"Joey Votto spoke with Edinson Volquez a bit, and then wanted a report from Reds pitching coach Dick Pole.

"He threw at 72 percent," Pole said of Volquez.

"What's he going to be, a September call-up?" Votto said.

Votto was having some fun with Volquez, but the Reds pitcher is discovering how serious an undertaking it is to come back at midseason after being shut down for six weeks because of tendinitis in his right elbow.

Volquez, a 26-year-old right-hander, probably will return to the Reds in the second week of August. He had his second mound session Wednesday and .threw 45 pitches - all fastballs - at about three-quarters speed.

"It felt great," Volquez said. "No pain or anything. I didn't throw hard."

Volquez, who has been on the disabled list since June 2, will throw again on Friday. His pitch count will increase to 60-65, and he'll throw with greater intensity and mix in some change-ups.

The next step after that isn't entirely clear. But it is clear that Friday's session won't be followed by a minor-league rehabilitation start.

"We'll see how he gets through Friday," Pole said. "We may have him do something like throw (batting practice) on Monday."

Volquez is likely to throw breaking pitches in Monday's session. Pole said he will need at least three minor-league starts before rejoining the Reds.

The club doesn't want to put a date on Volquez's return, but if he goes on a rehab assignment, three starts would take him to Aug.?10 or so.

His progress has been slow but sure.

"At least I know where the mound is now," Volquez said, kidding about his long layoff. "Last time, Dick had to show me where it was."

NO SKIPPING: Reds manager Dusty Baker had pitcher Micah Owings in his office for a long talk Wednesday.

With an off day Thursday, it was reasonable to assume the Reds might skip Owings . in the starting rotation. He's given up seven runs in each of his past two starts.

The Reds aren't planning on doing that, however.

"We were just talking pitching," Baker said."