By Rob Biertempfel
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, May 7, 2007
MILWAUKEE - It's just a matter of time before word gets out about Ryan Doumit.
It's no secret Doumit can hit. Last year, he clubbed six home runs in 149 at-bats with the Pirates. This year, he is hitting .441 with two homers and seven RBI.
However, Doumit is making the biggest strides with his defense. Saturday night, Doumit turned in a solid effort in right field in just his eighth career appearance there.
"I watched him run a ball down in the gap and cut down the distance with a sense of certainty that strongly (showed) he's more comfortable," manager Jim Tracy said Sunday. "And what about that throw he made?"
The catch came in the third inning, when Doumit sprinted back to smoothly snag Bill Hall's deep fly ball at the wall.
The throw happened in the first inning. J.J. Hardy was at first base when Prince Fielder bounced a single to right field.
Hardy rounded second hard and went for third. The ball -- straight from Doumit's hand to Jose Bautista's glove -- beat Hardy by more than a step.
"Obviously, I'm new out there, so third base coaches don't quite yet know what I'm capable of doing," Doumit said. "Hopefully, I sent a little message (Saturday) night."
Friday afternoon, the Pirates held an early pregame workout -- extra batting practice, bunting drills and such -- at Miller Park. Tracy saw Doumit coming up the dugout steps. But the hottest hitter on the club wasn't there to work on his swing.
"He runs out to right field to practice taking balls off the bat," Tracy said. "Give the kid credit. He's working at it. And when you work at it like that, you will get better. And the same is true for his catching."
Yesterday, Doumit was behind the plate when Tony Armas uncorked a wild pitch. Craig Counsell ran to second base, then kept going when he saw the ball roll back to the screen.
Doumit threw out Counsell at third with ease.
Good with the bat and improving with the glove, Doumit ought to be a fixture in the lineup, right? Not quite.
"It's very tricky," Tracy said. "We're trying to (play) him as much as we can. The hard part is, trying to get other people going (offensively). The way they're going to get going is to get them out on the field."
Doumit can play at catcher, first base and right field. The regulars at those three spots each are wrestling with issues.
Catcher Ronny Paulino got off to a rough start and has just two hits in his past 14 at-bats. First baseman Adam LaRoche is in the deepest batting slump of his life. Right fielder Xavier Nady has a tender hamstring.
Doumit has started nine of 11 games since April 26, when he was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. Five of those starts came in right field. Yesterday afternoon against Milwaukee, Paulino was given the day off after catching the night before, so Doumit was behind the plate.
Tracy indicated that Nady, LaRoche and Paulino will be in the lineup Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.
It might be tempting to sit LaRoche, a left-handed batter, since the Cubs will start lefty Ted Lilly. But Doumit, a switch-hitter, is better from the left side, and LaRoche is showing signs of getting it together at the plate.
LaRoche had a season-high three hits Friday. Yesterday, he stroked a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning.
"It feels better, I can tell you that," LaRoche said. "I'm seeing the ball longer, taking some close pitches. Getting back to normal."
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