The Boston Globe recently published a piece on Michael Bowden and reported that over his last 10 starts for Double-A Portland, Bowden’s gone 5-1 with a 1.40 ERA. He also boasts an ability to keep the ball down, having surrendered just one home run in his last 60.1 IP, three in 82 innings. Not bad for a 21-year old.
Despite his young age, his 2.20 ERA speaks to the fact that Bowden has come along tremendously since being drafted in the 2005 first draft out of a high school in llinois. Remember, this is the man that had no problem with Lancaster, starting eight games with a 1.37 ERA before being bumped up to Portland. As a 20-year old, he had a 4.28 ERA the rest of the way in Portland. Pitches with a few extra years on him don’t have statistics as good as he does in Portland.
We’ve seen the Red Sox reach down to Double-A when needed, and this year saw Justin Masterson do that. Masterson has taken the league by storm and has a 3.00 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 36 innings at the major league level. Even though he’s an impressive 4-1, he’s not likely to stick once Bartolo Colon returns from the disabled list so the Red Sox can more aggressively monitor his pitch count.
Who’s to say that Bowden can’t follow Masterson in making a rapid rise to the top? The Red Sox are so steeped in pitching talent in the minor leagues that it’s hard to fathom him being called upon for an emergency start later in the year, but stranger things have happened. If he continues on the roll he’s at, he’ll find himself in Pawtucket very soon.
He could also find himself on another team in a month. It is no secret that Bowden is now the king of all Red Sox minor league prospects with Masterson having hit the big leagues. Even though it’s always tough to trade a young pitcher with the numbers Bowden has, the Red Sox are one of the teams that has the necessary pitching depth to make such a trade should events warrant it. There are rumors flying that the Cleveland Indians love the potential players they could get back from Boston in a C.C. Sabathia trade (a trade I am against for a multitude of reasons) with Bowden being the key.
Even if we have no interest in Sabathia, who’s to say we couldn’t get a high impact reliever (Brian Fuentes?) with a deal that involves Michael Bowden? Or what about in the offseason, acquiring one of the better minor league catchers? Or packaging him to dump Julio Lugo? The list goes on.
Or maybe we keep Bowden. He breaks into the big leagues next year and we have a bonafide starter to count on in 2010. That gives us Beckett, Matsuzaka, Masterson, Lester, Buchholz and Bowden to play with (assuming ageless wonder Tim Wakefield retires). If there was ever a reason to go to a six-man rotation, this is it.
But it’s not going to happen, which means one of two things. The first is that one of the above becomes a reliever (and we all know who that would be: Justin Masterson) or one of the above is traded. For the least impact on the major league club this year and the next couple of years, Michael Bowden is the logical answer to the piece most likely to be traded.
It’s certainly snuck up on us, but this is the last full week of June. That means the calendar flips to July, and with that brings a lot of trade rumors. Will the rumors live up to the billing? They never do. But one name to keep a close eye on in rumors involving the Red Sox are Michael Bowden.
If we trade Bowden, it’s for a clear need at a position that we aren’t steeped in. It would be for a quality player. Quality begets quality. However, if you keep Bowden… well, there are certainly worse things that could happen. If Bowden is kept, on the track he’s on, we’re going to have to move someone else even if Tim Wakefield retires. Perhaps we could allow Josh Beckett to walk when he’s a free agent after 2010, but I don’t see that happening.
If you put a gun to my head and force me to choose which avenue to go with Bowden, I say that we should deal him for a need that will give our major league club a boost for this and the coming years. (In other words, no Eric Gagne-type deal.) But hey, if we hang onto him, we have tremendous depth to battle potential attrition and injury. It’s a good dilemma to have.
What do you think? Should Bowden stay or go? This year? Next year?
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Yes. SP is our strength, and Bowden is a big part of that strength. Trade him? Would Bowden + Lowrie + Moss help the team compete better than CC? Probably.
The question is, “long term, does Bowden = CC (or Bedard)”? Does Masterson or Buchholz? All things considered, the answer seems to be “pretty darn close”
Post Schill, Wake, perhaps Bartolo lineup, say 2011? Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lester, Buchholz, Masterson, Bowden, Zinc, Pauley, Richardson, Hagadone, etc., and the depth continues. Besides, CC could win a batting title at L.A.
Depending on Ortiz’s recovery process, I think he need to hold a guy like Bowden (along with Crisp) just in case you can trade for some solid hitting. I wouldn’t want to trade a prospect for bullpen help because bullpen help is so fluky to begin with. I’d rather have Masterson or Bowden log innings in relief versus trading for someone who may or may not do well in high-pressure situations (like Gagne).
Fenway is a pressure cooker and the recent batch of home-grown talent seems to have thrived well in it.
Keep him for now. I don’t see anyone out on the trade market right now that would be worth giving up Bowden. It might be interesting to see who becomes available over the winter and another power bat would be something this team could use then. But if you’re going to trade a prospect of Bowden’s caliber you need to get someone back who’s going to make an impact and be around for a few years.
Keep this kid. He is a bulldog who loves to pitch and has three above avg pitches with his curve being a plus-plus. I would much rather move multiple players including Lowrie, Moss, Carter, Reddick, etc. (Kalish, Lars, are the other two I’d hate to see leave). I think we have enough ammo to get players without surrendering Bowden. He is not on the 40-man so I think we’ll see him in Pawtucket by mid-July (which sucks because I’m moving to Portland next week) and making spot starts next year. I’m not really sure what this team will need other then a set-up guy, with the way MDC, Aardsma and Hansen have been going we may just need one more experienced set-up guy in the pen.
Evan why are you so against the CC Sabthia deal?? The former cy young award winner would do wonders over here. Ya we all know that he is heavy and heavy pitchers are more pron to breaking down but he shows no signs of that in the past and this season as well. I feel that if we could deal bowden and not touch any of the guys that we have been so far in the majors that would be a great deal for the red sox.
Jrod,
Sabathia is still rather young and he does have a very durable body, but there have been questions as to his ability to perform in the clutch. He himself admitted he tends to speed out of control. In addition, he’s logged a lot of miles at a young age on the arm, and his body type doesn’t bode well for future success. He may very well be on his way to the Hall, but more pitchers have broken down than made it to the Hall.
Factor in the price needed for C.C. and the amount of money he would want to resign plus our depth at the pitching position and I’m not sure I think it’s worth it.
I’m with you Evan, CC just does not interest me as much as a person with his track record (minus playoffs) should. Also with his moon shot homerun the other day and the fact that he likes to hit you may see him walk (although you would get picks) to an NL team if they pony up the money in the off-season. Our starting pitching depth is our strength and I am all for just adding a set-up man, not at the cost of Bowden though.
When you say “The first is that one of the above becomes a reliever (and we all know who that would be: Justin Masterson) or one of the above is traded” you make the assumption that all of the above remain consistently healthy, not to mention effective, which I think is a dicey assumption. I’m in favor of keeping Bowden.
I am absolutely making that assumption. I later say “But hey, if we hang onto him, we have tremendous depth to battle potential attrition and injury. It
As of right now … I don’t think trading Bowden would be a smart move … we are sitting pretty with good quality pitching depth and I dont think we need a CC Sabathia right now … Sabathia is obviously very good but he has his question marks (especially long term) … If this team didn’t have a Beckett I would say yeah we should be looking for a true ace at all costs … but we do … and we have guys to back him up … so unless something really very very good comes up I don’t think we need to be trading our top prospects
I think the best thing to do would be to hang on to Bowden. He is still young, so he is still at least 2 years away from being a full time starter. We should keep him in the minors and open up 2010 with him in the bullpen and the rotation being Beckett Matsuzaka Lester Buchholz Masterson
hello all michael bowden is a real cool guy i went to the state play offs with him in high school
BRING BOWDEN TO DETROIT…GO MIKE!!!!
Way to go mike….1-0 woohooooo
frm
timo
Congratulation Mike on your debut! We were all cheering for you in Auroro! Joe Hackett’s Mom says HI and I am so proud of you! Wabounsie High School is proud too! Best of Luck and Joey says HELLO! Watched the game with Brendan as Joe is in St Louis!
Congrats big guy.
I played against him/you all throughout high school and if it’s one thing this kid is, it’s a resilient and fierce competitor.
Everything I have ever hard was about, was how crazy his work ethic was as well.
Well he’s my age (21), and when the rest of us are getting into the nightlife, bar scene, he’s making his major league debut at Fenway. Granted it was against my team (jerk), I watched and subliminally hoped for a positive outcome for the guy, while still hoping that maybe someone would make an error in the field, thus deterring the responsibility.
He has come a long way, and I’ve read plenty of info on his progress with changing his delivery and maintaining his consistency in both delivery and outcome. He obviously has maintained/lived up to his hard working reputation and I’m really glad to have been able to compete against such a well rounded and gifted athlete.
Now if only he could start hitting, lol, that way I can say I struck out a real big time MLB hitter.
But as far as the trade talk goes, the Red Sox really do not need any more pitching. They have always recently been filled to the brim with excess elite pitching.
And of course Beckett (god forbid for you red sox fans sake) could leave, Wakefield could retire, but we knew that.
And there is always that issue of injury and longevity amongst pitchers, but I still feel that without Bowden at there disposal at any moment, the Red Sox won’t be any worse. Nor do I don’t think keeping him will put you over the immediate edge.
A little more development and getting that GO/AO ratio a little more groundout will do him a great service and possibly get him to were he should be, a consistent starting role in a rotation (wherever that may be).
Personally I agree with most of you on the trade issue however, I think that if the offer is right and you receive a great bat with promised longevity, go for it. Otherwise, he’s simply too good for your future (whether that be in the rotation or as a big trade piece later).
I’m really glad you made it man. Was worried you made the wrong decision in deciding to forgo Arizona State, as I have seen plenty of guys go into that farm system and never make it out with much more than stories and a lot of good times. As much as we do not want to admit it, our world is about money however, and I’m glad everything has worked out for you…
A $750,000 signing bonus and no college loans wouldn’t be to bad right now.
(I was referring to how college leads to a career to perpetuate yourself/family money, where as the farm system can end at any moment and basically get you nothing in the long run, when mentioning our world revolving around money, not referring to money being the basis of his decision to forgo AZ)
Congrats again man. Represent! lol
(I was referring to how college leads to a career to perpetuate yourself/family money, where as the farm system can end at any moment and basically get you nothing in the long run, when mentioning our world revolving around money, not referring to money being the basis of his decision to forgo AZ)
Congrats again man. Represent! lol