Rockies' Bowie hopes he has made right turn at last

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 11, 2008 at 11:28 a.m.

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Photo by AP

The Rockies' Marcus Giles, who is in a battle to win the starting job at second base, throws to first to complete a double play after forcing out Seattle's Brad Wilkerson during the fifth inning of the Rockies' 4-1 exhibition win Tuesday in Tucson.

Micah Bowie once was a top prospect in Atlanta's farm system.

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TUCSON - Left-handed pitcher Micah Bowie watched the Rockies from the visiting dugout a year ago. He didn't know anybody on the Rockies roster.

But he knew he liked the way the Rockies approached the game and made it apparent they were enjoying themselves.

"It was something you felt like you would enjoy being part of," Bowie said.

Now, instead of watching from afar, Bowie finds himself very much in position to be part of what is going on with the Rockies.

Released by Washington after having his 2007 season cut short because of surgery for a sports hernia, Bowie signed a minor league contract with the Rockies, who invited him to spring training to audition for a left-handed relief role.

So far, so good.

Bowie earned the save in the Rockies' 4-1 victory against the Seattle Mariners at Hi Corbett Field on Tuesday, leaving him unscored upon in four innings. He has allowed only one baserunner - a leadoff walk to Yung Chi Chen on Tuesday - and has struck out three.

The Rockies would like to carry at least one left-handed reliever in addition to setup man Brian Fuentes, and could carry two.

Bowie would seem to have an edge in the battle for one of those spots in a group that includes Chris George, Josh Newman and John Koronka, along with Mark Redman if Redman doesn't win a spot in the rotation.

"My job is to go out there each time and try to pitch my way onto the team," Bowie said.

Bowie did have options other than the Rockies in the offseason. He is, after all, left-handed. He does have a fastball that will get into the low 90s. And he has had some major league success, when he has been healthy.

After opening the 2006 season with Triple-A New Orleans, he finished by making 15 appearances for the Nationals and compiling a 1.37 ERA.

A year ago, before surgery cut short his season, he pitched in 30 games for the Nationals, including eight starts. Washington won seven of those starts.

Just the same, the Nationals released him, a frustration for Bowie, but that's nothing new.

"You learn when you play baseball long enough that pride is useless," Bowie said.

This is Bowie's 15th pro season. He once was one of the top pitching prospects in Atlanta's farm system. He was dealt to the Chicago Cubs in the middle of the 1999 season and greatness was predicted. But greatness never came.

Bowie said his trade, along with Ruben Quevedo from Atlanta for left-hander Terry Mulholland and infielder Jose Hernandez, was rated the worst in Cubs history.

Hard to think it really would be considered more of a bust than when the Cubs sent Lou Brock to St. Louis for Ernie Broglio.

But . . .

"I tried to battle through things and it was not good," Bowie said. "It was disappointing for them. It was disappointing for me. But I also know that God uses all things to strengthen your faith."

A left tendon problem that first flared up in 1996 continued to bother Bowie. Not wanting to miss an opportunity, Bowie tried to pitch through the problem for more than six years.

Finally, a 2003 season that began with him on Oakland's Opening Day roster ended with him undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery and being released by the Athletics.

After missing the entire 2004 season, Bowie was given a chance to rebuild his career in the Nationals organization in 2005.

Now he's trying to continue his career with the Rockies.

"I have battled injuries, gone back to the minor leagues and gotten back to the big leagues, been released again, and now I'm getting another chance," Bowie said.

LEFT-HANDED OPTIONS

The left-handed relief pitcher candidates:

* Micah Bowie, 33. Has pitched in the majors with the Braves, Cubs, Athletics and Nationals. Health is a concern. Has worked four innings, walking one, in four spring training games.

* John Koronka, 27. Has pitched in the majors with the Cubs and Rangers. Command is a concern (60 walks in 151 innings). Has allowed three runs in seven spring training innings.

* Chris George, 28. 1998 first- round pick of Kansas City. Converted to reliever this offseason in Mexico. Has allowed five runs (four earned) in five spring training innings, giving up three home runs, two to left-handed hitters.

* Josh Newman, 24. Rockies' 19th-round draft choice in 2004. Excellent changeup. Made major league debut in September. Has allowed three hits in three shutout innings during spring training.

INJURY REPORT

* Outfielder Brad Hawpe will be given a couple days off because of a strained left elbow flexor. Hawpe "tweaked" the elbow making a throw in the third inning of Monday's game.

* Right-hander Jason Hirsh, who has been scratched from two appearances because of right shoulder soreness, underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam on his right shoulder. The Rockies hope to know the results by Thursday.

* Manager Clint Hurdle underwent an MRI on Tuesday on his ankles.

QUICK HITS

* Ian Stewart hit a two-run home run off Mariners closer J.J. Putz in the Rockies' 4-1 victory against Seattle at Hi Corbett Field.

* Jeff Francis allowed one run in five innings, a Richie Sexson home run on a fastball Francis didn't get as far inside as he wanted. But he threw the same pitch, where he wanted it to be, and struck out Sexson looking in the fourth inning. Francis' focus this spring training has been in locating the ball inside against right-handed hitters.

NUMBERS GAME

5 players were sent to the Rockies' minor league complex, leaving the team with 48 players on the spring training roster. Sent out were outfielders Dexter Fowler and Joe Gaetti, catcher Neil Wilson, first baseman/third baseman Christian Colonel and shortstop Chris Nelson.

HE SAID IT

"He has done everything we hoped he could do. He has put up some good at-bats. He's showing up well."

Hurdle, on outfielder Scott Podsednik, who is hitting .400 during spring training and is battling Cory Sullivan for the fifth outfield spot.

WEDNESAY'S GAME

* Rockies (Aaron Cook) vs. Chicago White Sox (Javier Vazquez), Tucson Electric Park, 2:05 p.m. MDT. No TV or radio.

Also scheduled to pitch for the Rockies: Kip Wells, Taylor Buchholz, Ryan Speier, Victor Zambrano and Ramon Ramirez.

Rockies 4, Mariners 1

Seattle ab r h bi Colorado ab r h bi

Suzuki cf 4 0 0 0 Taveras cf 2 0 0 0

Blomquist 2b 2 0 0 0 Fowler cf 1 0 0 0

Chen 2b 1 0 0 0 Tulowitzki ss 2 0 1 0

Ibanez lf 4 0 0 0 Koshansky 1b 1 0 0 0

Sexson 1b 4 1 1 1 Helton 1b 3 0 0 0

Beltre 3b 3 0 1 0 Koronka p 0 0 0 0

Wilkerson rf 3 0 2 0 Kata 2b 0 1 0 0

Jimerson pr 0 0 0 0 Holliday lf 3 0 1 0

Putz p 0 0 0 0 Stewart 3b 1 1 1 2

Cairo ss 3 0 0 0 Atkins 3b 3 0 1 0

Burke c 2 0 0 0 Gaetti lf 1 0 0 0

Rwlnd-Smh p 0 0 0 0 Bowie p 0 0 0 0

Downs p 0 0 0 0 Spilborghs rf 2 0 0 0

Blentien ph-rf 1 0 0 0 Herges p 0 0 0 0

Hernandez p 1 0 0 0 Nelson ss 1 1 1 0

Clement ph-c 2 0 0 0 Giles 2b 2 1 0 0

Newman p 0 0 0 0

Barker lf 0 0 0 0

Iannetta c 1 0 0 0

Podsednik rf 2 0 1 1

Fracis p 1 0 0 0

Bellorin c 2 0 1 0

Totals 30 1 4 1 Totals 28 4 7 3

Seattle010 000 000 - 1 4 1

Colorado000 000 22x - 4 7 0

E - Downs. DP - Seattle 2, Colorado 1. LOB - Seattle 3, Colorado 4. 2B - Beltre. HR - Sexson, Stewart. SB - Jimerson, Podsednik. S - Taveras.

Seattle IP H R ER BB SO

Hernandez 5 3 0 0 0 3

Rowland-Smith 1 1 0 0 1 0

Downs L 1 2 2 1 1 1

Putz 1 1 2 2 1 2

Colorado IP H R ER BB SO

Francis 5 3 1 1 0 1

Herges 1 0 0 0 0 0

Koronka W 1 0 0 0 0 0

Newman 1 1 0 0 0 1

Bowie S 1 0 0 0 1 0

T - 2:08. A - 4,413.