When the Pirates made up their minds early in spring training that Ryan Doumit would be a full-time catcher the hope was he would bring a big bat and be adequate defensively.

They were correct on the former, but they might have underestimated the latter.

It is early, and it remains to be seen how well -- or if -- Doumit holds up over what would be his first full season behind the plate, but his work to date has exceeded expectations, maybe by a wide margin.

"He's gotten a lot better, no question," Pirates manager John Russell, a former catcher, said before the Pirates and Atlanta Braves were rained out yesterday at PNC Park.

Doumit has two passed balls, has thrown out two of eight runners trying to steal and has committed two errors. That gives him a .984 fielding percentage that ranks 12th out of the National League's regular catchers.

Nothing special there.

But the Pirates' focus with Doumit, particularly that of Russell and Luis Dorante, the catching instructor, has been his receiving and blocking pitches. And there has been increased evidence of improvement in that regard the past couple of weeks.

In his most recent start Friday, for example, he moved efficiently to his left and right to block no fewer than three pitches that would have been scored wild pitches had they eluded him. The most critical came in the eighth inning, when John Grabow, with two aboard and a one-run lead, threw a slider outside and in the dirt to Atlanta's Kelly Johnson. Doumit not only blocked it but also flung off his mask and barehanded the ball quickly enough that neither runner budged.

The next pitch was strike three.

And the next batter bounced into a double play, with Chipper Jones left standing on deck.

"A huge play," Russell said of Doumit's block.

Is Doumit more confident?

"I've never lacked confidence behind the plate," he said.

So, it might be nothing more than playing regularly at one position. Previous management, which displayed little confidence in Doumit's receiving, tried him in right field and at first base. Current management, too, had his status up in the air until after he reported to spring training.

"The more repetitions you get, the better you'll get," Doumit said. "Trust me: I wouldn't have made all those blocks if that was the first game I'd caught in two weeks."

The Pirates have narrowed their focus on prospects for the June 5 amateur draft to seven, possibly six, and it includes a mix of college and high school talent, as well as pitchers and position players.

Four believed to be on the list: Vanderbilt University third baseman Pedro Alvarez, back in action after a forearm injury; Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham; University of San Diego left-handed starter Brian Matusz and Florida State University catcher Buster Posey.

In perhaps the season's strangest statistic to date, Jason Bay has hit six of his seven home runs at PNC Park.

Before this season, he had hit 46 at PNC, 72 everywhere else, and the explanation often given was that one of his power alleys is to left-center, which extends to 410 feet with the North Side Notch at PNC.

"I'm not sure why it's happening, but I'm glad it is," Bay said. "It's always nice to hit home runs in your own park."

Three of Bay's home runs at PNC have gone to the left-field bleachers, one into the center-field landscaping and two into the seats beyond right-center. The other came at New York's Shea Stadium, to left field.

• If second baseman Freddy Sanchez's right shoulder pain continues, he might get a cortisone shot to address the inflammation.

• Before the rainout, right fielder Xavier Nady, slowed slightly by a minor groin strain, was going to be rested for the first time since April 11 and the second time all season. Jason Michaels was to play in his place.

• Center fielder Nate McLouth was going to be back in the lineup, this time at No. 2.