HOUSTON -- Jeff Banister, the Pirates' minor league field coordinator, is in his seventh season at that post, 24th overall in the organization, making him one of the few high-ranking types in baseball operations held over from previous management.

He also is perhaps the best qualified to judge the difference in the system then and now.

"There's a definite difference, especially in the athlete you see," Banister said yesterday at Minute Maid Park after joining the Pirates in uniform, as he usually does when they visit his home state of Texas. "When you grade the bodies, the athleticism you see now, I think that alone says something about what we're doing. We've got big, strong, fast kids all over."

General manager Neal Huntington has made a priority of size, especially with pitching acquisitions.

Banister remembered when that was not the case.

"We used to get off the bus for Instructional League ball and look out at Philadelphia's guys and see the difference, and it was like, 'Wow,' " he said. "Now, we're the big boys."

Size and athleticism is only part of baseball, of course, and not always a good indicator of ability.

"We've got players who can play," Banister continued. "You look at Jose Tabata, Chase D'Arnaud, Brian Friday, a lot of guys even beyond the obvious ones like Pedro Alvarez, and these are players. Tony Sanchez is another. That's a gamer. He loves to go behind the plate."

Banister will manage outfielder Tabata, shortstops D'Arnaud and Friday, and pitchers Donnie Veal, Danny Moskos and Tony Watson in the Arizona Fall League beginning next month, with the Scottsdale Scorpions.

"That's another difference," Banister said. "There was a time when we were sending some guys to Arizona just because they were available to go. The caliber of player we're sending now is ranking at the top of what will be in that league, and that's to Neal's credit. This system is stronger. A lot stronger."

Catcher Ryan Doumit was back in the Pirates' lineup after missing two games to a stiff lower back.

"Nothing major," Doumit said. "Just needed to sleep it off."

There never as acute pain, which would be seen as more serious.

• Major League Baseball is expected to release schedules Tuesday. The Pirates' season will start April 5 at home -- first time for that since 2005 -- and the rest of the schedule will include another visit by the Cleveland Indians.

• Alvarez went 1 for 4 with an RBI in the United States' 9-1 rout of Germany yesterday in the World Cup

• Third baseman Andy LaRoche arrived here a night early to watch brother Adam play for Atlanta against Houston. He also met up briefly with outfielder Nate McLouth, also with the Braves. "It was great," Andy said.

• One of Banister's favorite prospects is Class A Lynchburg left-hander Rudy Owens, who pitched six shutout innings in the Hillcats' 1-0 playoff victory Thursday. "He's a true lefty," Banister called Owens in the odd-but-good sense, "and a real battler."