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Bowen Brings The Crowds
August 25, 2002
by Jeff (Compton)

"We saw him throwing BP to some high school kids, and we just couldn't believe it." Compton Crips GM Jeff Nyveen was amazed at Bowen's ability to spot every pitch over the plate, in the EXACT same place and at the EXACT same speed EVERY time. The man knew how to throw it right down the pipe.

Nyveen knew that Bowen would be a good fit on his minor league team, the Galveston Gas Passers. "Minor league baseball is boring. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a pitcher who can generate some excitement by coming in and igniting the opponent's offense? What a treat for the fans."

In a shrewd marketing move, Bowen was signed to a 10-year contract on the spot and reported to the Compton Crips Spring Training facility in Arizona. He immediately made an impact, throwing BP every day and then coming in to blow every single game on the Cactus League schedule. After Spring Training, Bowen was sent down to Galveston and became the closer. Bowen was a perfect fit on a team full of Dicks.

Bowen is called into almost every Galveston game. "We don't want the fans to get cheated," Nyveen says. Instead of grooving every pitch down the middle, Bowen often builds the drama by walking three to lead off the inning or throwing the occasional pitch to the backstop. "The man knows how to generate excitement," Nyveen admits.

As a reliever, Bowen currently leads the league in walks allowed (193), blown saves (12), home runs allowed (54), wild pitches (47), and is fourth in the league with 18 losses. Bowen's appearances seem to excite Galveston hitters, as they are rewarding him with the best run support in the league.

Bowen is now one of the most popular players in the International League. Fans flock to every Galveston game, knowing that Bowen will probably come in and give up a tape-measure shot to lose the game. "He is just so cool!" one excited fan said after Bowen blew a 14-6 lead last week.

As Bowen's ERA soared, so did attendance. Galveston is now one of the minor leagues' most profitable clubs. "I can't give him enough credit," says Nyveen. "The worse he does, the more popular he gets." The Gas Passers are planning a Ryan Bowen day on the last home date of the season.
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