Loading ...Last night, I dreamed that I was watching the Reds’ Opening Day game. It was a tight affair until David Weathers came in the game. The final score was Mets 28, Reds 5.
Now Weathers isn’t just limited to giving me headaches during my waking hours. This isn’t a positive development. 
Anyway, in terms of more substantial items, we have this:
No decision has been made on the Reds’ fifth starter.
But manager Dusty Baker said Bronson Arroyo’s carpal tunnel flare-up is not delaying the decision.“I’m pretty sure about Bronson. He’ll answer the bell,” Baker said.
Homer Bailey and Micah Owings are in the running. Both have pitched well. Bailey closed his spring Wednesday by allowing two runs, four hits and one walk in six innings with eight strikeouts. He was 0-1 with a 2.61 ERA.
Owings was 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA.
“I don’t want it to be an easy decision,” Baker said.
Said Bailey: “I did what I planned to do. Now, I’ll wait and see.”
Bailey was proudest of the fact he walked only four batters.
“I didn’t give up free passes,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing. My fastball command was better, and I had better control of the breaking ball.”
I’m on the record as saying Bailey needs to make this team, whether as a starter or a reliever. Nick Masset, bless his heart, is just a below-average pitcher.
In my opinion, Bailey should be the 5th starter. If he could reach his potential (still a question obviously), our team could be that much better.
Maybe we should move Owings to the outfield a la Ankiel lol
That’s a joke but honestly, it’s not that big of deal who breaks camp as the 5th starter. They’re both going to get starts and both hopefully contribute. Either one of them in our bullpen makes our bullpen better.
For non baseball reasons, I hope Masset can get through waivers and play on our AAA team. Undoubtedly they’ll be injuries this year. However, his ability is much less than that of Homer or Micah
Yeah, I’m starting to think they should just give Bailey the ball as the #5 guy. Owings will still get a fair share of starts and would probably adjust to the reliever role better. And if Bailey truly falters, Owings can fill in.
The guy really has earned it, though, and has so much upside it’s worth it IMO
Masset needs to go. Why keep a crappy pitcher just because he’s out of options? That has never made sense to me. Is he going to suddenly learn how to pitch later in the year?
I’ve asked this before and haven’t heard an answer. Has anyone objectively determined how much Owings’ bat is worth? If he gets 2.5 PAs in a start, how much offense does he bring to the table?
A corollary to that question: If Owings could hit .300 with some pop, and has a 4.25 ERA, then at what level does another pitcher have to pitch (who hits like a typical pitcher) to match Owings’ overall production?
per14,
I’m not sure but honestly I don’t imagine it to be that significant.
Besides, couldn’t he conceivably get more at bats per week pitching from the bullpen? I mean I doubt it, but it’s possible.
I’m just not sure that batting .300 with only what 60-75 at bats is going to be worth that much when his pitching might be more subpar than someone else.
very interesting question though
perhaps someone with some sabermetric experience and knowledge can provide a good answer
What an ominous dream. Dreams make puns, a dream analyst would say you were dreaming about Weathers and the opening day weather.
He wouldn’t get more ABs from the bullpen because relievers almost never bat. Even if they brought him in to pinch hit and left him in as a pitcher, he’d probably get more ABs as a starter because in addition to his 2-3 per start, he could easily get 3-4 more on his off days. That could translate to 150 or more for the year assuming he makes 30ish starts.
I guess it is time to _____ or get off the pot. Bailey isn’t pitching anymore spring games, I’m not sure about Owings.
So it isn’t like you keep the pressure on to have one more good outing to determine it.
The only decision I can imagine is whether they trade Masset or keep him but that only determines a roster spot for 2 of the 3, The starters decision should be made.
I agree with Mark. If there’s no more games/starts for these guys, it’s time to make a decision.
“They’re both going to get starts and both hopefully contribute.”
A similar comment has been made the past couple of days. Hopefully, whoever they pick to be the 5th starter succeeds royally and they don’t need the 6th guy (as much.) Obviously any of the 5 positions are at risk for injury, missing start(s), but the first four pitched almost all their scheduled starts last year. If they remain healthy, I could see the #6 guy spending most of the season in the bullpen.
well I know that relievers don’t usually hit but with Owings, I imagine that Dusty could rely less on double switching. The reason relievers usually don’t hit is because they’re just as terrible as any other pitcher at the plate
If we are expecting really anything from Micah Owings at the plate, then we might be in trouble this year. Anything we get from him should be considered a bonus. I hope he doesn’t get 150 AB’s this year. In his career he only has 116. That’s way too small a sample to generalize. Who knows I might be completely off here but I feel like if he was that good of a hitter, he wouldn’t be a pitcher.
Maybe they waited to see what Arroyo would do. If the carpal tunnel is an issue, and with that surgery is the only option and then six weeks of rehab, maybe they will both make it!!