Matt Maloney Will Debut on Saturday

Alright, calm down.  I'll admit it—busted.  Nothing is official yet. 

That said, it finally looks like Reds' fans have reason to get excited over seeing a starting pitcher get the call from Louisville (rather than Homer Walker Bailey). 

Okay, okay—busted again.

I don't know if that is Bailey's true middle name, but it sure should be, considering his penchant for the base on balls. 

I was lambasted last year for calling Bailey a "bum" just before his June call-up.  I'll say it again this year.  Additionally, I just don't like the dude. 

If interested last year's article can be read here.

Matt Maloney will, thankfully, take the hill this Saturday at Great American Ballpark against the Cubbies.  And it doesn't take a soothsayer to presume as much.  

After listening to George Grande's theory during last night's debacle against the Red Birds, it makes perfect sense that Maloney will get the call.  

Maloney tossed a three-hit, no walk, complete-game shutout on Monday night.  Saturday will be his natural day to pitch.

Bailey threw last night.  He went eight innings.

If the Reds' brass were looking to call up "the bum" for the second time this season, they would have either told Louisville not to start him or to limit his work to a few innings.  Otherwise, Bailey would be pitching on three-days rest.

Not enough proof, you say?  Let's crunch some numbers.  So far this season at AAA Louisville:

Maloney: 67.1 IP, 2.00 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 58 K's versus 9 walks.  Yes!  Nine, nueve, nio (for all of Maloney's Swedish followers). 

Bailey: 59.1 IP, 3.79 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 52 K's versus 22 walks.

Matt Maloney will make his Reds' debut on Saturday, and you heard it here first.  Well, that is unless you read Hal McCoy's blog.  He beat me to the punch.  I should have written this last night.

I guess Hal wakes up before noon.