Doumit doesn't want to catch any more?

[orangevening]

Just heard on MPR Howard Sinker said that Doumit told the Twins he doesn't want to catch anymore. Surprised me, even with the concussions. Explains the catcher chasing though...

[Winston Smith]

That means he's a DH he certainly should never play in the outfield.

[Major League Ready]

What are the odds he gets traded in the next couple weeks? Can we get more than a pair of batting gloves in return?

[ericchri]

I'll take the pair of batting gloves. I like Doumit in a lot of ways, but he's really cluttering up our roster right now, especially if he can't catch. Younger guys need those AB's at DH and outfield.

[Trautmann13]

Oh come on guys, Weird-eyes Doumit is worth at least 2 balls and a bat. (BTW, he really is a problem guy and as much as I like him, its time for him to go)

[Alex]

As with Mauer, a player needs to do what is right for his health and future. The difference with Doumit is that it might mean he's no longer has much value, and unfortunately doesn't belong on the roster.

[halfchest]

That kinda stinks, his value really comes in that he can at least be a halfways decent catcher. I use the term halfways loosely.

[Craig in MN]

I heard this also, and I thought it was strange that Sinker is the only that I've ever heard say it, especially, since I think Bernadino talked with someone with the Twins this week and got the impression that Doumit was going to be a catching. I think Sinker knows that Doumit didn't catch at the end of the year and is just assuming that will continue. Doumit himself said that he plans to catch in 2014.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Did Mauer set a bad precedent?

 

Maybe Doumit's just trying to bow out gracefully from the position before being officially forced out?

 

I mean, the writing was definitely on the wall, from being phased out of the position a bit in 2013, to the pursuit of FA catchers, to endorsements of Pinto when traditionally, Doumit would have been the logical option to assume the job after Mauer.

[D. Hocking]

I remember reading somewhere last summer after his concussion, someone saying he would not catch the rest of the year, and implying that he could very well not catch again period - and that Domit himself did not want to catch again. It was from a pretty unofficial source, so nothing you would want to rely on, but it at least seemed somewhat credible.

 

The Twins (and probably most sports teams) are pretty good at underplaying or underreporting the ramifications of an injury. Looking back at some of Terry Ryan's quotes right after Mauer's concussion, he made it sound like the symptoms were clearing up and he would be playing soon, when in reality Mauer was having some pretty intense symptoms and would continue to so for two months.

[bholmgren]

Can he be 3rd base competition for Plouffe??

[Marta Shearing]

Kind of odd that a barely major league caliber player thinks he can tell his team what positions he will and won't play. Spring training 2012 he made it very clear he didnt want to play 1st base (the easiest position on the field). Instead he wants to stay in the outfield butchering balls worse than any Twin I've seen in recent memory. Trade him please. Give him away. Release him. I dont care.

[BigTrane]

Searched MPR.org, but couldn't find the Sinker interview, so I'm reading tea leaves now. Sorry if I'm a bit out of the loop but, hell, I'm in China.

 

Bernardino's Dec 4 story quotes Ryan: "There is "some" chance the Twins will still sign a free agent catcher, Ryan said, but he made it clear the best options appear to be in-house at this point. "Who's out there?" he said. "There are some catchers out there with some interest (to the Twins). I'll just leave it at that." At the end of the piece, there's a mention of Doumit: "Doumit didn't catch over the final five weeks in 2013 because of a concussion suffered in early August, but Ryan said that shouldn't be an issue." Earlier, he said that they have "limited" interest in Buck. http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_24648096/minnesota-twins-it-stands-pinto-is-2014-starting

 

1) I like the confidence in Pinto, I feel that investing (in that sense) in a young guy can pay the biggest dividends. Could be wrong of course, but I see big upside if he gets things together behind the plate. Of course Mauer is now the mentor figure- he'll step up and do it.

 

2) If Doumit really is out (we'll see) then we're looking a bit thin behind the dish. I was AJ all the way, but we can't offer him the chance for a second ring. If TR is basically done with C, then it's Pinto's to take it and make it into something. Happy for Pinto, hope he comes through- now let's look at offense & more pitching!

[Mike Sixel]

Doumit has little to no value as a DH/OF. He was predicted by Fangraphs to be the worst "every day" DH, and he was. He can't field. I don't know why he isn't just cut at this point, and why they don't roll the dice with random younger players.

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, I'm with the others here. Based on his season last year, he has no value if he doesn't catch. Gardy played him way too much at non-catching positions last year, and I'd argue (though it's definitely debatable) that this hurt Parmelee more than anything else. I like Doumit, but there's no chance he's a next wave guy. And while the odds of Parmelee being a significant contributor for that are very low at this point, he should be playing every day just to see if he can figure out the major leagues. He has potential to be an absolute beast in the lineup if he can.

[Alex]

Kind of odd that a barely major league caliber player thinks he can tell his team what positions he will and won't play. Spring training 2012 he made it very clear he didnt want to play 1st base (the easiest position on the field). Instead he wants to stay in the outfield butchering balls worse than any Twin I've seen in recent memory. Trade him please. Give him away. Release him. I dont care.

 

A player should communicate his health issues and desires to his team. However, you're not wrong that they also need to accept the reality of such concerns.

 

I wonder if we'll start to see contracts that have clauses regarding position played allowed?

[johnnydakota]

Kind of odd that a barely major league caliber player thinks he can tell his team what positions he will and won't play. Spring training 2012 he made it very clear he didnt want to play 1st base (the easiest position on the field). Instead he wants to stay in the outfield butchering balls worse than any Twin I've seen in recent memory. Trade him please. Give him away. Release him. I dont care.

 

I have no problem with Doumit saying my health is more important then your team....

But he needs to understand the team may have to move on from him ....

thanks for your time here and best wishes doumit

[Mike Sixel]

I have no problem with Doumit saying my health is more important then your team....

But he needs to understand the team may have to move on from him ....

thanks for your time here and best wishes doumit

 

100% this

[Boom Boom]

If he doesn't want to catch, he's not worth the Twins keeping around, and he also diminishes his own trade value, if he had any.

[DJL44]

If Doumit doesn't want to catch he should retire. Nobody is going to want him on their team if he won't catch.

[Badsmerf]

Next year is Doumit's last right? If he refuses to catch he better learn to play 3b and give Plouffe some competition (like has already been pointed out). I guess it might come down to money. I'm sure he'll start the season with the Twins since he is under contract, but once Sano comes up he and Plouffe might be the odd men out. Thing is, Plouffe can play multiple positions and Doumit can't. This might turn out to be a bad decision for his career (but not necessarily for him in the long run).

[TheLeviathan]

Well, that makes two of us Mr. Doumit.

[Boom Boom]

Next year is Doumit's last right? If he refuses to catch he better learn to play 3b and give Plouffe some competition (like has already been pointed out). I guess it might come down to money. I'm sure he'll start the season with the Twins since he is under contract, but once Sano comes up he and Plouffe might be the odd men out. Thing is, Plouffe can play multiple positions and Doumit can't. This might turn out to be a bad decision for his career (but not necessarily for him in the long run).

 

Without ever seeing Doumit try it, I am 100% sure that Doumit at third base would be an unmitigated disaster. Plouffe would look like Brooks Robinson comparatively.

 

We're talking about a guy who's uncomfortable playing first base.

[Twins Twerp]

I just heard from one of my sources, Pinto has decided he no longer wants to catch. This is breaking news. Too much wear and tear and afraid of concussions.

[Winston Smith]

If Doumit doesn't want to catch he should retire. Nobody is going to want him on their team if he won't catch.

 

He'd be good in a staring contest!

[ScottyB]

If Doumit was afraid and uncomfortable at 1B, I'd say he'd be petrified at 3B. It's just not happening.

[Riverbrian]

Who knows how Doumit really feels.

 

If the Twins need him to catch... Strap the pads on Doumit and do what is needed.

 

Same goes for Mauer... Strap them on... On occasion if the team needs you to.

 

Positional Flexibility is a good thing. If players are actually saying... I won't play a certain position. It hurts the team and it really hurts their individual value.

[gmarais66]

Ryan was interviewed on 1500 ESPN today and the way he talked Doumit was still in the mix for catching this season. I think the comment about him not wanting to catch anymore is nothing more than a rumor gone wild...

[ashbury]

A player should communicate his health issues and desires to his team. However, you're not wrong that they also need to accept the reality of such concerns.

 

I wonder if we'll start to see contracts that have clauses regarding position played allowed?

 

Years ago, the White Sox invoked a "diminished skills" clause in Frank Thomas's contract, a move that didn't bring happiness to either party. I wonder if that kind of clause is rare, or common? Doumit's contract extension was based in large part on his ability and willingness to catch. I'm sure Terry Ryan doesn't want this to go to litigation, but if the reasonable choice becomes to cut ties and no trade can be worked out, this has the potential of becoming messy. I hope, as was already stated, this is just a rumor gone wild.

[stringer bell]

Ryan Doumit isn't the centerpiece of this team. For the last two years, he has mixed being a DH, catching and some outfield at ages 31 and 32, into career high plate appearances on a bad team. Given his skill-set and age, I doubt he'll ever get another multiple-year contract. Much of Doumit's value comes from his ability to play catcher and if he chooses to no longer go behind the plate, he may not continue in the big leagues beyond this year. On the flip side, if a player no longer wants to catch as the result of an injury, I sincerely doubt any club could invoke a "diminished skills" clause and make it stick and I doubt that such a clause exists with a small to medium sized contract which is where Doumit's salary lands.

 

At the conclusion of this season, I was under the impression that Doumit not catching was the club's idea, not his. I would think that Doumit would continue to be available to catch, but not a preferred option for the club.