I personally would love to see Bowden get a chance to pitch in the Olympics for the US, though I am a big fan of international play and really would like to see baseball expand in that direction. I would be nervous for sure, but I'd also love seeing him against some new competition and seeing him bring his best and pitch in a big time pressure situation. There is risk of course because you don't have organizational control over innings, pitches, situations, etc., but I would assume that any team USA coaching isn't going to jeopordize a young players health, though I don't know anything about their history in that respect. If there is any indication they abuse pitchers then you have to say no, but otherwise I think it would actually be a great development tool. And anyway, this is the last year for baseball in the olympics I beleive, so let's go out with a bang and then hope the WBC actually becomes a legitimate tournament, haha.

As far as Epstein allowing it, I don't recall any public complaints from him about Sox players in the WBC like we heard from the Yanks, though his views might have changed after a few guys took a while to get back into the swing of things after participating. So the Olympics would be Aug 13-23 with 9 games assuming team USA makes it past the first round, So probably 2 starts if Bowden does pitch. That would then bring him back with about a week left of the season before the playoffs start, whether he is still with Portland or up with Pawtucket. I think that sounds great, a nice dose of high leverage pitching, but not too much, and to be honest depending on who he faces the Olympics might be a walk in the park for him (I think the netherlands would be shaking in their wooden shoes if they had to face him), though Cuba or Japan would be a nice challenge. It doesn't seem like there will be any push to call him up to the big leagues at any point this year either so that should not be an issue. I say let him do it if he wants to and embrace it to make it a learnign experience for him.