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Humberto on the BrainI had another Pirate dream the other day. Seriously, I'm not making this up just to have some allegory for a prediction I have about the team, I just really do think about them this much.So evidently, in the dream, I'm good friends with all the Pirates. I'm walking down the street behind Doumit and someone else, I'm presuming someone recently called up from Indianapolis, but I can't remember. Doumit is talking about how he wants more playing time but then drops this bomb: "And for some reason they still think of me as a right fielder. It's not like the guy ahead of me at catcher is any good." "You mean Cota," I say angrily, "And he is good." Flash forward and I'm sitting down to lunch with Humberto (again, somehow in this dream I have become best friends with the entire team, I think I was playing for them and batting .238, which depending on what position I was at, might not necessarily have been a downgrade) I totally NARC on Doumit with Cota and he's disappointed. Cota wasn't too angry but did say he would get him back. And then it fades out. When I awoke I was angry, I still had some of the feelings I was experiencing during the dream, as if it really happened. I could remember my discussion during lunch; how I discussed how Doumit must think that he is the next Pirate savior, who could single handedly bring the team back to respectability if only he could have his way. I also remember saying that if that's how he feels I don't want him. That was just a dream, I do personally like Ryan Doumit, and I want him to do well. However, I don't think he should be doing it at catcher. Not with Cota back there. In addition to being an above average catcher there is also his clutchability which I noticed much earlier in the season. I will argue intensively about his legitimacy as a major league catcher. But even the Stat Geek doesn't agree with me. He argues, "Cota, 26, could well be an average catcher, maybe even a bit better. That would be fine, but why not shoot for more?" I love the geek, but I think he misses something. Doumit has potential to be a great catcher I agree, he also has a potential to be an above average right fielder, or as I will predict right now, an above average corner infielder. There's nothing wrong with going for an upgrade at a position, but it's important to evaluate the relative upgrade. We have depth at catcher, with Cota, Paulino in AAA and Walker even further down. We are below average in two outfield positions and both corners. The benefit of going from below average to above at those positions is greater then the benefit of going from above average to great at catcher, assuming Doumit even will be great, which is not a given, especially if he can't show more plate discipline. Secondly, say Doumit does become the best hitter on the team. Make a case for your best hitter sitting 10% of the games, which is what almost any catcher not named Jason Kendall is going to do. You don't really want your best players to be catchers because those positions have to rest regularly, they can't possibly start every game. However, I will say that it is important, defensively and for general all around baseball sake, to pick a position for someone and stick to it. I'm okay with Doumit switching between catcher and right field for now because we don't know how Paulino, Duffy, or McClouth are going to turn out, and as a starter behind the plate there is still little chance of Cota getting more then 70% of the starts. Doumit is young and can handle it, as long as he's playing almost everyday I have few complaints. But eventually he will start regularly at one position or another. This goes beyond Doumit. I'd like to see Craig stay put at first, and Bay stay in left. I'd like to see Mackowiak stick primarily to the outfield, however as a utility player (which I still consider him to be) I can accept and encourage his versatility all over. posted by Rory at 5:55 PM | |
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This is a blog about the Pittsburgh Pirates. My vision: to write about the games at the games. Want to email me? Make it out to rory at bleache... you know the rest. |
