Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit will be sidelined at least a month after breaking his left thumb on a passed ball. Doumit was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday after an examination in Pittsburgh, confirmed the break. Surgery will not be necessary for the team's top offensive player in the early part of the season. Backup Ronny Paulino, the regular last year while making a career-high 119 starts, slides into the starting spot. "We'll miss Ryan dearly," manager John Russell said. "But those guys out there know what we have to do to continue to develop and get better." (Updated 05/14/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/18/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Paulino was batting .224 with 13 RBI in 20 games, and had two critical hits in Tuesday's victory against the Cardinals, a game-tying RBI double in the seventh and the go-ahead RBI single in the 10th. "Ronny's used to catching every day, so I don't think we're going to miss much from that aspect," Russell said. "He's been an everyday catcher before, and the great thing about Ronny is he's continued to work. We've talked about him being as ready as he can and he's really done that, so I don't think it's going to be a big step for him." Paulino has some offensive potential, but is more of a NL-only Fantasy option at this time. (Updated 05/14/2008).
Paulino singled in the go-ahead run in a four-run 10th inning for his second crucial hit in an 8-4 victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday night. (Updated 05/14/2008)
Advice
Paulino went 2-for-5 and drove in two runs to improve his career numbers against the Cardinals to a .316 batting average with 17 RBIs.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit will be sidelined at least a month after breaking his left thumb on a passed ball. Doumit was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday after an examination in Pittsburgh, confirmed the break. Surgery will not be necessary for the team's top offensive player in the early part of the season. Backup Ronny Paulino, the regular last year while making a career-high 119 starts, slides into the starting spot. "We'll miss Ryan dearly," manager John Russell said. "But those guys out there know what we have to do to continue to develop and get better." (Updated 05/14/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/18/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Paulino was batting .224 with 13 RBI in 20 games, and had two critical hits in Tuesday's victory against the Cardinals, a game-tying RBI double in the seventh and the go-ahead RBI single in the 10th. "Ronny's used to catching every day, so I don't think we're going to miss much from that aspect," Russell said. "He's been an everyday catcher before, and the great thing about Ronny is he's continued to work. We've talked about him being as ready as he can and he's really done that, so I don't think it's going to be a big step for him." Paulino has some offensive potential, but is more of a NL-only Fantasy option at this time. (Updated 05/14/2008).
