and a great story. I, too, have been pretty please with his play at first, altho he did miss a scoop last night or the night before I thought he should have had. But he’s waaaay green, and it seems like the fundamentals are there.

So he went 0-for-San Diego, big deal. As you point out, he faced a couple of the best pitchers in the game. He’s gonna struggle. I just hope they don’t pull a Rajai on him and give up on him after a small-sample-size-sized struggle period. I, too, am swoony over the swing, and either he’ll put it together or he won’t. We’ll know much more this time next year.

Also, first.

I agree that Bowker (along with Velez and Lewis) need to just be set loose and left alone. They’ll all probably struggle to some degree (God knows, Bowker and Velez are struggling right now) but that’s okay! And man, it would appear he has some power.

I’d love to be able to add Nate to that list of players who we should just insert into the lineup and let loose, but it doesn’t look like that’ll happen, barring an injury.

How many more times do the Giants play the Cards? WooHOOO!

Here I am praising John Bowker.

Tangential to the topic, I was wondering this morning how unusual/unheard of the Giants roster moves have been, in a historical context. They have promoted two players (Bowker, Burriss) direct from Double A and one player direct from Single A (Bocock) in the same month. Anyone know if something like this has been done before, by any other team?

I’m disappointed whenever Bowker isn’t starting. And it’s only been like 12 games since he’s been here. John Bowker is someone I can get used to.

If Lewis can come around, so can Bowker. Molina aside, he’s the closest thing on this team to a power threat (or perceived power threat), so at very least his at bats have been generating some excitement.

Plus, Aurilia wasn’t exactly making a strong statement to be the starter at 1st, and Ortmeier is also undergoing a forced conversion with mixed results, so why not try Bowker there and get him some playing time? Way too early to consider pulling the plug now.

Happy Bowker Optimism Day!

John Bowker, pleasant surprise of the early season. Bowker provides the LHH power Sabean has been looking for and which complements the SF line-up. With Bowker at 1b it helps alleviate a need for another 1b Sabean was looking for (though still prefer my white whale Casey Kotchman). Bowker looks confortable at 1b probably because he played the position in HS. If he continues to blossom he could have the organization alter its thinking come draft day.

He’s my favorite Smash Bros character

I am tired of Rob Neyer and Keith Law etc. taking potshots at us. Are they watching the games? Sure we’re looking at a 68 to 77 win team, but Bowker, Lewis and Velez are exciting players with upside. I like what I see from Burriss as well. We’re the guys putting pressure on the opponents. Poor Chris Young was a nervous wreck last night. It’s nice to be the hunter, not the hunted. It’s a decent product and we have more of a foundation than we thought coming in. You gotta like these kids.

Bow down for Bowker! I hope he starts tonight since I’ll be at the game.

Did anyone have him in the “what Giant will have him a spalsh hit” pool? If not, I’ll take him.

...but scott ostler is still a douche-bag, right?

One of the things I like about Bowker is that even when he makes an out, he usually makes hard contact. The ball jumps off of his bad. Plus he has the Joe Morgan arm waggle, which keeps things interesting.

That’s all I got.

It is good to see a Giant prospect who seems to have a good idea of the strike zone matched with some real power. I love his compact swing especially when he turns on an inside pitch like he did a couple of times against the Cards. I am sure he will have his struggles this year and hopefully Boch will allow him to work through them. I am going to enjoy watching this kid develop.

sounds like cool peeps

http://media.knbr.com/knbr/0415bowker.mp3

I like him.

Yeah, yeah… Bowker is fun, and he may even turn out to be an average regular. Sorry, I know I should be more excited; maybe I’m less enthused because I’ve really only heard him play on KNBR. I get tonight’s game on TV, so perhaps that’ll do it.
What I really want to see if whether it has occurred to anyone else that Velez may not be a fit in the 2-hole. I too want to see the guy play, but he just doesn’t seem to me to be the high obp, patient and disciplined guy you need there. I would rather have him down in the order, or even flip-flopped with Lewis. Seems to me that Lewis is a 2- or even 3-slot hitter. Either that, or leave Freddie where he is, and stick Rowand in the 2-hole.

Bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yay!

F. Lewis lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
E. Velez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
R. Durham 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
B. Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
A. Rowand cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J. Bowker 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
R. Aurilia 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197
B. Bocock ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .177
J. Sanchez

The thing that stood out to me when watching replays of his 3 HRs and his triple, was how easily he swung the bat. Smoother than Yacht Rock, and yet the ball just flew.