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Cleared
to throw and hit, Doumit advances
June 15, 2009 --
Ryan Doumit was cleared by team doctors June 13 to begin throwing with his surgically repaired right hand and to begin
hitting baseballs again.
According to the Pirates official site, Doumit resumed throwing and taking steps back toward
the batting cage that include dry swings and then hitting off a tee.
Management plans to take his rehabilitation cautiously,
optimistic that his broken right scaphoid "healed very well," reports say.
The projected time for return is
now right after the All-Star break, which is mid-July (July 13-15).
See the link to the recovery update from MLB.com
below.
On Saturday, June 13 at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates honored the 100th anniversary of the 1909 world
series win by the club by bringing alumni of world champion Pirate teams back to the ballpark. Some in attendance included
Kent Tekulve, Manny Sanguillen, Bill Mazeroski and Chuck Tanner. The champions each tossed out the first pitch, lined
up across from current Pirate players. Ryan caught his mentor, Manny Sanguillen's, pitch. He then headed out to the bullpen
with the relief pitchers for the duration of the 9-3 interleague win over the Detroit Tigers.
Newest article on Doumit's next rehab phase
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| Ryan Doumit in the bullpen at PNC Park 2008. |
Mid-draft reflection and someone familiar
in the bullpen
June 10, 2009 -- Amid the first-year player's draft for Major
League Baseball, a Washington state paper reflected on the draft 10 years ago when that state was the hotbed of draft picks.
In 1999, a ton of talent was drafted out of Washington. Not all of it 'stuck' in baseball, and so far 1/10th of
it made it to the majors.
Here's an excerpt from that story:
"A look back at the great Washington Class of '99 reveals the cruel and fickle nature of professional baseball.
Only one of the 10 made it big — catcher Ryan Doumit, one of three players
chosen in the top 63 picks that year from Moses Lake High School. Doumit
hit .318 last year for Pittsburgh and then signed a three-year, $11.5 million extension with the Pirates..."
The
link to the full article is below, which includes comments from one of Doumit's fellow draftees that is a full-time business
owner these days, and says he's having a great time following Ryan's career in the bigs.
In Atlanta, the camera
focused on Ryan in the bullpen during the June 10 victory against the Braves. Contrary to reports still making the rounds
on fantasy baseball blogs, Doumit does not have a cast on his right wrist. He's in the bullpen with the shin guards on,
as seen Wednesday night, and can catch for pitchers - he's not yet allowed to throw the ball back.
The Pirates drafted
a catcher, Tony Sanchez out of Boston College, as the first choice in the draft this week. An interview with Sanchez
reads a lot like an interview with Doumit would - someone who doesn't want a lot of hype, just wants to work harder for
his teammates than he works for himself, and someone who is strong offensively and defensively.
Article on the draft of 1999
'Eerily quiet' after Bucs trade
Nate McLouth
June 7, 2009 -- Pirate fans - and Pirate players - were stunned to
learn Nate McLouth was traded to the Atlanta Braves June 3, and in the days to come, when many players spoke of their frustration,
radio personalities in Pittsburgh encouraged boycottying the games and fans wrote on blogs of their outrage, Ryan Doumit was
and is, publicly, quiet.
Coming into opening day 2009, management named three players as cornerstones of their winning
future, all signed to long-term contracts: Paul Maholm, McLouth and Ryan Doumit.
In response to the trade reaction, where
the Pirates got three prospects (two pitchers, one outfielder, none of them ready for the MLB level), Team President Frank
Coonelly said that in order to improve the depth of the system, no one at the major league level was untouchable, and he said,
"not Maholm, not Doumit...we won't tie our hands."
Going by fan blogs and media speculation, the fan base
and the media expected trades sometime this season of reliever John Grabow, second baseman Freddy Sanchez, shortstop
Jack Wilson or first baseman Adam LaRoche closer to the trade deadline. Grabow and LaRoche as they approach free agency,
Sanchez for his value.
Coonelly and General Manager Neal Huntington said they did not shop McLouth, that he was sought
by the Braves, and that the prospects they got in return were not the first choice, but valued.
The Pirates travel to
Atlanta, where McLouth wears No. 13 in navy and red now, for four games, Monday through Thursday.
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| He says he's ready to play ball! |
Doumit admittedly
eager to get back on the 25-man
June 7, 2009 -- On May 31 at Jack and Julie Wilson's
Fifth Annual Bowling with the Bucs in Crafton, Ryan Doumit said "let's get this thing moving!"
He was referring
to getting in enough rehabilitation, enough practice to get back to the team, behind the dish and batting clean-up.
Ryandoumit.com's
administrator talked to Skipper John Russell at the event.
"Promise me, please promise me, Ryan will go slow. Take
it carefully. He's too important to have wrist problems for years," the web admin said.
"Neal and I talk
about this every day," Russell said patiently, referring to General Manager Neal Huntington. "I told Ryan two days
ago, and four days ago, and six days ago, that we have to take our time."
Just then the subject of the conversation
came over.
"I made him promise you'd take it slow," the web admin told Ryan.
"No way, we've
got to get rolling. No time to waste!" Ryan responded.
The catcher grinned.
The skipper kept that amazingly
patient look he wears.
The web admin said "At this rate you'll be all bionic by the time you're 30!"
Ryan just smiled.
There's a new Bowling with the Bucs 2009 page on this site. Use the menu bar at left to
get there.
Doumit cleared to start baseball
rehabilitation
May 28, 2009 -- Ryan Doumit's
CAT scan on his surgically mended right scaphoid bone has progressed well enough that he's allowed to start throwing this
week, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Doumit will begin baseball rehabilitation now, though there will be a
cast on for a few more days, according to the report.
Doumit's return to the team was most optimistically mid-June
if the bone healed quickly, and that's what the doctors at Allegheny Hospital found today, according to reports.
When
Doumit will head to Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. has not been published yet.
Next x-ray is Thursday to gauge how fast
he's healing
May 27, 2009 -- When the Pirates take their off day before a
homestand this Thursday (May 28), Ryan Doumit will have his wrist examined to see how fast the scaphoid bone is healing after
the April 23 surgery.
According to an article on MLB.com, the pace of healing will determine when he is allowed to begin
baseball activity again. In a previous report, it was stated that when cleared to begin a rehabilitation program, Doumit will
be sent to Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. for rehabilitation and eventually get game time and a rehab assignment to a
farm team before being taken off the Disabled List and brought back to the Pirates every-day roster.
It was unclear how
soon after the check-up he would be sent to Florida or if he might be making an appearance at Jack and Julie Wilson's
annual Bowling with the Bucs, which is this Sunday, May 31, in Crafton, PA.
Also in the article, Skipper John Russell
said they plan to bring Doumit back slowly and cautiously, so the wrist isn't a problem again. Russell, a former catcher
himself who is a huge advocate of Ryan's, was clear that he didn't want the wrist to bother Ryan not only this
season, but in the season to come, as he fits into the team's long-term plans.
Doumit has promised to come back quickly.
A link to the MLB.com article is below (although the dates of the injury and surgery are wrong in this article).
Doumit to undergo wrist examination
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| Dr. Kenneth Ung photo |
Doumit's
healing on 'fast track,' MLB bosses say he's underrated
May 18, 2009
-- Ryan Doumit's injury update says he's going to beat the Pirates July 1 timeline for returning to the active roster.
This from PiratesReport.com:
"DOUMIT UPDATE: Catcher Ryan Doumit said he is making significant progress in his
recovery from the broken wrist he suffered April 20. He believes he will beat the loose timetable of July 1 that has been
set for his return. 'It won't be 10 weeks that I'm out, I promise,'
Doumit said."
(PiratesReport.com is run by John Perrotto)
Underrated?
mlb.com's
Corey Brock recently polled baseball managers and executives to find out who they think is major league baseball's most
underrated player. While the winners were Jayson Werth and Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Doumit also received multiple votes. So did
these guys: Ryan Theriot, Corey Hart, Shane Victorino and Garrett Atkins.
The
next step to healing: Stitches come out
May 6, 2009 -- Ryan Doumit stayed in Pittsburgh when the Bucs
traveled to St. Louis for a two-game stint today in order to have the stitches in his right wrist removed.
Once
the stitches come out, if the incision is healed adequately, Doumit will be allowed to work out again.
While the stitches
were in, Pirates Manager John Russell was told by the doctors "not to let him sweat." They didn't want to risk
infection of the incision since it was covered by a cast.
"It's been driving him crazy," Russell said of
Doumit's inactivity.
With the doctor's go-ahead, Doumit should be able to start running and working out as part
of his rehabilitation.
He will join the team in New York for a three-game series against the Mets Friday, according to
MLB.com. His rehabilitation program will continue while he's there.
Doumit was hitting .244 in 12 games with six
extra-base hits and nine RBIs before fracturing his wrist in a fluke injury while swinging against the Braves on April 19.
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Learn more about Ryan's injury Ryan Doumit went on the disabled list 4/23 for a fractured scaphoid
in his right wrist. Learn more about scaphoid injuries and what the surgery should be able to do for the Bucs' starting
catcher.
Click on "Scaphoid injury 101" in the menu bar |
Doumit to
have surgery Thursday on wrist, out 8-10 weeks
April 20, 2009 -- When Ryan Doumit
felt "a pull" at his second at-bat on Sunday against the Braves, he didn't figure it would be much.
Turns
out it's a fracture to a bone in his wrist that gets the least amount of blood flow naturally, and his quickest course
of healing is surgery.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Baratz will insert pins into Doumit's scaphoid
to fuse it together. After 4-5 weeks, another CT scan will determine if the bone has healed sufficiently to begin full baseball
rehabilitation. "If we see the bone healing, solidifying, then we can move forward," general manager
Neal Huntington said. "If not, then we have to wait for the surgery to take. So, 8-10 weeks is the most likely time.
It could be a little bit longer if the bone doesn't heal. It could be shorter if it does."
Ryan Doumit
reported to PNC Park Monday for the start of the series against the Hot Marlins and told Manager John Russell his right
wrist was sore after what felt like a "pull" early in Sunday's game against the Braves.
Doumit had an x-ray,
then later Monday an MRI.
The CAT scan on Tuesday was intended to give Doumit the most information about his
injury so he could decide his course of action, according to the PG.
In reaction, Doumit said "It sucks." Having
done everything he could in the offseason to report in shape, one at-bat has taken him out of the line-up.
Click the
link below for the full story from the PG, and to hear the comments by his fellow teammates.
Another unique thing in
that story is that Doumit has asked for, and received, permission to stay in Pittsburgh for his rehabilitation in order to
spend the most time with the team. Traditionally players on the Disabled List go to Pirate City in Bradenton. Doumit said
he wanted to be with his teammates and perhaps use the time in the dugout to learn more about the pitchers, and learn more
from Joe Kerrigan, the new pitching coach who has given the Pirates the coaching to have the most shutouts in the National
League - at four so far this year - and last weekend having the lowest ERA of ALL starting rotations in baseball.
Article explaining Doumit's surgery
Listen to Ryan's reaction
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| 2009 Ryan Doumit bobblehead |
Superman shines on his bobblehead day
April 19, 2008 -- Twenty-thousand plus fans got more than a Ryan Doumit bobblehead
at a Saturday afternoon game April 18 at PNC Park - they got a sensational performance by the starting catcher.
Doumit,
whose likeness was immortalized on the first bobblehead game of the Pirates 2009 season, went 3-for-4 with three doubles and
an intentional walk. He also nailed a runner stealing second base.
Now that Doumit's name and number are available
on T-shirts and team jerseys at the stadium, more and more fans are sporting the 41 at the ballpark. None of them were disappointed
Saturday in the Bucs 10-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
On Doumit's first double in the second inning, he was
singled in by Andy LaRoche for the only run of the game until the sixth inning, when Doumit was again on base when Craig
Monroe sent a three-run longball into the visitor's bullpen. Doumit scored again later on Monroe's second three-run
homer.
Click the link below for game highlights from Saturday.
Also, several fans have emailed into the site in
the past about where to find a Doumit jersey or T-shirt. Links for that are below as well.
A couple of photos from
April 18 are on the Ryan's Photos page, just click on that title in the menu at left.
Highlights from the April 18 game
Get a Doumit T-shirt
Check out the video board!
Haven't had time to get to PNC? Live too far away to hit a game? Check out the new at-bat features for
Ryan in 2009 with captured images of the jumbotron at PNC Park! Just go to the "Ryan Doumit on the Big Screen" page
by using the navigation menu on the left.
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| July 9, 2008 at PNC Park |
Doumit grand-slams into 2009
April 11, 2009 --With the Pirates holding a comfortable 5-1 lead over the Cincinnati
Reds, Ryan Doumit stepped to the plate at the top of the ninth with three men on base and launched the first grand-slam of
his major league career at All-American Ballpark in Cincinnati.
It was all cape for Superman as he doubled the lead over
the Reds on a 1-1 pitch from Mike Lincoln.
From the Post-Gazette:
"With pinch-batter Eric Hinske aboard on
a walk, Morgan singled and, with a hard slide, prevented Reds second baseman Phillips from turning what could well have been
an double play on Sanchez's grounder. Ryan Doumit followed a McLouth walk with his first career grand slam in 37 major-league
homers and tied his career-high output with four RBIs in a game."
Doumit had a two hits in the game before the big
slam.
Oddly enough, Saturday's game was supposed to be Doumit's off day, but the first scheduled game of the
Pirates-Reds series as rained out Friday night, postponed completely. Doumit got the nod for the start Saturday to call the
game for Pirates ace Paul Maholm.
Paul Maholm had a second stellar start, and though Johnny Cueto of the Reds outdid
Maholm in strike-outs, he was hit consistently by the Bucs. Nate McLouth launched a two-run homer in the first and Adam LaRoche
homered after Doumit's slam in the ninth, landing half-way up the moon deck in right field. Nyjer Morgan went 3-for-four
with two stolen bases.
The multiple hits Saturday afternoon in sunny Cincinnati grew Doumit's average to .238 after
a slow start in St. Louis. His OBP is .261 and his slugging percentage is .429.
The link to MLB's video highlight
of Doumit's grand slam is below.
Ryan Doumit's first MLB career grand-slam
Visit Doumit's player page |
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Click below to go to Ryan Doumit's player page as maintained by Major League Baseball. The page gives you current stats,
averages and information on the player, including links to Doumit's top plays video archive and past articles.
Doumit's player page
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2009 Underway; Bucs win opening day
April 6, 2009 -- Cold and blustery in St. Louis, the Pirates opening day game against
the Cardinals ended with a hot, four-run ninth for the third consecutive opening day win.
Middle reliever John Grabow
recorded the win, Matt Capps recorded the save.
Ryan Doumit started the game behind the dish, the first season as the
"starter of record" for the Moses Lake, Wash. product that turned 28 on Friday.
While Doumit was 0-for-five
in the game, reaching first base once on an error and flying out and grounding out twice, with one strike-out as well, his
veteran teammates Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson batted the team to a win over St. Louis, 6-4 in the top of
the ninth.
To see baseballreference.com's information on Doumit's major league career, click the link below.
Ryan Doumit's baseball reference page
Fate was not helpful...
March 29, 2009 -- The second annual pilgrimage to Bradenton
for Pirates Spring Training took place by the ryandoumit.com staff last week.
Camera ready and game tickets in hand,
as fate would have it Andrea never saw Ryan, not one time. He was not at either of the two games she attended (one at the
McKechnie Field at home, one at Port Charlotte, both against Tampa Bay) but of course he went lights-out at the Braves away
game she couldn't attend (darn economy).
Fortunately Andrea has enough connections that other fans did take pictures
earlier this Spring Training, and those will appear here shortly. Other pictures of Pirates from Spring Training last week
will get their own page here as well.
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| photo courtesy of Deanna from the Chris Duffy fansite |
'I want to be great at what I'm doing'
March 5, 2009 -- As Spring Training in Bradenton,
Fla. progresses and the Pirates game record climbs to 6-1, Ryan Doumit told MLB.com that he's not just content to be there,
satisfied to ride a three-year contract.
He is working with new pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, whose resume
includes such October contenders as the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. This year, Kerrigan and Doumit will formulate
a pitching plan for each game, and it's Doumit's job to implement it.
He also intends to become one of the great catchers of the game,
Doumit told MLB.com.
"I'm not just satisfied being in the big leagues," Doumit said. "I'm
not satisfied signing a three-year contract. I want to be great at what I'm doing. I want to look up in the stands and see
people wearing my jersey. I'm not just content. I'm not comfortable just being here. I want to be great at what I do."
Read the full article here
New page added for
Winter stories
Articles about the contract talks, contract
signing and appearances between October and February are on a new page, Winter 2008-2009. Find it using the navigation menu
at the top left of this home page. They were moved to improve how easily this page loads onto home computers.
This is a fansite. That means it's privately run and
not endorsed by Ryan Doumit or the Pittsburgh Pirates. All articles are attributed or written by the site owner. Articles
and photos are welcome for submission and will be considered by the site administrator. Inquire by contacting Andrea at administrator@ryandoumit.com
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