Paulino headed to Indy?

Just about everyone around the Pirates has been very impressed with the way veteran catcher Raul Chavez has played since being recalled May 14.

Though Chavez has been mediocre offensively, it's his defense, strength in his throwing arm and the way he is handling the rotation that is turning heads.

"He's doing a nice job," Pirates manager John Russell said of Chavez. "He's handling the staff well. Each game he starts the pitching staff seems really in tune. He's got the arm to shut down a running game."

Chavez threw out two runners trying to steal and has thrown out three of five runners this season.

With Ryan Doumit set to come off the disabled list Friday, somebody has to go back to Class AAA and it might just be Ronny Paulino.

After losing his job to Doumit in spring training, Paulino hasn't impressed a whole lot since. He is batting .218 with two home runs and 18 RBI. Paulino has thrown out 29 percent of the runners attempting to steal on him (7-of-24) but the pitching staff has a team-high 5.51 ERA with Paulino behind the plate.

Russell wouldn't be specific, but said before Tuesday's game that he and general manager Neal Huntington have already discussed several options for when Doumit returns.

There is also speculation that Russell is not happy with Paulino's work ethic.

The only other possible position player who could be sent down is infielder luis rivas, who got off to a bad start but has rebounded of late. However, with shortstop Jack Wilson still not 100 percent from his calf injury, the Pirates might want to keep the extra infielder rather than a third catcher.