thriving at Gwinnett and could be had in a deal right now.

The Yankees negotiated seriously with Lowe during the 2008-09 offseason before deciding to sign A.J. Burnett instead. They’d be an obvious candidate to go after Lowe or any other established starting pitcher on the trade market.

Common sense, however, states that if the Braves are in the race, they’d trade Lowe to try to fill a need (offense? outfield?) rather than just to shed payroll. If they’re not in the race? That’s a different story.

SEE PHOTOSThe 3,000 hits club

Shaping a New ’Pen

The White Sox, having jettisoned longtime closer Bobby Jenks during the winter, anointed Matt Thornton as their new ninth-inning guy for the start of the season. Then Thornton blew his first four save opportunities.

So now the White Sox are trying a bullpen by committee. Sergio Santos picked up a pair of saves against the Yankees, although rightfielder Brent Lillibridge deserved the most credit on Tuesday with his two game-saving catches.

“Our bullpen right now is going to have to be like the Marines. It’s going to have to overcome and be ready every inning until we can truly define what we’ve got going on there,” White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said. “But to name and pigeonhole ourselves, put ourselves in a corner, I don’t think that’s a smart way to do it.

“Sometimes when you crown the guy the closer, —— happens. Right now, we’re playing by ear, going by our eyes, going by our gut, going by the situation, deciding who we think is best for that.”

Thanks, But No Thanks

With the Yankees looking to move their Class A affiliate from Tampa, Fla., to the Orlando area, executive vice president Felix Lopez has spent much of his time away from Steinbrenner Field as he works on that endeavor.

Hank Steinbrenner? He doesn’t show up at the office very often, although he does plan to attend a May 22 charity exhibition game between Hank’s Yanks and the independent Newark Bears in Newark. Proceeds will go to pediatric cancer research and New Jersey youth programs.

There’s a void to be filled, and some Yankees employees were hoping that Steve Swindal, the one-time appointed successor to George Steinbrenner’s throne, would return to work.

“There have been no talks of that,” said Swindal, who professed to have no interest in such a post. Swindal is busy developing a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic for kids under 16.

After a public divorce from Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, the two are on good terms, so much so that Steve Swindal participated in last September’s ceremony to unveil the George Steinbrenner monument.

Around the Leagues

Major League Baseball suspended White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen for his in-game tweets (Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium) because it wanted to send a strong deterrent to everyone else in the game. And also because Guillen has a history of incidents that is so long, you could make a TV mini-series out of it . . . Jose Reyes’ all-out play has caught the eye of at least one major league scout. “I haven’t seen him play this hard in years,’’ he said. Reyes can, of course, become a free agent after this season.

7TH-INNING STRETCH

Pop Quiz

Name the singer who recorded the 1956 single “I Love Mickey,’’ featuring the collaboration of Mickey Mantle himself.

Three Players Looking Like June/July Trade Targets

1. Heath Bell, Padres. He can be a free agent, and the Padres don’t seem to be very good.

2. Vladimir Guerrero, Orioles. Someone would take a shot based just on his reputation.

3. Ivan Rodriguez, Nationals. He could be had right now. A team might get desperate enough, eventually, to try Pudge.

Three Obvious Contenders’ Needs

1. Yankees. Starting pitching. The Phil Hughes development makes this even more obvious.

2. Rays. Offense. Their pitching, certainly not their hitting, has helped them climb back.

3. Cardinals. Bullpen. They really have struggled to close games.

Stupidity of the Week

What in the world was Braves pitching coach (and former Met) Roger McDowell thinking when he got into an ugly argument with fans in San Francisco?

Emotional Display of the Week

The Mets’ Jose Reyes, who went ballistic after (incorrectly) getting called out by third-base umpire Marvin Hudson Wednesday night in Washington.

Quote of the Week

“Do a comparison chart and look at where the Dodgers stand. Look at where the Dodgers stand in compliance. Look at where we are when it comes to seeking emergency funding from Major League Baseball . . . Do another grid of where the Dodgers have done on the field.” Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, in response to a question about MLB’s treatment of the Dodgers and the Mets.

Pop Quiz Answer

Teresa Brewer. Thanks to Fred Snyder of Farmingville for the suggestion.