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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 8:00 AM Friday, May 22, 2009

CINCINNATI — Homer Bailey is coming to town and he'll walk to the mound Saturday night in Great American Ball Park and pitch against the Cleveland Indians.

Edinson Volquez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday after an MRI and will be skipped at least one turn with stiffness is his back.

Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker said Volquez's MRI showed no structural damage, but the team thought caution is the right course.

"It's muscular and nothing in his vertebrae, so that's positive news," said Baker. "We decided that instead of sending him out there at 75 or 80 percent, we'll skip one start, get him well and back to 100 percent."

Bailey, 22, battled for the No. 5 spot this spring and pitched well enough to win it, but the club decided to keep Micah Owings, who gave up five runs and six hits in three innings Thursday in a 12-5 loss to Philadelphia.

"Hopefully Homer can up here and do the same thing he has been doing at Louisville — good except for a couple of outings," said Baker. "We need him and he needs it and wants it."

Bailey's numbers are not glossy at Louisville: 3-5 in eight starts, 4.57 ERA, nine homers in 45 1/3 innings, 17 walks, 43 strikeouts.

The Reds' No. 1 draft pick in 1994 and a native of La Grange, Tex., was 0-6 with a 7.93 ERA in eight starts for the Reds last year and was 4-7 with a 4.77 ERA in 19 starts at Louisville last year.

Interleague chatter

With interleague play beginning for the Reds tonight against Cleveland, Baker was asked if either league had an advantage.

"Depends on how familiar you are with the opposition. And it depends upon whose ballpark you're playing," said Baker, referring to the fact the designated hitter is used in American League parks and not used in National League parks, meaning no DH this weekend.

"That's huge," he said. "It's so huge they give that advantage to whoever wins the All-Star game."

Deuce for Bruce

Jay Bruce was 4 for 26 (.154) on the six-game trip and knew exactly what he was doing.

Before the start of the three-game home series with the Phillies, he said, "I can get one hit, but that second one is tough. Oh, yeah, absolutely, the last few games I've gotten away from my approach, which is quality at bats. If I do that, whatever happens is what is going to happen. I need to give myself the best chance and get back to that. Yeah, I'm getting myself out."

Baker sees the same things.

"Patience is the one big thing Jay has worked on. And that's what he lacks. Right now they are preying on his own lack of patience."

Patience arrived Wednesday and Thursday when Bruce banged two hits in each game.

Quote of the day

"Daddy's about to hit in the batting cage. Do you have ear plugs?" — Jerry Hairston Jr. to his 3-year-old son, Jackson.

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Gee James Bradley I didn't know that you were the President of the Micah Owings Pathetic Fan Club. I don't need to back up my claim that Owings isn't mentally fit to be a starting pitcher because HE PROVES IT HIMSELF every single time he pitches and gets hammered. Why do you think the Diamondbacks were so eager to get rid of him?? Keep watching-Owings won't have an ERA below 5.00 and he will keep piling up the losses.

J.Mark
5:00 AM, 5/25/2009

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I still say that Owings tagged J Mark's mom.

Jeff
5:47 PM, 5/22/2009

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J Mark, you ask "When will Dusty figure this out?" about Owings. You have repeatedly made the same claim about Owings being mentally incapable to be a ML pitcher. But no matter how many times you've been asked or challenged to back up your claim, you go hide in a corner. You've never ONCE answered the challenge. You hide in the anonymity of the internet. That's pure cowardice. Are you a man or a name-calling little girl? Back up your claim or STFU. We're sick of your whinny BS here!

James Bradley
12:55 PM, 5/22/2009

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I would take Owings any day over Homer. Homer has shown he is not mentally reay to be a major league pitcher. Going 0-6 last year with the club and 7-12 in the minors with a 4.67 ERA the past two years is not major league quality. Owings needed a extra day of rest after coming in for relief the other night. If they knew soon enough, they should have brought whomever up for Volquez and pitched them in Owings spot and pushed everyone back a day.

3 Redlegs
10:17 AM, 5/22/2009

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Owing's outing was based on the fact that he was facing one of the best offenses in the league. The Phillies will tear up most every pitcher ... especially a league average one like him.

iamwallaman
9:09 AM, 5/22/2009

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