There’s a new leader in the clubhouse, and he’s Brian McCann
Brian McCann at work: A homer on Sunday, then another on Monday. (AP photo)
A torch has been passed. It wasn’t supposed to happen quite so soon, but a grab-and-whirl-and-throw one dark night in Houston revved the timetable. We’re seeing the team that for more than a decade has belonged to Larry Wayne Jones Jr. being shouldered by Brian Michael McCann.
On Sunday he hit the walk-off homer against Florida. (OK, actually a stop-at-second-and-wait-a-bit walk-off. Still counted.) On Monday he hoisted another home run, this one a no-doubter, and also dropped an actual bunt single against the Mets. Since the All-Star break, McCann is hitting .311 with 10 homers and 33 RBI’s, as opposed to .267 with 10 and 37 before it. And his team has needed every blessed hit.
The guy who has carried the Braves for more than a decade was lost to a torn knee ligament. The guy who carried them through May and into June, the stopgap Troy Glaus, has been dispatched to Class AAA. Jason Heyward is an undeniable presence — he had four hits and four RBI’s Monday night — but he’s also a rookie. With so much in flux this wild season, the Braves needed someone of both seasoning and gravitas to light the way. On cue, B-Mac has become the beacon.
It just isn’t that he’s the most accomplished Brave still standing; it’s that McCann has grown into his role in a way we weren’t always certain he would. He was considered the lesser of the famous Gwinnett duo when he arrived in 2005, the famous Jeff Francoeur being the shining light and Sports Illustrated star, and the younger McCann seemed disinclined to offer more than boilerplate responses to the media. Put simply, he didn’t act as if he wanted to be The Man.
But now he is, and he’s wearing it well. He’s more forthcoming, more of a spokesperson. Clearly he has learned from being around Chipper, whose locker sits just across the doorway at the far end of the clubhouse, that a player of such portfolio bears certain responsibilities off the field as well. Even before Chipper was lost, McCann had become the junior spokesman, and now he’s the senior man. Indeed, he’s the last healthy everyday Brave (meaning a non-pitcher) of uninterrupted tenure to have played when last this club graced the postseason.
“You’ve got to know your place,” said McCann, speaking after Monday’s walkaway victory. “When I first came up, mine was to show up on the field and keep my mouth shut and play the game … When you’re young, you’re supposed to be seen but keep quiet.”
And now? “As you get older, you feel a little more sure of yourself. And you can be a little more yourself with [the media].”
Evidence to the contrary, McCann isn’t ready to pronounce himself a leader. (He’s still just 26, we must note.) “We’ve got so many great players in here,” he said. “Derrek Lee has won a World Series. Tim Hudson has been a great pitcher. I’m still learning this game from them. I look up to those guys.”
That said, there’s no active Brave who commands more respect among his mates. McCann plays the toughest position, gets some of the biggest hits and stands now as the constant in a lineup that has undergone monthly alterations. Again, he doesn’t see it that way: “We’ve got Martin Prado and Jason Heyward and Omar Infante, who could win a batting title.”
The theme of this happy season has been that the Braves are a team of No Stars. But Brian McCann is a star. If these Braves play their way into the World Series, it’s McCann — whose bases-loaded double made the National League a winner and him the All-Star Game’s MVP — who ensured that it will commence at Turner Field. It’s McCann who stands as the finest catcher in his league, McCann who ranks with Minnesota’s Joe Mauer as the best in the business.
Someday this will be Jason Heyward’s team, perhaps in joint ownership with Freddie Freeman, but for now it belongs to the big man with the blond beard, the man who stepped up when the great Chipper Jones went down. It belongs to Brian McCann.
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297 comments Add your comment
Trey
August 31st, 2010
1:46 pm
Phillies, Class of the NL, how nice to see you? How does it feel to be three games behind first?
Jesse Stone
August 31st, 2010
1:51 pm
Chance- Yes, I’m aware of the arbitration situation. Again, there are SEVEN MONTHS until the start of the 2011 seson. The Mets starting outfield will be healthy by then. Why wouldn’t they non-tender Francoeur? They can go out and find a cheaper option that would put up similar numbers.
Trey
August 31st, 2010
1:51 pm
Ruiz is definitely not that great. Man, how the Phillies must be steaming, falling and falling further into the bowels of the division.
Jesse Stone
August 31st, 2010
1:52 pm
Phillies, Class of NL- Oh, so THAT’S why Ruiz’s peers vote him into the all-star game every year.
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
1:52 pm
The true attributes of a good catcher are:
ability to call a game – Ruiz > McCann
arm strength to discourage and catch base stealers – Ruiz >> McCann
ability to stop passed balls – Ruiz >>>>> McCann
ability to block plate and cover home – Ruiz >> McCann
offense – McCann > Ruiz, but Ruiz a much better clutch and playoff performer – check Ruiz 2008 and 2009 post season stats and learn why he is Senor Octobre
McFann ♥ ;Ô; ♥ ;Ô; ♥
August 31st, 2010
1:52 pm
Phillies, Class of the NL—
You can’t “blindly” look at stats. Your eyes must be open to look at stats.
Or are you talking about the whole RISP thing? BMac is tied for 3rd in the NL in RBI since the All-Star Break…although with the homer last night, he might be in 3rd all by himself…
He struggled in the first half, but he’s coming back around now.
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
1:53 pm
hahahahha Jesse Stone, since when do peers vote you into the all-star game? your ignorance is staggering
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
1:54 pm
this Mark Bradley cat is a pretty decent writer, its a shame his talents are wasted on the atlanta sports scene (or lack of scene)
Jesse Stone
August 31st, 2010
1:54 pm
They can find a player with a .236 BA and a .663 OPS for under 6M. He!!, Melky’s numbers are better than that.
Duluth's Finest
August 31st, 2010
1:55 pm
i disagree Phillies, McCann is better than your chooch, but he was impressive in the postseason
McFann ♥ ;Ô; ♥ ;Ô; ♥
August 31st, 2010
1:56 pm
McCann calls a VERY good game…our pitchers have said so.
He’s getting much better at throwing runners out. Tommy Hanson’s slowness to the plate has skewed BMac’s numbers there this year.
McCann has 4 passed balls, and yes, so does Ruiz.
McCann could block and cover home better if we’d get some better throws from the outfield, which we will. And who knows? Some coach could have told him to be careful because we need his bat.
McFann ♥ ;Ô; ♥ ;Ô; ♥
August 31st, 2010
1:57 pm
since when do peers vote you into the all-star game?
Uh…since always…?
Jesse Stone
August 31st, 2010
1:57 pm
Excuse me, Phillies. Maybe I meant to say “his own manager didn’t name him to the AllStar team”.
Bat Masterson
August 31st, 2010
2:00 pm
Not only will Francoeur get arbitration, he’ll be in line to make AT LEAST $7 mil in 2011………..which will be more than McCann’s $6.5 mil 2011 salary. _ Christopher Chance
Dude you are out of your everlovin’ freakin’ mind. He will be DFA’d bank on it.
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:01 pm
McCann has one of the weakest arms in the NL – fact – check the stats
McCann is absolutely horrible at blocking the plate – fact – no stat to back this up but proof of watching the games is enough, I think most braves fans will acknowledge this
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:02 pm
McCann is below average in things that catchers are supposed to do, but an above average hitting catcher, that is all
McFann ♥ ;Ô; ♥ ;Ô; ♥
August 31st, 2010
2:02 pm
I should tell him that BMac’s caught more guys stealing than Ruiz every year except 2007, but why waste valuable time?
Duluth's Finest
August 31st, 2010
2:04 pm
I have never taken the time to actually look up McCann’s caught stealing numbers, they are really very pitiful – that has kind of slipped by me all this time – I wonder how many of those successful steals eventually scored? Oh well, his bat still trumps that…
McFann ♥ ;Ô; ♥ ;Ô; ♥
August 31st, 2010
2:05 pm
Here are links to fielding stats for both players:
McCann: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mccanbr01-field.shtml
Ruiz: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ruizca01-field.shtml
Have at it, big guy. I will say that, yes, Ruiz has a batter fielding percentage.
Keith
August 31st, 2010
2:05 pm
Funny that a Phillies fan would compare a 5-6 year AS veteran to a newbie in Ruiz. Of course, they said we’d relinquish the lead 2 mos ago…that would be like comparing Strasburg to Halladay.
3 Games now. Enjoy the remainder of your west coast trip.
McFann ♥ ;Ô; ♥ ;Ô; ♥
August 31st, 2010
2:05 pm
DF I have never taken the time to actually look up McCann’s caught stealing numbers
Then stop commenting on the subject.
Bat Masterson
August 31st, 2010
2:09 pm
DF _
Man Heap is or would be leading the league in caught stealing percentage if not for Hanson’s turtle like delivery.
Bat Masterson
August 31st, 2010
2:10 pm
Christopher Chance < "Chance The Gardener"
Trey
August 31st, 2010
2:11 pm
Phillies, the only good player your team has is Roy Halladay.
Duluth's Finest
August 31st, 2010
2:11 pm
well McFann, I never looked them up until now, thank you
McCann has allowed 397 stolen bases since 2005
Ruiz has allowed 242 stolen bases since 2005
That is a difference of 155 stolen bases which is nothing to overlook, but McCann swings a better bat
Trey
August 31st, 2010
2:11 pm
Your team has done nothing since the binocular incident.
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:14 pm
let me kick some knowledge to you simpletons – batters do not run on Chooch as often as they run on McCann – aka, Chooch discourages basestealing
Since 2005, over 150 batters more have stolen on McCann than Ruiz – those extra 150 bases could very well account 5-10 games, no?
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:15 pm
and those 5-10 games per year could be a factor in why the Phillies are 3 time defending NL East Champions and the bravos have done nothing, no?
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:16 pm
braves fans will soon learn the pain of mets fans – the pain of naively thinking that their team could unseat the Juggernaut Philadelphia Phillies, only to have your hopes trounced come October
Trey
August 31st, 2010
2:17 pm
Three times is in the past, like our FOURTEEN titles.
raleighbravefan
August 31st, 2010
2:17 pm
Phillies, Ass of the NL – Another arrogant (and wrong) Phillies troll, I see. How does it feel looking UP at the Braves for 4 months? You guys will be 4+ games back going into the final series, and will be praying for a Wild Card!
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:18 pm
what does 14 consecutive NL East titles equal?
a few things
-the distant past
-only 1 world series title (haha pathetic, such an underachieving bunch)
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:19 pm
we are arrogant because we know our team is superior
you are foolish because you don’t realize we will take the lead from you, whether you like it or not
Trey
August 31st, 2010
2:20 pm
The Braves are in their rightful place in the division, and they realize this. They are not going to give up their throne without a fight. The Braves are nothing like the Mets, they do not choke up first.
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:22 pm
hahahahaha – this just in – last nights attendance:
18,842 (37.9% full)
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!
raleighbravefan
August 31st, 2010
2:22 pm
Phillies, Ass of NL – How many of those extra stolen basses resulted in runs for oposition, and wins? How many of McCann’s hits have resulted in wins? Oh, and Brian’s heroics will result in the Braves having home field advantage in the WS!
Trey
August 31st, 2010
2:22 pm
Phillie, that is funny you say this one WS thing, because the Phillies have been in Philadelphia since the 19th century and only have two titles. The Braves have THREE titles, just one in Atlanta. The Braves have been in Atlanta since only 1966 and just need one more WS victory to tie your team.
Trey
August 31st, 2010
2:24 pm
Only two WS victories and first team with 10,000 losses.
Trey
August 31st, 2010
2:24 pm
Ryan Howard looks like he is better suited for a Phillie Cheesesteak eating contest than baseball.
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:25 pm
the early Phillies teams up until current managment were very poorly run – Phillies fans acknowledge this, we dont make excuses like Braves fans, just like we dont make excuses for the Eagles for their 5 of 8 NFC Championship Games, but no super bowl
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:25 pm
18,842 (37.9% full) — guess what this is?
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:26 pm
take your time….
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:29 pm
that is the first place braves attendance for last nights game against the supposedly hated mets – under 19,000???? under 38% full??? 38%?????????????
CLARK CO. PD
August 31st, 2010
2:29 pm
Enter your comments here
Jesse Stone
August 31st, 2010
2:30 pm
I guess you kinda forgot about the All-Star thing, huh Phillies troll?
Trey
August 31st, 2010
2:30 pm
Excuses, your team is just pathetic. Only two titles in over 100 years. By the way, majority of the people that live in Atlanta are from the north, so they are more likely Yankees or Phillie fans. Also, many of our fans live in other states and cities and the ones that do work here do go to the game and if not it’s because of work and school. Unlike Philadelphia, we have more than sports to worry about. We have a better team, more Hall of Famers, a better looking field and classier fans.
Phillies, Class of the NL
August 31st, 2010
2:30 pm
38% full in a pennant race ??????????????
CLARK CO. PD
August 31st, 2010
2:30 pm
Franchise Loses?
Trey
August 31st, 2010
2:31 pm
By the way, the last to won All Stars were at the hands of the Braves. 1996 the Braves won it with Bobby Cox managing, this time they won with McCann batting.
CLARK CO. PD
August 31st, 2010
2:31 pm
18,842
The amount of women with back hair at Philly games?