UPDATE 10:30 PM: Bowden will be starting tomorrow in place of David Pauley.
9:40 PM: The Red Sox are recalling uber-prospect Michael Bowden, 21, from the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, the Providence Journal has learned.
Bowden, typically a starting pitcher, had been working out of the bullpen as of late in the hopes that he could help stabilize the Red Sox’s much maligned bullpen.
Backup first baseman Sean Casey was placed on the 15-day DL to make room for Bowden.
Bowden opened 2008 in Double-A Portland, and went 9-4 in 16 starts of a 2.33 ERA, 24 walks and 101 strikeouts in 124.1 innings. For Pawtucket, he was 0-3 in six starts and one relief appearance with a 3.38 ERA in 40 innings, walking 5 and whiffing 29. He had been the victim of some hard-luck 1-0 losses.
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the term “recalling” always makes no sense to me when they are bringing someone up for the first time…. needless to say i have a bowden-boner!
I was just gonna say the same thing Ric. Well, not the boner part… actually yeah, the boner part too!
Okay so um … boners aside … Bowden got called up to make a start or is he working from the bullpen? I’m a bit unclear…
Sounds like he is making the start and Pauley will be in the pen if needed. Seems a little early but its interesting that he will be eligible for the playoffs now. Wonder if they are eyeing a move to the pen…only allowing 5 walks so far in 40 innings in triple a and his frequently remarked bulldog demeanor seems to bode well…either way it is surprising to me…I thought Pauley deserved a shot although I love Bowden and am anxious to see how he does.
Bowden projects much better as a starter that a reliever I would think. He does seem to have great control, but I think his stuff would play better as a starter. I personally want to see him keep starting especially with the Buchholz debacle.
Let’s see how he does against a good hitting lineup which, like the current Red Sox, have no soft spots. He will need to be heads up every batter to win it.
I also feel bad for David Pauley who, at 14 – 4 in AAA and one of the league’s winningest pitchers, was finally getting his shot. However, he will have September for this. If I remember his earlier Fenway start, he was lights out for two innings until the rotation got to him 2nd time around. Maybe Pauley in the Pen will keep him at Fenway. Or maybe he will be showcased for a trade.
In the meantime, if Bowden shows well tonight, even when Beckett, Colon come back, he could be important in the Pen for September, and start him in 2009.