Bowden

[UncleDon]

Does anyone have any thoughts on him? Does he stick with the team, or was he a flash in the pan? Was there any suggestion of a change in his delivery or approach that made him succeed in his second Cub stint?

[Cubswin11]

I expect him to be in the mix, along with about 10 other guys, for one of the bullpen spots in ST.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He's a bad right-hander with a mediocre fastball and ties to the organization's new execs. Not only will that probably guarantee him a spot next year, but I think they are targetting a few more guys with that description.

[UncleDon]

I think he had lost some velocity at some point, but he has been solid for two months. At what point does your performance start to count? He has made around 20 appearances with a whip of close to 1... Anyway, I was wondering if he has made some adjustment that may lead to long term success.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Nothing special, but then again, most of our options aren't. If be fine with some reclamations like Jenks, Lidge, or Moylan, but the majority of our pen will be pieced together from within and Bowden has as good of a chance as anyone.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

His second stint with the Cubs:

 

27 IP, 21 K, 11 BB, 2 HR

 

His WHIP was heavily influenced by an unsustainable .200 BABIP.

 

That's probably enough to earn him a spot in the back of the bullpen next year as a mop-up guy, but I don't expect anything more than that from him.

[Guest]

I've always liked Bowden. He has a good pedigree and never got much of an MLB shot, and still just turned 26. As a Cub he was pretty effective. BB rate and HR were a little high, and the K rate isn't out of this world, but I don't see a problem with him being near the head of the pecking order for middle relief next year.