McCann’s homer binge has not abated

(more...)

1,806 comments Add your comment

jeffrey d

June 29th, 2011
9:19 am

I’m so t’d my McCann (All-Star) MVP shirt is dirty…would be a perfect day to wear it, but I’ve had so many of those lately…

A shirt being dirty hasn’t stopped me before

jeffrey d

June 29th, 2011
9:20 am

Great. Glad to lead off the page with a comment about me being a slob.

McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;

June 29th, 2011
9:23 am

jeffrey d

:lol: Nice one!

I’m not positive we’re going anyplace today—if we were going out, I wear it for sure…to show off! :P

Arkansas Transplant

June 29th, 2011
9:28 am

Brad McCann for hitting coach!!! Let’s start the campaign.

jeffrey d

June 29th, 2011
9:29 am

if we were going out, I wear it for sure…to show off!

Just don’t get too close to people

Arkansas Transplant

June 29th, 2011
9:29 am

And let’s bring in father McCann as a consultant.

O.J.

June 29th, 2011
9:29 am

Arkansas Transplant, hey, I am right there with you, I was about to say that earlier. Brad McCann for hitting coach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Henry D.

June 29th, 2011
9:29 am

Need to leave Jason alone about his “homerless streak” That’s part of the Braves problem now is always trying to hit home runs instead of just getting a few base hits strung together. Every one of them overswings and uppercuts everything and are constantly popping up on the infield or striking out on pitches in the dirt or a foot outside (A. Gonzales) while enjoying the view of pitches right down the middle. If somebody besides Freeman could take an outside pitch and hit it to the opposite field instead of trying to pull everything to hit a home run, we would not have an offensive problem

McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;

June 29th, 2011
9:30 am

Brian McCann “Things are going good. I’m seeing the ball well, getting a good pitch to hit. I’m working counts and being patient. When I have those things going, I feel confident that I can get some hits.”

:)

jeffrey d

June 29th, 2011
9:31 am

And maybe McCann’s mom can bring the team juiceboxes and snacks after the game.

McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;

June 29th, 2011
9:31 am

jeffrey d

:lol: It’s not that dirty! Prob’ly just a little wrinkled…

Arkansas Transplant

June 29th, 2011
9:32 am

McFann, and that’s so total opposite of what the new pitching coach teaches…. go figure.

Arkansas Transplant

June 29th, 2011
9:33 am

jeffrey, I’ll take a juicebox.. got one?

Arkansas Transplant

June 29th, 2011
9:34 am

Did anyone know that it’s been 6 games since AGon has gotten a hit or even been on base?

Arkansas Transplant

June 29th, 2011
9:37 am

3 hits in his last 39 ABs… with 3 BB mixed in. I wouldn’t exactly call that getting it done. All of that is over the last 11 games.

monty

June 29th, 2011
9:37 am

Oh my, Jordan Schafer led off the game with a walk, and got a key hit to tie the game against a LH late. Some folks won’t be too happy about that.

McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;

June 29th, 2011
9:38 am

Arkansas Transplant

Ha! I didn’t even think of that…I just think it’s cute how he always mentions that he’s seeing the ball well. :)

TennesseePaul

June 29th, 2011
9:38 am

Did anyone know that it’s been 6 games since AGon has gotten a hit or even been on base?

Wow. I thought it was much longer than that. Bully for Seabass!

jeffrey d

June 29th, 2011
9:39 am

Do I look like Martha McCann?

monty

June 29th, 2011
9:39 am

That was one great throw by McCann to save the game. So, he saved the game defensively and offensively, sweet!

monty

June 29th, 2011
9:41 am

I think Agon should just close his eyes at the plate and have BMac yell swing at the appropriate time. He would stand a better chance of hitting.

David O'Brien

June 29th, 2011
9:44 am

Braves have hit league-worst .219 in June, yet only Nats (17-9) and Giants (17-9) have better June record than ATL (16-9) among NL teams

Thrillhouse44

June 29th, 2011
9:46 am

It sure is nice having McCann healthy, huh? Once Heyward, Jones, and Uggla start producing the way they’re capable of, the Braves are going to be topnotch.

Arkansas Transplant

June 29th, 2011
9:48 am

monty, AGon may not be the only one that would benefit from that approach.

TommyP

June 29th, 2011
9:53 am

Uggla is showing signs….gotta keep pulling for him. One thing I wish would happen: Braves fans would stop booing the guy. It’s NOT a lack of effort. NOBODY plays harder than Dan Uggla….the guy runs out a grounder harder than a little leaguer.

DOB: Is this the best Braves bullpen you’ve covered?

Also, I believe in about 5 years or so that you’ll be writing a blog stating it’s a shame that McCann had to go through his prime as the top bat in the lineup. A catcher should never be your premier bat that you depend on. Too much can go wrong physically with a catcher that he shouldn’t be the one you build your offense around.

Thrillhouse44

June 29th, 2011
9:53 am

Whoa – the Nats are back to .500 and the Marlins are 11 games under. Man, Florida’s season took a sudden turn for the worse, huh?

Coach (2011 Fredi G. a go!)

June 29th, 2011
9:53 am

What a game last night.

And my nerves are shot. But it’s all good. Tommy and Mac somehow held together early on, Danny boy got us on the board, then the seventh inning happened. Pineda fell apart, Schafer came up big and Mac put the game on ice.

Speaking of Brian McCann….Mother of God is he hot. Dude is in a rocking chair at the plate and he even threw Kennedy out at 2B. Proctor finished what Sherrill couldn’t, then Batman and Robin did their thing in the eighth and ninth inning. Don’t ask me which is which, they both wear capes and blow people away.

That’s all the good stuff. Now for the bad news. Chipper isn’t doing himself any favors right now, nor is he helping the team by continuing to play in his condition. Dude is shot to hell and I have never seen Larry .Jr looked so over matched at the plate. Bat speed is gone and his .175 BA in the last ten games pretty much sums it up. Chipper should just shut it down until after the all-star break.

To sum it up, I’m finally beginning to come around to believing they could really win the wild card. In spite of all the offensive struggles, injuries and inconsistencies on the bench. Also, I can’t bust on the lack of a running game anymore as Schafer has at least brought some respectability in this regard. So they’re halfway home after 81 games and leading the wild card race up by two.

McFann ;Ô; ;Ô;

June 29th, 2011
9:58 am

Monty

Yes he did!! :D

Shaun

June 29th, 2011
10:00 am

McCann ranks 17th in the majors in FanGraphs’s Win Above Replacement (min. 290 PA). All of the players ahead of him have at least 15 more plate appearances.

The only players ahead of McCann in wOBA (min. 290 PA) who haven’t played most of their games as firstbasemen, corner-outfielders or designated hitters: Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes and Curtis Granderson.

wOBA basically is sort of a more reliable version of OPS. For instance, it doesn’t count a double as twice as valuable as a single, as is the case with slugging percentage. It uses the run values of walks and each type of hit plus it takes into account how often a hitter makes outs.

Fish Bisch

June 29th, 2011
10:04 am

We can have three hitting coaches. Larry Wayne Sr, Brad McCann, and the McCann’s Dad.
Do it Wren!

Shaun

June 29th, 2011
10:04 am

TommyP, if you have a backup like David Ross, who this season has been better on a per-game or per-plate appearance basis than any hitter on the team, I don’t think it too much of concern that your catcher is your key offensive player. Also, it’s not McCann’s fault that other players are injured and/or under-performing.

monty

June 29th, 2011
10:09 am

Kind of a buzz-kill right now to see Chipper coming up with men on base.

keylargo

June 29th, 2011
10:10 am

I remember many seasons ago, I think it was a Braves’ RF but I don’t remember who it was, caught a ball, took many steps, jumped over a fence then dropped the ball. The umpire ruled he did not have control of the ball because he did not retrieve it from his glove with his throwing hand. So, when I see catches made and I don’t see the player removing the ball with his throwing hand, I think of that play. Tony Austin

That was Terry Harper in 1982. He made a great catch only to have Ump Ed Vargo make one of the worst calls ever. If fueled a feud between Vargo and Skip Carey that eventually led the league to put an end to the public animosity between the two.

keylargo

June 29th, 2011
10:12 am

And it was a catch in LF. He made the catch in fair territory, ran 40 feet across foul ground, jumped the bullpen fence and dropped the ball. It was ruled a Home Run because the runner never stopped.

BFChris26

June 29th, 2011
10:13 am

Braves won 8-)

I fell asleep lol.

Thrillhouse44

June 29th, 2011
10:14 am

Kind of a buzz-kill right now to see Chipper coming up with men on base.

Time to step it up…reach for the hard stuff, monty.

Jimmy

June 29th, 2011
10:20 am

Prediction: The Red Sox will eat up Vance Worley tonight.

Lew

June 29th, 2011
10:21 am

keylargo – I believe it was Terry Harper playing LF for the Braves that game.

Lew

June 29th, 2011
10:22 am

I remember Skip Caray going on for days about that play.

Gil In Mechanicsville

June 29th, 2011
10:23 am

More designer stats…. Sigh….

Only really counts in fantasy leagues.

Nats are headed backwards now, the whole team vibe has changed with the departure of Riggleman and McLaren. Say what you want, a change in the boss always has consequences. Sometimes good, sometimes bad…. I don’t see this as being a positive for the Nationals. They will just become another patsy for the Phillies to pad their stats against.

Today’s game with the “M’s can go either way. Depends on which version of Derek Lowe shows up.

Jonny Venters is showing signs of fatigue. The Braves really need for Moylan and Medlen to come back and give him a rest. Freddi needs to stop using him when the Braves have a 4 run lead too. I would love for Venters to get an All-star nod but I would rather he be able to take the time off to rest.

Nova Scotia Steve

June 29th, 2011
10:25 am

Jimmy: “Prediction: The Red Sox will eat up Vance Worley tonight.”

Annnddd you think King Felix doesn’t have the same plans for Atlanta batters….ummm yeaaahhh.

If you though the first 5 innings of last night were frustrating from an offensive stand-point (and basically the entire month of June)….hold on.

Fish Bisch

June 29th, 2011
10:25 am

Today’s game is a must win. Let’s go Lowe, come on kid!

Gil In Mechanicsville

June 29th, 2011
10:25 am

On Chipper’s recent lack of production…. He looks like he is playing hurt, not taking full swings on the ball, only using his upper body and not using his hips and legs. Just saying….

Murph

June 29th, 2011
10:26 am

Uggla is showing signs….

Every time Uggla “shows signs” he goes hitless the next 4 or 5 games.

The guy is making contact, and the law of averages would say that every once in a while it will be good enough contact for the ball to get out.

Both Uggla and AGon should sit and watch BMac swing the bat. As it is right now Uggla is a 1-hit-a-series kinda guy and AGon is a one-hit-a-month kinda guy. Basically automatic outs no matter what the situation.

Mudge

June 29th, 2011
10:26 am

The Red Sox are pitching Lackey tonight. The Phillies could eat him up. It could be 12-11. I read that the Sox will play Ortiz at first and Gonzalez in RF (played it once in his career). Interesting right side defense for all the Phillie left handers.

David O'Brien

June 29th, 2011
10:27 am

Braves are NL-best 24-18 on the road, with a 3.12 road ERA that’s also tops in the league

Shaun

June 29th, 2011
10:28 am

More designer stats…. Sigh….

Only really counts in fantasy leagues.

I don’t know what “designer stats” means.

And I’ve never known a fantasy league that weighs walks, singles, doubles, triples and homers by their run values. I would like to know in what type of fantasy leagues do you play.

Nova Scotia Steve

June 29th, 2011
10:28 am

DOB:

Quite a reverse from last year huh. Given our home/away record compared to 2010.

cricket

June 29th, 2011
10:29 am

Chipper at whatever %age he’s at is better than most of the options to replace him.
Anyway, he will get rest once Prado is back.

David O'Brien

June 29th, 2011
10:29 am

You think the Braves have wasted some pitching performances? Well, how ’bout this: Mariners are 5-9 in their past 14 games despite a 2.39 ERA in that span,

richbrave

June 29th, 2011
10:30 am

MISSISSIPPI

Rain-out, KK [1-2, 4.88 ERA] debut postponed ’till tonight. Not exactly tearing it up in AA.

LYNCHBURG

Suspended in the first, inclement weather. Gully-washers throughout the state last night.

ROME

SAND GNATS best the R-BRAVES 5-3.

SS ED SALCEDO [.275 BA] 1-4, 1 R.

DH ‘Big’ JIM GATTIS [.336 BA] 1-4, 2 R, 1 HR [8], 1 RBI [18], 1 SO.

LF ROBBY HEFFLINGER [.275 BA] 2-4, 1 RBI [29], 1 SO. Hey, CRAZE, this one’s for you.

CF KYLE ROSE [.232 BA] 2-2.

Soph WILLIE KEMPF [ND, 4.76 ERA] 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 SO.

DAVID ALVAREZ [H 2, 4.85 ERA] 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 2 SO.

KYLE MERTINS [BS 2, 1-3, 2.42 ERA] 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO.

DANVILLE

More rain in Virginia.

GSL – ORLANDO

BLUEFIELD whips the sophs and rooks 7-2 last night.

Three year DSL player 1B ARIS ALCANTARA [.259 BA] graduates to GSL. Last night he’s 1-1, 1 R, 2 BB.

C MENG TSAI [.500 BA] 2-4, 1 2B [1], 2 SO. First game for the TAIWANESE-born MENG. Appeared in three games last season in ORLANDO, four AB’s.

Soph FRANCOIS LaFRENIERE [0-1, 7.45 ERA] 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO.

Soph MATT LEWIS [9.00 ERA] 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 HR, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 SO.

Rook [35th] MIKE HASHEM [7.36 ERA] 1.0 IP, zeros, 1 SO. Nice.

FA ZACK JADOFSKY [0.00 ERA] 1.0 IP, zeros, 1 SO. Two outings. So far so good for the CHIPLEY, FLORIDA native.

David O'Brien

June 29th, 2011
10:33 am

Past 25 games for McCann: .396 (36-for-91) with 6 doubles, 10 HRs, 21 RBIs, .481 OBP, .791 slugging (1.272 OPS)

Fish Bisch

June 29th, 2011
10:33 am

Where has everyone’s offense gone in 2011?

MikeInFl

June 29th, 2011
10:34 am

As it is right now Uggla is a 1-hit-a-series kinda guy

Murph, Uggla’s got enough negatives on his blotter; he doesn’t need you making things up.

Over his last 6 games he hitting .200 (bad), .333 OBP (fair) and .650 SLG (excellent), for a .983 OPS.

I’d love to have more singles and walks thrown in, but 3 HR, 7 RBI and 6 Runs Scored every 6 games will put a guy in the Hall of Fame.

He’s still struggling but he’s contributing.

richbrave

June 29th, 2011
10:36 am

Murph

June 29th, 2011
10:26 am
Uggla is showing signs….

Every time Uggla “shows signs” he goes hitless the next 4 or 5 games.

The guy is making contact, and the law of averages would say that every once in a while it will be good enough contact for the ball to get out.

Both Uggla and AGon should sit and watch BMac swing the bat. As it is right now Uggla is a 1-hit-a-series kinda guy and AGon is a one-hit-a-month kinda guy. Basically automatic outs no matter what the situation.

You sound like a guy who wants effective sticks at every position Murph.

cricket

June 29th, 2011
10:36 am

Both Uggla and AGon should sit and watch BMac swing the bat.

Kinda hard to start hitting lefty at this stage of their careers..

Jimmy

June 29th, 2011
10:39 am

NNS – That statement was a “hope the Red Sox” eat him up. He is a good pitcher..I know. Just looking for a little help from the BoSox, because…..we got to face King Felix.

If he is on his game, we are in trouble.

But it will be game 82, so maybe we can “flip the switch”. LOL.

cricket

June 29th, 2011
10:39 am

Talk about consistency – braves have same winning %age now (.568) as in spring training (.567). Guess we can mark down 92/93 wins.

Murph

June 29th, 2011
10:43 am

Kinda hard to start hitting lefty at this stage of their careers..

Don’t be silly. Not at all what I’m saying. Doesn’t matter if a guy hits righty, lefty, or both… it’s the fundamentals that BMac exhibits that could benefit Uggla and AGon. The way he keeps his head down, takes a controlled stride, etc.

You sound like a guy who wants effective sticks at every position Murph.

Ridiculous request, isn’t it?

richbrave

June 29th, 2011
10:44 am

You sound like a guy who wants effective sticks at every position Murph.

Ridiculous request, isn’t it?

Right now it is. Heh.

Lew

June 29th, 2011
10:48 am

Only request that I have is that they continue to win – with or without offense. Hitting would be very nice, but the win is what counts and – surprise – they keep doing it.

raleighbravefan

June 29th, 2011
10:49 am

I think (or hope) when Prado returns, they go ahead and repair Chipper’s knee. Swinging without his legs is ugly. He could come back fresh for the penant drive.

Murph

June 29th, 2011
10:49 am

You’re right Mike, I shouldn’t make things up. Uggla is averaging a little under 2 hits per series. Which puts him right on par with his current BA (2 for 12 every 3 game series is a .166 BA).

Jimmy

June 29th, 2011
10:49 am

So 3:40 game today, day off, then Baltimore (3), the Rockies (4) and the Phils (3)..then the break.

Looks like an important 12 days ahead.

cricket

June 29th, 2011
10:52 am

Kinda hard to start hitting lefty at this stage of their careers..

Don’t be silly.

Don’t be stupy. 10:30 to 11:00 AM is my silly time.

Murph

June 29th, 2011
10:53 am

I’ll give this to AGon… he is the angriest looking Brave in a long, long time. Guy looks like he wants to kill someone every time he walks back into the dugout after making an out.

cricket

June 29th, 2011
10:54 am

all 12 days are important

Fog

June 29th, 2011
10:54 am

Chipper should retire after this year. 3rd base is a weak spot in all the NL. Prado is our 3rd baseman for many years to come. The Braves should work something out with Chipper’s contract and keep him as a hitting instructor (if he wants to do that). If the Braves free some money from Chipper/Kawakami/McLouth, they will be able to go after another bat for the outfield & sign some of our pitchers long term. We have a very young team with lots of upside, especially in the pitching department. We will be trading some of the young guns since we can’t keep them down much longer. SS is also a weakness that needs to be addressed (maybe through a trade).

cricket

June 29th, 2011
10:55 am

I agree. AGone has MFIKY look all 9 innings or more, no matter how the game’s going or how he’s doing.

timthebrave

June 29th, 2011
10:56 am

I’m glad that it’s a day game today….I CAN’T KEEP STAYING UP THIS LATE. At least I’m going to bed happy…Go Braves

Tom O'Hawke

June 29th, 2011
10:56 am

McFann

I’m glad you got to see it. He was having to great a game to be sleeping on.

Did you ever find out about whether or not your TV is stereo?

CrαZy

June 29th, 2011
10:56 am

Richbrave….Robby has been tearing it up since they sent him down to Rome. They say sometime during the 2nd half he should be going back to Lynchburg hopefully he’ll have better results than last time.

cricket

June 29th, 2011
10:57 am

Wins – meh stat for pitchers, most important stat for team

AtlYnkHtr

June 29th, 2011
10:57 am

Gotta love being a season high 11 games over .500. Today gets harder, as yesterday was supposedly harder than the day before, with King Felix. 2 runs might win this if Lowe keeps the ball on the ground. Hopefully, we can bunch our 4 hits together in the same inning.

cricket

June 29th, 2011
10:59 am

Lew

June 29th, 2011
11:00 am

cricket

June 29th, 2011
11:00 am

We win today 3-2

AtlYnkHtr

June 29th, 2011
11:01 am

Murph, if AGon killed someone even half the time he made an out in his career, he would be somewhere in between Pol Pot and Ghengis Kahn on the mass murder rankings.

Murph

June 29th, 2011
11:03 am

I’d like to put AGon in the octagon with the 3 year old, no holds barred, 2 pouty babies enter, only one leaves.

timthebrave

June 29th, 2011
11:04 am

Murph

At least he cares…..everytime he swings at a curve ball in the dirt it looks like he is about to cry…Which unfortunately is too often

Veer

June 29th, 2011
11:05 am

This is a must win game for Derek Lowe to prove to us that he still has it in him to compete.
A win today would be huge because we have been 10 games over 500 for a long time. our support is 10 games over 500 while our resistance is 11. If we can make it to 12 games over 500 then our next resistance could be 16 games.

But there are alot of people who have stop loss at 9 games over 500, if we fall below that then we might be plunge downwards.

cricket

June 29th, 2011
11:08 am

Yeah, if he loses today braves will release Lowe on the spot

timthebrave

June 29th, 2011
11:09 am

The braves are getting wins without hitting. I hope that means we will be unstoppable when people start hitting like their career norms

Tom O'Hawke

June 29th, 2011
11:09 am

Veer

What in the wide, wide world of sports are you talking about?

AtlYnkHtr

June 29th, 2011
11:11 am

Was anyone else amazed that Fredi hit and ran with Uggla and Freeman on a 2 strike count against a huge strikeout pitcher? Was anyone amazed that this did not work? And then in the 7th with runners on 1st and 2nd and AGon up, perfect spot for a bunt right? I mean that is what he has done all year, but he lets AGon hit. It’s like he doesn’t have a philosophy and is flying by the seat of his pants.

timthebrave

June 29th, 2011
11:11 am

Veer has lost his mind since his 401K went bricks….

Veer

June 29th, 2011
11:13 am

Tom O Hawke, I decided to use stock market fundamentals to the Braves.

I am not sure how familiar you are with the market but there is such thing called resistence and support.

It’s called fundamental and technical anylsis. By way Tom Hawke If you want to make some quick cash by oil. UCO. You be rich

David O'Brien

June 29th, 2011
11:13 am

As Arkansas Transplant noted, it’s been a while since Alex G. reached base.

He’s 0-for-17 with one RBI (sac bunt) with no walks in his past five games, and in his past 15 games he’s 6-for-54 (.111) with 2 RBIs, 4 walks, 14 K and a .172 OBP.

Lew

June 29th, 2011
11:13 am

Veer- He has to prove something to you? You mean if he doesn’t you’ll withhold his paycheck or DFA him?

AtlYnkHtr

June 29th, 2011
11:13 am

Tom O’Hawke, come on you know you are one of those people who have stop loss at 9 games over .500. I am a stop loss at 12 games over kinda guy myself, but to each their own.

David O'Brien

June 29th, 2011
11:14 am

Nova Scotia: Yes, it just goes to show how cyclical this stuff can be, and how random. I mean, why would they be so good at home last year, then so mediocre at home and good on the road this season?

Coach (2011 Fredi G. a go!)

June 29th, 2011
11:15 am

Fog, it’s gonna be an interesting off season for sure.

Chipper could retire or not. Lowe will more than likely get traded as Minor is ready, and Teheran could be too. Kawakami and McLouth won’t return unless McLouth is willing to take a steep pay cut after his contract is bought out. At any rate the Braves are gonna free up some payroll.

CrαZy

June 29th, 2011
11:15 am

I think Veer has veered off the path face first into a brick wall.

Fish Bisch

June 29th, 2011
11:15 am

What does MFIKY mean?

Murph

June 29th, 2011
11:15 am

It’s like he doesn’t have a philosophy and is flying by the seat of his pants.

I was thinking the same thing last night. I wonder if sometimes the guys turn to him and say “Fredi, want to go ahead and bunt here?” and he looks back at them with that icy stare of his and says “I… got… a… feeling…” and shakes his head no.

After AGon grounds out those same people turn back to Fredi and he says “It was just gas”.

Tom O'Hawke

June 29th, 2011
11:16 am

Veer

I’m not familiar with too many market terms, other than, “Oh, crap!!!”.

Thanks for the explanation and the tip.

David O'Brien

June 29th, 2011
11:16 am

TommyP, it’s right there with Braves’ 2002 ‘pen as best I’ve covered. And this one is more overpowering/dominant than that one.

Coach (2011 Fredi G. a go!)

June 29th, 2011
11:16 am

O yea, keep the brooms hidden. King Felix is going today.

Soph

June 29th, 2011
11:16 am

Try guessing first, Fish.

Veer

June 29th, 2011
11:17 am

Well market hasn’t been good. It’s like seeing Alex Gonzalez’s at bats.

Add your comment