Matt Maloney or Micah Owings for the 5 spot?

[fearofpopvol1]

I know that Matt's only pitched 1 game at the Show, but do you believe he gives the Reds a better chance to win in the 5 spot than Owings does? Should he replace Owings in the rotation? Should Owings become the long man?

What say you?

[mth123]

Too soon for this IMO. Lets see if Volquez can return. After this stint he will have been on the DL for about a month so he'll need a rehab and a time to reprove himself. After that some one else may need to be sidelined. Maloney should get 3 or 4 starts before a decision is necessary. Owings pitched well on Friday too. Hard to tell anything from one start. Its good he wasn't rocked though.

[reds44]

It's going to be hard to unseat Owings because of the value his bat brings as a PH. I'm just not sure how that would work if he was coming out of the pen.

[icehole3]

I like what Owings has done, Maloney should go back down once Volquez has completed his rehab, we need pitchers on stand by and it gives the Reds chips at the poker table.

[Jpup]

Maloney should be pitching for the Reds whether it be in the rotation or in the pen.

[top6]

A lot of guys come up from AAA and have 1 or 2 good starts. Let's wait to see some more results before we crown him a starter.

[GADawg]

I haven't been disappointed in Owings at all this season and feel like he's a very capable 5th starter but at the same time if there's a better option then I'd be all for it especially if it's a left handed option. Maloney looked pretty good last night though alot of it was kind've a tight rope act.

One thing I've never understood is the whole idea that Owings has this big edge because of his bat. While it IS an edge and kinda exciting to see him come up there for some reason the reality is that you have to look at the pitching aspect first.

[icehole3]

you need several starters to compete and all the contenders have guys they can turn to in AAA, it wont kill Maloney to stay in AAA with Homer on a regular rotation until needed, he's on the 40 and just a phone call away

[Strikes Out Looking]

It's really not an either/or proposition. You need at least 6 starters to be a contender with injuries. So if Maloney pitches well consistently, he'll get his chances and then allow the Reds to possibly trade someone in the offseason. This of course is a big if based on 1 ONE 1 start--IIRC Tim Pugh pitched a one-hitter at one point, so let's just hope that Maloney pitches well his next time out.

[flyer85]

what I will say for Maloney is that he has an out pitch. His changeup is top notch.

[BCubb2003]

Originally Posted by Strikes Out Looking

It's really not an either/or proposition. You need at least 6 starters to be a contender with injuries. So if Maloney pitches well consistently, he'll get his chances and then allow the Reds to possibly trade someone in the offseason. This of course is a big if based on 1 ONE 1 start--IIRC Tim Pugh pitched a one-hitter at one point, so let's just hope that Maloney pitches well his next time out.

I agree. The fifth starter spot always has issues, with someone coming or going.

[Degenerate39]

Originally Posted by reds44

It's going to be hard to unseat Owings because of the value his bat brings as a PH. I'm just not sure how that would work if he was coming out of the pen.

Send Lincoln down and put Owings in the pen

[SunDeck]

I've lost track- what do they have now, 13 pitchers?
I think Owings is becoming a #5 guy. Or, he could be a long reliever, although I'm starting to think maybe that Lincoln or Burton are coming around a little bit to fill that role. At the same time, if I were to bring Maloney up, it would be in the pen, however at this point I don't know if they have room for him, so it seems prudent to send him back to AAA so he will keep getting innings.

He and Owings seem equal to me, so let's say the Reds are hanging around in a month. I don't think I'd mind parting with him or Maloney if it means they are bringing in some more run production, but my guess is Owings' stock might be higher.