Terry Pendleton served as Brian McCann's hitting coach in Atlanta for the first six years of the catcher's major league career.
McCann, with the New York Yankees now, is batting just .231 this season with 10 home runs and 38 RBI. In New York, that's a slow start.
The New York Post sought out his former hitting coach looking for answers. What he said dealt nothing with the mechanics of his swing or McCann's approach at the plate. Instead he gave 'em the first rule of real estate: Location, location, location.
Pendleton told the New York Post:
"New York is not Brian. That's my opinion. I knew if he chose New York, there would be more than he expected or knew about. He'll never be comfortable with that."
Pendleton, now the Braves' first base coach, continues on to say that the $85 million the Yankees are paying McCann over the next five years is hanging over his head. Pendleton suggests that he's become a "pull hitter" for the larger part of three years - hence why teams employ a large defensive shift when he stands at the plate.
McCann for his part says Pendleton has it all wrong. He told the New York Daily News:
"Everybody's entitled to their opinion. That's his opinion, that I became a pull hitter. I've gotten off to a slow start. If I'm sitting here hitting .300, this isn't a story."
Furthermore, McCann is happy to call the Bronx his home.
"I disagree. I absolutely love it here. I've gotten off to a slow start, but I absolutely love it here."
McCann attributes his slow start to his mechanics, and assures the Yankees faithful he's working on things at the plate.
And Pendleton believes he will get it corrected. “He just has to settle down.”
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