Prospecting
John Bowker(notes), SF, 1/O – The Giants have hit the second-fewest home runs in the league. Its first base position has produced a .785 OPS, ranking No. 22 in the league. Its left field spot has generated a .675 OPS, good for No. 26 in the league. Its right field has generated a .728 OPS (No. 24 in the league). You see where I’m going with this … At Triple-A Fresno, Bowker, who played at least five games for the Giants in ’08 at each of the positions mentioned, is one of only two players still in the PCL with an OPS above 1.000 (1.033). He’s also one of three players with 10-plus home runs and steals (13/10). Oh, and he’s fourth in the league in walks (41) … and he’s hit five home runs in his past seven games. A former third-round pick in ’04, Bowker will turn 26 on July 8. Last season, he fared as well as you could expect in his 111-game rookie campaign with the Giants – .255 BA, .708 OPS, 10 HR. All of this is to say, I’m really not sure what the Giants are waiting for. His current production and age scream for another shot.
4 months ago
NorCalGiant
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I think he deserves a shot
Play him in LF a bit. Sit Torres. Between Ishikawa and Bowker, one should turn out to be a legitimate threat. I’d put my money on Bowker.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Jun 24, 2009 9:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Disclaimer note: I like Fred Lewis
I suggest this because, in addition to giving us a look at Bowker, I think it would put a fire under Fred’s ass.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Jun 24, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aurilia.
Durrr. They could option down Torres too. But I don’t see that happening.
by Hobbes2d on Jun 24, 2009 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They would need to DFA Torres, since he’s out of options.
by kaliber on Jun 24, 2009 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and that is the crux of the problem. Unless Aurilia is DFAd, bringing up Bowker means losing a promising prospect to another team – with absolutely no compensation. So even if Bowker is having the more promising, more productive season, the Giants don’t have the flexibility to promote him. That may well change if one of Lewis, Schierholtz, Ishi, Torres gets traded at the deadline.
by allfrank on Jun 25, 2009 1:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Torres is 31. He's not a prospect.
by FairweatherFan on Jun 25, 2009 7:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you for saying this.
Torres could still prove useful but it is not like he would be a team controled piece for several years or even presented as such in a trade package.
Yes, This is still a 79 win squad.
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by daveinexile on Jun 25, 2009 7:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
he’s filler
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by nostocksjustbonds on Jun 25, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True, but...
…he’s also the backup CF, so until someone can convince Bochy that Winn can, in fact, play center, either he or Velez (shudder) will have a roster spot.
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by EliminateMe on Jun 25, 2009 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
if one of those guys is going
can they go now, so that whoever they bring in trade can improve the roster (assuming at 1B or 2B) now? Or before one or two get hurt and prevent moving any of them?
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by natteringnabob on Jun 25, 2009 7:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bowker probably won’t be brought up until Sabean figures out what he wants to do around the trade deadline due to the implications of the rosters with so many guys out of options. Hell the guy might even be part of a package. Does he deserve a shot, probably. He did alright last year for being rushed up and now he has some plate discipline so he might actually do better.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
by WilliamVanLandingham on Jun 25, 2009 9:30 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Whoever wrote this probably doesn’t realize what the roster situation is like for the Giants. None of the outfielders are playing bad enough to warrant demoting or dropping. The best thing to do would be to drop Aurilia, but that’s not happening.
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by Natto on Jun 25, 2009 10:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
patience
Bowker will be up before too much longer. For now the best thing for him is to keep playing everyday in AAA.
by FluLikeSymptoms on Jun 25, 2009 6:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t drinker Hateraid
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by say hey nation on Jun 26, 2009 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eh, we’ve already brought up the comparisons. Linden and Bowker are in different situations. Linden had success while he was repeating AAA for a few years. Bowker has barely been in AAA for one year.
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by Natto on Jun 26, 2009 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But he was in the majors last year.
Adoptive parent of Noah Lowry.
:-(
by Cookyman on Jun 26, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, he was.
Judgment Day is coming
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by Natto on Jun 26, 2009 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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