Owings is a key cog wherever he plays
Chris Owings has moved around so much for the Diamondbacks this season that he’s starting to grow handles. He’s like a human set of luggage on wheels.
To call him versatile is an understatement.
If it weren’t for Owings’ ability to not only master the challenge of being Arizona’s starting shortstop, but to be proficient enough to also make regular appearances at second base and right field, the Diamondbacks might not be one of the biggest surprise stories in baseball.
Not only has been a dependable defensive player at each one of his stops, but he’s carried with him a sizzling hot bat to every position he’s played. Manager Torey Lovullo has been able to play Owings anywhere without it ever coming back to bite him or the ball club.
One can make an argument that as All-Star worthy as a handful of certain performers have been – from first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and third baseman Jake Lamb to pitchers Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray – Owings could join them in the conversation for the team's Most Valuable Player honors.
Think of where they’d be without him?
Entering Friday’s game against the visiting Phillies to open a 10-game homestand at Chase Field, Owings ranked third on the team behind Goldschmidt (64) and Lamb (61) in RBIs with 43. His career-high nine home runs were also third behind Goldschmidt (18) and Lamb (16).
He’s been exceptionally hot at home, where the Diamondbacks have been absolutely torrid. In his first 33 games at Chase Field, Owings was hitting .342 with five homers and 30 RBIs. He was hitting .291 overall, which isn’t too shabby, either, for Mr. Jack of all Trades.
That’s the thing, though. Everyone
always knew Chris Owings could handle a bat. They just weren’t sure how much they could really trust him with a glove. He’s earned that trust – and more – this season. And believe it or not, he’s actually happy about being asked to roam from one position to the other.
That’s not always the case with a 25year-old kid.
“Oh, I love it,” Owings said about constantly being on the move. “I mean, if you probably would have told me last year, ‘Hey, you’re going to be the starting center fielder on Opening Day,’ I would have said, ‘Dude, what are you talking about?’
“But I feel like that helped me out. If I could be confident and comfortable playing center field last year on Opening Day, I feel I can move around and play right, second, short, whatever the case may be.”
Owings hasn’t played any center field yet this season, although he did log a couple innings in left. He knew he was going to cover a lot of ground, however, based on a conversation he had with Lovullo before the start of spring training.
“Torey sat me down in spring training and basically ran me through the scenario of how things have gone up to this point, and it’s been awesome for me,” Owings said. “He told me I’d be moving around a little bit, that I’d primarily be playing short, but if the time comes and guys need some days off, maybe it would be best if certain days I’m in right field or giving Dru (Brandon Drury) a day off at second.
“It was really awesome just to hear that communication, and that’s how it’s played out. The biggest thing is it just helps the team. I’m happy to do it. I told Torey I just want to be in the lineup, and it’s worked out so far.”
Lovullo makes it a point to try and always give his flexible players a couple days’ notice before moving them from one position to another. If the manager doesn’t do it himself, he has one of his assistants get the message out to the player.
“Yeah, there’s always someone after games who will tell you where you’re playing the next day, and that’s all I really need to know,” Owings said. “That’s peace of mind, to know where you’ll be playing the next day. It’s nice to know where you’re going to be at and what glove you’re going to use the next day.
“It gives you a little confidence and a little comfort about where you’re going to be running out to the next day.”
Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Wednesday night between 7-9 on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.