Ryan Doumit is a Catcher in the NL

by GTrain on Jun 5, 2009 11:44 AM EDT Comment 15 comments

For the one millionth time. Ryan Doumit's numbers are good offensive numbers for a catcher, but very average for a 1B. By moving him to 1B we would have an average 1B under contract occupying a premium hitting positionand average catchers. This is not beneficial compared to having an above average offensive catcher and either Adam at 1B, taking a look at our younger guys at 1B or someone we acquire in a trade or eventually move far down the road (Pedro). It is common knowledge that in the AL he'd DH, but we're not in the AL, so his bat has the most value at catcher. It seems like in every third thread, someone proposes moving Doumit to catcher and then Vlad or someone else explains this. It's incredibly redundant and I'm sure will be the new defacto question to ask now that Andy is hitting consistently and McCutchen has been called up.

...and because I love this pictue and still miss The Trouth. RIP NATE

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Agreed. His bat loses value if you move him to 1B. His batting average is moot. .300 is great as an average no matter where you play, but his 15-20 HRs as a switch-hitting catcher are great, and makes him a top 3 catcher in the league. If you move him to 1B, those 15-20 HRs move him to the middle of the pack for 1B and thus makes him an average offenive 1B. He is a catcher. He’s not going to 1B. Pedro Alvarez is.

by mspirate on Jun 5, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

*offensive

by mspirate on Jun 5, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not quite sure that I understand your remark

“… it is common knowledge that in tha AL he’d be a DH, but we’re not in the AL so his bat has the most value at catcher”.

It almost seems like this contradicts the whole point of your post but I guess you are saying that he is such a terrible defender at any position that we may as well put his glove where his bat will be the most beneficial. In that case a trade to an AL team might make the most sense where they can insert him at his natural position, DH.

by WestCoastBuc on Jun 5, 2009 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

Basically

Not terrible at 1B or Catcher.

His D is average or slightly below average both at 1B or catcher
His bat is above average at catcher, average at 1B.

I think it was Vlad who said his nickname when he was in the minors was No Mitt and yea he really does belong as a DH on an AL team. But I wouldn’t say he’s terrible. Often the DH is determined when theres someone with better defensive value at the position, but if needed the DH can play. Victor Martinez and Adam Lind. An AL team would DH him and play him behind the plate as backup catcher.

Piazza was dead weight back there but insisted on catching to get the record and out of pride. But what has more value, a glove first catcher and Piazza at first, or a power hitting 1B in the lineup and Piazza behind the plate? You take Piazza until he becomes a real liability, which Doumit is not.

RIP NATE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...MISTER TONY PLUSH!

by GTrain on Jun 5, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

On a lighter note....

I had no idea Nate had a mullet as a youngster. Is he yet another youth influenced by the great fashion icon, Randy Johnson?

So you think 25 percent of the country is retarded!? Yea, totally. Atleast 25 percent. Well lets do a sample. There are 4 of us and you're retarded. Thats 25 percent. -South Park; Mystery of the Urinal Deuce.

by gorillakilla34 on Jun 5, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

Ya'll are Missing the Reality

Yes, Doumit would not be more than an average 1B BUT he would be OUR AVERAGE 1B! Once we lose LaRoche we have no one in our system (until Alverez comes up in 2011) who can be an average 1B for us! We could move Moss, but now we have a shortage in the OF because we have no OF prospects on the near horizon. That is one of the downsides of trading Nate.

You have to play the cards you are dealt until the next deal. Right now, we have limited options. The McLouth deal was one we could do because we HAD someone in AAA who could/needed to play. We have no such person at 1B because Pearce is a flop! If Pearce had developed, then we would have options. Right now 1B has no options for us after LaRoche leaves.

The above is why I am a Doumit to 1B supported. And yes I do understand what people are saying.

by zogger on Jun 5, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions

Do you also understand

that it has been said – repeatedly – by management that he won’t be moving?

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 5, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Well there’s always the hope that Pearce will still turn out to be a decent first baseman. puts joint away

Moss can evidently also play 1B which might provide a temporary fix. Assuming that Adam departs, I think the most likely scenario is that a cheap but average first baseman is signed to bridge the gap until Pedro has developed. I’ve seen a list of first baseman who will be available after the season and there were a fair amount.

I made most of my life decisions at a Foghat concert... I stand by them.

by Chester J Lampwick on Jun 6, 2009 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions

And that's why God invented minor league free agents.

Sign someone like Mitch Jones or Chris Shelton to a minor league deal, hold an open competition between him and Pearce in spring training, and live with the winner until a better option becomes available or Alvarez is ready, whichever comes first.

by Vlad on Jun 6, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions