Pirate savors rookie season

Ryan Doumit visits family, friends, prepares for next season

MOSES LAKE — Ryan Doumit is enjoying his off-season time with family and friends before going back to the Pittsburgh Pirates for his second season in the majors.

"I don't think it has set in yet," said Doumit of his rookie season in the bigs.

Of the visit, Doumit seems content to spend his time in his hometown, a place he says he loves.

"Moses Lake will always be home to me," said Doumit. "Its sort of like when you're here you wish you were somewhere else and when you're somewhere else you wish you were here."

Doumit's first season in the bigs has been an odyssey in learning — learning how to be a player against people he has grown up idolizing, learning how to represent his ball club no matter where he is, learning to talk to the press and fans. The mannerisms that have been refined this season were learned during his five years playing for minor league ball clubs.

"(The biggest lesson of the minors) was how to handle yourself on and off the field, how to talk to you, the press, and fans," Doumit said.

It was a solid season for the switch-hitter. Doumit hit six homers in 50 games and averaged .255 at the plate.

One of those six homers came off a pitch from Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals.

"That was probably the best one because Carpenter is a Cy Young Award winner for the National League," said Doumit.

Although, the homer was a great moment, Doumit said, better yet, was the first game he played as a major league catcher.

"My family and friends were there to see it," Doumit said. "They were all there to support me."

Doumit describes the past year as a roller coaster ride, both physically and mentally.

"It was a rush to break into the majors," said Doumit. "Then I didn't play for a month and a half. I was used to playing every day."

The experiences of his rookie season have not, however, changed Doumit's devotion to his family and to his sport.

"I want to have a lengthy career, I'm not going to put a time limit on it, I just want to have a lengthy career and I want to accomplish the goals I've set for myself," Doumit said. "I want to be able to take care of my family and the people that I love. To travel and be able to take my parents, my brothers and sister and their kids and not feel bad about that."

Travel, Doumit hopes, will include a trip to Ireland.

"My grandma grew up in Ireland," said Doumit. "I'd like to visit, see the 'old country.'"

Doumit's hard work in the minor leagues, where he had a reputation for doing everything well, and in his first season appears to have paid off.

"As of right now, I'm slated to start but I'll still have to earn it in spring training," said Doumit.

Getting the chance to play next to his baseball heroes is Doumit's ideal day at the office and he is content to enjoy it while it lasts.

"There's nothing else I'd rather be doing," Doumit said. "It's what I've always worked for. It really is my dream job."