McCann adds fourth Silver Slugger to trophy case
Braves catcher Brian McCann won his fourth National League Silver Slugger award in five seasons, joining Dale Muphy and Tom Glavine as the franchise’s only four-time winners of the award.
Silver Sluggers are awarded to the best-hitting player at each position in the National League and American League, as voted by major league managers and coaches.
The only catchers with more Silver Slugger awards than McCann are Mike Piazza (10), Ivan Rodriguez (seven), Lance Parrish (six), Jorge Posada (five) and Gary Carter (five).
McCann hit .269 and led NL catchers in home runs (21), RBIs (77) and slugging percentage (.453). He won his third consecutive Silver Slugger despite strong competition from San Francisco rookie sensation Buster Posey, who hit .305 with 18 homers and 67 RBIs.
McCann, 26, was the only winner for the Braves, who last won multiple Silver Sluggers in 2003, when pitcher Mike Hampton, catcher Javy Lopez and outfielder Gary Sheffield were honored.
Braves catchers have won Silver Sluggers in six of the past eight seasons, including Johnny Estrada in 2004.
Joining McCann as 2010 NL Silver Slugger award winners on Thursday were St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols, Florida second baseman Dan Uggla, Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Milwaukee pitcher Yovani Gallardo, and outfielders Ryan Braun of Milwaukee, Carlos Gonzalez of Colorado and Matt Holliday of St. Louis.
Among catchers with at least 450 plate appearances n 2010, McCann’s .828 OPS (on-base-plus-slugging percentage) was third in the majors behind Minnesota Joe Mauer (.871) and Boston’s Victor Martinez (.844).
Mauer won his fouth AL Silver Slugger award. Other AL winners Thursday were Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera, New York second baseman Robinson Cano, Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez, Boston third baseman Adrian Beltre, Texas designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero, and outfielders Jose Bautista of Toronto, Carl Crawford of Tampa Bay and Josh Hamilton of Texas.
Posey, who didn’t make his season debut until May 29, finished with an .862 OPS in 443 plate appearances. He started 75 games at catcher and 30 at first base.
Silver Sluggers have been awarded since 1980. Murphy won four in a row from 1982 through 1985, and Glavine won in 1991, ‘95, ‘96 and ‘98.
In 2009, McCann became the first player in Braves franchise history to make the All-Star team in each of his first four full seasons. He extended that streak to five in a row in 2010, then won the 2010 All-Star game MVP award after hitting a three-run double that lifted the NL to a 3-1 win, its first since 1996.
McCann won a crystal bat for the All-Star MVP award, and on Thursday added another silver bat to his trophy case.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
66 comments Add your comment
athensmatt
November 11th, 2010
7:33 pm
first! and congrats to mccann!
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;
November 11th, 2010
7:33 pm
Congrats, BMac!! You’re in some nice company there…
sportyo
November 11th, 2010
7:34 pm
first?
ISH
November 11th, 2010
7:35 pm
His hitting aside, it would be nice to see Mac come to spring training a little leaner… I hope he continues to work hard on his defese as well..
Henry D.
November 11th, 2010
7:36 pm
Way to go Brian. We need three more just like you.
Prissy
November 11th, 2010
7:36 pm
Over and over Mac gives us reason to be sooooo proud!
ISH
November 11th, 2010
7:37 pm
*Make that his defense…
JD
November 11th, 2010
7:40 pm
Ditto McFann – congrats BMac. I know your father is about to bust a button (again)… Hey you worked your butt off for it this year, good job. Probably woudn’t hurt to show up next year a few pounds lighter but given the length of the season, it probably evens out over the year….look out for Buster Posey next year though, I don’ think he’s a flash in the pan and will pressure you offensively with a full season under his belt.
Frenchy
November 11th, 2010
7:49 pm
Big Mac is eating too many Big Macs!
Matt the Brave
November 11th, 2010
7:53 pm
Hey DOB, saw on CBSSports.com that the Brewers might want to move Braun b/c they want to cut payroll. Any chance this is true? If so, what do the Braves have to give up to get him? I’d guess they’d want 2 top of the line starters, plus at least one other B+ player.
WVBrave
November 11th, 2010
7:55 pm
Good job again. This award might find a new home next year. Buster Posey is the real deal.
Churchy
November 11th, 2010
8:11 pm
Buster Posey may or may not be the real deal. We’ll revisit that in two years after McCann picks up his 6th Silver Slugger.
JEB
November 11th, 2010
8:19 pm
BMac will have to step up his game to continue winning Silver Slugger w/ Buster Posey now in the mix!
Brave4life
November 11th, 2010
8:19 pm
I wonder if McCann will be considered HOF worthy at the end of his career
The dude has had amazing seasons since he has came up, keep up the good work McCann
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;
November 11th, 2010
8:30 pm
Brave4life I wonder if McCann will be considered HOF worthy at the end of his career
It’s entirely possible! If he keeps up the good hitting, boy…and I know he had 14 errors (some of which were questionable as to whether or not he should have actually been the one to get the error, but anyway…), but his defense was better in many ares this year. His throwing was much better—he led the NL in runners caught stealing—and his blocking was better, too, I don’t care what anybody says…
KnightInATL
November 11th, 2010
8:43 pm
Prado was Robbed!!
Trey
November 11th, 2010
9:48 pm
Congratulations to McCann and I know McFann is happy about this!
Kat
November 11th, 2010
9:50 pm
Way to go BMac, representing for the Braves again this year!
Trey
November 11th, 2010
9:51 pm
This was still an amazing year for the Braves all around!
elvisaintdead
November 11th, 2010
9:55 pm
B-Mac, he’s a good kid.
ajc pariah
November 11th, 2010
9:56 pm
Giants owe him a ring. Nowhere is home field more vital this side of college football.BTW, who’s idea was it to proclaim the AllStar game winner the home field?
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;
November 11th, 2010
9:57 pm
Trey—
Yeah!
Trey
November 11th, 2010
10:07 pm
HEY, MCFANN!!!!!!!!
Tick
November 11th, 2010
10:10 pm
B Mac had a great year, despite his vision problems at the beginning of the year. He did improve his throwing, especially throwing out base stealers. I thought he struggled defensively near the end of the season with bad throws, which led to many of his errors, and he got a little lazy (probably tired) on breaking down and blocking balls in the dirt. Without a doubt, he was the guy in our line-up which other teams tried their best not to let him beat them, and he certainly raised his level of play, offensively and defensively, in the post season. Bottom line, he’s our most dependable and clutch player. Prado probably had a better year, but I would want B Mac up every time with the game on the line.
bruce
November 11th, 2010
10:15 pm
How many did those guys (catchers with more silver sluggers) have in their first five years in MLB?
In Fredi I Trust
November 11th, 2010
10:33 pm
Good job Mac. Keep it going next season, lord knows we will need you with having another season full of mediocre second rate players because the Braves brass is to damn cheap to put a contender on the field.
JonnyVenter'sLeftArm
November 11th, 2010
11:44 pm
Five more years at same production level and I think you can start the Cooperstown conversation. Hope his vision problems have been corrected; we need his bat very badly. But we need a real cleanup hitter so Mac can bat 5th (where he will MASH!!!!!!!!!!)
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;
November 12th, 2010
12:15 am
Hi, Trey!
JVLA—
I agree with every you said…100%!
J-Hey
November 12th, 2010
1:05 am
Mac wins his 4th but he’s not stopping there, he’s a great hitter and I think he’ll give Pizza’s 10 a run for it’s money
Johnny Knoxville
November 12th, 2010
7:24 am
Trade his ass, McCann is too good of a player. He belongs with a real baseball franchise, namely the Yankees.
rainman34
November 12th, 2010
7:43 am
Chipper should have 6 of these awards if not for the Philly & New York media that gave them to Rolen & D.Wright.
Mikey
November 12th, 2010
8:12 am
Way to go Mac, 4 time all-star and hero for the NL, the BEST hitting catcher in NL and the young leader you build a solid lineup around. Posey only hopes to be discussed in the same sentence after 4 years in the league.
vermont 39
November 12th, 2010
8:25 am
Congrats BMac!!!
With a real 3 hole hitter…who knows what could happen?
Mutts
November 12th, 2010
8:39 am
Brian McCann has a chance to be one of the greatest hitting catchers of all time.
MacJersey
November 12th, 2010
8:39 am
CONGRATULATIONS Brian-from your proud Jersey friends and fans on your 4th Silver Slugger Award, MVP Award and a great season!!
RaleighDawg
November 12th, 2010
9:08 am
Congrats to McCann !
But seriously – how did Prado not win this year ? Anybody know the particulars of how it was decided ?
Hannah
November 12th, 2010
9:18 am
Well deserved.
Bill Stanfill
November 12th, 2010
9:37 am
Brian McCann has become the face of the Atlanta Braves.
David O'Brien
November 12th, 2010
9:40 am
RaleighDawg: Silver Sluggers (and Gold Gloves) are voted on by the managers and coaches. Simple as that, for better of worse. They don’t tend to do any of the sort of research that (most) writers do when writers vote for the BBWAA awards: Rookie of Year, MVP, Cy Young and Manager of Year.
But in Prado’s case, I’d imagine he lost votes because of the move to 3B (he spent a lot of the season there), and because his conventional power numbers (homers, RBI) were so much lower than Uggla’s.
hAL
November 12th, 2010
10:08 am
b mac and prado and not a hedll of a lot else were damn lucjky to have mac
David O'Brien
November 12th, 2010
10:22 am
Chipper should have 6 of these awards if not for the Philly & New York media that gave them to Rolen & D.Wright. — rainman34
Media have nothing to do with Silver Slugger awards. They are voted on by major league managers and coaches.
observer
November 12th, 2010
10:54 am
To your tweet, the league’s season one was about the same level as this season. However, you are right about It’s always sunny, there simply is no other show on TV right now that approaches its overall level of hilarity. Been watching that one since it debuted, and it’s still as edgy an hilarious now as it was then.
Braves Fan Since "80
November 12th, 2010
10:54 am
B Mac, Prado, and Heyward…… Sure Heyward should be working on his D and refining his aproach and BMac should continue to develop as a catcher . Should Freeman perform as well as Heyward on the offense and better on the defense and we add a solid offensive and defensive player in our outfield this team can overcome our 3b/SS weaknesses especially range. Chipper will at best play 100 games and hopefully Gonzales will bring his bat to cover for his poor defense
Our pitching was great and we will need a repeat to challenge for the division……
Augusta Jacket
November 12th, 2010
10:55 am
I think B. Mac would serve us better at 1st base. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that his defense is a liability, but it’s definately average. The move would prolong his career and might make him a better hitter.
Joe
November 12th, 2010
11:05 am
Brian McCann is never going to leave ATLANTA. He’s the heart and soul of this franchise since Chipper’s days are being numbered quickly. Brian has done so much since being a Baby Brave in 2005 and making the All-Star team in 2006-2010 and being the MVP of the 2010 All-Star Game what an honor it must be to have 2 bats (1 crystal, and 1 silver in at trophy case making it 4 silver and 1 crystal MVP). This guy is an instant veteran, a lot better than Javy Lopez was.
David O'Brien
November 12th, 2010
11:10 am
I think B. Mac would serve us better at 1st base. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that his defense is a liability, but it’s definately average. The move would prolong his career and might make him a better hitter. — Augusta Jacket
August Jacket: Two problems with that. First, McCann has said many times, including last season, that he has no desire to move from catcher, in fact is adamant about wanting to continue playing there. Secondly, he would be far less valuable — to the Braves and if he ever has to go elsewhere — as just a good-hitting catcher (that’s what his stats would make him at that position) than as a great-hitting catcher (that’s what his stats make him at that position).
David O'Brien
November 12th, 2010
11:12 am
observer: I’ve watched It’s Always Sunny since its debut, and I think it’s every bit as good now, maybe even better.
Justafan
November 12th, 2010
11:14 am
Great job Mac…Love to read anything about Braves- DOB..this damn Cam crap on everthing sucks.
Winter Meeting next, hot stove reports, more awards I hope. Keep us infomed DOB. Give’em hell Mac!
Braves
November 12th, 2010
11:45 am
barry bonds is available and joe hodge is also available to replace kkk.
Hummon
November 12th, 2010
11:46 am
D.O.B., the Draper “What?” compilation in response to Manny to Braves proposal absolutely made my day.
gcs
November 12th, 2010
11:46 am
Way to go B-Mac. 26 years old and he already has a HOF career going.
.
Braves
November 12th, 2010
11:47 am
joe hodge is 0-25 with era of 21.44 77 walks no NO Ks in 26inning,but braves can add him to replace kkk.
Heisenberg
November 12th, 2010
11:52 am
Either BMac is wearing a protective device under his jersey in that photo or he is in early onset of dunlop disease. As in his belly has done lopped over his belt buckle. He needs to hook up with Matt Diaz during the offseason and use that new-fangled exercise device Diaz used to loose weight.
He is a wonderful kid and a great ball player, but needs to do a better job in that area if he wants to continue to be this good.
gcs
November 12th, 2010
11:53 am
Re: McCann moving to first base.
There is more to catching than defense and throwing out runners (which – don’t get me wrong – is quite important). There is also handling pitchers and calling the game. In that aspect, I would put McCann up there against any other catcher in MLB.
.
reson
November 12th, 2010
12:07 pm
All he has to do now is to work on blocking wild pitches.
wow
November 12th, 2010
12:34 pm
No Gold-Glove?
Bob the Blogger
November 12th, 2010
12:43 pm
Has anyone heard if McCann is getting surgery on his eye during the off season? Eliminating the caffine may have helped, but he was always squinting and blinking as if he was having problems focusing.
BJ UPTON
November 12th, 2010
1:39 pm
congrats BMAC, now lets go get upton, DOB dont you think upton is what we need, above avg defender and can hit for power and steal bases….i think we gotta make a move for him, especially according to MLBtraderumors their asking price may not be as high as expected, if we have to give up one of our pitchers (jurrjens, minor, etc.) i still think its worth getting an everyday OF
Dwayne
November 12th, 2010
3:54 pm
Bmac needs lap band surgery, not eye surgery
Mutts
November 12th, 2010
4:35 pm
What does everyone think of the Braves pursuing Victor Martinez? He’s a switch hitter, and would be insurance at either 1st base or catcher.
Heisenberg
November 12th, 2010
5:08 pm
VMart is not a good fit for us or us for him. Why would he want to sign somewhere to be insurance when there are plenty of places that need him for an everyday role? Why would we sign someone for the money he will command as a FA for a part time role? He is a good player and teammate but the fit does not work.
Heisenberg
November 12th, 2010
5:13 pm
Not a BJ Upton fan. The Rays have plenty of starting pitching so they would not be interested in any of ours. They probably would be interested in Venters/Kimbrel as a low cost replacement for Soriano but I would not make that deal. Would rather poke the Dodgers about Matt Kemp.
Mutts
November 12th, 2010
5:24 pm
Heisenberg: Thanks for your feedback on Martinez – makes sense. If it were 2 years ago, I’d say the Rays might not be looking for starting pitching, but I think that has changed – beyond Price they are not looking so strong. They might bite if we dangled JJ and a young starter for Upton (Uoton will be a FA in 2 years).
dpelfrey
November 12th, 2010
8:18 pm
Enjoy this award BMac, cause the kid Posey will be tough to beat out next year.
But here’s hoping we see Mac finally get that .300, 30 homer season we all know he’s capable of.
dpelfrey
November 12th, 2010
8:22 pm
Mutts, I don’t follow your logic. The Rays have Price, Garza, Shields, Davis, Niemann and Hellickson, 6 quality guys to choose from. If anything, they’d dump Shields at first chance to get Hellickson in the rotation.
I would tend to agree with Heisenburg that the Rays would be looking for relief help. Although I would think the Rays would need to resign Crawford before they would consider trading Upton, but I could be wrong.
McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;
November 12th, 2010
9:27 pm
dpelfrey But here’s hoping we see Mac finally get that .300, 30 homer season we all know he’s capable of.
I’d take .300, 45 Doubles…