Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely FREE!


Posted Image
Click above to Register!



If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
McCann working on consistency
Topic Started: Feb 17 2008, 11:52 AM (143 Views)
ttiger2004
Member Avatar
Manager
We, as Braves fan, know just how good Brian McCann is, especially me. :D But when others talk about good young catchers, the names that come up are Joe Mauer and Russell Martin. Brian McCann is never mention in that group. Bobby Cox believes that Brian needs to be mentioned in that group too.

The only thing that those two catchers have that Brian doesn't is speed. Brian's numbers are actually better than both of them.

McCann is the only other catcher besides Pudge Rodriguez who has been selected to the All Star Game the last two season. Yet our own Brian McCann can't get any respect.

Yet this off season, he goes and works on his strength and flexibility.

Quote:
 
"The guy always impresses me," Chipper Jones said of McCann. "I think he's an unbelievable talent and that he's going to be good for a long time. He's a good kid and he's got a good head on his shoulder. He wants to continue to learn every day."


Coming from Chipper, that is high praise. I have read where Brian has gone to Chipper for hitting advice along with Terry P. and his dad.

As for his struggles last year, McCann doesn't use his injuries as an excuse, he contributes it to bad mechanics. Trying to find the right stance. I like someone who doesn't use excuses like injuries as to why he had a "down year". If hitting 18 HR and 92 RBI's is a down year for a catcher, any team would take that. Only Martin had more HR's and he had 19.

Quote:
 
Jones certainly didn't lose faith in McCann last year. He still sees him as somebody who can flirt with a .300 batting average, hit 20-plus homers and record more than 90 RBIs on an annual basis.

"I think any team would take a catcher putting up those kinds of numbers and doing what he does behind the plate, because he's continuing to get better back there," Jones said.


When a veteran of Chipper's stature can say that about a young guy like Brian, that is saying a heck of a lot.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080216&content_id=2375570&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ttiger2004
Member Avatar
Manager
"I want to do the same thing every time I step to the plate, be consistent," he said. "This offseason in the cage I got to where I felt like I did in '06, that comfort at the plate, feeling real good, and realizing I can cover every pitch."

If he is back to where he was in 06 at the plate, imagine the numbers he can possibly put up for the Braves in the 5 spot against RHP and in the 6 spot against LHP.

I am telling you, the 3-6 spots in the lineup is going to be potent. We could have 4 guys possibly hit 30+ HR's and have 100 or more RBI's. Now that is would be sweet to see.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2008/02/17/mccann_0218.html#Scene_1
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Southpaw
Member Avatar
AA Mississippi
ttiger2004
Feb 17 2008, 11:52 AM
The only thing that those two catchers have that Brian doesn't is speed. Brian's numbers are actually better than both of them.
You also have to factor in the defense of Martin and Mauer though.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ttiger2004
Member Avatar
Manager
Very true but it seems he has been working on that also. I think with what he worked on this off season, the flexibility, I think you will see the percentage of throwing out runners go out but the pitching staff also has to do their job in keeping runners close too.

I am glad to see our young guys continue to work on all aspects of their games, both offensively and defensively then Frenchy, Mac and KJ to name a few.

These guys are the future of the Braves and it can only get better from here on out. From the 20% Mac had throwing out runners, I would take a stab in the dark and say, between 25% to 27% rate of throwing out runners from Mac.
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · 755 Hank Aaron Drive · Next Topic »