Doumit doesn't want to catch any more?

[EephusKnuckler]

The best thing about Doumit is he uses Danzig "Mother" as his walk-up music. I almost spit my beer over the person in front of me when I was at a game a few years ago and heard it. Pure awesome

[twinscowboysbulls]

What?

 

#1) Who cares if Doumit doesn't want to catch? Him not catching for the Twins makes us a better team. He is a terrible freaking catcher. The only value he once had was his ability to hit for us 2 years ago. Now he is redundant and unnecessary on this roster. I wish they would find someone who wanted him.

 

#2) Do you guys realize how ridiculous it is to say "so and so should play 3B" ??? Let's examine this for a second. Plouffe was a SS who couldn't stick at the position and is now at 3rd and in a lot of ways, he is very bad defensively. Who do you think is the better infielder/athlete? Doumit or Plouffe? Let's look at this, Sano is an exceptional athlete and has been an infielder his whole career, not a catcher, and he still has question marks about moving to corner OF or 1B instead of playing 3B. What in the heck makes you think a terrible catcher like Doumit has any chance of being adequate at an infield position let alone the 2nd hardest one to play. Come on guys. This seriously makes your credibility questionable.

 

#3) Twins should dump him off in this trade they are hopefully going to be making next week at the Winter Meetings.

[Kwak]

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.

 

That's what I thought, that Doumit's contract was that he was a catcher​ and his compensation was based on his ability to play catcher. If so, and Doumit announces he doesn't want to catch--well maybe the Twins can decide they don't want to pay him?

[LimestoneBaggy]

Apart from the fact that I'm still applying the crazy rumor to this....

 

Doumit used correctly could have plenty of value. He stunk in 2013, but 2012 (and a shortened 2011) were what I would want out of a bench bat with positional flexibility on the field. Perhaps they are grossly overpaying for it, but so what, that's already done.

 

Not quite sure I agree with the "release him" posters....not sure if hyperbole.....

[Thrylos]

Doumit would be a great PH and bench player for an NL contending team. And his $2.5M contract is about at that level and pretty good value for that role. If the Twins cannot trade him, they can Blackburn him.

[stringer bell]

Hmmm, switch-hitting pinch-hitter, who could play a little right field or catch on occasion? Even in the era of 13-man pitching staffs, a team should be able to find a spot for a player with those skills (lifetime .766 OPS), just not at $3.5M.

[stringer bell]

Doumit would be a great PH and bench player for an NL contending team. And his $2.5M contract is about at that level and pretty good value for that role. If the Twins cannot trade him, they can Blackburn him.

BB Ref does say $3.5M (perhaps a pro-rated buyout?).

[Thrylos]

BB Ref does say $3.5M (perhaps a pro-rated buyout?).

 

Yeah. My bad. It is $3.5 not 2.5M. Still the going price for a bench bat these days.

[Major League Ready]

Hmmm, switch-hitting pinch-hitter, who could play a little right field or catch on occasion? Even in the era of 13-man pitching staffs, a team should be able to find a spot for a player with those skills (lifetime .766 OPS), just not at $3.5M.

I hope so. We have so many question marks this season. It seems like a bad idea to give Doumit ABs. Can we get a C+ prospect?

[jorgenswest]

I would think the only thing that would keep Doumit from catching is valid concerns about his long term health. I don't think anyone has ever questioned his character, effort or willingness to play hurt. It is too bad that players with more talent don't have his heart.

 

However, signing Doumit to a 2 year 7 million dollar contract extension on 2012 was a foolish decision. It was easy to project that his league bottom defense would only get worse as he aged. The Twins still don't know about Parmelee. It can take 1000 plate appearances to see the skill in a player. Parmelee should be near that point. He isn't close. A player benefits from consistent playing time. Parmelee has had very few stretches of regular playing time. The Twins should have invested many of Doumit's at bats in Parmelee. There is no guarantee that Parmelee will be a useful player. If he had a consistent shot, the twins would probably know entering 2014.

 

I wrote at the time that signing guys like Doumit only adds to the cycle of mediocrity. It is time to release him now. The 7 million is gone. It's time to end the cycle.

[crapforks]

He's a pinch hitter/DH/emergency outfielder with a pedestrian bat. Not much room on many 25-man rosters for that. Maybe he tears up spring and someone is willing to trade a 28-yr old AA soft tosser. Otherwise, he should be released.

[Marta Shearing]

I think this concussion thing has gotten a little out of hand. Even with morneau, I dont question it wasnt legit, but after a while I think it got to the point where doctors were freaking him out into feeling symptoms that werent there. A caffeine withdrawal headache is not a concussion symptom!

[Kwak]

I would think the only thing that would keep Doumit from catching is valid concerns about his long term health. I don't think anyone has ever questioned his character, effort or willingness to play hurt. It is too bad that players with more talent don't have his heart.

 

 

However, signing Doumit to a 2 year 7 million dollar contract extension on 2012 was a foolish decision. It was easy to project that his league bottom defense would only get worse as he aged. The Twins still don't know about Parmelee. It can take 1000 plate appearances to see the skill in a player. Parmelee should be near that point. He isn't close. A player benefits from consistent playing time. Parmelee has had very few stretches of regular playing time. The Twins should have invested many of Doumit's at bats in Parmelee. There is no guarantee that Parmelee will be a useful player. If he had a consistent shot, the twins would probably know entering 2014.

 

I wrote at the time that signing guys like Doumit only adds to the cycle of mediocrity. It is time to release him now. The 7 million is gone. It's time to end the cycle.

 

Doumit was re-signed because he had hit in the clutch and he fulfilled the mandate of three catchers on the Active Roster.

[Trevor0333]

I suspected Fryer staying on the 40 man says they knew about this long ago already.

[Trevor0333]

Doumit was re-signed because he had hit in the clutch and he fulfilled the mandate of three catchers on the Active Roster.

 

Doumit had a pretty good season prior to being resigned & filled a role this team needed very nicely. The contract isnt that bad and has not held them back from making any moves. Far from a foolish decision.

 

Mistakes are selling so low on players like Delmon & Liriano etc...

 

I meant to quoute the other post too, agreeing with your sentiments on it...

[lingrass]

It's Christmas time and people want to get rid of Yukon Cornelius??? Where is your Christmas Spirit, people???

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/thumb/803068061.jpg?1377388910

[orangevening]

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...

 

Sinker isn't one to be spreading false rumors, although he is more of the folky, average-fan commentary type. Still wierd that he would say that (on MPR too) that's why I thought it was news worthy

[orangevening]

What?

 

#1) Who cares if Doumit doesn't want to catch? Him not catching for the Twins makes us a better team. He is a terrible freaking catcher. The only value he once had was his ability to hit for us 2 years ago. Now he is redundant and unnecessary on this roster. I wish they would find someone who wanted him.

 

It matter because the catching situation is in flux. Pinto and Hermman are unproven and Doumit was atleast a veteran back-up plan catching 50 games or so. It matters too because it expalins the why the Twins have interest in veteran catchers (Buck is the current one) and have Fryer on the 40-man.

 

 

 

#2) Do you guys realize how ridiculous it is to say "so and so should play 3B" ??? Let's examine this for a second. Plouffe was a SS who couldn't stick at the position and is now at 3rd and in a lot of ways, he is very bad defensively. Who do you think is the better infielder/athlete? Doumit or Plouffe? Let's look at this, Sano is an exceptional athlete and has been an infielder his whole career, not a catcher, and he still has question marks about moving to corner OF or 1B instead of playing 3B. What in the heck makes you think a terrible catcher like Doumit has any chance of being adequate at an infield position let alone the 2nd hardest one to play. Come on guys. This seriously makes your credibility questionable.

 

Doumit has a 3rd basemen's "look", but I agree, I don't understand on a serious baseball discussion why people think this is a realistic option. It was annoying to read the Mauer-to-3rd proposals too.

 

#3) Twins should dump him off in this trade they are hopefully going to be making next week at the Winter Meetings.

 

Although he is part of the DH/OF logjam we currently have, he is a Grady favorite (I can feel the shivers from everyone though the computer) and is a decent bat at least off the bench so I won't be surprised if he stays even if they pick up a veteran catcher

[Alex]

Doumit had a pretty good season prior to being resigned & filled a role this team needed very nicely. The contract isnt that bad and has not held them back from making any moves. Far from a foolish decision.

 

Mistakes are selling so low on players like Delmon & Liriano etc...

 

I meant to quoute the other post too, agreeing with your sentiments on it...

 

To be fair to Ryan, I don't know that there was a great time to sell high on these players, unless you wanted to do so when they were performing well and the Twins were winning, which doesn't seem like a good idea either.

 

The problem with the Doumit extension is that it was early (June - certainly not after a good season) in the first year of the contract and was for two years. This isn't hindsight and a lot of baseball analysts were saying it at the time. We now see the problem with it. He's clogging up the roster, and would be to some extent even if he catches.

 

Just because the money doesn't mean anything doesn't mean it wasn't a bad move.

[Shane Wahl]

Can't believe I am saying this, but I would rather roll with Eric Fryer than sign aging, mediocre John Buck.

[jokin]

 

 

 

 

Doumit has a 3rd basemen's "look", but I agree, I don't understand on a serious baseball discussion why people think this is a realistic option. It was annoying to read the Mauer-to-3rd proposals too.

 

 

 

Although he is part of the DH/OF logjam we currently have, he is a Grady favorite (I can feel the shivers from everyone though the computer) and is a decent bat at least off the bench so I won't be surprised if he stays even if they pick up a veteran catcher

 

I don't understand how you could possibly have been annoyed at the "Mauer-to-3rd proposals, too." They were/are fully supportable. Mauer is more than athletic enough to play the position....ie, Florida State level QB, ball-handling BB Guard for a State Tournament HS basketball team....which obviously infers that he has the arm, glove and a strong combination of dexterity and agility to be at worst, above average at the position. As I've noted before, Joe Torre was a lifelong catcher before becoming an MVP third baseman, and he was not near the athlete that Mauer is. Further, we all know guys like Killebrew and Cabrera have manned the position because their bats more than compensated for their fielding deficiencies....Mauer at 3rd would have presented the prospect of raising the value returned from the position for the Twins, both in the field and at the plate. Mauer at 1st has actually hurt the already anemic Twins offensively, net-net, big-time (unless Pinto is inexplicably given the full-time catching job and somehow miraculously becomes an annual .830 OPS/121 OPS+ hitter, Moreneau's career #s). Mauer at 3rd and the addition of one of the legitimate available 1B options would have added to the offense and helped the defense.....So....Not really much an Annoying Proposal, after-all.

[jokin]

Can't believe I am saying this, but I would rather roll with Eric Fryer than sign aging, mediocre John Buck.

 

At least aging mediocre John Buck is a legit major leaguer who still might yet catch lightning in a bottle one more time-Eric Fryer would be lucky enough just to catch a lightning bug in a bottle...blecch! And a one-year deal for Buck really doesn't hurt the Twins at all...and Eric Fryer can still hang around, waiting in the wings at Rochester, if Buck can no longer cut it.

 

To me, this pattern of "cut-out" AAAA players masquerading as Twins major leaguers must stop, Fryer is just more of the same- Clete Thomas, Doug Bernier, Eric Komatsu, et al.

[Halsey Hall]

I expect a trade for a catcher this weekend. But then, would Doumit be part of that trade. I'm thinking winter meetings are this weekend, anyway.

[orangevening]

I don't understand how you could possibly have been annoyed at the "Mauer-to-3rd proposals, too." .....So....Not really much an Annoying Proposal, after-all.

 

Being annoyed is a feeling and like any feeling it is subjective- it is fact invalidating to tell someone to not feel they way they do. I could go into counter points on why Mauer-to-3rd is a bad idea or it won't work or he's-a-good-athlete-so-he-can-play-anywhere argument doesn't hold water, but that is a never ending argument. My point is that I will continue to be annoyed (and you can't stop me- ha!) to the Mauer-to-3rd argument because it will not happen- at least in the immediate future. You are free to be not annoyed all you want, I promise I won't stop you.

[jokin]

Being annoyed is a feeling and like any feeling it is subjective- it is fact invalidating to tell someone to not feel they way they do. I could go into counter points on why Mauer-to-3rd is a bad idea or it won't work or he's-a-good-athlete-so-he-can-play-anywhere argument doesn't hold water, but that is a never ending argument. My point is that I will continue to be annoyed (and you can't stop me- ha!) to the Mauer-to-3rd argument because it will not happen- at least in the immediate future. You are free to be not annoyed all you want, I promise I won't stop you.

 

Annoyances can be stopped when rationally explained away.

[Guest USAFChief]

OK...everyone take a deep breath, let go of the personal animosity, and return to the subject matter.

 

Please.

[Brandon]

If he just doesn't want to play the position he is signed to play then the Twins should be able to void his contract for nonperformance. or send him to AAA and play there I guess.

[Parker Hageman]

Spoke to Ryan Doumit's agent Paul Cobbe last week. Cobbe said that Doumit is very much interested in still catching.

[cmathewson]

Honestly, it's for the best. He shouldn't catch anymore anyway. He is in a two-man fight for the full-time DH role with Jason Kubel. May the best man win.