The curious case of Micah Owings

1) I agree with you wholeheartedly. Nearly every pitcher played SS/CF when they weren’t pitching. Why is that? Because they were the best athletes on the team. There’s no reason for thinking Ankiel’s some sort of miracle case other than “conventional baseball wisdom”, i.e. old people clinging to old ideas.

2) When did we get Digg/Facebook/Buzz tags?

What about a No. 5 pitcher who also provides a dangerous bat at the no. 9 spot in the batting order during each of his starts? That may make up for some his pitching deficiencies if he can drive in a run or two every third start. That would be the best case scenario in my mind. He is already a pinch hitter on the bench, even as the No. 5 starter, so his only value as a hitter is if he can win a starting position in the field outright. Where would that be?

Love the picture – perfect!

I don’t think I’d want to look at Owings as an everyday option in LF, but I sure wouldn’t mind considering him as a serious RH pinch hitter off the bench and occasional OF starter. It gives the team more options. His versatility can be very valuable. I’d start him in the swing role out of bullpen and let him play the field from time to time. If the Reds decide to pick up a CF from outside the organization, then I’d even consider him as a part-time platoon choice with Dickerson in LF.

Putting a guy on the mound every fifth day and on the field every other day is asking for a trip to the DL. I think we have two choices in Owings:

1) He clearly wins the spot as fifth starter and can also be used as a pinch hitter.

2) He is just as capable as another guy for the #5 spot in the rotation, he can then be used as the swing man and a bench opption for 1B and OF.

Of course with both scenarios, Owings is our DH when we hit the road for interleague play.

From his wikipedia page

Owings holds Georgia’s high school home run record with 69, fourth in the nation only to Drew Henson, Jeff Clement, and James Peterson.

Generally speaking, good pitching is more valuable to a team than good hitting, no? That is to say that every team is always looking for more pitching and more quality depth at pitching, right? Of course, you need good hitting too, but pitching is at a premium. I wonder if this is where folks like Sheldon are coming from in thinking of Owings’s primary role in the organization as a pitcher. Generally, I’d agree: if Owings can become a solid starting pitcher, then he may be more valuable in that capacity than in the field.

So why not seek to develop his talents as a pitcher as far as they might go and then, if they don’t appear to be panning out in a way that would benefit the big club, look to convert him to the field? After all, Ankiel only switched to the OF after realizing he’d never make it as a pitcher. Of course, I’m also assuming that it’s easier for a young and talented athlete to pick up a corner OF position than it is to pick up pitching.

I look at it this way:

The Dunn trade was a joke. I mean, really, a pitcher who’s no better than 3 other 5th starters already in the system; a guy coming off injury; a C/OF who isn’t really that good; and $2M cash for Adam Freakin’ Dunn??? The only way this starts to make sense is if Jockety sees Rick Ankiel v.2.

Unless they make a big move for a COF this offseason, I really really think they’ll give Owings every opportunity to be the LF next year.

got the sherrif’s notice and everything.

Slyde please move out of Ada.

I was shocked the Reds were able to save 2 million/ receive a prospect like Micah Owings and a couple interesting throw ins for a 40 day rental on Dunn.
Not as good as the insanity of the White Sox trading for Griffey- but Jockety did a nice job with both trades.

Woman, 89, arrested for keeping football

Great Castillo is felxible and young, sure Owings is a big pickup and could be a great pitcher in this league, sure Dallas Buck will probably never be good but has a catchy Texas name…….

But Adam Dnn could donkey punch a bitch in the 12 row…..that says something about the man.

First, I miss Adam.

Secondly, Buck was a player the Braves wanted for Texiera (sp?), he was also first round material until concerns about his elbow prompted him to slide, and he’s about 2 to 3 years from MLB….in other words he may the steal of the trade.

Lastly, Owings has a pretty good slider and throws in the mid-90’s (according to BP). For that reason I submit he may be a lot better than a number 5 starter (dare I say Matt Garza? I won’t dare, but I just did). Since, there is no possible way Edison averages 7 hits per nine innings next year and the probability is that Johnny Cueto’s tiny body will shatter when he’s asked to pitch another 170+ innings, Owings could become VERY important to my summer. i think, Harang bounces back, and the healthy Owings could really solidify a top 3 in the rotation with Arroyo the 4th starter, and a collection of serviceable stiffs battling for the fifth.

Still, the reds could always make happy by acquiring these two pitchers and re-signing Adam