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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 2:42 AM Thursday, July 23, 2009

LOS ANGELES — Manager Dusty Baker and pitcher Micah Owings had a long chat in his office before Wednesday's game and inquisitive reporters figured, "They are going to skip Owings' turn Sunday in Chicago."

Not the case.

With a day off in Chicago today, it made sense that Owings might be skipped, something that often happens to No. 5 starters, especially ones with a 6-10 record and a 5.33 earned run average.

Manager Dusty Baker, though, said the conversation was about what Owings can do to take what he has in the bullpen during pre-game warm-ups to the mound for games.

"We were talking pitching," said Baker of the meeting. "He has some of the best bullpens for games, as far as spotting pitches and his location. We were discussing how to take that mind-set and that relaxation across the lines and into games.

"If you can hit it in the 'pen, you can hit it in games, too," Baker added.

Volquez: Round 2

Edinson Volquez did his second bullpen session Wednesday, "And (pitching coach) Dick Pole didn't have to show me the mound or which way to throw this time," said Volquez.

He threw 45 pitches, all fastballs, but nothing hard, "About 72 percent," he said with a laugh. "Dick Pole said I threw 67 percent last time, so I upped it five."

Volquez plans to throw 65 pitches in the bullpen in Chicago Friday, "Then if everything is OK I'll go out on rehab."

The plan remains for shortstop Alex Gonzalez to leave his rehab at Class AAA Louisville and join the team today in Chicago, even though he is 1 for 9 (.111) with two walks and a strikeout.

A bit of humor I

Catcher Craig Tatum made his major-league debut Tuesday a memorable one in his first inning behind the plate, firing a called strike two to third base, believing umpire Tony Randazzo called strike three.

"At least I made SportsCenter," he said. "And I'm just glad I didn't hit (third baseman) Edwin Encarnacion in the throat. I swore he called the first pitch a strike and the second pitch a strike and that third one was strike three. He made the same sound for the first two pitches. When I threw it to third, he said, 'What are you doing?' I said, 'You said the same thing for the second pitch (a strike) as you did the first pitch (a ball).' And he said, 'I did?'

"It ain't the first time it's happened and it won't be the last time I screw up. Just more obvious because it was my debut. All you can is laugh at yourself," he said.

A bit of humor II

Drew Sutton singled in the eighth inning Tuesday, not only registering his first major-league hit, but driving in a run.

"When I got to second, the umpire (Mike Winters) told me, 'Only 2,999 to go,'" said Sutton. As usual, the veterans pulled a prank on Sutton. The baseball was tossed into the dugout to safekeeping and a player in the dugout threw a ball into the stands.

"My dad (Steve) was watching on TV and he called and said, 'Did they throw the ball into the stands?'" said Sutton. It's an old gag. They throw another ball into the seats to make the rookie believe it was the keepsake ball.

"It was awesome to finally get that monkey off my back and relax more now that it is out of the way," he said.

Quote of the day

Dusty Baker, asked if he would take home a Manny Ramirez bobblehead that fans received Wednesday: "Probably so. I like Manny. My kid (Darren) likes Manny and Manny has been very kind to my kid. And he's a guy you want to watch, every at-bat."

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Dusty likes Manny. I'm not surprised. No discipline. Like jogging to a very catchable ball in left that allowed the batter to get a hit. Anybody but the Reds would have capitalized on it. That's the same effort you see from Phillips, EE and a host of others. I'd like for us to be at least pretenders and look like a team. We look like we play, both lousy.

bob
5:45 PM, 7/23/2009

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Baker's s words to Owings must have been so very soothing. Surely Owings will now become the ace of the Reds staff. Baker is such a genius. I mean, look how his counsel helped Jay Bruce. And I'm sure he's helped WT and BP and Patterson. Yeah, the Reds coaching staff is so excellent that they are driving their team to the cellar. Watch out Pittsburgh...there's actually a team in the NL Central worse than you and their headed you way, circlin' the drain, and going straight into the toilet.

BrarHopper
2:42 PM, 7/23/2009

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Dusty also told Homer not to hit Manny Ramirez in the hand because that will only make him mad. So look what Manny did in return to poor Nick Masset last nite! Way to go, Homer! That was your best pitch of the night! By the way, my sister still has that skirt available for you.

Micah Owing
7:55 AM, 7/23/2009

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Yep,Baker would like Manny,he's cheater,just like the other cheaters he's managed, Bonds,Sosa.

jb
4:54 AM, 7/23/2009

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