PIRATES Paulino hopes to avoid 'sophomore jinx' in '07

His .310 batting average and defensive play impressed his manager.
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- Ronny Paulino was one of the Pittsburgh Pirates' most pleasant surprises in 2006 and the catcher is ready to improve in 2007.
Paulino was recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis two weeks into last season and seized the starting job from Humberto Cota. Paulino wound up hitting .310 and drew raves for the way he handled the pitching staff.
"What was there not to like about the job Ronny Paulino did last season?" Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "I don't think you could have asked a rookie catcher to do any more than he did. He was terrific."
Based on how he has played this spring, Paulino looks ready to do even more this season. He is hitting .500 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 34 at bats. Since going hitless in his first eight at bats in exhibition play, Paulino has gone 17-for-26 (.654).
"I was hitting the ball well right from the start, but it was going to the second baseman or the center fielder at the beginning of the spring," Paulino said. "I feel like I'm in a really good groove and ready to get started on the season."
More home runs projected
Pirates hitting coach Jeff Manto believes Paulino is preparing himself better this spring, spending more time watching video of his plate appearances.
"Ronny is just one of those guys who is getting better every day," Manto said. "He works at it. He cares about it. He wants to be a good player."
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Paulino hit six home runs last year but both he and the Pirates believe he will hit more this season. He hit 19 home runs combined with Class AA Altoona and Indianapolis in 2005 despite playing in two ballparks that tend to favor pitchers.
"Felipe Alou, a very wise baseball man, always told me that the last thing to come around for a young player is power," Tracy said, referring to the former major league manager. "I really feel that's the case with Ronny. We saw him hit a number of fly balls to the warning track last season. Eventually, some of those fly balls are going to carry over the fence."
The Pirates were so pleased with Paulino's game-calling last season they almost considered his offensive production a bonus. Paulino feels the same way.
"It was nice to hit .300 last year and I was proud of that," Paulino said. "To me, though, the biggest thing is that we had a lot of young pitchers who got better in the second half of the season. I want to see those guys keep improving this season."
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