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w.k. kortas
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... While Doumit is Piazza-esque as a receiver and is injury prone, he is a professional hitter, and he's young enough that he could still be a valuable part of a contender if and when the Bucs fit that description. I'd like it more if the Pirates would find a catcher and allow Doumit to move to first or right field. |
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thegunner
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... Signing Doumit long-term = big mistake. He has NO defensive position and should be a DH in the AL. The Pirates will never win with Doumit as our #1 catcher. |
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Bishop
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... This isn't a long-term signing , since all the Pirates have done is effectively set the rate for Doumit's arbitration years upfront. If he performs offensively the next two years as he did this past year, he would easily get more than what they've now locked in as his pay for that time period. They can decline the option if he doesn't perform over the next three years, and if they are blown away by an offer from another team, they can use the cost certainty as a selling point. |
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JerryG
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... Good news for Ryan! Do you suppose he can afford to do two chicks at the same time? |
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gregschuler
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... Hmmm, a player who has a career year at age 26-27. If Doumit stays healthy, then he is a good complimentary player. He is not a player that you build around - one of the core players. Is it so hard for management to admit that the core players are not really true core players? If so, then this team and organization is doomed. As for the signing - it makes sense for both sides and avoids arbitration. it provides cost certainy and teams and players like that. I don't believe Doumit will over or udner play that contract, and the team options are likely not to be picked up. As for his defense - well, Kerrigan is apparently going to call the pitches from the dugout this year, so maybe that will allow Doumit to concentrate of blocking balls and throwing out runners. Not likely, but possible. The real joy is if Doumit gets hurt and the team gets a healthy dose of Diaz and Jaramillo. That will make a healthy Doumit seem all the more important. it is funny to me that from the rash of catchers the Pirates had in the minor several seasons ago, only Doumit made it to the majors and even then, he's a good, not great player. That happens more than people cae to admit, and prospect mavens should be more cognizant of that (not counting chickens, etc). |
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w.k. kortas
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... Greg, I think you may sometimes undervalue the need for complementary players. Granted, you need stars to win--but take a look at the 2008 Yankees, for example; they had a host of Hall of Famers and guys a half-step below that, but they were playing golf in mid-October because they were trying to plug guys like Jose Molina, Melky Cabrera and Sidney Ponson into key roles. When the Pirates are ready to contend, Doumit will certainly not be leading the charge--but you better have guys like that on hand if you want to win. |
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Nate
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... Doumit's value is almost entirely tied up in the fact that he's a catcher. He's not a good defensive catcher (though he's really not as terrible as we all think, either), but his offensive numbers are WAY above average for that position. Put him at first or right field, suddenly he's a below average hitter at that position with poor defence. |
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w.k. kortas
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... I'll be honest, Nate--I'm not sure what you're referencing when you say Doumit would be below-average offensively. Granted, he was no great shakes as a right fielder, but he wasn't Brad Eldred bad, and there were only three NL right fielders who has an OPS+ better than Doumit last year, and five first basemen (he tied with Prince Fielder). |
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gregschuler
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... I underestimate them when that is all the team has. Look at the current WS champions - their lineup has complimentary players, but it also has Utley and Howard (and had Burrell). The Pirates don't have anyone comparable. IF (as big an if that exists int he universe today) the Pirates are ever ready to contend, they will have three All-Star caliber position players anchoring the lineup. They don't have that or anything close to that now or in the forseeable future. Doumit is a nice player when healthy and if he can maintain his level of production. It's nice to have these sorts of players when a team is competing or ready to win. But when a team is trying to build, you can build around low end talent - it goes nowhere. And right now the Pirates have low end talent. They need more high end talent, obviously. Put it this way - having Doumit should not preclude the Pirates from getting a better catcher if one comes along. Or trading Doumit to acquire a top end player. And you can say the same for McLouth, Maholm, whoever. |
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