AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > September > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMcCann’s value unmatched
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
When the Great Historian sits down to write of the Braves of 2005, it’s my hunch that he may settle on the 8th inning of the 154th game as the key to the season. They had lost seven of 10 games. They hadn’t scored in 19 innings. Their division lead was dwindling. These “Our Gang” kids had never been under such a load as this. Were they folding in the stretch?
This was crunch time. Down 3-0 last Friday as they came to bat against the Marlins. This is how it worked out: Rafael Furcal doubled. Marcus Giles singled him home. (The drought was broken, at least.) Chipper Jones singled. Andruw Jones walked, probably unintentionally intentional. Adam LaRoche struck out. Jeff Francoeur grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Giles scored. Ryan Langerhans lobbed an infield single over second, Chipper scored and Francoeur wound up at third on an error. Brian McCann singled to center field, scoring Francoeur and the Braves had a 4-3 lead. It held up as the final score.
Now the pursuit is over. No. 14 is in their satchel. (You’ll notice I avoid the use of “consecutive” here, which means “in a row,” for it isn’t true. It does injustice to the Montreal Expos of 1994, the year the players struck and stuck a knife in baseball’s back. Season ended suddenly. Year of the hollow autumn, no World Series, but in the National League Green Book the Expos are shown in first place. But they were done for the season, and forever, but you can’t take first place away from them.) But… the Braves and No. 14, consecutive or not, a record to behold. One to be cuddled to your breast, the choicest of them all.
I say this, for it was done running a shuttle between Turner Field and Richmond, and of all places, Pearl, Miss., which strikes me as a misnomer. It was one emergency after another, and when the crisis arose, John Schuerholz went to the warehouse. His projected outfield including Brian Jordan and Raul Mondesi fell apart. Here came Kelly Johnson, then Francoeur. Langerhans was already in reserve, but now he came off the bench. And the pitchers, ye gods, where did they all come from? Kyle Davies was 21, Macay McBride was 22, Blaine Boyer was 23, John Foster had been reclaimed from the junk yard, and who was to catch them? A 21-year-old kid who had never yet suffered razor burn, McCann. Another “town boy,” so to speak.
Schuerholz had one other reserve starter in place, though the deal for Jorge Sosa hadn’t been a popular one. He gave up Nick Green, another local who had tidied up around second base when Giles came down wounded the year before. But the GM was exercising his craftsmanship. Right now, Sosa is the leading pitcher in the house. Not that all of Schuerholz’s deals work out so charmingly. There’s Dan Kolb, lost somewhere in the bullpen. And Mike Hampton, the highest paid pitcher in town, gone until 2007. Oh, well, as the woman who shot her husband explained to the judge, “Well, nobody’s perfect.”
As the sun sets on the Braves, there comes a time to take a stand. True, Andruw Jones is on the ballot for Most Valuable Player in the league. Good, but unlikely to make it. We turned here to Most Valuable Brave, and the finger points to Furcal, with apology to no one. Statistics don’t play a part in this choice, though Furcal’s offensive production sparkles for a shortstop. There is no way to measure in statistics Furcal’s value to this team. Likely, Francoeur will be the people’s choice for Rookie of the Year, and who’s to quibble with that?
But we’re talking value here. It says something when crusty old John Smoltz selects McCann as his catcher of choice. He is a mere lad of 21 handling everything this crew of pitchers, old and young, can throw at him, lumps, bumps and all. A catcher is in on every play, a sort of unofficial quarterback. And it isn’t just defense, how do you like his .275 batting average, the key hits — as in that 8th inning — and his five home runs? McCann has aged under fire and passed all tests. Maybe not the flashiest, but most valuable rookie.
Permalink | Comments (35) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Furman Bisher
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By Hal
September 27, 2005 11:41 PM | Link to this
Couldent agree more Atlanta’ catching is in good hands for many years to come not only is the rookie solid behind the plate he has great power potential and a gift for getting the big hit i had a good laugh in another blog when the fans were bad mouthing his defence i think Maybe Smoltzie knows a thing or two about a catcher and he loves the kid!
By dannycardwell
September 28, 2005 01:29 AM | Link to this
great writing sir. i would be surprised if he is not our starting catcher next year, with pena as backup. other than 3 pitchers, all good men, jordan, and eddie, this team should remain intact next year.
By bravefan
September 28, 2005 01:31 AM | Link to this
Hal you might want to spell the word defense correctly when using it during a blog(people are probably joining you in a good laugh also-just for a different reason.)
By Casey Hudson
September 28, 2005 06:11 AM | Link to this
Thank you Furman Bisher for saying what I have been saying to anyone who will listen since McCann’s first game in Atlanta. Not being old enough to remember Johnny Bench’s rookie season, I can’t remember any rookie catcher as solid in every facet of the game as McCann. He hits for average. He hits for power. He catches. He throws. He blocks the plate better than anyone. But the way he handles the pitchers and calls a game, even from his first game in the majors, is astounding.
By Jay P
September 28, 2005 10:07 AM | Link to this
Good points about McCann! He is the glue that holds the Braves together. I only shutter to think how much better he will be with more playing time!!
By KD
September 28, 2005 10:33 AM | Link to this
Quote: “and of all places, Pearl, Miss., which strikes me as a misnomer.”
What is it with AJC columnists and the state of Mississippi? (see Mark Bradleys take on the MSU/GA game) Did someone in MS do something to offend you all? Stop being a bunch of elitist jerks already! (Why don’t you ask Mr. Francouer and others who actually played at Pearl what they think)
By chuck martin
September 28, 2005 10:37 AM | Link to this
McCann-Giles-Furcal-Andru Jones When you are this strong through the middle how can you lose. From Houston area my support stays with the Braves they are the epitome of quality baseball
By Freddy Jackson
September 28, 2005 11:17 AM | Link to this
I agree. McCann stepped to the plate in the pinch and came through. He also was spectular behind the plate. Very mature for 21.
By TLP
September 28, 2005 11:30 AM | Link to this
I agree. Without McCann, I don’t think we would be the division champ. Estrada has not been the same since the June 6 collision with Erstad. My only quibble with McCann is his inability to make good throws to second. I think opponents will exploit that weakness and steal at will in the playoffs.
By JF
September 28, 2005 11:55 AM | Link to this
All accurate comments about a team that vastly exceeded my preseason expectations. We might have overlooked the impact that Chipper has had this year. His numbers are good for the games played. Even when on the DL or just out of the lineup, his verteran leadship was the stabling factor for an extremely young and inexperienced team. This has been my second best Braves season, second only to 1991. GO BRAVES!!
By georgia
September 28, 2005 12:21 PM | Link to this
“Dan Kolb, lost somewhere in the bullpen.” Let’s hope he doesn’t find his way to the playoff roster. He needs to stay lost.
By Braves fan
September 28, 2005 12:33 PM | Link to this
I like McCann as well. However, I disagree with the “consecutive” thing. Yes the Expos were in 1st place in 1994 when the season was cut short. But no World Series champ was crowned, no AL or NL champ crowned and NO DIVISION CHAMP was crowned. No MVP’s or ROY’s were named. In essence it was a season that never ended. The stats count for historical purposes, but it didn’t happen as far as winners are concerned. Something to consider. The Braves had overcome larger deficits to win their division in the previous years. So you can’t even hypothetically say that the Expos would have won anything if the season weren’t cut short. The Braves had won the NL in 91 & 92, lost to the Phillies in 93, and won the WS in 95. So it wasn’t like the 94 Braves were a last place team or not a contender. So I don’t think calling it 14 consecutive division titles is incorrect or misleading. Show me where the Expos/Nats are hanging a 1994 NL East Division Champ banner and then maybe you’ll have a better argument.
By RH
September 28, 2005 12:55 PM | Link to this
Quote: “and of all places, Pearl, Miss., which strikes me as a misnomer.�
You are a JERK. I’m surprised you can spell “Pearl”. You probably abbreviated “Miss.” because you can’t spell “Mississippi”. I feel sorry for you.
By Casey Hudson
September 28, 2005 01:31 PM | Link to this
Hey KD get a hold of yourself! I don’t think he was insulting Pearl. He was commenting on the irony of these players coming from a place named Pearl. As in “finding a pearl”. Get the chip off your shoulder. Nobody here had even heard of Pearl, MS until now.
By joe
September 28, 2005 02:30 PM | Link to this
awards were given for the 94 season btw. maddux won the cy young
By Dewan
September 28, 2005 03:23 PM | Link to this
I think McCann will be a capable backup but he does have soem holes in his game. He throwing is subpar even though he seems to be able to call a good game. Pena does not impress me at all as he flails at pitches and throws side armed. There is one kid in the minors now who has the full complement. His name is hard to spell so excuse the spelling (Jarad Salamatachia) or something to that effect. I love McCann but he is not the next Benito Santiago or Pudge.
By Jim
September 28, 2005 04:09 PM | Link to this
NOTE TO R.H.: PEARL, em eye crooked-letter, crooked-letter eye, crooked-letter crooked-letter eye, hump-back hump-back eye = Mississippi! THANK YOU
By Eric Santiago
September 28, 2005 05:03 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher: I enjoyed your article about the braves and McCann. This year has been very special to these young braves as well as for the veterans. I truly believe they will go thru the end this year. Smoltz, Hudson, Sosa and Thompson will take the team to the best sport show in the U.S.A. The World Series. Horacio Ramirez? Move him to the bullpen. The catcher posi-tion is covered for years to come. Estrada shall become trade bait next season, for a middle reliever. Ditto for Kolb, Reitsma and Foster, Bring more young arms up. Nothing to loose, a lot to gain as proven this year. 14 and counting:
Hats off to these young players and veterans alike.
By randy
September 28, 2005 06:12 PM | Link to this
Regarding the 14 consecutive division titles and the 1994 strike year…There was no divisional title that year. Therefore, it’s accurate to say that the Braves have won 14 consecutive division titles because they’ve won the last 14 in a row. True, they didn’t win it in 1994, but no one did since the season was stopped short.
If it was something like 14 years of finishing first in the division,well that’s not consecutive because of the 1994 Expos, but with regard to divisional titles, the Braves have won every one awarded in the division they played in since 1991. That seems like they were consecutive to me.
By braves fan
September 28, 2005 10:33 PM | Link to this
Thanks Randy for clearing that up for everyone,with such insight.
By PJ DAVIS
September 29, 2005 01:11 AM | Link to this
LaRoche, Franceour, Langerhans, McCain, Davies, Boyer, McBride, Betemit…Ya gotta love them. Having watched them during Spring Training, I’m not surprised at all that they have made an invaluable contribution to the 2005 team. But I do miss Nick Green who would have been a superb member of the “Baby Braves Brigade.” Yes, Sosa has been terrific…but I still wish Mr. Schuerholz had found some other way to obtain Sosa without giving away Nick. Kudos to the Baby Braves, the “Old” Timers, and those in between. Now…let’s win the World Series!! GO BRAVES!
By KD
September 29, 2005 10:52 AM | Link to this
RH I probably would not have reacted at all to that little dig about Pearl, MS if I had not been still steaming about Mark Bradley’s Sunday column about another small MS town. As you can guess I grew up in a small town and find it quite irritating when “big city” reporters find it necessary to provide their obligatory dig. For the record, the way you interpret Mr. Bisher’s comment makes no sense because if that were true why would Pearl be a misnomer? The point is exactly what you said. Nobody ever heard of Pearl and I doubt Mr. Bisher has ever been there so his assessment is based upon a stereotype which is not a good thing.
By Ray Hill
September 29, 2005 10:54 AM | Link to this
Basher-
You old, good for nothing grump. Have you ever been to Pearl?
And what is this about the Expos deserving 1st place in ‘94? Are you some sort of communist?
It’s no wonder the city of Atlanta refuses to truly get behind perhaps the greatest franchise in sports history. And before you insult the entire state of Mississippi, you should remember that there are probably more Braves fans in the magnolia state than in metro Atlanta.
Please do yourself a favor and check into the old folks home already.
GO BRAVES
Ray Oxford, MS
By Chip
September 29, 2005 06:15 PM | Link to this
You tell that stuck up jerk Ray Hill. My family grew in a small Mississippi, were there is a bunch of Braves fans.
How can you hand 1st place to the Expos? The season wasn’t close to being over with nearly 2 months left to play. The Braves were only 6 games back they could’ve eaily won it all. Why do you AJC guy hate on the Braves so damn much. I hate to see what crap you’d write if they played like the Royals.
By Matt
September 29, 2005 10:16 PM | Link to this
With your logic on the 1994 division title, I guess you should go ahead and hand the 2005 division title to the Natspos, I mean Nationals, since they led by 6 with two months to go.
Oh wait, they crumbled.
By Casey Hudson
September 30, 2005 01:46 AM | Link to this
I can’t believe you Mississippi morons can even read, much less type on a “puter”. I still fail to see the horrible insult to Pearl, MS in this article. Maybe, if it’s not too difficult, you all should read the article again.
By Chris
September 30, 2005 06:48 AM | Link to this
You’ve got to give the Braves the benefit of the doubt for 1994. There is no way to know if they would have come back and won the division that year, and while it might “feel good” to grant the Expos consideration, they didn’t win it. Pennants weren’t awarded, so the Braves have won 14 consecutive division titles. You’ve got to see it through to the end, and the Expos’s players struck just like everyone else.
By Ray
September 30, 2005 08:24 AM | Link to this
Casey-
You elitist loser. Your comments about a Mississippian’s ability to use a “puter” are indicative of your bias toward the rural South.
Let me guess, you were born somewhere in New Jersey, and got transfered down here by some generic company. And now, as you sit in your cubicle wishing you could die, you try to make yourself feel better by bashing our little state.
If you don’t think that crusty old Bahser was making a dig at the state of MS then you are a total idiot.
Ray
By Casey Hudson
September 30, 2005 09:18 AM | Link to this
Ray, I was born at Crawford Long and have lived in Dekalb County most of my life. My family is from south GA.
Where do I start with your illiterate rant?
First, I think you meant say bias against the rural south, not “bias toward”.
What the hell is a “Bahser”?
You obviously are the idiot here.
By ray
September 30, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this
Casey- A Basher is someone, like you, who tends to look on the negative side of things. Now that I know you are from south Georgia, your confusion over the terms misnomer and irony is understandable.
Oh, by the way, how is your cube?
By richard m royal
September 30, 2005 10:28 AM | Link to this
the beetles sang a song ” the fool” on the hill. paul simon ” like a bridge over troubled water” andruw jones roams centfield like a dear saving 1 rbi in his glove. 5th youngest to hit: 100,200,300 home runs. eight gold glove is on the way. chipper jones is injured for weeks each year. your buddy albert p. is great. but this year andruw carried (with your rookies) from 5 games below 1st place, to a lead of 5-6 games on yes,and when it counted most he delivery by your standards an ok year. andruw jones is national league mvp 51 homers leads mlb. 130+++++++(saving 81 rbi’s by his defense. puts albert trailing andruw this year. yes, there wasmantle, mays, williams,gibson. all hof. when all playing is done andruw and albert will be members. andruw will join the 500hr club albert will join at 600hr.
i’m shocked an atlanta sports writer yes you mr. bisher could write such remarks. ps…yougest ever to homer play-0ff game. youngest ever to homer not only his first and second at bat and in doing so at age 19 moved aside in the house ruth built a guy named mantle, as the yougest to ever to hit a hr in world series. That was his enchore performance…no doubt was a regular day to day play when many never play in 1 ws game. richard royal clarendon, vt
By Casey Hudson
September 30, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this
Ray you obviously can’t read very well.
By Casey Hudson
September 30, 2005 10:54 AM | Link to this
Richard you must be from Mississippi as well.
By Matt
September 30, 2005 03:03 PM | Link to this
Does it make you feel good to insult others with less than average verbal skills, Casey? I’m dissapointed that someone of your intellect would lower yourself to ascribing these insulting steterotypes to an entire state.
By Woodman
October 10, 2005 04:00 PM | Link to this
Sometimes when I read these blogs I wish I had a switch that would reach through the “puters”.