Former Dirtbags Learns Patience in Minors
by Quwan Spears, Sacramento Bee
July 13, 2006
John Bowker's goal is still the same. He still envisions donning a
Major League Baseball uniform, taking aim at a pitch from an All-Star
caliber hurler and swatting the ball over the fence for a home run.
His reality, however, is that he's struggling to make his dream
materialize. In no way is the San Jose Giants outfielder having an
atrocious season. But he's not accustomed to this frustration.
Success came naturally for Bowker at Rio Americano High School and
Long Beach State. Bowker is now learning things at the Class-A level
are more challenging and demanding.
"Things are going OK," he said. "But I admit things could be going a
lot better, too. But decent is not good enough for me."
Bowker's disappointment stems from not being able to achieve preseason
goals. He told Giants manager Lenn Sakata, a former 11-year Major
League veteran and member of the 1983 Baltimore Orioles World Series
Championship team, that he wanted to hit .330 and drive in 75 or more
runs, but Bowker has not been able to deliver in his second season in
Class A.
A third-round draft choice by the San Francisco Giants in 2004, Bowker
is hitting .247this season with three home runs and 36 RBI through
Sunday and 64 games. Those stats are not acceptable for a guy who
batted .323 during his final two seasons in college, set seasons
record at Rio Americano with a .463 batting average to go with eight
home runs and 41 RBI.
"He's been very hard on himself," Sakata said. "He's dealing with not
being able to live up to his expectations. The thing I've been
stressing to him is that success is not always based on numbers and
statistics.
"Sometimes it's simply based on improving on what you did the year
before and working on trying to be a solid player. Once he realizes
that and tries not to put so much pressure on himself, things will
come together."
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Bowker admits progress starts in the mind. He
said making the jump from college to the pro level is a mental
transition. He has learned he has to be mentally prepared to play 140
games in the pros in comparison to 50 to 60 in college.
"Let's face it," he said. "Some days you're not feeling a hundred
percent to go out and perform. But you have to push yourself and
that's where the mental grind of it all is necessary."
There is also the difference in lifestyle. During his Long Beach State
stint, the team stayed in nice hotels and traveled via airplanes. Life
in the minors for Bowker consists of long bus rides and stays in cheap
motels.
"The love of the game is really needed at this level," he said. "The
glory is not there every night. We're playing most of the times in
front of a couple hundred people. So you and only you are responsible
for getting yourself ready to play."
Bowker, who turned 23 last Saturday, is also playing against better
competition.
"The best of the best" is how he describes it. "Now, I'm going against
players who were All-Conference in college and top draft choices.
Everybody has the potential to go on to the next level."
The biggest adjustment needed is from the man himself. Last season,
Bowker struggled in his first pro season. The left-handed hitter
batted as low as .190, according to Sakata. By season's end, he
increased his average to .267. The improvement helped the Giants win
the 2005 California League championship as Bowker drove in 67 runs,
fourth-best on the team, and slugged 13 home runs.
So it was understandable why Bowker came into this season with lofty
goals. He finished the second half of last season strong and figured
he could maintain that success.
But things have not gone as planned and that's where the frustration comes in.
"The toughest thing is dealing with failure," Bowker said. "Last
season, it was really bad because I just couldn't handle it.
"I hit the hitting slump, especially during the first half, and it was
very disappointing. This year, I'm dealing with it better. I know if I
keep at it things will turn around."
Sakata recommends Bowker return to his old style. "I think he needs to
go back to his regular (closed and straight up) stance," Sakata said.
"He needs to find a routine and stick with it. Panicking and changing
things only makes things worst.
"But the thing I like about John is that he's a hard worker," he
added. "He has all the potential in the world to be a good serviceable
ballplayer, one that can hit and play good defense. If he focuses, he
can do it."
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