Dotel Vows to Raise Volume on, off Field

POSTED: February 20, 2010

Save | Print | Email | Read comments | Post a comment

Photos

BRADENTON, Fla. -- It was only minutes into the first meeting that Pirates pitcher Octavio Dotel realized his new team would be much different than the last one.

Manager John Russell was was low-key, to the point and G-rated of all things.

Then again, after the two seasons that Dotel spent with loose-tongued skipperr Ozzie Guillen and the Chicago White Sox, anything short of Animal House would qualify as silence.

"My man over here is a little bit different," Dotel said. "He's really, really quiet. As far as I can see, he doesn't like to talk like an athlete. The main thing is, give information to the guys and tell them the plan and what we will do today. But I won't lie to you the managers are different, totally different.

"I'll be honest with you -- I miss Ozzie's meetings, because they're really, really, really funny. He says what he has to say or whatever, but at the end, everyone laughs like crazy because he'll come with something funny, something crazy."

That's about all that Dotel will miss about his old team, not that he harbors a grudge in any way.

In the least two seasons, Dotel put up respectable numbers 134 games, 7-7 record, 3.55 earned run average but he wasn't himself. He pitched every inning except the one that he wanted to pitch the most the final one. He had only one save in eight chances.

"That's one of the things that I kind of hated a little bit, but it was my job," Dotel said. "I had to pitch whatever inning they wanted, but it was hard for a guy like me not to know when I would pitch. Mentally, I didn't know where I was and what would happen. I could sit down, and the next thing I knew, I had to get up and be ready to be in the game."

Dotel believes Pittsburgh will see the real him this season. He's the one that relies on fastballs and closes out games.

"When the game is on the line, I've always liked to be in that situation you know?" Dotel said. "Now it will be even better, because I know that I will be the guy to get three outs in the ninth inning."

An excitable sort that has been known to get animated on the field at times, Dotel brings something else to the party. For a predominately young team, that may be no small consideration.

"Octavio has had a great time in camp," Russell said. "He's one of those guys that will keep it loose. He's fun to be around. You need some life in the clubhouse. You need some life on the field. We've got a few guys that have that, and he'll be a part of it."

At 36 years old, Dotel has no lack of motivation. In January, he signed a two-year, $8-million contract, but only the first year is guaranteed. The team has the option for the second year.

Dotel also has to prove that he can handle the closer role on a full-time basis. He never had more than 15 save opportunities in any of the last five seasons.

"When the game is on the line after the seventh inning, it's a different feeling," Dotel said. "But the main feeling is when you come in the ninth inning, of course. When you know how to handle it, what to do and how to act in that situation, things get better. I'm pretty good in that situation."

One way or the other, Dotel promised to be heard from eventually.

"I'll be one of the louder men we have over here, but I'll take it a little bit easy right now," Dotel said. "When we get 25 guys (on the Opening Day roster), I'll definitely be the loud guy, the funny guy, whatever."

Share: