178 replies to this topic

[sittingstill]

Alex Speier has an informative post about Bowden today with some video of his delivery.

Now, in games, the difference is apparent. Bowden has looked like a different pitcher in two spring outings of work, one against Boston College, and also in his two shutout innings against the Twins in which he fanned a couple.

The extra hitch in his leg lift is gone. His drop step has gotten better direction to the plate, the result of his upper and lower body working in greater concert. While he is using the same release point that has made it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball from his hand, his arm swing to get to that release point is now longer and less halting.

“There’s a lot more movement in my windup to get more rhythm and fluidity. That was my main goal this offseason. I just wanted to relax, look more fluid, be more natural,” Bowden explained. “Now it’s more one motion.”

[ypioca]

In his last four starts:

24.0 IP, 17 H, 2 HR, 4 BB
1.88 ERA, 0.875 WHIP

Small sample so far, but he has looked good since he returned to his old mechanics. If he can maintain this good form consistently, he could play an important role up in Boston, come September.

Edited by ypioca, 16 June 2010 - 06:56 PM.

[jk333]

So Bowden changed his mechanics? Was this under the Red Sox direction? We'll have to see how he does over the next few months but it looks like the change in mechanics didn't work.

The sox haven't had much luck at all when changing pitchers mechanics; have there been any success stories? Is is time to not draft pitchers that they think will need their deliveries altered?

[Sprowl]

So Bowden changed his mechanics? Was this under the Red Sox direction? We'll have to see how he does over the next few months but it looks like the change in mechanics didn't work.

The sox haven't had much luck at all when changing pitchers mechanics; have there been any success stories? Is is time to not draft pitchers that they think will need their deliveries altered?

Buchholz was a delayed success story -- the change in arm slot made for a big improvement in Buchholz's fastball, although it destroyed his performance in 2008. Short-term pain, long-term gain.

Even though it clearly didn't work, I'm glad they tried changing Bowden's mechanics, because I think his unorthodox style will forever limit his ceiling in the major leagues. It shows the ball too long, seems to detract from velocity, and isn't conducive to strong movement on the breaking pitches. I think that he will still be useful to the Red Sox as a spot starter, workhorse reliever, and general Strikethrower. Ultimately, his greatest value to the team will probably be as trade bait, so it makes sense to switch him back to whatever will boost his performance now. He should be a good bullpen addition later in the year.

[Unbearable Lightness]

6/25 Globe article

“I did a lot of mechanical work during the offseason and made some adjustments that are now paying off,’’ Bowden said. “It took me a lot longer to get comfortable repeating my delivery than I hoped. But the foundation is there now.’’

That reads more like he finally got comfortable with his new mechanics. Don't know where the "changing back to old mechanics" come from.

[Quintanariffic]

Bowden has a 2.05 ERA in 7 starts since he settled on his new mechanics.

[Bigpupp]

Confirmed from #RedSox side. Conclusions drawn. @Dan_Hoard Michael Bowden has been moved to the PawSox bullpen. Draw your own conclusions.

Conclusions Drawn, indeed.

My thinking is that they need to see how his new delivery converts to the bullpen before the trade deadline. His AAA numbers recently have been amazing, and having that in the bullpen for the rest of the year would be a great addition, but they need to see if his stuff works out of the pen first, of course.

[SoxScout]

"We feel like, with the way things are going right now, this may be the best opportunity for him to come up and impact the major league roster," said Mike Hazen, the Red Sox' director of player development.

"We'll see tonight, he'll probably get another one before the All-Star break, and we'll re-evaluate from there," Hazen said.

"I think, as we discussed it, the biggest challenge with Mike has been, when we've moved him to the bullpen, it's been in the major leagues, and that's been probably a little unfair from a development standpoint," Hazen said.

"It is what it is... but I think this is a way for us to better prepare him for when he goes," he added.

"He's certainly been throwing the ball well now for the better part of a month," Hazen said. "The stuff's been good, the breaking ball has re-emerged. The strike throwing that has always been a calling card of his has really re-emerged. There's power to the stuff."

http://soxblog.projo...el-bowdens.html

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

That reads more like he finally got comfortable with his new mechanics. Don't know where the "changing back to old mechanics" come from.

I know it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, but I personally wish someone could figure out once and for all whether Bowden changed his mechanics or went back to his old ones.

On one hand, Alex Speier (July 3): " fighting his way to gain consistency with the new mechanics he had spent the offseason working to achieve"

Danieal Barbarisi from ProJo (July 11): "OTOH, They didn’t work, and Bowden suffered through two ugly months before returning to his more familiar mechanics at the beginning of June"

Just saw this article out of Chicago, maybe it's the final word. Here's what it says:

Two months ago it looked as if Bowden was locked into a full season at Pawtucket. After tweaking his mechanics in the offseason, he struggled mightily out of the gate [see box].

The 23-year-old right-hander said his head was moving off the target line, his chest was opening up and his arm was coming across too "long" through his delivery. In short, he couldn't throw strikes consistently. And when he did, he got hit.

"I was absolutely struggling," Bowden said. "I was frustrated I wasn't getting the results that I wanted. I didn't feel good about repeating my delivery and I was developing some bad habits. Nothing was easy for me the first month of a half of the season."

Always in tune with his body and his mechanics, Bowden tried to shorten his arm path through his delivery during a bullpen session in June. He took that feeling into his next start and then caught fire. In six starts through June and the first part of July, he went 3-1 with an ERA under 2.00.

"It's making it much easier to repeat and command the strike zone a lot better," he said. "It's what I'm good at usually so it's nice to get back to where I know I can be."

Has anyone watched him pitched and can weigh in on this?

[Quintanariffic]

I know it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, but I personally wish someone could figure out once and for all whether Bowden changed his mechanics or went back to his old ones.

On one hand, Alex Speier (July 3): " fighting his way to gain consistency with the new mechanics he had spent the offseason working to achieve"

Danieal Barbarisi from ProJo (July 11): "OTOH, They didn’t work, and Bowden suffered through two ugly months before returning to his more familiar mechanics at the beginning of June"

Just saw this article out of Chicago, maybe it's the final word. Here's what it says:


Has anyone watched him pitched and can weigh in on this?

I can't speak to how he's tweaked his mechanics, but by his own admission to someone at Sox Prospects, he simply has gotten more comfortable with or slightly tweaked his new mechanics. He hasn't gone back to his old mechanics, but rather just made an adjustment so that the new mechanics worked for him.

[Puffy]

I'm bumping this because there is about a page of recent interesting discussion regarding Michael Bowden unfortunately located in the Casey Kelley thread (could it be moved?).

2011 will be Bowden's sink or swim year with the Red Sox, if only because I believe he is out of options and cannot be returned to Pawtucket. His only home in 2011, therefore, would either be in the Red Sox bullpen or another organization. Correct me if I'm wrong regarding his status, but a lot of the questions about what to do about Bowden (who I regard as still having potential) have already been answered by his contract status.

Edited by Puffy, 23 October 2010 - 10:21 AM.

[Zedia]

Soxprospects says Bowden has 1 option remaining and projects him to be in the Pawtucket bullpen. The only confirmation I can find (other than Eric Van's "40 Man Roster Squeeze" thread) is a an ESPN article written by Mike Andrews of Soxprospects.

I'm not sure how he didn't burn an option in 2008. Did he spend less than 20 days in the minors after his MLB debut?

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Soxprospects says Bowden has 1 option remaining and projects him to be in the Pawtucket bullpen. The only confirmation I can find (other than Eric Van's "40 Man Roster Squeeze" thread) is a an ESPN article written by Mike Andrews of Soxprospects.I'm not sure how he didn't burn an option in 2008. Did he spend less than 20 days in the minors after his MLB debut?

Bowden's one 2008 appearance was a start on August 30, and the PawSox season ended September 7. That timing seems to be what allows him a 3rd option still remaining.

[Puffy]

Soxprospects says Bowden has 1 option remaining and projects him to be in the Pawtucket bullpen. The only confirmation I can find (other than Eric Van's "40 Man Roster Squeeze" thread) is a an ESPN article written by Mike Andrews of Soxprospects.

I'm not sure how he didn't burn an option in 2008. Did he spend less than 20 days in the minors after his MLB debut?

Bowden's one 2008 appearance was a start on August 30, and the PawSox season ended September 7. That timing seems to be what allows him a 3rd option still remaining.

Thanks, guys. I guess there is a little more flexibility than I thought in figuring out what this guy might have to offer.

[bd11]

His mechanics and stuff indicate middle reliever filler at best. Seems like a good kid, hope I am wrong.

[crossfire]

Anyone think that he may be the PTBNL?

[Brianish]

If he is, I don't see why they'd bother waiting to add him. He's on the 40-man, so he's not Rule 5 eligible.

[bd11]

Apparently the Sox have Bowden in Venezuela pitching as a reliever. Does this make sense given their recent moves? Why not have him prepared as a starter in the likely event there are injuries. Who is the seventh starter after Wake?

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Apparently the Sox have Bowden in Venezuela pitching as a reliever. Does this make sense given their recent moves? Why not have him prepared as a starter in the likely event there are injuries. Who is the seventh starter after Wake?

He has no future as a starter in Boston. His stuff doesn't play up there. However, if he can somehow bring his HR/FB and LD rates down to league average, he could certainly be a credible 7th inning option on a pennant-winning team.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Who is the seventh starter after Wake?

Doubront. With the additions of Wheeler and Jenks, there's absolutely no reason to not have him in Pawtucket stretched out and ready to go.

[SoxScout]

He has no future as a starter in Boston. His stuff doesn't play up there. However, if he can somehow bring his HR/FB and LD rates down to league average, he could certainly be a credible 7th inning option on a pennant-winning team.

Can't that be said about any shitty pitcher? He would be good if he didn't give up homers or line drives!

As he has passed through each level of the minors his strikeout rate has collapsed and so has his K/BB. He throws his fastball 75% of the time that is 91 MPH and straight as an arrow, which is then smashed around like it's set up on a tee.

On a "pennant-winning team" I don't see how he is anything more than tick above organizational fodder, and for the Sox his claim to fame is going to be that he's the guy Theo refused to trade for Miguel Montero.

[Lose Remerswaal]

Apparently the Sox have Bowden in Venezuela pitching as a reliever. Does this make sense given their recent moves? Why not have him prepared as a starter in the likely event there are injuries. Who is the seventh starter after Wake?

Soxprospects had him listed in the AAA bullpen last week, so I guess this has already been known by some people (not me)

[EdRalphRomero]

On a "pennant-winning team" I don't see how he is anything more than tick above organizational fodder, and for the Sox his claim to fame is going to be that he's the guy Theo refused to trade for Miguel Montero.

Agreed. Doesn't it seem that it is time to move Bowden? Most likely, he is coming into the peak of his value. He could be a back of the rotation starter for a sub .500 team this year. And while that sounds like the most back-handed compliment ever -- a cost controlled 4 or 5 starter for the Kansas City Pirates, an Arizona Indians production, is worth a chip in the big game. Not saying he needs to be moved for an MLB piece, maybe a flyer on a younger higher ceiling/lower probability guy.

[Sprowl]

Agreed. Doesn't it seem that it is time to move Bowden? Most likely, he is coming into the peak of his value. He could be a back of the rotation starter for a sub .500 team this year. And while that sounds like the most back-handed compliment ever -- a cost controlled 4 or 5 starter for the Kansas City Pirates, an Arizona Indians production, is worth a chip in the big game. Not saying he needs to be moved for an MLB piece, maybe a flyer on a younger higher ceiling/lower probability guy.

It was time to move Bowden two years ago, but his value has really suffered from relentless mediocrity. Changing his set position hasn't made his 91-mph stuff any less hittable. Right now I think it's time to see whether Bowden can raise his trade value while pitching in the back of the bullpen. His stuff is limited, but he appears to have a rubber arm (no injuries that I can recall), an odd but repeatable delivery, and competent command of such stuff as he has. He can throw strikes: a decent string of games against major-league hitters could remove some of the tarnish.

[bd11]

Doubront. With the additions of Wheeler and Jenks, there's absolutely no reason to not have him in Pawtucket stretched out and ready to go.

Doubront will be in the pen on opening day.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Can't that be said about any shitty pitcher? He would be good if he didn't give up homers or line drives!

In theory, I think it might be easier for a pitcher who has demonstrated command but gives up rockets to stop being shitty than a pitcher who suppresses slugging but can't find the plate. Maybe he needs a new pitch or something -- but he's at least shown a highly repeatable delivery and is only 24. I don't see much upside beyond Dan Wheeler, either, unfortunately (who had similarly atrocious numbers in MLB between ages 21-23).

That being said, I would rather have Montero.

[shepard50]

Nice start out of the bullpen for Bowden in 2011.

So far in Pawtucket this year: 5 hits in 11.1 IP with 10 SOs and 2BBs.

Still a small sample but...nice to see the walk rate down and the K rate up.

[Puffy]

Nice start out of the bullpen for Bowden in 2011.

So far in Pawtucket this year: 5 hits in 11.1 IP with 10 SOs and 2BBs.

Still a small sample but...nice to see the walk rate down and the K rate up.

Encouraging. I wonder where he falls on the bullpen depth chart at this point. His initial appearances were longer (2 - 3 IP), but he's leading the team with 3 saves, as well.

Has anyone seen him pitch? What is he using for secondary pitches? Is it still basically fastball/slider and the occasional changeup, or does he still have his curve?