2010 Season Highlights

2010 Season in the books

Oct. 6, 2010 -- The Pittsburgh Pirates 2010 season ended Sunday in Florida with Ryan Doumit in right field and starting for the first time at any position in nearly a week.
No explanation was provided for the gap of starts between Tuesday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Oct. 3.
There isn't a Pirate on the roster (except for maybe second baseman Neil Walker) that had they season they'd hoped for, where the team racked up 105 losses.
Ryan Doumit had his ups and downs as well. Coming into spring training, he made no secret of his goal to stay healthy and he basically did. He had one 15-day trip to the disabled list for concussion symptoms but completely avoided breaks, strains and sprains. He played a career high 124 games; but all his numbers, from average to OBP, RBI to homeruns, peaked in his best year yet, 2008.
Doumit also registered his first walk-off homerun of his major league career at PNC Park this season; and thanks to earlier performances in Milwaukee is now the only major league baseball player to ever hit two homeruns in consecutive at-bats off the NL's all time saves leader, Trevor Hoffman. Doumit also had his second career grand slam this season.
Doumit ended his 2010 with 406 at-bats, a .406 slugging percentage, a .251 batting average, 13 homeruns and 45 runs batted in.
The off-season for the Pirates begins with Pirates Baseball Club officials searching for a new manager (Skipper John Russell was relieved of his duties Oct. 4) and filling all coaching positions (Russell's staff is eligible to seek consideration for new appointments, according to press reports, or seek opportunities elsewhere).
Doumit enters the third year of his up-to-5 year contract with the 2011 season.

Meet Lynda, the luckiest person EVER

Sept. 26, 2010 -- Today was the Pirates' last home game of the season, which means that select fans won the "shirt off their back" and got to go down on the field and get the shirt, and get it autographed by the player.
Her name is Lynda, she sat in section 303 somewhere, and she won the shirt of Ryan Doumit's back, which makes her the luckiest person on the earth and in several known and unknown universes.
She was kind enough to pose for this picture. That shirt holds an RBI, a pinch hit single, a run and whatever remnants of superpowers stay behind in whatever Ryan wears during the game.

No. 41 refuses to fade in final homestand

Sept. 17, 2010 -- The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their final homestand of 2011 with a win against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday thanks to the help of a solo homerun by Ryan Doumit in the seventh to tie the game.
Doumit started behind the dish Friday night for the first time in five days, having last caught Brian Burres on Sunday in Cincinatti (and starting in right field once since). Doumit went 1 for 3 with a homerun in the seventh to tie the game 3-all. He walked in the bottom of the ninth with one on and one out when Ronny Cedeno came to the plate and poked a blooper to center to bring pinch hitter Andrew McCutchen (sat for a stomach ailment) around to win the game 4-3.
Doumit was 1-for-1 in a pinch hit appearance Wednesday in New York against the Mets with an RBI double.
Friday night's home run is Doumit's 13th of the year. His MLB career high is 15 from 2008.
The 2010 Pirates hit the mark of 50 games below .500 baseball with the loss Thursday night and a four game sweep by the Mets.
This year's losses can be spread around the aspects of the game for this team: Poor starting pitching, poor offense, defensive struggles and dismantling one of the best bullpens in baseball by the trade deadline.
Few players step up to the microphone in the clubhouse if local media reports are any indication, given the losing streaks and the near completion of the 18th consecutive losing season. Doumit, a team veteran at 29, did provide an answer to the question "what will it take" for this team to win?

From the PBC Blog at postgazette.com:
“I don’t know,” catcher Ryan Doumit replied to the latter question in yet another quiet clubhouse. “We’ve got to learn how to win. Right now, we don’t know how to win. We don’t have that killer instinct. We don’t have that … I don’t know. I don’t really have the words. It’s frustrating.”

Doumit brings promised 'dogfight' against division leading Reds

Sept. 13, 2010 -- When the 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates season began, Ryan Doumit appeared on an episode of "Inside Pirates Baseball" and said "Teams will know they're in a dogfight when the play us."
That was the case in Cincinnati against the Central Division leading Reds, as the Sept. 10 and Sept. 11 games went extra innings in favor of the Reds, and the Bucs won it in the top of the ninth Sept. 12.
ryandoumit.com staff (that sounds classy, but it's really one person and a camera) was on hand for all three games, with great seats and the rare chance to see the Bucs at batting practice before all three games. Doumit played RF on Friday and Saturday with two hits Friday, and caught the Sunday game with a ninth-inning single off closer Francesco Cordero to do his part in the 3-1 win.
Because road game photos on this site are so extremely rare, and the chances of getting more photos this year are dwindling as the 2010 season does, a full page on this site has been dedicated to the road game photos taken this trip. Click on "Ryan on the Road" in the left hand menu to see the photos from the unfriendly confines of Great American Ballpark! Dozens were taken, more will be added in time to keep the page fresh.

Doumit brings steady hitting to roller-coastering Bucs

Sept. 8, 2010 --Ryan Doumit, the playing-pretty-much-every-day catcher/outfielder for the Pirates has brought steady production to the plate late August into early September.
Doumit is hitting .367 in his last 10 games with 11 hits, 2 homeruns, 4 runs batted in and 7 runs scored. He has been both catcher and right fielder in that stretch.
The Pirates season struggles continue with starting pitching, at times phenomenal (James McDonald on Sept. 7 shutting out the pennant racing Atlanta Braves) and abysmal (Zach Duke has hit both ends of the spectrum with a clean performance Aug. 22 in a Sunday home win against the New York Mets and the shortest outing of his career Sept. 8 against the Braves). There have been games the bats have been effective, and games where they have not.
As some of the Bucs' success stories rise to the attention of the media (hometown boy and possible Rookie of the Year candidate 2B Neil Walker, or OF Jose Tabata) and the ongoing fascination with 2008 first round draft pick/second overall 3B Pedro Alvarez, Doumit goes about his business, being productive.
Nearly 40 days have passed since the Pirates acquired catcher Chris Snyder from Arizona, and the predictions that Doumit would "rarely" catch, or "somewhat share catching duties" have not been completely accurate. Doumit has caught regularly, and also played right field. He has sat less than a handful of games, his bat staying in the lineup in the six hole.
His production at the plate and his growing familiarity with right field (having last played there in 2007 - his strong arm throw to hold a runner at third base on Sept. 7 made SportsCenter's top plays of the day) have the pundits in a quandary:
Will Doumit be a Pirate next year? If so, in what position or will it be positions again?
The 'experts' (and the term is used loosely) don't foresee the low-spending Pirates tying up over $11 million in payroll to two catchers (Snyder earns over $6 million now, Doumit goes up above $5 million due to his contract in 2011). Others can't see how a switch hitting catcher with power who can play a decent (or better) outfield is dispensable.
As that quandary wages on (and a long offseason looms for Doumit fans as this plays out), one thing remains the same: Doumit contributes to the Pirates offense every game, hovering fourth in the regular lineup in batting average, and putting his trademark Superman signature -- leaving 110 percent on the field -- on every game.

Back with the Bucs, Doumit gets his swing going

Aug. 13, 2010 -- Ryan Doumit resumed play with the Pirates on Sunday, Aug. 8 after completing a rehab assignment with Indianapolis (concussion) and coming off the 15-day disabled list.
The mixed messages from the Pittsburgh Pirates about Doumit's role started to level out as the Pirates optioned Eric Kratz back to Indy, giving Doumit the second catching slot behind newly acquired Chris Snyder.
Doumit caught his first game back Sunday against the Rockies, hitting a double at his first at-bat and scoring the first run of what would be a 8-4 loss. Doumit sat the next scheduled game, Aug. 10, and made his 38th Major League career appearance in right field on Wednesday, Aug. 11. He was 1 for 4 with a two-run double. On Thursday, Doumit was back behind the plate catching Zach Duke, and went 2 for 3 at the plate.
On getting back to right field, Doumit had said in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interview "I look forward to it," and Manager John Russell said Doumit's arm will be an additional asset from right.
The Pirates are in Houston starting tonight for three against the Astros.

Doumit reporting to rehab assignment

Aug. 1, 2010 -- Ryan Doumit will start a rehab assignment on Monday in Indianapolis, according to MLB.com.
Doumit was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 22 for a concussion - something Pittsburgh papers reported Doumit argued against. Since that decision, the Pirates acquired Chris Snyder from Arizona via trade as the new primary catcher. Doumit is expected to catch behind him and play outfield or first base. Some news sources are reporting the Pirates will also keep Eric Kratz as a catcher on the 25-man roster as well after Doumit returns.
Because of that mixed bag of positions, Doumit is expected to move around the field when he returns to the Pirates. He is eligible to come off the DL Friday, Aug. 6.

Update: Doumit 'taken aback' with trade as Bucs acquire catcher, Superman to another position

July 31, 2010 -- The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Arizona Diamondbacks Catcher Chris Snyder and the Post-Gazette is reporting 29-year old Snyder will be the starting catcher, and Doumit will move to back up or right field or first base.
The braintrust at ryandoumit.com had theories that there were medical reasons for Doumit's move, and that he knew all about it and was fine with it.
Not so, according to a blog update at www. postgazette.com quoting Doumit:
"I was shocked, obviously. I didn't know how to interpret it. He's a starting-catcher-type guy. I'm a starting-catcher-type guy. I didn't know what to think of it. You know, obviously, I want to play. I want to play every day. I think I'm an everyday major-leaguer and ... I don't know. I'm still kind of taken aback by it."
Snyder, according to the PG:
"The 29-year-old Snyder made 58 starts behind the plate for the Diamondbacks this season and hit .231 (45-for-195) with 10 home runs and 32 RBI in 65 games overall. He had his 240-game errorless streak snapped on June 6; the third-longest streak in Major League history by a catcher behind Mike Redmond (253 games, July 22, 2004-May 18, 2010) and Mike Matheny (252 games, August 2, 2002-August 1, 2004). Snyder’s current OPS of .778 ranks ninth among Major League catchers with at least 225 plate appearances and he has the seventh-highest OPS (.774) among catchers in the Major Leagues with at least 1200 plate appearances since 2007."
Snyder is locked through 2011 making $5 million plus and a $6-million plus option in 2012.
Doumit is still on the disabled list, and the Pirates are reporting Eric Kratz will be the backup catcher when Snyder arrives..
To get Snyder, the Pirates sent OF Ryan Church, IF Bobby Crosby and reliever DJ Carrasco to the Diamondbacks, received back Snyder, a minor league short stop and $3 million in cash.
Doumit could come off the DL Aug. 5 and will most likely make a few rehab appearances on one of the farm teams before returning to the Bucs.
If Doumit stays a Pirate through the winter, the Pirates will have over $10 million invested in two catchers in 2011.
From the PG: "Upon his return from the disabled list later this week, Ryan Doumit will play right field and share the catching duties with Snyder. "Ryan will continue to get some time behind home plate. It will also allow us to keep Ryan's bat in the lineup by playing him in right field as well. Lastings [Milledge] and Ryan will split right field."

Doumit gets 15 days of imposed rest

July 26, 2010 -- On July 22 the Pittsburgh Pirates placed Ryan Doumit on the 15-day disabled list for a concussion.
Doumit was blitzed at the plate on July 21 by Rickie Weeks of the Milwaukee Brewers and left the game two innings later. A few days before he'd taken a foul off the mask that had some lasting effects.
From General Manager Neal Huntington:
"The incident in a relatively short period of time -- six weeks, I guess it is. . . we felt it was in his and our best interests to make an aggressive move. . . I told him, he gets hit as much as any catcher I've ever seen. . . Ultimately, Ryan didn't want to go on the diabled list. He wants to keep catching; he wants to battle through it. It was our decision in his best interest, in the team's best interest, in the organization's best interest to just go ahead and give Ryan 15 days of rest. We fully expect he'll be out on a rehab assignment toward the end."
The move will keep Doumit off the 25 man active roster past the July 31 trade deadline. In addition to Eric Kratz, who was called up a few days earlier to serve as a second catcher on the team, Jason Jaramillo was recalled from Indianapolis to catch.
Webmaster note: This news has been all over baseball since July 22. The delay getting on this site was total denial on the part of the webmaster.

After being leveled, Doumit leaves game

July 21, 2010 -- Ryan Doumit left the Pirates-Brewers game at PNC Park tonight in the third inning, after being leveld by Rickie Weeks at the plate earlier in the game.
On Monday, Doumit took a hard foul tip off the mask and was held out of the game Tuesday. At the time Manager John Russell said Doumit had "some ringing" after the tip but no concussion symptoms.
Wednesday, at the top of the first inning, Rickie Weeks was looking to score from third on a sacrifice fly. Delwyn Young, playing right field, threw the ball to the plate with an in-between hop that skidded on the grass where the infield meets the home plate area. The ball went under Doumit's glove as he positioned at the plate for the throw. Weeks, apparently unaware Doumit didn't have the ball, led with his forearm and leveled Doumit, who lost his mask in the fray.
In the third, Doumit reportedly felt light-headed and nauseous, so he was taken from the game and was to see a doctor.
Doumit has not had a concussion this year. He had concussion like symptoms but did not test positive for a concussion earlier this season.

Doumit and Kratz: Platoon, or not really?

July 20, 2010: Last Thursday, when Eric Kratz was called up from the minor leagues as a second catcher on the Pirates roster, General Manager Neal Huntington said Kratz would play more than previous backup Jason Jaramillo.
The word "platoon" was used.
In baseball, that word often means even playing time for both players in the platoon. Huntington clarified for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette that Doumit would face right handed pitchers, Kratz would face left.
Doumit is batting .304 from the left, .190 from the right.
"I obviously want to be in there as much as I can. I know my numbers are down from the right side," Doumit told the PG.
Kratz has been a minor league catcher for 9 years. In his first major league appearance Saturday night at PNC, he had two hits, an RBI, and a run. Doumit critics could point out that no one stole a base off him Saturday night either, a defensive issue that has come up a lot for the Pirates this year. On the other hand (in Doumit's defense), starter Ross Ohlendorf was pulled after one and a third innings, so the faster-paced relievers, starting with DJ Carrasco, and then Javier Lopez, Evan Meek, Joel Hanrahan and Octavio Dotel, pitched from the top of the second inning on, which factors into stealing opportunities as well.
Doumit knows keeping a starting job is about performance; that's how he got the starting slot in 2008 from Ronny Paulino.
He also sees that having a break at this point in the season may help. In addition to catching 70-plus games the first half, Pittsburgh weather for this homestand has been not only hot, but very humid. Catchers can lose up to 10 pounds a game in weather like this.
"I caught a lot in the first half, and I think a breather every now and then will probably be best for me. I'll be able to feel fresher and get in there and produce."
On Monday, when Skipper John Russell inserted Doumit into the lineup for a second game in a row, Russell clarified some before Monday's game to PG baseball writer Dejan Kovacevic:
Russell has said many times he does not like the word "platoon" -- he didn't use it even when Lastings Milledge and Ryan Church were in a clear platoon -- and he today downplayed the idea of Doumit and Kratz being in a strict platoon. "Ryan's still an everyday guy. He's going to get a majority of the playing time. But Erik gives us that ability against left-handers, and it's not like he won't play against right-handers, either."
Another thing on that everyday guy that may have gone somewhat unnoticed in the reports of Paul Maholm's complete game shutout of the Astros Sunday at PNC Park: Doumit's part. Not in his 3-for-5 day at the plate with two doubles and an RBI (though that's a pretty big deal in a 19-hit game), it was his role behind the plate.
In an online baseball chat via the Post Gazette hosted by Kovacevic Monday, the baseball writer said:
"By the way, Paul Maholm gave a lot of credit to Doumit for the shutout yesterday, and I might have been remiss in not making more mention of that."

At the break: Doumit on track for goals

July 13, 2010 -- Before the 2010 season started, Ryan Doumit set goals, and he's more than halfway there.
After missing 73 games last year after having his right scaphoid bone surgically repaired, he said this spring that just one year, he'd like to stay healthy after a variety of injuries sidelined him for chunks of time the last two years. So far this season, Doumit has missed three games to concussion-like symptoms (he did not test positive for a concussion) and has played regularly.
He said he wanted to paly 130 games of the season's 162. He's played 76 by the All-Star break: 72 as the starting catcher, three as a first baseman, one as a DH during interleague play.
Doumit wanted 500 at-bats out of 2010. He's had 280 so far with a season average of .260 with 8 homeruns. (His major league high for homeruns was in 2008 with 15. This year, three of his homeruns have come in the ninth inning in Milwaukee.)
Also in the first half of 2010:
Doumit had his first career walk-off home run on May 23 against the Braves at PNC Park in a 10 inning affair. After the win, in a video interview in the clubhouse Doumit was asked if the walk off homer felt as good as he may have imagined it would. His answer "And then some."
He played first base for the first time since 2007.
He's been charged with five errors (one at first base) and six passed balls (his season high on passes was 9 in 2008).
The Pirates went into the All-Star break with a 30-58 record and a six game losing streak. On a recent baseball chat on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette website, baseball beat writer Dejan Kovacevic was asked which Pirates are the most upset with the teams losses. He cited four players: Doumit, Ryan Church, Octavio Dotel and Brendan Donnelly. Three of those are new to the team this year. Kovacevic said the last three names on that list could be adjusted in order, but the first name stays where it is, adding "Doumit hates to lose."
At the start of the break, backup catcher Jason Jaramillo was optioned to Indianapolis to get more opportunities to play. Baseball people take that two ways: Skipper John Russell said "Ryan's been healthy and that's real good for us" but it leaves Jaramillo without at bats and time behind the plate. Analysts say is prepares Jaramillo for any full time work needed should Doumit be traded in the coming two weeks prior to the trading deadline.

Returning home, Bucs make final push before break

July 1, 2010 -- The Pirates return home to PNC park today, where they fare much better in the W column than on the road, with a four-game holiday homestand against the Phillies.
Ryan Doumit hit his seventh homer of the season Tuesday night in the only loss the Pirates had against the Chicago Cubs in that series. It was his second homerun batting from the right, the first being in the home opener in April when Doumit ripped the game wide open with a three run shot in the 8th.
On Tuesday Doumit went 2 for 3 with a double and that solo shot. On Wednesday afternoon, he went one for three with a single and a walk.
Doumit has racked up 67 games so far this year with 232 at-bats and 7 home runs.
In his last 10 games he's batting .286 with 10 hits, three runs and four runs batted in.
Before the Monday night victory against the Cubs at Chicago in that series opener, the Pirates were sliding hard with a 17 road game losing streak. They'd last won on the road on May 24.
Editor's note: Apologies for the stagnancy of the site. It's a one-person project, and the one person was on a family vacation last week.

Bucs await final piece, Doumit back behind the dish

June 15, 2010 -- Ryan Doumit has completed his first series at first base and returns to his spot behind the dish as the Pirates Baseball Club continues to build the team that will bring a new era of baseball to Pittsburgh.
Doumit played Thursday at first base against Washington and then Friday and Saturday at first against Detroit. It was his first set of games since he experienced concussion-like symptoms from a foul ball off his catcher's mask last Sunday in Pittsburgh.
It was the first time he played first base since May of 2007 when Jim Tracy managed the team. He played first base in the majors for the very first time on May 6, 2006 at Washington in the National's old park.
In the three days at first last week, Doumit was charged with one error.
He returned to his rightful spot behind home plate Sunday in the final game against Detroit, catching Jeff Karstens.
Also during the road trip, the club promoted RHP Brad Lincoln and OF Jose Tabata - two more top prospects from Triple A Indianapolis. Pine Richland's Neil Walker was promoted a few weeks earlier.
The final piece, the buzz of the sports world, is 2008 First Round Draft Pick Pedro Alvarez, the third baseman that is considered one of all of baseball's top prospects. According to published reports, Alvarez will be promoted "when he's ready" and "soon."
This weekend, June 18-20, is the anniversary celebration of the 1960 World Series Champion Pirates at PNC park for the series against the Cleveland Indians as interleague play continues.
Doumit facts: To date (prior to the June 15 game) Doumit has played 53 games and had 183 at-bats. He has 49 hits, 6 home runs (all but one coming the 8th inning or later) and 23 runs batted in. His season average is .268.

The cape flies at first tonight

June 10, 2010 -- Ryan Doumit will start at first base tonight for the first time since 2007.
As reported below, Doumit had been taking grounders and other fielding exercises at first base three days last week. Skipper John Russell had told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he wanted another option to keep Doumit's bat in the line-up on days he wasn't catching. On Sunday, Doumit took a hard foul off his mask at PNC Park during a Giants game, and sat Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with concussion-like symptoms.
Doumit did not test positive for a concussion, according to the paper.
Yesterday, Doumit was in full catching gear practicing before the game, according to a Dejan Kovacevic post on the PG's PBC Blog, and today he was running in the outfield in practice drills before the line-up was announced.
Tonight, Doumit bats fifth behind Jose Tabata, Neil Walker, Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones. Jones moved off first into right for tonight.
According to Russell as reported on the PBC Blog, the earliest JR expects to use Doumit behind the dish is Sunday. He could be a DH in games at Detroit this weekend for interleague play.

Foul tip sits Doumit despite him pleading his case

June 8, 2010 -- Baseball fans across America watched the major league debut of highly touted Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg Tuesday night. The phenom set a strikeout record for his club against a lineup that didn't include slugger Ryan Doumit.
With a fastball recorded at 100 m.p.h., Strasburg didn't face Superman, who sat today, and probably will sit 2-3 more games, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, for "concussion like symptoms."
According to the paper, this is not the same as a concussion. Doumit has had those before, which makes the Pirate Baseball Club cautious of playing him with these symptoms.
He took a hard foul ball off the facemask Sunday against the Giants at PNC, and didn't play the Monday afternoon make-up game against the Cubs.
According to Skipper John Russell, Doumit worked "very hard" to get management to let him play today.
Because it took some time between the posting of tonight's lineup and Russell's announcement that Doumit was out (as well as Bobby Crosby with a stomach ailment), baseball related blogs already began the trade speculation when Jason Jaramillo was in the catcher's spot. The webmaster at ryandoumit.com was not amused by the speculation.

Rocking the 'stache; practicing at first base

June 5, 2010 -- For those who don't get to see the Pittsburgh Pirates players daily on TV or at the ballpark, they sport a different look these days.
In a show of 'team unity' all of the players are wearing high socks with the uniform. Most of them are also wearing a mustache, which newly promoted second baseman Neil Walker (heretofore referred to as "PineRichland'sNeil Walker") said the 'stache and stockings look was the brainchild of Ryan Doumit and utility player Bobby Crosby. Doumit is going strictly with the 'stache and clean shaven otherwise these days. Garrett Jones also lost the beard and kept the 'stache. Others sporting the look: Jeff Clement, Andy LaRoche, Zach Duke, Lastings Milledge, Ross Ohlendorf, and Crosby.
Doumit has also got the blogs blabbing about what it means that for three straight pre-game practices, he's practiced taking balls at first base.
According to the Post-Gazette, Skipper John Russell wants to use Doumit at first when he's not catching, to keep his bat in the lineup.
According to the PG: "The idea was broached in spring training, but this is the first time it has been put into practice. Doumit briefly played first under previous manager Jim Tracy.
"It's coming along" Doumit said.

Superman slugs first career walkoff homerun!

May 23, 2010 -- Ryan Doumit had his first career walkoff homerun today at PNC park with two outs in the 10th inning to lift his Pirates over the Atlanta Braves.
Doumit had already pulled the team ahead with an RBI single earlier in the game to raise the score to 2-1 Bucs. With the first two batters quickly dismissed by the Braves pitcher Saito in the bottom of the 10th, from the left Doumit launched a rocket high into the seats over the Clemente Wall to seal the Braves fate. It's his fourth homerun on the year.
"It was my first walkoff, so that was pretty special," Doumit told FoxSports Pittsburgh after the game in an on-camera interview.
He raised his fist at first and trotted around third to the welcoming crowd of Pirates at the plate.
Earlier in the game, Doumit had a inning-leadoff double -- his 100th career double. He was 3-for-5 on the afternoon with a single, double and the homerun.
Doumit told the Post-Gazette:
"It's thrilling. It's something that every hitter dreams of doing. It all happened so fast, I wasn't sure what to do ... you see so many people have different reactions when they do that. ... You just want to hit a pitch hard. You want to get a pitch you can handle and go after it and, fortunately, I was able to do that. ... We got a great performance from Duke, and we fed off him. We had some timely hitting, Bobby Crosby made a great play at third base, and it was just a clean game for us across the board."

Slugging away

May 20, 2010 -- Ryan Doumit is hitting frequently in the Pirates lineup, floating between the five and six hole lately as the top end of the lineup is tweaked.
He's had one or more hits in four consecutive games before being rested for the May 20 matchup against the Brewers at PNC. He was called on to pinch hit for catcher Jason Jaramillo in the ninth inning of that game to try to tie the score against the Brewers, but reached base due to being hit by a pitch.
Doumit has had 10 hits in his last 10 games (35 at-bats) and 2 RBI. He had the game winning RBI against the Brewers Wednesday night at PNC with a loop single into center field to score Andrew McCutchen and take the lead to 5-4. Earler in the game a passed ball allowed a Milwaukee runner to advance to third on the base paths and score on the next hit to take the lead.
"It came out," Doumit said of the end result and his RBI after the miscue at the home plate. Of that he took full blame, not one to pass things off to anyone else on the team when it comes to responsibility for errors.
Steals against
Pirates skipper John Russell came to the defense of his catcher this week when asked about the number of steals against the team. Doumit has caught 2 in 33 official attempts.
"A stolen base, in my opinion, is almost always off the pitcher, not the catcher," Russell told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Doumit's official time from receiving the ball to getting it to second base is 1.9 seconds, and according to the PG article, "anything less than two seconds is considered fine."
Luis Durante and others on the coaching staff have been working extra with Doumit on getting his feet set, expecting that to help his numbers, and catch runners trying to steal off those pitchers who are slower to the plate with their delivery.
"Ryan's worked very hard on his defense, and he's come a long way," Russell told ryandoumit.com last week.

Fans have night at the lanes with Doumit, Pirate favorites

May 10, 2010 -- Pittsburgh Pirates fans turned out in Crafton Sunday night for Zach and Kristin Duke's Bowling with the Bucs featuring many Pirate favorites -- among them Ryan Doumit.
"I look forward to this every year," Doumit said of the event.
It's the sixth year - the first five hosted by founders Jack and Julie Wilson, and this year taken over by very gracious hosts, the Dukes.
In addition to three games of bowling and rubbing elbows with the starting pitching rotation, almost all of the bullpen and the guys who make a living in the field every day, fans had a chance to bid on some amazing silent auction stuff, including the glass-encased bats of the opening day position players, a signed Andy LaRoche game jersey, a signed Evgeni Malkin Penguins jersey and more. All proceeds benefit Pirate Charities.
Many bowlers make this an annual event, some having gone all six times, they say.
The evening is worth making every effort for such a good cause - if you haven't gone yet, it's a must-do for Pirate fans!

Dewey does it AGAIN!

Story updated at the end
April 28, 2010 -- In the third game of the Brewers-Pirates series at Milwaukee, Ryan Doumit had a day off for the day game after the night game.
Down one run in the top of the ninth, Skipper John Russell puts Doumit in to pinch hit. Trevor Hoffman, who blew the save the night before and lost on Doumit's second career grand slam, was on the mound.
On the fourth change-up Hoffman pitched, Doumit went down and got it, launching it into the seats in right field.
Superman's cape unfurls as he rounds the bases.
Solo homerun.
Game tied.
It took another five innings for the Pirates to win it in the 14th at Miller Park, taking the series from the Brew Crew, but they got it done.
From MLB.com:
"This is great," said Ryan Doumit, who was in the middle of a comeback win for the second consecutive day. "I think we earned back a little bit of respect in the Brewers' eyes. We've been a doormat against these guys. When you're winning by 17 or 20 runs a game, you tend not to take the other team too serious. After these last two games, I would like to think they know we're not going to give up. They're going to be in for a dogfight from here on out."
Doumit is batting .367 in his last 10 games, his current average is .288.
The Bucs move on to a four game series in Los Angeles, Thursday through Sunday.

Update: Ryan Doumit is only the second person to get two homeruns off of Trevor Hoffman - the last time someone did it? Dante Bichette in 1996.
From the Post Gazette's PBC blog, from Milwaukee catcher Gregg Zaun: "It was right where we wanted it. He had one hand on the bat, he's a big guy, and he put the barrel on it. Tip your cap. He hit a great pitch."

Streak broken: Moving on with Superman and the Pirate Ship

April 27, 2010 -- The Pittsburgh Pirates concluded a horrible week with a solid win and Superman grand slam finish for their second game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Milwaukee tonight.
After being swept by the Astros and walloped by the Brewers in the opening night of the second stop on the road trip, the Pittsburgh Pirates team name was connected in Pittsburgh and national media with streaks: losing 21 straight games in Milwaukee, the last win in 2007 at that park. Being outscored 72-12 in the last 7 losses.
In comes Jeff Karstens, called up from Indianapolis where he had started once and pitched 5 innings that time, to go six-plus of steady work holding the Brewers to two runs and six hits. His battery mate, Ryan Doumit, had drawn attention to himself the night before with a late tag at the plate to let a run score, and struggling offensively. In this game, Doumit had a single in the second to score a run and later a double.
Top of the ninth, Bucs down a run, Ronny Cedeno leads off with a solo homer off all-time save leader Trevor Hoffman to tie the game. Lastings Milledge and Andy LaRoche both get singles, and Hoffman intentionally walks Garrett Jones to get to Doumit.
Commentators said Hoffman was looking for the double play with one out, and hoped Doumit would do it.
"I was looking for a pitch to get some air under and get a sacrifice fly," Doumit told FSN Pittsburgh Sports in a television interview after the game. He wanted LaRoche, waiting at third with the go-ahead run, to cross the plate.
Batting from the left, Doumit crushed a fastball to the right field seats, second deck, his second career grand slam (his first was last year in Cincinnati) and breaking open the game to 7-3. It doubled his RBI count from 4 to 8 with one swing.
Oh how those Brewers hated to see that red cape with the big S round the bases.
A link to the grand slam video will be posted as soon as it's available.

Pirates take on Astros at Doumit's favorite away game venue

April 24, 2010 -- The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the midst of a three game series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. It happens to be Ryan Doumit's favorite road venue, according to information announced on the big screen at PNC Park.
After a three game massacre at the hands of the Brewers this week, the Pirates hit the road for Houston, where they fell 4-3 in the opener despite a clean performance by Paul Maholm on the mound. Doumit had one hit and a solid out at the plate with an outfield assist by CF Andrew McCutchen.
After Houston, the Pirates go to Milwaukee.
Doumit has played in 14 games so far this season with 49 at-bats. He has 11 hits, 4 RBI, 7 walks and 13 Ks. He has a batting average of .224; an on-base percentage of .333 and a slugging percentage of .306 at the conclusion of the April 23 game.

Doumit breaks open amazing opening day victory for Pirates

April 6, 2010 -- A capacity crowd saw the promise of the 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates as the Bucs shelled the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-5 in the home opener.
The Dodgers put up two in the first inning and the Pirates stepped to the plate, tied the game on a 2-run Garrett Jones homer, and never looked back. In the bottom of the eighth, with an 8-5 lead, two outs, two men on and a full-count, Ryan Doumit, batting from the right, sent a hanging curveball deep into the bleachers to break the game wide open. The switch-hitting Doumit had 8 major league home runs from the right before this game.
Earlier in the game honest hustle from the catcher turned a shallow left infield dropper into a double.
Doumit's numbers from the opener: two hits, two runs, three RBI and one base on balls. His batting average after game one: .500. As a team the Bucs had 11 runs, 10 hits and no errors.
Coming to that eighth inning at-bat, Doumit's career numbers with runners in scoring position: .308 average, 18 home runs, 163 RBI, 642 at-bats, 198 hits, 48 doubles and 50 base on balls.
Starter Zach Duke gave up the two runs in the first and none after that. Newly acquired Ryan Church pinch hit for Duke in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run double to add to a five-run inning for the Bucs.
After the game, Doumit told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette:
"We're the underdogs, and we're comfortable with that," Doumit said. "We're comfortable lurking in the shadows, people not taking us seriously. Because there are a lot of guys that take that personally. There are a lot of guys who want to do something about that. We're not going to roll over people. But we are going to set an identity this year that, when people play the Pittsburgh Pirates, they know they're in for a dogfight."

Doumit hitting, smiling through early Spring Training

March 7, 2010 -- Ryan Doumit is hitting .375 through his first three games in Spring Training 2010 and, by appearances, is enjoying 2010.
One of the established team veterans on the Pirates this season, Doumit is catching alongside last year's backup, Jason Jaramillo, and much-touted first round draftpick, Tony Sanchez.
How's it going?
"Haven't seen Ryan Doumit smile this much in a long time," Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic, blogged Saturday upon his return to covering baseball after a month with the 2010 Olympics.
Doumit has caught roughly every other game so far this Spring Training (a total of three) and typical of spring work, doesn't play a full game. His average is .375 after going 2 for 3 against the Twins Sunday.

Doumit sets his benchmark for season

Feb. 22, 2010 -- It appears to be Ryan Doumit newsday on the Pirates official site with a story and video from Spring Training in Bradenton.
In the MLB.com story (the link to the full story is below) Ryan talks about shaking the injury tag as he goes into his 12th year as a major league baseball player. He's trained physically to get away from any preventables (lower back, hamstring) and is ready for the 'freak' injuries (a broken thumb off an errant pitch, broken wrist swinging the bat) to be a part of his past.
What numbers constitute a benchmark season for the catcher? According to the article, 130 games, 500 at-bats.
"I know I've said it every year, but I hope everything is behind me," Doumit said in the article of his visits to the disabled list.
In the video, Doumit talks about the talent available to the team in the catcher's spot, most with big league experience, and what it takes to be ready for spring training and all that time in a crouch position, in the bullpen, catching the Pirate pitchers trying to make, or keep, a roster spot.
Among the glowing articles Pirate fans can read about upcoming catcher Tony Sanchez, who was chosen first by the Pirates in the 2009 draft, a blog bit from MLB.com writer Jen Langosch:
"I asked Manny Sanguillen, who works with the catchers, how the group looked this year. He answered by singling out Ryan Doumit: 'Ryan has really come a long way. I'm happy with his attitude, and he looks good.'"

That smile is a sign of a good year ahead!

Photo courtesy of D. Kovacevic

Spring Training underway: Doumit one of few veterans

Feb. 20, 2010 -- Spring training is underway in Bradenton, Fla. for the Pirates with Ryan Doumit one of the few returning veterans and a slew of catching competition for his back up.
"I went from (being) just another guy on the team to the salty old veteran," Doumit said. "And it happened quick," he told the Tribune Review Wednesday.
Doumit, Paul Maholm and Zach Duke now comprise the "veteran presence" on the field that have their history, so far, soley written in Pirates uniforms. They are not the only ones with a few years of big league experience under their belts, however. Newly acquired baseball veterans now on the Bucs 40-man include Akinori Iwamura (second base) and Octavio Dotel (closer).
Alongside Doumit at Pirate City is Jason Jaramillo, the number two catcher from last season, 2009 First Round Draft Pick Tony Sanchez, a non-roster invitee, Luke Carlin and Erik Kratz. According to MLB.com today, spring training should decide who is officially No. 2 under Superman.
A Yankees blog (yes, you read that right and I have no idea why it's on there) spoke highly of Doumit taking Sanchez under wing this spring, and that Sanchez is "living the dream" right now. The Pirates official Web site has a video from Friday with a Sanchez interview, including comments that, for the first time, someone else carries his catching gear to the field.
Doumit is featured in a few of the photo galleries (Feb. 18 and Feb. 19 galleries) from the first three days of spring training. Those galleries and the Tribune article are linked below.

Doumit tells Scout.com: 'One time'

Feb. 15, 2010 --Pirate pitchers and catchers report to Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. on Feb. 17 to prepare for the 2010 season.
In a recent interview with Pirates Dugout/Scout.com, Doumit was asked about the pieces added to the team this winter, his take on the "light at the end of the tunnel" that Skipper John Russell said he can see clearly (and it isn't the train), and the dreaded "injury tag" Doumit has fought.
"As far as I'm concerned right now the pitchers are the least of my concerns," Doumit said about the 2010 Pirates and the starting rotation that includes Paul Maholm, Zach Duke, Ross Ohlendorf, Charlie Morton and one more piece most likely to be decided in Bradenton. "We've got to get these guys some offense."
Doumit, as Scout.com pointed out, has been a big part of that for the Pirates when active. So what does it take to stay off the disabled list?
"You do everything you can in the offseason to be as healthy as you can," Doumit said of preparing to weather an intense schedule and the rigorous duties of catching for 162 games plus post-season.
Since being dubbed the starting catcher shortly after the start of the 2008 season when Doumit won the job over Ronny Paulino, he's been on the DL for a broken wrist (2009) and before that a broken thumb (2008) and also missed games after taking repeated hits on the facemask and sustaining a concussion.
Doumit drew praise from Pirates management at the start of the 2008 season, having reported to mini camp in January, 2008 looking like a "different person" as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported back then. His offseason efforts most likely kept previous injuries from recurring, namely his back and hamstring issues.
"One time I'd like to be," Doumit said in the Scout.com interview of staying healthy a full season.
Other things to look forward to, according to the starting catcher? His "pick to click" this season is Andy LaRoche at third base; he says he can see Garrett Jones as a 30-homerun guy, he expects Andrew McCutchen to continue to shine and Lastings Milledge to prove he is due the hype he had two years ago in Washington.
"The pieces are there," Doumit said of team offense.
In less than 48 hours, the pitchers - and the soon to be National League all-star catcher Ryan Doumit, will be back to baseball in Bradenton.

PirateFest: Doumit takes questions, greets fans

Jan. 31, 2010 -- Ryan Doumit greeted his growing legion of fans, took questions from the audience during a team Q&A session and posed for pictures and signed autographs during the annual PirateFest at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The indoor baseball carnival ran from Jan. 29-31 with Doumit's public appearances scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, Doumit joined his team mates on stage for a Q&A. When he and Paul Maholm were asked what it was like to become the team's veterans in the clubhouse, Doumit took the microphone first.
"It happened kind of sudden," the catcher said of the trades of 2009 that cleared the clubhouse of veterans and left him, Maholm and Duke the "old timers" or "old salty" as Doumit called it. He said players that held that status when he came up - like Jason Bay and Xavier Nady - set a good example, and one he hopes to carry on.
When the whole team was asked about superstitions with the game of baseball, Doumit said during his turn that he keeps things the same on game day - from where he keeps his catching equipment and batting helmet, to playing a few games of cards with Pitcher Ross Ohlendorf before gametime.
Another fan asked the players what the enjoy during their down time, and Doumit said he's quite the movie buff. Some of the most recent flicks he's seen: "Inglorious Basterds" and "The Invention of Lying."
The players were also asked what teams they followed as kids. For the Moses Lake, Wash. native, Doumit said it was the home team, the Seattle Mariners.
The starting catcher also made the rounds with season ticket holders during a visit to the VIP area and gave a radio interview.
He was scheduled for two autograph sessions, the last scheduled session Saturday and the first session of Sunday's activities. He greeted fans presenting baseball cards, the bobblehead in his likeness given out to fans at the PNC park game April 18, 2009, and jerseys. He posed for pictures with fans of all ages during autograph time as well.

See Ryan Doumit at PirateFest Jan. 30-31

Jan. 18, 2010 -- The annual indoor baseball carnival at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh will feature Ryan Doumit two of the three days this year.
In the scheduled autograph sessions, Doumit is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30 and from noon - 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31.
The annual event includes autograph sessions, games, player-fan interaction and the opportunity to buy game-used merchandise and the latest in MLB licensed clothes and accessories.
Keep in mind that the autograph schedules are strictly adhered to, and the autograph line can last for hours (as in reaching a point in the winding line that says the wait averages 2 hours, or 3 hours, from this point). If you plan to get Ryan's autograph, get in line in plenty of time.

Back in business for the 2010 season

Jan. 18, 2010 -- Just 13 months ago, Ryan Doumit was signing a long term contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates and his fans were considering that the Christmas present that would keep on giving - for three to five years.
By fall, after a season in which the starting catcher missed 73 games to a broken wrist and surgery to heal it, and a very much publicized falling out with the manager, Doumit's name was bantied around at winter meetings as a potential trade, but that never came about.
Last week Doumit was present and accounted for at mini-camp, one of the four catchers reporting. Setting the tone for Spring Training at the Pirates' facilities in Bradenton, Fla., reports from MLB.com say Doumit's name is written in pen as starting catcher with a battle for back-up.