November 13
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Overcoming an April vision scare made winning another National League Silver Slugger Award even more special for Braves catcher Brian McCann. After hitting .281 and leading NL catchers in home runs (21), RBIs (94) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.835), McCann won the award as the NL's top hitting catcher for the second consecutive season and third time in four seasons. He hit .195 in 13 games before going on the disabled list with blurred vision. After contact lenses and medication failed to correct the problem, McCann got sports glasses and hit .289 with 87 RBIs after returning May 8."
August 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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They trailed 5-4 against the Florida Marlins after six innings, which would've seemed nearly insurmountable to last year's Braves. But not this bunch. After the Braves got a run in the seventh, Brian McCann's two-run single in the eighth gave them a 7-5 win against the Marlins and another series victory Sunday afternoon at Turner Field. "We've got a different team this year, for sure," said McCann, who hit a three-run homer in the first inning and equaled his career high with five RBIs. "There's no panic [after falling behind]. Our lineup is good enough to put up runs, and our bullpen is good enough to shut 'em down." Matt Diaz had four hits, and the Braves overcame another rough start ..."
July 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Josh Beckett is not quite a grizzled veteran but the Boston Red Sox ace is four years older than Braves catcher Brian McCann, already a four-time All-Star at 25. That's why something that Beckett saw McCann do a few weeks ago against the Red Sox surprised him. He mentioned it to McCann Sunday night when they arrived here for the All-Star Game on Tuesday at Busch Stadium. "I was messing with him yesterday about sitting on a 1-0 changeup and how he hit it - he hit it hard," Beckett said Monday. "He's not an old guy; I wouldn't necessarily expect him to have that approach. "He's got a really, really advanced approach. I don't know. Maybe some of that comes from catching. Because everybody ..."
July 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Brian McCann was the sole representative of the Braves to make the All-Star team this year. Chipper Jones didn't have the hot start at the plate that got him there last year, and the mediocre won-loss records of both Javier Vazquez and Jair Jurrjens kept them at home. "Not with 5-7," said Vazquez, referring to his won-loss record, which took the luster off a first-half in which he's in the top 10 in the National League in strikeouts (second with 130), innings pitched (seventh with 112), ERA (eighth at 3.05) and opponents' batting average (ninth at .232). "What can I say," said Vazquez, who like Jurrjens has been a victim of poor run support. "I've told JJ, just control what we can control ..."
June 16
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Braves players Brian McCann and Chipper Jones remain among the top vote getters for their positions for next month's All-Star Game in St. Louis. The latest NL voting results were announced Monday. McCann, a three-time All-Star, has received 895,663 fan votes, trailing only the Cardinals' Yadier Molina (1,051,485). Jones reamined third among third baseman with 864,017 votes. The Mets' David Wright (1,256,736) is the top vote-getter, followed by the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman (920,780). Jones made the team in 2008 after a seven year absence. Fan voting for the All-Star game, which will be held in St. Louis on July 14, concludes at midnight on July 2. Rosters will be announced on July 5."
May 17
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Doctors, family, National League pitchers and everyone else seems to agree: Brian "Specs" McCann can see from here to next week again. "He's back to just being Brian," said McCann's father, Howie. "I told Brian I'm happy for both him and his family," said Buckhead optometrist David Ross. "And I'm happy for me. Now I don't have to leave town." The month-long saga of McCann's unhappy eyeballs frustrated the catcher and unsettled a Braves fan base getting the wrong impression that one of their stars was morphing into Mr. Magoo. All is calm for now, as McCann, behind the snazzy new sports glasses he modeled at home for the first time Friday, tries to raise his batting average to more familiar ..."
May 13
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Catcher Brian McCann hasn't had any trouble hitting with his new prescription sports glasses, but he caught the last five innings Monday without them after they fogged up. He decided not to wear them while catching Tuesday's game, at least at the start. "I think it was because it was cold out and the heat from my body made them foggy," said McCann, who went to the dugout Monday to discard them while the Mets were batting in the fourth inning. He has tried an anti-fogging spray without much success, but the fogging has been a problem only when he has his facemask on. And only in the cooler night air in New York, not at Philadelphia during the three-game series that ended Sunday. McCann is ..."