Cincinnati Reds
Back in the batter's box
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted October 1, 2009 4:18 PM ET
In the on-deck circle Thursday, Reds pitcher Micah Owings thought about that day in Atlanta early last month. On Sept. 6, Owings was hit in the head by a pitcher from the Braves' Kenshin Kawakami and had stitches in his ear to help a perforated eardrum.
Owings had made two appearances on the mound since coming back from that injury, but had yet to get an at-bat. He finally got back in the box in the third inning of the Reds' 13-0 loss to the Cardinals on Thursday.
Now pitching out of the bullpen, Owings relieved Kip Wells after the starter surrendered a grand slam to opposing starter Chris Carpenter to put the Reds in a 5-0 hole in the third inning.
Carpenter had yet to give up a hit when he faced Owings with one out in the third inning, and that, more than the incident in Atlanta, was what was on Owings' mind as he stepped into the box.
"I know the kind of guy Carpenter is and the kind of stuff he has," Owings said after the game.
Owings fouled off the first pitch he saw, a 95 mph fastball and then took the next pitch he saw - another 95 mph fastball - from the outside corner of the plate to the corner in right for an easy double.
Owings wore the new Rawlings S100 helmet that offers more protection. Five players have used it in the major leagues this season before Owings, all have stopped using it since, complaining of its size and weight -- as well as the ridicule that goes along with wearing it.
If Owings gets another bat in the final three games of this season, he'll be using it. He said he doesn't know if he'll wear it next year.
"They said they're going to make some modifications to it for next year," Owings said of the helmet. "Because my eardrum is still kind of busted and I'm just two weeks removed from having the stitches taken out, I decided to go ahead and use it for prevention."
He said the difference in just the eyeball test was so vast that he decided to wear it because it had to offer more protection.
Some players have said the size and weight are a burden when they try to run with the helmet on, but Owings said it didn't make a difference to him.
"I didn't notice it running out of the box or anything," Owings said. "It is bigger and heavier, but it seemed to stay on - I guess my head's big enough."
Part of the Adam Dunn trade with Arizona last year, Owings has had an up-and-down season with the Reds. He won the fifth starters position in the rotation out of spring. Owings has pitched in 26 games and made 19 starts. Overall, he was 7-12 with a save and a 5.34 ERA. As a starter, Owings was 6-11 with a 5.74 ERA and a 1-1 with a 3.07 ERA as a reliever.
"I had many ups and downs. I hope I learned a lot from it, I don't feel like I've ever been complacent," Owings said. "When I go home I'm going to see where I can get better going into next year and communicating with Dusty (Baker) and the staff and see where they see me in the future and focusing on that and do the best I can."
Owings says he hopes to stay in a starting role, but that's up to the organization.
"That's where I'd like to be. I'll have to hear from them what their thinking is and what they want me to do to help this club," Owings said. "I know my efficiency has to get better and that's something I'm going to focus on."
Owings has always gained more notoriety for his bat. He's hit .259/.281/.537 this season with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 54 at-bats. He's been used many times as a pinch-hitter and as a reliever was used as kind of a one-man double switch. In fact, in the game in which he was hit against the Braves he had the game-winning RBI and the win when he was hit with the bases loaded.
The hearing in his left ear is coming back gradually, Owings said. He's also watched the replays of the incident and said it was scarier for those watching than it was for him, because he never lost consciousness and could tell what was going on around him. He never lost sight on returning to the field and was happy to get another at-bat.
"I didn't know coming down the stretch if I'd have a chance to get another at-bat," Owings said. "When I got the opportunity, I was grateful for it."
Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, News
Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Dusty Baker, Kenshin Kawakami, Micah Owings, Reds
Comments (2)
I would really like to see Owings succeed as a starter, but I'm losing faith that he'll be a good one.
That being said, he is a weapon out of the bullpen, especially in late-game and extra-inning situations, where he could pitch 3, 4, and 5 innings and bat multiple times without blowing out the bullpen.
He's a good asset to have, but I'd still rather have Dunn :)
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I was wondering what was going on with Owings. Nice interview, CTR. I like Owings and I hope he can succeed here. I actually think he's more valuable as a starter with his bat because Dusty doesn't seem to have as many options with him as a one-person double switch. Then again, limiting Dusty's options might be the best for all concerned...
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