"Bowen...Bowen...Gone!"

by Nico on Aug 8, 2007 9:05 PM PDT in News

Who needs a rifle when you have a Bowen arrow? Score one for the “didn’t see that one coming” department, as Rob Bowen homered from both sides of the plate to turn a 3-3 game into a 6-3 A’s win.

Since he joined the A’s, I’ve actually liked Bowen’s swing, but like Danny Putnam before him, the nice swing kept missing or fouling balls off so you couldn’t really lavish praise on the nice swing. But on a night that almost belonged to the defensive stylings at third base of the A’s former backup catcher, Bowen stole the spotlight and the A’s trotted away with the series win.

And now a word about stupidity. Dueling stupidity. It’s fine for Ron Washington to like the bunt, but when you’re playing in Arlington, when the guy who homered his last time up is hitting, when Michael Young is on deck and a big inning looms as a real possibility, when your bullpen is missing Gagne, Otsuka, and Mahay, having been replaced by Schidt, Krapp, and Dung, you don’t play for one run and the tie in the 7th inning. And when the other team gift-wraps that out for you…You don’t throw to second, Huston. Nice recovery, though, by Street who had his old slider back. And a solid bounce-back inning for Casilla. And a save by the save-iest (my spell-checker just tried to change that to “savviest”) lefty the A’s have ever had.

Enjoy the off-day tomorrow, Oakland’s first in three weeks, and then Rob Bowen will continue his pursuit of Bonds’ record on Friday.

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Comments

I agree that Bowen has a nice swing

it certainly is not reflected in his career stats, but he is still young at 26, and been in the bigs since 22 so who knows. I feel the same about Murphy, I think he looks good at the plate, again not reflected in his stats.
Swisher does not look good and that is reflected in his stats, don't even mention DJ. I thought Brown would be called out for the 8th, surprised by the Casilla choice. I am still trying to figure out why Embree can come out time after time, throw almost all fast balls at about 93 mph and still be so damn effective.

by china bob on Aug 8, 2007 9:02 PM PDT reply actions

I too also like Murphy's swing as well

He does need to remember one golden rule: If you have to raise your hands to swing at a pitch, don't swing--the pitch is too high to be a strike.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 8, 2007 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Since I mentioned Bowen

in my analysis of this season's woes, I take all the credit for tonight's HRs!

Yaaaaaay!

Nice win. I revise my previous prediction of a 79-83 season for the Athletics. Now I believe they will end up 83-79! Over .500 again by year's end.

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Aug 8, 2007 9:03 PM PDT reply actions

It is a great thing

To finally have some offensive production out of the C position. I forgot that catchers were aloud to hit home runs...

"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch

Bring Back The Bash!!!

by Shippee33 on Aug 8, 2007 9:04 PM PDT reply actions

Only if they do it quietly.

"Who is Danny and why are we eating his cake?" -Jennifer's mom

by pam5981 on Aug 8, 2007 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions

What the heck

is a "Bowen arrow"?

Is that like a "Dodge Dart"??
8^))

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Aug 8, 2007 9:05 PM PDT reply actions

Nice win tonight. I am starting to enjoy

watching this team again. 2008 should be good if we can acquire ANY hitting since our pitching should be very solid again.

"You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?" -Happy Gilmore

by ohtobe21likehuston on Aug 8, 2007 9:15 PM PDT reply actions

i'd like to second what nico said about dinardo

(but i couldn't hear what he said).

anybody have any thoughts on dinardo in 2008?

dinardo vs. loiza vs. goo-dan vs. blanton vs. JoKe vs. harden vs. braden vs. zito (either in a cage match or being an A's starter in '08)?

Hi ho.

by danh on Aug 8, 2007 9:17 PM PDT reply actions

I like DiNardo

I think he's a great #5 starter, but not quite good enough to be a #4 on a team, like the A's, that needs a really good rotation (because the hitting isn't great). His command comes and goes a bit, but overall it seems a bit better than Braden's. Trouble is, DiNardo has NO margin for error with his location, so on a bad day (see starts against Toronto and Seattle) he's going to get rocked mercilessly.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 8, 2007 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

and your thoughts on the cage match?

Hi ho.

by danh on Aug 8, 2007 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions

I think Nicolas would win

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 8, 2007 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions

You must be moonstruck

Hi ho.

by danh on Aug 8, 2007 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Of the pitchers mentioned I would take DiNardo

if a swimsuit contest was involved.

As for 2008, I'm not so excited about Gaudin. Here are his WHIPs for every month that isn't April:

May: 1.3
June: 1.63
July: 1.87

Compared to the peripherals for his career his April would certainly seem to be a fluke. A month ago, if I had to choose between an 08 rotation featuring Gaudin/Loiaza or a rotation featuring two of DiNardo/Braden/Meyer, I would certainly have picked the former pair. Now I'm not so sure. I'm definitely not fully behind the other three - Gaudin could get better and Loaiza could have one of his famous "contract years" - but there is much that remains to be seen. At the least, I think DiNardo has proven that he can be a number five starter who is better than a number five starter.

by scromulus on Aug 8, 2007 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Gaudin's peripherals definitely signal trouble

Either he'll learn to throw more strikes (i.e., develop more command) or the peripherals will catch up to him (as is happening now). I'd just keep in mind that he is young and in his first season starting, and I'm willing to bet that his command will improve, helping to offset the regression that is--was--inevitable.

In sum, he's not as good as he was in April/May nor as bad as he was in July-early August. I think he can settle into being a solid middle of the rotation guy, though.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 8, 2007 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Small point

And when the other team gift-wraps that out for you... You don't throw to second, Huston.

Except for the fact Bowen was directing him to throw to second, so Street did exactly what he should have done in that situation.

At least Bowen's homers made up for that, and then some.

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Aug 8, 2007 9:38 PM PDT reply actions

That's true--I did notice that

on the replay. Bowen was either pointing for Street to throw to second, or he was pointing at the outfield yelling, "That's where I'm going to hit it, really far, twice!"

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 8, 2007 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Except he was pointing to center field, then. ;-)

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Aug 8, 2007 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions

So the guy has a bad sense of direction

Maybe he was yelling, "Third plate! Third plate!" That's what Cindi was yelling.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 8, 2007 9:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Cindi must've been really hungry.

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Aug 8, 2007 10:08 PM PDT up reply actions

No, she spotted Larry Davis

and Joe Blanton fighting over their dinners and had an idea.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 8, 2007 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions

next year back up?

Bowen is a good back up catcher but I don't see him as a starter. He will probably compete with a beane cheap pick up for the back up job next year. Oh by the way it could be Kendal as the back up when he doesn't get a contract offer above 2 million. Don't bash me for that but its a small possibility Kendal be signed on the low cheap fares.

by Arcman on Aug 8, 2007 9:45 PM PDT reply actions

I think Kendall would be a great backup

Kind of a player-coach, pinch runner, and brawl specialist.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 8, 2007 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions

He could teach the young guys how to swear,

and we'd never have to worry about running out of skoal. I think this is why the clubhouse has been a bit edgy since Jason left.

by scromulus on Aug 8, 2007 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Jason Kendall

MLB's first player signed specifically to be an "enforcer."

Actually, F it, just sign Marty McSorley. Anything to get him out of the commentary booth during Sharks games. You don't know the meaning of the word "homerism" until you've heard him.

by PaulThomas on Aug 9, 2007 12:05 AM PDT up reply actions

As it happens, Drew Remenda is returning.

Bottom of the 9th - Baseball photojournalism by James Venes

by Flashfire on Aug 9, 2007 12:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Hmmm Suzuki over Bowen?

I think Suzuki has failed to grind off his rough edges to become a "polished player". Of course, I'm not in the clubhouse at all, so it's hard to know what the "dynamic" of catchers should be/will be/is, but right now, I'm liking a (1) switch hitter (2) more MLB experience (3) big enough to challenge in a collision at the plate (4) obvious home run power (5) as sounds on the various interviews, good catching ability.

As Mark Ellis has proved to be a beautiful "throw in" in the Johnny Damon trade, I think Bowen may prove to be the best acquisition at catcher since Ron Hassey.

I'd give the Texan the job, right now.

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Aug 10, 2007 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions

I've actually been impressed

by Suzuki's learning curve--his blocking of balls in the dirt, his throwing, and his hitting have improved at a rate faster than I would have expected. And by all accounts he's a very hard worker. We need to know what we have come April, 2008, so I want to see Suzuki in there 5 times/week.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 10, 2007 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Sometimes money motivates people

to do better. Now that Suzuki is earning North of $300k, x-multiples of a minor league salary, he must really be concentrating.

Contrasted with Nick Swisher; hey, too much money and I cannot even strike out with panache!

Sometimes, Nick looks like the guy in the contest who must hit a baseball pitched to him out of the infield.. "Fan Fails to Win $1 Million Dollars in Hit-the-Ball Contest"...

There's Nick after swinging and missing.."OmiGAWD! How could I MISSSSSS that! I just f'd up winning ONE MILLION DOLLARS!"

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Aug 10, 2007 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Shields hits another.

by OldhamA on Aug 8, 2007 10:40 PM PDT reply actions

Stewart claimed by cubs

the A's tried to get stewart through the waiver wire in case of a late deal and Stewart was claimed by the cubs. I guess with Soriano out they are looking for some help. Stewart says he wants to stay with the A's. If the cubs don't offer anything of value to the A's than we should just keep Stewart and try to resign him in the off season.

by Arcman on Aug 9, 2007 7:52 AM PDT reply actions

Stewart says he wants to stay with the A's?

Milton Bradley is confused.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 9, 2007 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions