Doumit shows much polish

NEW YORK -- Ryan Doumit is a likeable, well-built 24-year-old with close-cropped hair and sideburns that jut just defiantly enough to hint at a conceited attitude.
But as manager Lloyd McClendon describes Doumit, the word "polished" comes out of his mouth often enough that you would expect to see your reflection when looking at the Pirates rookie.

"He's as polished as any hitter we've got," McLendon said. "If you didn't know him and he was in that box, you wouldn't think that he was as green as he was, as young as he was and so inexperienced. He really looks like a mature hitter in the box. He knows the strike zone, he uses the entire field -- and when I say entire field, I mean line to line."

Doumit's fine finish -- though surely this is only a primary coat -- has him planted firmly in the middle of the Bucs' batting order. Entering Wednesday night's game, Doumit had been the No. 4 or No. 5 hitter during 14 of his 20 Major League at-bats.

McClendon projected Doumit to be a middle-of-the-order hitter, and said necessity dictated that he slot Doumit there now.

"When you bring young kids to the big leagues, you don't ask them right off the bat to hit in the middle of the order," McClendon said. "You try and put them second, stick them eighth, seventh. Let them get their feet wet. We are what we are, and we need him to produce right away."

But Doumit doesn't shy from the challenge -- he's used to batting in run-producing positions.

"That's where I've always hit," he said. "Coming up through the Minor Leagues, I've always been 3-4-5. It's nice that I can continue that at this level. Of course I'm comfortable -- it's something I've always been used to."

The switch-hitting Doumit has more power from his natural side -- the right -- but is a more accomplished hitter from the left. Doumit attributes that to a higher number of repetitions from the left side.

"I've been switch-hitting since I was 4 years old," he said. "I didn't have any choice in the matter. My dad told me that he kind of willed me to be a switch-hitter. It's something I've always done. The left hand is probably my more natural side now."

McClendon likened Doumit to Chipper Jones, noting that both players easily transitioned to the Majors because of refined skills at the plate.

Doumit was blown away by the comparison.

"Chipper Jones is a great player," he said. "He should be one of those guys who, when it's all said and done, will go down as one of the greatest at his position. To be even mentioned in the same sentence as a guy like Chipper Jones is awfully flattering."

The master's apprentice: When Oliver Perez takes the mound against Randy Johnson on Thursday night, it will give the 23-year-old lefty a chance to see just how favorably he matches up with a pitcher whose game and name are often bandied about as comparable to his own.

"I like it," Perez said of the comparison. "That's a good baseball player, maybe someday a Hall of Famer. You have to be happy with that."

Perez admitted that he often watches Johnson pitch, but just for fun instead of for homework. McClendon certainly wouldn't mind if Perez studied up, citing Johnson's transition from out-of-control thrower to unhittable pitcher.

"I think it's the same pitches," McClendon said. "It's just a matter of much better control. He's doing with the ball what he wants to do, and Randy can do that. Oliver is learning how to do that and find the consistency of a guy like Randy Johnson."

Perez is excited to pitch in Yankee Stadium for the first time -- and his manager knows it.

"He loves that type of arena, that type of competition, and I think he thrives on it," McClendon said.

Said Perez: "It's a big deal. Lots of legendary people played here. It's my first time here, and I want it to be special to me."

"It should be a heck of a game," McClendon said. "Hopefully, it's a low-scoring game. I think that's more to our liking and gives us a better opportunity to win a ball game."

Historical context: Though the Yankees revealed plans for a new stadium Wednesday, the Pirates' reactions to the announcement were muted, largely due to the general lack of individual history with Yankee Stadium.

"I don't really have any ties to Yankee Stadium," McClendon said. "It's the first time I've ever been here. There's no history for me. You're asking the wrong guy."

We ain't afraid of no ghosts: McClendon disregarded the notion that playing in the legendary Stadium had any negative impact on his team during Tuesday's 9-0 series-opening loss. He pointed instead to the outstanding performance by Yankees starter Mike Mussina.

"The novelty of not knowing Mussina and the fact that he had his 'A' game, that was it in a nutshell," said McClendon. Everyone used to ask me about Houston (against whom McClendon has compiled a 25-42 record).

"Was it the stadium? It's not the stadium. It was [the Houston players].

"It's the same thing [here]," continued McClendon. "[Mussina] pitched a dominant game. It had nothing to do with Yankee Stadium."

On deck: The Pirates square off against the Yankees in the final game of their three-game series at 7:10 p.m. ET Thursday night, with Perez facing off against the Big Unit.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/