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2007 Ronny Paulino had already established himself at catcher by the time Doumit`s left hamstring forced him onto the disabled list in June. When Doumit came back two months later, there wasn`t a lot of playing time available. A position switch seems inevitable, but Doumit`s bat would be less exceptional at first base than it is behind the plate. If Doumit can stay healthy for more than two minutes at a time, he might have more value to the Pirates as a trading chip in a thin catching market. Who are we kidding? The Pirates don`t upgrade through trades. Come to think of it, they don`t upgrade. 2006 Since arriving in the high minors, Doumit has flashed solid gap-power numbers and made strides with his plate discipline. You`ll occasionally hear his defense pilloried, but for the foreseeable future the Bucs are committed to him behind the plate. Some within the organization would like to see Doumit abandon switch-hitting and bat solely from the left side, but that`s not likely to happen right away. In any event, Doumit will be the team`s regular catcher in 2006, and once he adjusts to the highest level he could be could for 50 extra-base hits per season. He`s an underrated performer. 2005 The snake-bit wonder among the Pirates clutch of interesting catchers in the system. This year, it was mono at season's start and a bum elbow that limited him to DH once he could play. He might still learn how to catch, and at only 24, it's way too early to give up on clothing him in the tools of ignorance. He had a nifty AFL, but so did just about everybody with a bat. If he doesn't log a second healthy season to go with 2003, his prospectdom's going to stall in the 'maybe' category. Still enough offensive upside to get excited.
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