November 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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While most Braves fans are wondering who'll be their Opening Day shortstop and whether Jair Jurrjens and/or the popular Martin Prado will be traded by the end of next week's Winter Meetings, a potentially bigger issue looms in the not-too-distant future. Brian McCann. Specifically, will the Braves make the six-time All-Star catcher a franchise player along the lines of Chipper Jones by signing McCann to a long-term extension in the next year or so? McCann will make $11.5 million in the final season of his contract in 2012 (the base salary of $8.5 million was increased the maximum $3 million by escalators tied to All-Star appearances and Silver Slugger awards)."
November 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A September swoon didn't keep Braves catcher Brian McCann from winning his fifth Silver Slugger award in six years on Wednesday night and enter even more elite company. McCann became the first player to win five Silver Sluggers as a Brave and only the sixth catcher to win five or more in his career, and he's only 27. Silver Sluggers are awarded to the top offensive players at each position as voted on by players and managers. McCann has won it each of the past four years and five times in only six full seasons in the major leagues."
October 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Braves catcher Brian McCann and closer Craig Kimbrel were named the Sporting News National League All-Star team, making Atlanta one of three teams with two selections to the 10-member team. Milwaukee had first baseman Prince Fielder and outfielder Ryan Braun, while the Los Angeles Dodgers had pitcher Clayton Kershaw and outfielder Matt Kemp, the only unanimous selection."
October 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Braves general manager Frank Wren sat down with selected members of the media following the end of the Braves season, discussing topics ranging from the September collapse to roster projections. In Part II of that interview, Wren talks about Brian McCann's late-season troubles, the prospects of signing Michael Bourn long-term and Freddie Freeman's breakout season, among other things."
September 11
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
While Brian McCann has fought one of the worst slumps of his career, the Braves have sputtered down the stretch in a playoff race. This is particularly difficult for the Braves' six-time All-Star catcher, who takes a lot of pride in being a hitter his team can count on. Since returning Aug. 14 from a stint on the disabled list for a strained oblique, he was 12-for-78 (.154) with five homers, 10 RBIs, 21 strikeouts and a .283 on-base percentage in 22 games before Saturday. The 21 strikeouts in 78 at-bats are particularly unusual for McCann, who has never struck out 100 times in a season and had only 64 strikeouts in 509 at-bats in 2008."
September 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
If you follow the Braves and/or spend much time around other Braves fans, maybe you've heard it. Perhaps in a hushed tone, with raised eyebrows as if the person saying it is implying, "I'm not saying I believe it, but…" If you've been online much, you've probably seen it on Twitter or in blog comments. It's this: Freddie Freeman is to Jason Heyward as Brian McCann is to Jeff Francoeur. There, I typed it. But I had an eyebrow raised while typing it. Because it's way too early to make that assessment, in my view. Not when Heyward, a consensus pick as the top prospect in baseball before his arrival, had 18 homers, a whopping .393 on-base percentage and .849 OPS in 142 games as a"
August 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Coming back from an oblique strain in less than three weeks is a tall order for any hitter, as Brian McCann learned in his first 10 games back with the Braves. He vented some frustration against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, driving in four runs with a pair of homers in an 8-3 win that gave the Braves another series victory at Wrigley Field. "He came in after the first homer and said, 'I think I've got my stroke back,'" said manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose Braves won three of four games in the series and have won 14 of their past 18 to build a commanding lead in the wild-card race. Michael Bourn matched a career high with his first four-hit game since being traded to the Braves, who trimmed"
August 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Brian McCann completed his rehabilitation assignment Saturday night in Triple-A Gwinnett and is ready to be activated Sunday and return to the Braves lineup. "All the reports on McCann are really, really good, so I expect him here tomorrow," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said after Saturday's game. McCann caught five innings on Saturday night as scheduled and went 1-for-3 with a home run. Catching and throwing was his final hurdle before returning from the disabled list. McCann had four at-bats at DH in Gwinnett on Friday, going 1-for-3 with an RBI single and three hard hit balls."
August 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann is eligible to return from the disabled list Friday, but the Braves' All-Star catcher isn't likely to be activated until at least a couple more days after that. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez doesn't want to McCann to risk reinjuring his strained oblique muscle by trying to make it back too quickly. He said McCann could start a minor-league rehab assignment Friday and possibly come off the DL Sunday or Monday. McCann said Monday, after taking batting practice for first time since his July 26 injury, that he hoped to begin a rehab assignment as soon as Wednesday and possibly return to the lineup Friday. That ambitious plan was eliminated Tuesday by Gonzalez."
August 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Fifteen days isn't a lot of time to heal a strained oblique muscle, but the Braves' Brian McCann thinks he could be ready Friday, the first day he's eligible to come off the disabled list. The All-Star catcher took batting practice before Monday's series opener against Florida at Sun Life Stadium, the first time McCann's done anything more than light hitting since injuring the oblique in his left side on July 26. "It felt fine; it felt exactly how I thought it would," said McCann, who took controlled swings and hit several drives to the power alleys, but no tape-measure homers. "I didn't try to swing as hard as I could. But I was pleased with how the ball was coming off my bat. "It's my"
August 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
The Braves are exercising some restraint to go along with their encouragement when it comes to the progress catcher Brian McCann is making from his oblique injury. He spent the weekend series in New York doing some light hitting, throwing and catching bullpens. But he won't know for sure how his oblique will hold up until he increases the intensity. McCann will give it a bigger test in Florida where the Braves are headed to play the Marlins for three games starting Monday. He plans to take batting practice on the field there, but he said throwing with more intensity will be his biggest test."
August 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Braves are exercising some restraint to go along with their encouragement when it comes to the progress catcher Brian McCann is making from his oblique injury. He spent the weekend series in New York doing some light hitting, throwing and catching bullpens. But he won't know for sure how his oblique will hold up until he increases the intensity. McCann will give it a bigger test in Florida where the Braves are headed to play the Marlins for three games starting Monday. He plans to take batting practice on the field there, but he said throwing with more intensity will be his biggest test. "I hurt it when I was throwing, so that's the motion that is going to be the hurdle I've got to get"
August 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann has felt all along he had a decent chance to return from his oblique injury when he's eligible to come off the disabled list Friday. He's starting to convince his manager Fredi Gonzalez too. McCann has swung a bat for the past two days without incident – first off a tee Friday, then against hitting coach Larry Parrish in the indoor cages Saturday. He has also caught some bullpens and played catch from 60 feet. If he continues to progress when he starts taking batting practice outside, he might be able to get back on the field early in the Braves next homestand. If the Cubs this weekend is pushing it, then perhaps the Giants in a four-game series starting Monday. "He's doing a"
July 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
When Brian McCann strained an oblique muscle in his left side Tuesday, Braves general manager Frank Wren did not hurriedly call New York and cave to the Mets' demand for a top pitching prospect in a trade for Carlos Beltran. Some Braves fans probably wished he would have. With the Sunday non-waiver trade deadline approaching, folks are getting anxious about the Braves, whose already inconsistent offense was dealt a big blow with the injury to McCann during Tuesday's 19-inning marathon win against Pittsburgh. The All-Star catcher strained his side making a throw to second base in the 10th inning and was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. Veteran backup David Ross will serve as"
July 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves catcher Brian McCann left Tuesday's game against the Pirates with a strained left oblique. He will be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday. The Braves said they will announce the corresponding roster move on Wednesday. Following the game, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he expected J.C. Boscan to be called up from Triple-A Gwinnett. "Hopefully it is not a bad oblique," Gonzalez said. "There are different grades of it and hopefully we can get him back in 15-20 days. That's a big bat out of the lineup.""
July 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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As much as they trust Brian McCann behind the plate catching, three Braves pitchers have also appreciated having him to turn to for advice in their first trip to the major league All-Star game. Braves starter Jair Jurrjens, setup man Jonny Venters and closer Craig Kimbrel made the National League All-Star team for the first time, while McCann is a six-time All-Star who'll be in the NL starting lineup for the first time in Tuesday night's game against the American League at Chase Field. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," Venters said during All-Star media day Monday at the swank Arizona Biltmore. "To be here with these guys, it's an honor to represent the Braves and the National League."
July 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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If only mortgage giant Freddie Mac were doing half as well as the Braves' Freddie Mac. We're referring to Freddie Freeman and Brian McCann, the team's surging middle-order hitting duo. The two have picked up some of the slack while Martin Prado's been on the DL and Dan Uggla's been in a season-long hitting slump that must feel like some sort of purgatory by now – for Uggla and for any Braves fans who've stuck with him through it. Prado should be back no later than the first series after the All-Star break, and possibly even this weekend at Philadelphia. Uggla? Well, uh … more in a moment. First, though, a quick look at the recent hitting exploits of the Braves' ascendant rookie first"
July 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann is the reigning MVP of the All-Star game; now he'll get to start it. The Braves catcher became an All-Star for the sixth time in six full major league seasons Sunday when the team was announced, but he's now a starter for the first time. McCann won the fan vote at catcher over the Cardinals Yadier Molina by 1,726,052 votes. "To get recognized by the fans to start is definitely a special honor," McCann said. "You always want to shoot to start the game; now I finally have a chance to do that." He'll be joined in Phoenix on July 12 by teammates Jair Jurrjens and Jonny Venters, who will make their first ever All-Star appearances, and Chipper Jones, who was named as a reserve to"
July 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann is the reigning MVP of the All-Star game; now he'll get to start it. The Braves catcher became an All-Star for the sixth time in six full major league seasons Sunday when the team was announced, but he's now a starter for the first time. McCann won the fan vote at catcher over the Cardinals Yadier Molina by 1,726,052 votes. "It's an honor," McCann said. "I've been five times and been a reserve. Now to get recognized by the fans to start is definitely a special honor….You always want to shoot to start the game; now I finally have a chance to do that." He'll be joined in Phoenix on July 12 by teammates Jair Jurrjens and Jonny Venters, who will make their first ever All-Star"
June 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
He has obviously been the best-hitting catcher in the National League during his six years with the Braves, and I think you've also got to say Brian McCann has been the best in the major leagues over that period, considering Joe Mauer's injury woes. But what McCann is doing lately is another level of hitting. B-Mac is absolutely raking, and will move his name into serious MVP consideration if he keeps up anything even close to this pace for the second half of the season. McCann had the first three of the Braves' meager five hits in Monday night's win against the Mariners, including his fifth homer in eight games and 14th of the season. (He and Freddie Freeman each hit homers off Erik"
June 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
While most of the Braves' bats have slumbered, Brian McCann's has sizzled. The catcher kept rolling Tuesday night with four hits including a tie-breaking, two-run single with two out in the seventh inning that lifted the Braves to a 5-4 win against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. "I'm seeing the ball well, getting a good pitch to hit," said McCann, who has seven of the Braves' 13 hits in consecutive wins to start the three-game series. "I'm working counts and being patient. When I have those things going, I feel confident that I can get some hits." Dan Uggla hit his third homer in six games and Tommy Hanson (9-4) got through a rough first couple of innings to pitch six and win his"
June 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tommy Hanson's second bullpen session Sunday was better than the first two days earlier, and the Braves right-hander was excited about returning from the DL to start Tuesday. He missed two starts recovering from rotator-cuff tendinitis in his pitching shoulder. "It feels good," Hanson said. "Just getting back my game. It's been a couple of weeks. I just want to get back out there and hopefully pick up where I left off." He's 8-4 with a 2.48 ERA that is the third-lowest among NL starters behind teammate Jair Jurrjens (2.07) and Phillies ace Roy Halladay (2.40). Hanson is coming back without making a minor-league rehab start. After resting nearly a week, he's thrown two flat-ground sessions"
June 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
So David Ross is in the lineup today, catching Tim Hudson's start while Brian McCann gets a day off for this series finale against the Padres. This duo worked out well five days ago, you might recall. So I got to thinking, today would be a good day to ask Ross about what is, to me, a misguided notion among some observers – not just fans but also some in the media – about playing Ross more and moving McCann to another position in order to try to keep him healthy and fresh. Because if Ross has a big game, especially if he has one like the two-homer game he had the last time he started a game here in San Diego back in April, there will invariably be plenty of blogs and Twitter comments about"
June 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After failing twice with runners in scoring position during regulation, Brian McCann made things right in the 10th inning. His three-run homer in the top of the 10th lifted Atlanta to a 6-3 win Saturday night against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, the fifth in a row for the injury-riddled but resurgent Braves. "Every time I came up tonight I had a chance to do something, and didn't," McCann said. "It was very satisfying getting it in extra innings and giving us the lead." He homered off Brandon Lyon with none out. Jordan Schafer hit a leadoff single and stole second and Dan Uggla walked, then McCann hit a three-run tie-breaker that gave him 501 career RBIs in fewer than six full"
June 7
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann has surpassed Giants catcher Buster Posey in the NL All-Star vote, in the second tally released by Major League Baseball on Monday afternoon. McCann leads Posey by a narrow margin of about 57,000 votes. McCann received 1,123,943 votes to Posey's 1,065,983. He had trailed Posey, the reigning NL rookie of the year and Leesburg, Ga. native, in the first tally by about 150,000 votes. Much of that voting took place before Posey was injured in the collision at the plate with Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins on May 25 and lost for the season with a broken leg."
May 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
One day after his four-hit, two-homer game against the Reds, catcher Brian McCann was out of the starting lineup Sunday. And he was sitting against a pitcher in Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto he'd hit two home runs off of in six career at-bats against. But to the Braves and McCann, it's about more than numbers. It's about how he's holding up behind the plate. And McCann and manager Fredi Gonzalez decided after he caught 12 innings in Saturday night's win over the Reds, he needed the day off."
May 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Before his two dramatic homers Tuesday afternoon - one to tie the Astros in the ninth inning, one to beat them in the 11th - Brian McCann went 25 games and more than 90 at-bats without hitting a ball over the fence. The Elias Sports Bureau said the Braves catcher became the second player in major league history to hit a pinch-hit, game-tying homer in the ninth and an extra-inning walk-off homer in the same game. A day later, McCann credited older brother, Brad, for helping him reclaim his power stroke. "Made a couple of adjustments in my swing to free myself up," McCann said before Wednesday night's late game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "I talked to my brother for an hour. He called"
May 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Just in case the series finale against the last-place Astros was getting a little short on drama, the Braves called on their five-time All-Star catcher Tuesday afternoon for the game of his life in what amounted to a cameo appearance. Brian McCann was scheduled for a day off. That meant only that Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez had McCann up his sleeve to pinch hit with two outs in the ninth inning. Sure enough, down to his last strike, McCann launched a game-tying home run to force extra innings. His idea of a curtain call? McCann hit a two-run walk-off homer two innings later for a 3-1 win in 11 innings. "Doesn't get much better than that," said McCann, still picking celebratory infield"
May 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
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On the last day of the homestand, the Braves were shut out for the first 8 2/3 innings, came to within one strike of blowing a series to the worst team in the National League and watched as Chipper Jones struck out three times with runners on base (twice looking) It did not start out as a blueprint for winning a division. "Not pretty," Jones said. Didn't matter. The Braves left town after a 3-1 victory over Houston on Tuesday to begin a seven-game road trip at Arizona. They were two games behind Philadelphia in the National League East (pending the outcome of the Phillies' game at St. Louis Tuesday night), after opening this homestand four games back. When they return, don't be surprised"
April 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann has taken a little kidding in the clubhouse for taking 11 games to get his first extra-base hit. "Singles hitter," Derek Lowe uttered Wednesday afternoon as McCann walked past, continuing the teasing he started over the weekend when he said to McCann: "What have you got, like 18 singles? Can you get a double or something?" It was 13 singles, actually, when Lowe said that on Sunday. On Tuesday night, he homered off the Marlins' Chris Volstad, ending the longest wait for a extra-base hit in his seven years in the big leagues. From his rookie year in 2005 when he homered in his second game in the big leagues, he has hit his first home run of the season either in the first or"
March 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann spent two hours on Wednesday night visiting with Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar, who reassured him that his spirits were high despite losing his left eye after being struck by a McCann foul ball last week. The Braves said Wednesday that Salazar had undergone surgery to remove his left eye. He was released from Orlando Regional Medical Center that afternoon, met with McCann at his hotel on Wednesday night, and was on his way home to Boca Raton, Fla. on Thursday evening. "Sitting down with him was awesome," McCann said Thursday afternoon. "His attitude is off the charts. He's looking at it as a positive, with what could have happened. He's alive. That's the most"
November 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Dan Uggla's father in central Tennessee went looking for a foam tomahawk Tuesday, after Dan called to say he was traded from the Marlins to the Braves. For the Ugglas, this development was far from ugly. "Really, extremely happy that I was traded over to an organization like the Braves," said the slugging second baseman, dealt to the Braves in a trade that sent All-Star utility infielder Omar Infante and reliever Mike Dunn to the Marlins. Uggla is a two-time All-Star whose 154 home runs are the most ever for a middle infielder in his first five seasons. He hit .287 with 33 homers and 105 RBIs in 2010, and won the Silver Slugger award as the National League's best-hitting second baseman."
September 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Martin Prado is playing with a sore groin, but said he'd use neither it nor the pinkie finger he broke on July 30 as an excuse for his recent offensive struggles. The Braves third baseman and No. 3 hitter was batting .247 with no homers, 11 RBIs and a .284 on-base percentage in his past 23 games before Wednesday, and was 5-for-31 (.161) with one extra-base hit and one RBI in his past eight games. "I've pushed through this before," said Prado, who has played through previous groin injuries. "I don't have any excuses. I don't want to rest. I don't have that in my mind right now." He knows some outside observers have suggested he be dropped in the batting order or benched until healthy, but"
August 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves reliever Takashi Saito's reduced vision necessitates a catcher signaling for pitches as a third-base coach signals to a batter, rather than the conventional method of signaling with fingers between the squatting catcher's legs. It worked well for Saito and the Braves until Tuesday, when the 40-year-old pitcher and catcher Brian McCann got signals crossed on an eighth-inning pitch that proved costly. Saito threw a full-count fastball to Clint Barmes when McCann was expecting a breaking pitch. Barmes swung and missed, but the ball sailed past McCann, allowing Barmes to race to first base. Instead of the third out in a scoreless inning of a one-run game, the Rockies had the bases"
July 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
When Brian McCann gunned down two baserunners Tuesday night, it was the latest evidence of a growing trend: he's throwing the ball much better. The five-time All-Star catcher entered the season having thrown out only 22 percent of base-stealers for his career. Entering play on Wednesday, he was up to 30.3 percent for this season, third-best in the National League. Among every day catchers, McCann trailed only the Rockies' Miguel Olivo (41.3) and the Dodgers' Russell Martin (30.8). McCann attributes it to watching backup catcher David Ross work. Ross has thrown out 56.5 percent of baserunners for his career, including seven of 15 this season."
July 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
If you were a pitcher, it was not a good week to face Brian McCann with the bases loaded. After his three-run double last Tuesday helped end the National League's 13-year winless streak in the All-Star game, the Braves catcher came through once more on Sunday with a third-inning grand slam home run to spark an 11-6 win against Milwaukee. McCann matched a career-best with five RBIs and resurgent Matt Diaz went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs for the Braves, who salvaged a split of the four-game series and avoided their first three-game home losing streak. Atlanta is a majors-best 32-12 at Turner Field, even with losing five of its past 10 home games before Sunday."
July 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
When Brian McCann stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and the National League down by a run in the seventh inning of Tuesday's All-Star game, the Braves catcher wasn't thinking about home-field advantage for the World Series. But after clearing the bases with a two-out double to right field for a 3-1 win against the American League at Angel Stadium, McCann thought of how important his hit might be if the Braves advance to the World Series a few months from now. "This whole night has been surreal," said McCann, whose hit allowed the NL to snap the AL's 13-year All-Star stranglehold and made him the game's Most Valuable Player. "It's something you dream about as a little kid, a moment"
July 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
If the Braves advance to the World Series, they can thank Brian McCann for getting them home-field advantage when they get there. The Braves catcher belted a three-run double in the seventh inning to lift the National League to a 3-1 win against the American League in the All-Star game Tuesday night at Angel Stadium, snapping the AL's 13-game winning streak. "This whole night has been surreal," said McCann, whose two-out hit earned him the game's Most Valuable Player award and secured home-field advantage for the NL champion in the 2010 World Series. "It's something you dream about as a little kid, a moment I'll never forget. "We're in first place and we're playing great as a team. This"
May 31
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves catcher Brian McCann was out of the starting lineup for the fourth straight game Sunday in the series finale against Pittsburgh. However, manager Bobby Cox said McCann would be back behind the plate on Monday when Atlanta opens a three-game series against Philadelphia. "He could have played [Saturday], he could have played [Sunday]," Cox said. "This is the smart thing to do." McCann suffered a strained right quadriceps last week against Florida. Also out of the starting lineup on Sunday was Chipper Jones. Omar Infante replaced Jones at third base. "I gave him a day off," Cox said. "Plus, Infante has got to get in there." Infanted batted second and Jason Heyward moved down to hit"
May 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann missed his third straight game Saturday with a strained right quadriceps. Braves manager Bobby Cox said the catcher was "80 to 90 percent" and was held out of the lineup again as a precaution. McCann did agility work in the outfield hours before the start of Saturday's game. "There is no sense pushing it," said McCann, who described himself as day-to-day. "It's getting better.""
May 27
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Brian McCann strained his right quadriceps muscle running the bases in the fourth inning Wednesday night and is questionable for Thursday's series finale against the Marlins. McCann tweaked the quadriceps running between first and second on Yunel Escobar's lineout to center in the fourth. McCann played for three more innings but left the game after his run-scoring single in the seventh inning, worried he might aggravate it further. "It's a six-to-seven week thing if you tear so I'm going to be careful with it," McCann said after the game. "I don't want to pull it, so I'm going to hope to go. I'm going to show up tomorrow and hope to go." Troy Glaus also left the game in the seventh inning."
May 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Not long after striking out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Mets on Monday, Braves catcher Brian McCann sounded as frustrated as anyone could ever recall during his career. The four-time All-Star catcher was 16-for-77 (.208) in his past 23 games, with just two doubles, one homer and six RBIs. For the season, he was hitting .243 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 32 games before Tuesday. He rode to the ballpark Tuesday with Mets right fielder Jeff Francoeur, the ex-Brave who roomed for several years with McCann and has known him since childhood. "I feel bad for him," Francoeur said. "He's one of my best friends. This is the first time he's really gone through"
May 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
If someone told you before the season that the trio of Brian McCann, Yunel Escobar and Chipper Jones would have a total of five homers and 29 RBIs with nearly a quarter of the season completed, you'd probably have thought the Braves would be in last place. And you'd have been right. But you'd have also thought they'd be a lost worse off than two games under .500 and 6-1/2 games out of first place in the NL East, with a better record than five other NL teams. Right? Well, that's how many long balls and ribeyes the Braves have gotten from that trio. Between them, McCann, Escobar and Jones have only one more RBI than Jason Heyward, and three fewer homers than the rookie sensation. Troy Glaus"
May 9
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
If any Braves fans saw Brian McCann doing the on-again, off-again thing with his new glasses during Saturday's game and were concerned, he said there was no reason to be. The All-Star catcher wore the glasses during batting practice and for his first plate appearance Saturday, then played the rest of the game without them. He said that was the plan, since he has problems seeing clearly out of his right eye at night, but not in day games. (He has hit .380 in 10 day games, .180 in 15 night games.) McCann wanted to wear the new glasses on a limited basis in day games Saturday and Sunday, and also just walking around during the weekend, to refamiliarize himself before wearing them full-time"