Bowker continues to impress

by giantsrockdudes on Jul 2, 2008 9:25 PM PDT Comment 75 comments

Man I love this guy, he is showing that his first 4 games were no fluke this kid has the goods. After his 6th inning home run I had to do a little research; He currently has 9 home runs with 204 AB's, an average MLB player has around 600 AB's in a season; so doing simple math shows that at this pace throughout an MLB season John Bowker would wind up with....... 26 home runs and 101 rbi's. Now who says we need Texiera for a 160 million. Bowkermani will live forever. YAY Johhny Boy

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He’s improving every month
April: .193/.217/.404
May: .297/.343/.375
June: .325/.373/.584

needs to take more walks though

by superk1ng on Jul 2, 2008 9:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He's getting better at that

He’s getting better at pitch recognition and learning how to identify breaking pitches, which seems to be helping a lot.

by boonitez on Jul 2, 2008 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

His new strikeout pitch

Is the high fastball…I’m not even a scout and I can see that

Bill Mueller? I expect at least A-Rod type numbers from my son, Conor Gillaspie

by Gamer101 on Jul 2, 2008 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah i noticed

it can throw you off if your sitting on a breaking pitch, though, which is what I think he’s doing.

by boonitez on Jul 2, 2008 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

During the series in Washington

Don Sutton (Nats color guy) said by the end of the series that that’s the way he would attack Bowker. We’ll see how John does adjusting to that pitch once the league gets the scouting report (I’m guessing—much better than Marvin Bernard did!).

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Jul 3, 2008 7:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roger, I wasn’t paying attention. Could you repeat that?

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jul 3, 2008 7:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure

It seems Don Sutton (Nats color guy) .... oh, I see. (Stupid browser hangup….)

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Jul 3, 2008 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't get it.

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Jul 3, 2008 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh...nevermind.

What’s all this talk about Soviet jewelry?

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Jul 3, 2008 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And why do all the signs say it's free?

I'm adopting a true Giant and an awe-inspring gamer: tk. "Atta babe."

by Mayor of 311 on Jul 3, 2008 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

During the series in Washington

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Jul 3, 2008 7:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don Sutton

Also once said, “I think I would look great with a perm.”

Kevin Correia: MLB's best fifth starter on a last place team

by VidaWantsYourCar on Jul 3, 2008 7:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jul 3, 2008 7:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he always had difficulty with that pitch

by wilriv21 on Jul 3, 2008 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Got to love the improvement from Bowker

But I’d really like to see him facing some lefties. Granted, he’s hitting and slugging .154 against southpaws, but he’s certainly not going to figure things out by not facing them. If he’s going to be an everyday player, getting that split to semi-respectability is the next step in his development.

VAE PVTO DEVS FIO

by Bhaakon on Jul 2, 2008 9:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes

Only 888 games until the end of Zito's contract

by thehavenot on Jul 3, 2008 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

and he now leads the team in homers...

which is actually kinda sad…

by boonitez on Jul 2, 2008 10:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Tears of joy, boon!

He sends them out with Bondsian ease at times.

This team cannot produce a prettier homer.

by Moggeee on Jul 2, 2008 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

but he has 9 homers

that’s why it’s sad. I didn’t mean it was sad that Bowker led the team.

by boonitez on Jul 2, 2008 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But there's a special math for this case

AA guy hitting 9 homers Is like 63 dongs in dog years

by Moggeee on Jul 2, 2008 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This team cannot produce a prettier homer.

Maybe it’s just me, I always found Krukow pretty attractive.

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jul 3, 2008 7:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right

It is just you.

The All-Father is now a Giant!

by EliminateMe on Jul 3, 2008 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Especially with a perm...

Adoptive parental unit of Kevin "Most Spectacular Pitcher" Pucetas.

"I'm a Giant now... I like watching the ball get up there" - Wendell Fairley
"I'm really proud to be on this team." - Nate Schierholtz

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Jul 3, 2008 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s really sad.

Everybody Loves Durham
comics | cartoons | Nattowear

by Natto on Jul 2, 2008 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's see

Let’s see how John turns out. So far it has been encouraging that he essentially skipped AAA and has fared pretty decently. I don’t think his OPS has broken .800 yet though, has it?

Until a corner player’s OPS exceeds .800, I don’t think he can be taken all that seriously.

by sharksrog on Jul 2, 2008 10:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bowker-Lite

We’re all on a homer diet this year, anyway

by Moggeee on Jul 2, 2008 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

His OPS is currently .791. Considering he’s a first year major leaguer, I’m pretty happy with that.

Everybody Loves Durham
comics | cartoons | Nattowear

by Natto on Jul 2, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I side with Natto

We shout down the Oracle Sharksrog, who will probably review the case and apologize to the site.

by Moggeee on Jul 2, 2008 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We should tell Roger that Tim Lincecum is Bowker’s best friend on the team…

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on Jul 3, 2008 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Resident Bowker Backer back at it

But, as you mentioned, he skipped AAA and he is playing in a park that is difficult on lefty power hitters and it is his first season in the majors.

He has flaws. He isn’t taking any walks. But I don’t remember him being Schierholtzian during his minor league career so I think he can improve that.

Otherwise, he’s looking good.

Only 888 games until the end of Zito's contract

by thehavenot on Jul 3, 2008 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

John "Hustle" Bowker

I love watching this guy hustle down the line. no matter the situation, John drops his head and gets out of the box and it is really a breath of fresh air compared to many big leaguers today. I think Bowker has been great and am really pulling for this guy, who I think actually shows what it means to be considered a gamer.

How to be a gamer by John Bowker:
1)Play wherever they ask you 1B/OF
2)Study the game and work on areas that give you problems (pitch recognition)
3)Smile and have fun playing the game
4)Run non stop
5)give 110% effort all the time

Way to go John

by krukkuipandclint on Jul 2, 2008 11:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

umm

a. 110% is not possible.
b. I’m pretty sure all players study the game and work on areas that need improvement. they don’t just come to the ballpark, play games and then go home.
c. 102 OPS+ and 8 HR in limited plate appearances > putting head down and hustling to first.

BROCK BOND LIKES HIS MARTINIS PUNCHED IN THE FACE, NOT STIRRED.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Jul 3, 2008 1:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There IS an explanation

Bowker seems to have borrowed the extra 10% effort from Bengie, who “hustles” to first base as if in the grip of an alien death ray.

by Moggeee on Jul 3, 2008 1:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pedantic technicality (sorry)

110% is possible, just not possible in the context of someone giving effort.

Olma Rosario; liking the cut of your jib since 2008
Free Angel Joseph from US immigration!

by Mr Scruff on Jul 3, 2008 4:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m actually sure there are quite a few big leaguers who have huge natural ability, then never give a thought to actually playing the game. Not to bring up a retired, stupid guy, but Canceco admitted it on several occasions.

by tyrannoman on Jul 3, 2008 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And even Canseco worked out,

and used substances that improved his performance. While he might not have actively thought about it, he did things that made him a better player.

MLB players do not just go to the park, play games and go home.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jul 3, 2008 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was referring to actually working on the flaws (mental and physical) in one’s game. Jose eating steroids like they were candy and getting all ripped like the Hulk isn’t working on your game.

by tyrannoman on Jul 3, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They made him a better player, no?

So why is that not working on his game?

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jul 3, 2008 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would argue they actually didn’t, in the end. He ended up being soooo big and muscle bound that he literally couldn’t play defense, and ended with a rash of injuries that were most likely PED caused. This actually made him a worse player.

by tyrannoman on Jul 3, 2008 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he

was taking them quite early on and definitely won an MVP while using PED’s so, yeah i think they got him better at his game.

Also, he always sucked at defense. The very nature of doing drills and showing up at spring training is working on your game. It’s impossible for players not to work on their game because if they don’t, they will immediately fail. Baseball is a precision sport that requires copious amounts of repetition work to build muscle memory.

BROCK BOND LIKES HIS MARTINIS PUNCHED IN THE FACE, NOT STIRRED.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Jul 3, 2008 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that’s why I added the “in the end” qualifier. I agree, he wouldn’t have been an elite ballplayer without the PED’s, but he went overboard and they cost him a good bit in the end.

Jose didn’t always suck at defense. When he was first called up by the A’s, he had a rocket arm and could run quite well. He never got a good jump on the ball, but he did have the speed to make up for his mistakes. By the end of his career, I don’t think he could outrun Benjie.

All those activities you mention are manditory. I was thinking more of his off the field process, studing film, looking for holes in his own swing, working on the mental approach to the game.

You are 100% correct that baseball, more than any other sport, is a game repitetion and perfecion. However, by taking BP and hitting 4 times in every game every day for 8 months, you do build up a fair amount of muscle memory just showing up everyday.

by tyrannoman on Jul 3, 2008 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

all of those things are mandatory. Reviewing film and looking for holes is necessary and mandatory and all players do it.

BROCK BOND LIKES HIS MARTINIS PUNCHED IN THE FACE, NOT STIRRED.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Jul 3, 2008 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the point is

Some players, as some people, are more willing to look at themselves in the third person and strive to make improvements.

Others just go with what they are good at and try to get better.

It is my opinion that there are many players in MLB who have a ton of natural talent and never have to critically analyze their game and look for small ways to make it better.

Then there are others who have enough natural talent to hang around, but can only become useful players by working on all aspects of their game and intelligently taking steps to improve areas where they are deficient. Bowker appears to be one of these.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Jul 3, 2008 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then there are the very few (Barry Bonds, Greg Maddox) who can do both.

by tyrannoman on Jul 3, 2008 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Jul 3, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It really annoys me when people get carried away with the whole “over 100%” thing. 100% is a 100%. I don’t mind 110% much, but I really got annoyed when some player (was it Bengie maybe?) said something about giving “1000%”. Jesus christ enough already.

Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa

by raisingcain on Jul 3, 2008 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Give Mike Weathers some credit

Those Dirtbags of his really hit the majors ready to play ball. Tulo last year, Bowker & Longoria this year. I say let’s go to that Long Beach State well more often (though Todd Jennings hasn’t really worked out so well).

My boy ain't fat, he's just big boned. Big bat, too.

by Roger on Jul 3, 2008 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forget 110% effort all the time

100% all the time is not humanly possible. Players are not mechanical robots. If a player is giving the same effort all the time, he’s not giving 110%, or 100% all the time. He’s likely giving 80-90% all the time.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Jul 3, 2008 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but...

...how lame would it sound for Bochy to be out there praising Bowker: “He’s a kid who gives 80 to 90 percent every day.”

The All-Father is now a Giant!

by EliminateMe on Jul 3, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would

love it

BROCK BOND LIKES HIS MARTINIS PUNCHED IN THE FACE, NOT STIRRED.

by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Jul 3, 2008 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bowker's Splash Hit

man, if you watch the replays, it really did look effortless.. kind of scary in a way, for such a small dude. i like him though, his stance reminds me of bonds’ a little bit.

If my head is full of white hairs by the end of this season.. I blame Brian Wilson. (I'm only 22, dammit!)

by GiNgiNxbOi on Jul 3, 2008 8:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I was high up in section 127 when he hit that ball and it looked like an easy 5 iron from a solid pro. Nice easy tempo and the ball jumped off of the bat! While I had no doubt it was gone, It shocked the hell out me that it made it that far out of the park. The tempo of his swing just did not seem capable of putting that much smack into the ball.

In short, I was amazed too.

Krukow likes to say his power is Bondsian, but as nice as Barry’s swing was, he never had that effortless tempo. (Barry’s pitch recognition and eye-hand coordination were much further developed than Bowker’s so don’t think I am saying that Bowker is better than Barry.)

The other thing I’d like to mention here is that the last two Bowker jacks were on breaking balls. A hung curve in Cleveland and a slider last night. When he came up he couldn’t hit a breaking ball to save his life.

by toofruss on Jul 3, 2008 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

a swing less like Bonds's is not usually a good thing

..I hear what you’re saying, I just don’t think a nice, effortless swing is a virtue. Generating bat speed takes effort. Here, though, I am not worried about Bowker—I think he swings hard, you just don’t notice it quite as much as with Bonds.

That said, Bonds had better bat speed. If you want to hit for power, maximize bat speed.

by wcw on Jul 3, 2008 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My point exactly. Ernie Els and Freddie Couples generate tremendous club head speed, but look smooth as silk doing so. Bowker’s swing last night was similar, and it obviously had the bat speed, because that ball traveled!

To further this analogy, Tiger does not look as smooth as Ernie or Freddie, but he is generating even more club head speed, and more accurately than those two as well. So Bowker is to Barry, as Ernie is to Tiger.

by toofruss on Jul 3, 2008 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ernie has the sweetest swing in sports

by wilriv21 on Jul 3, 2008 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

by toofruss on Jul 3, 2008 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Small dude?

He’s 6’2”, 190 pounds according to BA, 200 pounds according to media guide, BP did not deem him worthy enough of mention in the main section.

Adoptive parental unit of Kevin "Most Spectacular Pitcher" Pucetas.

"I'm a Giant now... I like watching the ball get up there" - Wendell Fairley
"I'm really proud to be on this team." - Nate Schierholtz

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Jul 3, 2008 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I haven’t watched all the games, but I honestly haven’t seen someone throw Bowker something inside and up that he’s missed yet.

you can't block the Bocock

by oldjacket on Jul 3, 2008 8:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ve become a real believer in Bowker. I’m prejudiced in favor of him, because I attended his first game (and thus saw his first homer), but still, for some time, I was wondering if the Giants should do something like sign Pat Burrell to play first base next year. Increasingly, though, I think Bowker may be the answer.

He could, as mentioned above, stand to take some more walks, but I like his approach at the plate. He’s not a hacker (though he does have his blind spots, of course), and really, having an OBP about 50 points above your BA (as he has the last two months) is not bad. Especially when it’s accompanied by home run power.

With Bowker and Lewis, the Giants have two good home grown position players establishing themselves in one season. I don’t expect either to be great, but still, they should at least be good. Considering the utter lack of homegrown hitters since the days of Matt Williams, that’s got to count as one of the biggest highlights of the year.

by jcb9 on Jul 3, 2008 8:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

This

Considering the utter lack of homegrown hitters since the days of Matt Williams, that’s got to count as one of the biggest highlights of the year.

I said at the beginning on this season that if two more more of our minor leaguers turned out to be ML average or better this season would be a huge success.

Fred Lewis, John Bowker, and to a less extent Manny Burriss seem to be on track.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Jul 3, 2008 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed. Hopefully by the end of the year, Schierholtz will have joined them and Denker will have gotten some meaningful playing time as well.

by jcb9 on Jul 3, 2008 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

please stop discounting Bill Mueller, who was a home grown hitter. You can legitimatley say the Giants’ haven’t produced an All Star position player since Matty, but Mueller was a good hitter.

by tyrannoman on Jul 3, 2008 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I don’t mean to discount Mueller at all. He’s one of my all-time favorite Giants, actually. But Matt Williams first came up in 1987. In the 21 years since, we’ve produced Bill Mueller and almost nobody else worthwhile – which certainly qualifies as an “utter lack of homegrown hitters.”

by jcb9 on Jul 3, 2008 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ummm….John Patterson?

by tyrannoman on Jul 3, 2008 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pedro Feliz!

..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.

by Cookyman on Jul 3, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point. Pedro was terrific. Does Richie count? He was not drafted by the Giants, but he did come through the farm system.

by tyrannoman on Jul 3, 2008 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Niekro!

..so allow me to present Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain as two sweet, sweet bottles of warming hooch.

by Cookyman on Jul 3, 2008 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

when do we officially stop saying this?

do we have to wait until the end of the year to pronounce Lewis (or whoever) a ML caliber homegrown hitter? ‘cuz i’m pretty much ready to do so now with him at least (and i’m getting close with Bowker).

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on Jul 3, 2008 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you’ll look to the original post I was responding to the response of, that was basically what I was saying – that, with Bowker and Lewis, we’re doing better with homegrown hitters than we had in the previous 20 years.

by jcb9 on Jul 3, 2008 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what if I want to respond to the responce to the responded responce of the post?

by tyrannoman on Jul 3, 2008 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty sure that would rip a hole in the fabric of space-time and kill us all.

by jcb9 on Jul 3, 2008 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bowkers Platoon Splits

Suffer from an impossibly small sample size this season. He is batting .154 vs. lefties, but in only 28 PA’s.

While I’m certain it would hurt is overall numbers, I would really like to see Bowker get some AB’s vs. lefties in the second half. He might not be as incompetent there as we have been led to believe.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Jul 3, 2008 10:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs