AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2006 > May > 09
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
McCann posting All-Star stats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It really shouldn’t be so easy to overlook him. I mean, he’s 6 feet 3, weighs more than 220 pounds, is a local kid from Duluth, has an amiable personality, and he’s arguably the best all-around young catcher in the National League.
So why does Brian McCann get overshadowed? Maybe he doesn’t. Maybe I’m just an idiot for not mentioning him yesterday among the reasons I think the Braves can and will win another NL East title this year.
(Actually, I should say the only reason I failed to mention him was because it was a blog and I just fired those things off the top of my head before I went out to mow the lawn. If I’d given it more consideration, obviously he’d have been at top of my list. So I’m putting him there now.)
And truthfully, we know a few reasons he gets overshadowed at times: Because he plays on a team that’s got icon-type players in Smoltz and the Joneses, and because his own friend and fellow second-year player, Jeff Francoeur, was ordained the golden boy last year in many circles (guilty as charged), and because Edgar Renteria has merely hit safely in every game he’s played as a Brave and leads the NL with a .351 average.
But that shouldn’t matter in terms of McCann getting his due. The kid is having an All-Star caliber season.
OK, so we’re making it right today by pointing out that McCann, at the tender age of 22, is mature beyond his years and already way, way above average among major league catchers in terms of overall impact and skills. In fact, I’d put him in the NL’s top three right now. Seriously.
Take a look at what he’s doing offensively: Batting .345 with seven doubles, three homers and a .388 on-base percentage. He’s hit .367 with runners on base. He’s hit .351 with two homers and nine RBIs on the road, one of the few Braves getting it done away from home.
As of today, McCann has a .300 career average with eight homers, 35 RBIs and a fine .801 OPS (very good for a catcher) in 267 at-bats and 87 games in the majors. Remember, HE IS 22!
He has improved vastly throwing out runners, and his overall defensive skills and game-calling abilities are solid and improving steadily.
Oh, and he’s 15-for-31 (.484) with six RBis and a .526 OBP in his past 10 games, with five multi-hit games in nine starts during that span.
Brian Michael McCann should not be overlooked by anyone, especially us ink-stained idiots.
