Pirates Open to Using Ryan Doumit at Catcher

by Charlie Wilmoth on Feb 19, 2008 12:24 AM EST in News

Management remains flexible to using Doumit as an outfield reserve and keeping his bat in the lineup more often, but that flexibility also includes using him as an active backup catcher, part of a semi-platoon with Ronny Paulino, or even pushing Paulino for starting duty if he can prove himself defensively.

It will be just one variable among many moving pieces related to how the bench comes together and, more important, where Doumit is most valuable in the long term.

Cool. One question: will Paulino also have to prove himself defensively to prove he's viable as a starter? Because if Ryan Doumit has to prove he can play defense, it seems only fair that Paulino should have to also. The 129 games he played last year didn't resolve the issue at all.

Snark aside, though, the Pirates' openness to using Doumit at catcher in more than an emergency role could enable lots of things to happen, all of them good. Doumit could play more, Paulino could play less, no-hit backup catchers (Michel Hernandez, Carlos Maldonado, Raul Chavez) could play not at all, and a credible major-league hitter like Doug Mientkiewicz could grab the last bench spot. I'd love to see a full-fledged position battle evolve here; hopefully Doumit can stay healthy long enough for that to happen.

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Finally!

we have some sense being made at the one position that has had the worst problem, and what seems to be the least amount of willingness to do something about it. (ie: make Paulino EARN his spot, and if Doumit can stay healthy, Paulino doesn't stand a chance). Somewhere around mid season last year, Doumit was playing fairly regularly, and was looking like he was contending for the batting title, but every time he got within an at-bat or 2 of having the reqiured numbers, he would be benched and drop back down the list. Now I realize that at the end of the season, that all would have fallen apart anyway, but mid-season we didn't know he was gonna get hurt. My point is and has been, Paulino doesn't deserve to be given the job, and Doumit DOES deserve a valid opportunity to take the job.

by 1eyedjack on Feb 19, 2008 8:09 AM EST reply actions

This makes sense

Paulino lived off of the buzz from his rookie campaign for one year, now it looks like he will have to compete for the job

by The New Guy on Feb 19, 2008 8:14 AM EST reply actions

I think

The major sticking point here is going to be if Doumit's glass hamstrings prove durable enough to handle a full season's worth of ABs. If I had to guess, I'd say no, no they will not. Although if they do, there's always his ankle, his wrist...whatever. Hopefully he can stay healthy enough to at least make Paulino step up his game a bit.

by jeremy @ Bucs Dugout on Feb 19, 2008 8:58 AM EST reply actions

Regular job

There's too much emphasis on having a catcher who's an everyday player. Historically, 140-150 game catchers are rare. Doumit clearly can't hold up if he's catching 6 times a week, but he shouldn't have to. Since he and Paulino have large platoon splits, it's a natural platoon. Paulino could catch some of the time against RHPs to reduce the chances of Doumit breaking down. It really seems like the answer to a lot of problems.

by WTM on Feb 19, 2008 9:11 AM EST reply actions

Ya

I would defiently like to see Doumit be our catcher over Paulino this upcoming season. Even though it would be more likely they will platoon. But I think Doumit would get the time against the RHP's because he hits much better from the left side of the plate.

BRING BACK TIKE REDMAN

by omar moreno on Feb 19, 2008 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

Doumit Needs A Crash Course!

In order to be a viable platoon player, Doumit needs a crash course from Russell, Donnelly et al. on how to call a game, work with pitchers, receive the ball and block pitches in the dirt. Kind of a Defensive Catching 101 - a basic primer.
No one ever questioned his ability with the bat.

Paulino was God-awful last year defensively as well, but at least he has an idea as to how to call a game and handle his pitchers.

by thegunner on Feb 19, 2008 9:46 AM EST reply actions

but elsewhere

in today's Q&A, dejan seems to indicate the opposite of what we're reading into the above quote when discussing the bench:

"Try to break it down: Ryan Doumit is a lock for the bench, as is Chris Gomez. The Pirates would prefer to have Doumit in the outfield, so throw a backup catcher in there, too."

from these quotes i would gather that management is open to the possibility of doumit splitting time but still view him as a fourth outfielder and bench bat. perhaps this is only dejan's opinion, blinded by years of watching humberto cota, keith osik and their ilk stink it up for 200 ABs a year or maybe it is what it looks like.

by johnnycuff on Feb 19, 2008 11:19 AM EST reply actions

Don't think he meant it that way

I think Dejan was just addressing things as they stand now, since Paulino is clearly the regular catcher. The point about Doumit struck me as management being open to the idea that Doumit might eventually win all or part of Paulino's job, but it's something that's probably more likely to happen over the course of the season than in March. I can live with that, because a team's plans will almost always change during the season. In 2006, Paulino was supposed to spend the year in AAA.

by WTM on Feb 19, 2008 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

plus

Paulino batted .407/.462/.593 against lefties last year. Granted that's only in 108 ABs, but in his 349 ABs against RHP last year, he batted .218/.267/.327. Doumit hit .282/.347/.518 against RHP and .246/.317/.316 against LHP. I think the platoon splits are pretty obvious. A summary:

Paulino-
LHP: 1.055 OPS
RHP: .594 OPS

Doumit-
LHP: .633 OPS
RHP: .865 OPS

As mentioned above, Doumit might not have the durability to go against every RHP we face, since that would be the majority of our matchups and he should be spending some time in RF as well. But with those kinds of splits, there's no reason we can't have a half-decent catcher platoon.

by jeremy @ Bucs Dugout on Feb 19, 2008 11:23 AM EST reply actions

agreed

And then there has been some rumbling of Mientkiewicz as an emergency catcher option, even though he really hasn't caught at all since the minors.

Having him on the bench when Paulino starts may make it easier to pinch hit Doumit in a key situation. We do not need a no-hit, backup catcher to start the season.

And if he proves he can play the outfield, 2b, and 3b, he is even that much more valuable. If he is healthy all through spring training, regardless of the statements like "we don't need a player of his skill set," I think the chances of him making team are much better than we are led to believe.

by The New Guy on Feb 19, 2008 12:49 PM EST up reply actions

Platoon Works for Me!

I like the idea of platooning them. It will keep both fresh and on their toes. I think Ronny P. got complacent last year. Duumit pushing him would make them both better.

I agree the key here is Doumit's health. If he can stay healthy, alot of options exist. His Lefthand power is needed plus he seems to play with "attitude". The Piartes need more players like him and Snell.

by zogger on Feb 19, 2008 2:09 PM EST reply actions