John Bowker's 2009 performance and ML possibilities

by Jgaztambide on Jul 8, 2009 12:42 PM EDT

John Bowker is a rightfield prospect for the Giants who put up a .255/.300/.408 line in 326 at bats in the majors last year as a 24 year old rookie. Those numbers aren't terribly impressive, but they're not bad at all for a rookie who wasn't a highly touted prospect. The giants let him start this year in the minors, and he's clobbered the life out of the ball

In AAA this season, Bowker is hitting .345/.446/.609, showing considerably better patience at the plate than last year, whether at the ML level or at AAA. He has a 53/52 BB/K ratio, 38.7% XBH%, 15.7% BB rate, and even throws in some steals, albeit it at only a 67% pace (10 steals to 5 CS)

The giants are one of the worst teams in the majors for production out of their LF, RF, and 1st base positions. Bowker is tearing the cover off the ball. How long does it take for Bowker to come back to the majors, and once he does, how will he hit? Can someone who saw him play in the majors last season comment on what his weaknesses were?

(side note, I don't know a thing about his defense. The steals makes me think he is at minimum a decent athlete with pretty good range, but that's just a guess)

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it’s really just a matter of options. Fred Lewis, Nate Schierholtz and Travis Ishikawa are all out options. they also bat lefty as does Bowker, who had an option left. No way the Giants DFA any of those guys, so Bowker is just out of luck for now barring an injury or trade.

They also don’t want to bring him up if he isn’t going to get regular at bats.

As for his weaknesses last year, he got off to a hot start in the majors after basically skipping AAA, but the league adjusted by throwing him a lot of breaking pitches in and high fastballs, and he had trouble laying off.

It seems that this year, however, he has reworked his approach and we’re seeing it in his increased walks. He deserves a shot, but as I mentioned it’s a numbers game that’s keeping him down.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 8, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

re: Bowker

But can the giants continue to ignore the hot bat when they’re in a race for the playoffs and have such terrible production out of the spots Bowker could fill? The highest DPS for any of those guys is .760, .330 being the highest OBP. I know roster management can be tricky, but when you’re fighting for the playoffs, I figure you find space for the bat.

I haven’t followed Fred Lewis or any of the other OF’s that closely, they’re those guys whose presence I was always aware of but never bothered an in-depth look into their numbers, but none of them strike me as game changers. Their ML stats are very unimpressive, and Lewis is already 28 years old.

-1 and only member of the Jed Lowrie fan club!

by Jgaztambide on Jul 8, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Travis Ishikawa is jank

Allowing his presence to block any potential impact hitter is silly beyond words.

I have to say, the Giants brass has really displayed an amazing amount of ignorance when it comes to transactions. So many guys have been run out of options while getting zero or near-zero playing time.

Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving

by PaulThomas on Jul 8, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

True, but irrelevant

While you’re right that letting him block a potential impact hitter is silly, that statement is totally irrelevant since we’re talking about John Bowker, not a potential impact hitter.

by realitypolice on Jul 9, 2009 3:27 AM EDT up reply actions

it’s relative. On the Giants, Bowker is a potential impact hitter.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 9, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

TI is a plus defender at first base and much better there than Bowker, who really is an outfielder and should play there. The Giants, moreso than a lot of other teams, place a big emphasis at 1st base defense. While his offensive production is below average, if you consider the entire package, he’s basically an average player overall.

But he’s basically a rookie and the Giants should be willing to let a rookie struggle a little bit while they’re in the rebuilding process.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 9, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Given his offensive production,

he would basically have to be a hall-of-fame caliber 1st base defender in order to even reach league average overall.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that he probably isn’t that good. Please don’t bother pointing out his SSS UZR from this season, because I already know (and don’t care) about it.

Ishikawa is 26. There really is nothing there— he’s bench/AAA filler on any kind of decent offense.

by PaulThomas on Jul 9, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions

defense

The Giants tried to convert him to a first baseman at the major league level last season and it showed as his defense was pretty poor there. He played both left and right. he’s a decent enough athlete, but he profiles as a left fielder, at least at AT&T Park with its big right field.

He’s been working at first this year more than half his games, but I can’t say whether he’s improved there. Fresno doesn’t have great options for that position defensively.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 8, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

correction

he’s only played about 13 games at first this year with most of his starts coming as an outfielder. I was looking in the wrong column when I wrote that remark about him playing mostly first this year. In any event, it indicates even further that the Giants see him primarily as an outfielder.

Bonds stands alone.

Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants

by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 9, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Schierholtz

has played a sparkling RF at Pac Bell this year.

The Giants need to sign Harry Doyle.

by jrose643 on Jul 8, 2009 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

Anyone who has played well enough to justify moving Randy Winn over to left…ya, i’d say sparkling…

by valley on Jul 9, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Ishikawa

if you look at his stats thru the years, he has generally struggled at his first time at a new level. Much better after getting some time to adjust, so I am sure the G-Men do not want to give up on him just yet

The Giants need to sign Harry Doyle.

by jrose643 on Jul 8, 2009 10:21 PM EDT reply actions