Rotation being mismanaged

[lollipopcurve]

OK, little rant here.

Why is Owings going today and not Ramirez? We already know -- though the Reds are acting like they're keeping it secret -- that Ramirez will take Volquez's turn on Saturday. So, let's dispense with the amateurish attempt at guarding information for the purposes of keeping the opposition off-balance -- it's embarrassing, really.

Ramirez is already on long rest. Get him in there.

Owings is on regular rest, after throwing 85 pitches on short rest. He should get an extra day and pitch on Friday.

That would allow Arroyo to get the extra day Baker claims he wants him to have and pitch on Saturday. Cueto, as scheduled, on Sunday.

The best move, for the short term and long term, is to disable Volquez and promote a reliever, so you've got a full BP backing up Ramirez (today, as I'd have it) and Owings tomorrow (as I'd have it).

Instead, we get a short bullpen and less rest for Owings and Arroyo -- while the team diddles around with yet another injured player who they refuse to put on the disabled list.

[Falls City Beer]

Why is Owings going today and not Ramirez?

Because Owings has a chance to actually win the game.

[lollipopcurve]

Because Owings has a chance to actually win the game.

Don't kid yourself -- Ramirez is in the rotation right now. He's going to start Saturday.

[Falls City Beer]

Don't kid yourself -- Ramirez is in the rotation right now. He's going to start Saturday.

Better Saturday than against the Phils. The Reds' offense can easily keep up with Cleveland's dogcrap pitching.

[Kc61]

Don't kid yourself -- Ramirez is in the rotation right now. He's going to start Saturday.

Owings is on full four days rest. He is a regular starter in the rotation. Why not pitch him?

The Reds need to start winning home series. They are in a rubber game against the world champs. Why pitch a rookie right up from AAA today? Why not pitch the regular rotation guy with regular rest?

If Volquez can't go Saturday, there will be no available starter with four days rest. So Ramirez will have to pitch. But why advance him when a regular guy is ready?

[joshnky]

It seems to make perfect sense to me.

[lollipopcurve]

Owings is on full four days rest. He is a regular starter in the rotation. Why not pitch him?

The Reds need to start winning home series. They are in a rubber game against the world champs. Why pitch a rookie right up from AAA today? Why not pitch the regular rotation guy with regular rest?

If Volquez can't go Saturday, there will be no available starter with four days rest. So Ramirez will have to pitch. But why advance him when a regular guy is ready?

1. Owings is coming off an outing in which he was on short rest. He's coming off a season in which he couldn't pitch because of shoulder problems. Give him an extra day.

2. Ramirez is already on extra rest, and he'd been pitching well in AAA. Why ice him more?

3. Baker wanted an extra day for Arroyo. You get that by going Ramirez-Owings-Arroyo instead of Owings-Arroyo-Ramirez.

It's about managing a staff to keep guys fresh. Not cherrypicking matchups or winning the series you're presently in. Long view here, people, long season. Matter of philosophy, I guess.

[Team Clark]

Why is Owings going today and not Ramirez?

'Cause he's scrappy?

[traderumor]

If Dusty is so concerned about Arroyo getting an extra day, all he has to do is flip flop Arroyo and Ramirez. Owings is now on regular rest. I think the benefit of an extra day is being greatly overstated as the premise for the rant.

[lollipopcurve]

If Dusty is so concerned about Arroyo getting an extra day, all he has to do is flip flop Arroyo and Ramirez. Owings is now on regular rest. I think the benefit of an extra day is being greatly overstated as the premise for the rant.

That's why I say it's a matter of philosophy. I'll err on the side of extra rest every time.

[Kc61]

1. Owings is coming off an outing in which he was on short rest. He's coming off a season in which he couldn't pitch because of shoulder problems. Give him an extra day.

2. Ramirez is already on extra rest, and he'd been pitching well in AAA. Why ice him more?

3. Baker wanted an extra day for Arroyo. You get that by going Ramirez-Owings-Arroyo instead of Owings-Arroyo-Ramirez.

It's about managing a staff to keep guys fresh. Not cherrypicking matchups or winning the series you're presently in. Long view here, people, long season. Matter of philosophy, I guess.

I just don't know enough about Owings' shoulder condition to comment on that. But normally, I would pitch the guy on four days rest. That goes for Arroyo Friday too. Sometimes extra rest can throw a pitcher off just as much as short rest.

The bullpen should be pretty well rested, so if Owings goes six good innings, I wouldn't hesitate to give Burton a couple of innings today. He looked very good in the 16 inning game, not sure he has pitched at all since.

My quibble with Dusty today isn't the pitching. It's that Dickerson isn't in the lineup. Reds should use three lefty bats against Blanton, Dickerson has looked better lately, this was a game to use him. Nix could play first, Dickerson left.

[lollipopcurve]

My quibble with Dusty today isn't the pitching. It's that Dickerson isn't in the lineup. Reds should use three lefty bats against Blanton, Dickerson has looked better lately, this was a game to use him. Nix could play first, Dickerson left.

Agree that Dickerson needs a start. I'd give Bruce or Taveras the day off -- they both need it.

[Danny Serafini]

That goes for Arroyo Friday too. Sometimes extra rest can throw a pitcher off just as much as short rest.

Agree. Arroyo's said before he'd rather go on short rest. Giving him an extra day off might just result in him being less sharp. No reason to throw him out of his routine.

[HeatherC1212]

I would have had a problem with the pitching if Micah had gone yesterday but since he's on normal rest pitching today, I have no problem with how the starting rotation has gone this week. The fact that they're erring on the side of caution with Volquez right now doesn't bother me either because I'd rather them do that and him miss the start than watch him try to make the start on Saturday and have to leave again. I'm going to that game and I'd rather not watch the starting pitcher have to come out of the game early.

[OnBaseMachine]

My quibble with Dusty today isn't the pitching. It's that Dickerson isn't in the lineup. Reds should use three lefty bats against Blanton, Dickerson has looked better lately, this was a game to use him. Nix could play first, Dickerson left.

I agree. I would've started Dickerson in CF today. Or in LF with Nix playing first base.