{"id":19732,"date":"2024-12-21T08:31:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-21T08:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=19732"},"modified":"2024-12-21T08:31:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-21T08:31:00","slug":"jaws-and-the-2025-hall-of-fame-ballot-brian-mccann","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=19732","title":{"rendered":"JAWS and the 2025 Hall of Fame Ballot: Brian McCann"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"JAWS
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The following article is part of Jay Jaffe\u2019s ongoing look at the candidates on the BBWAA 2025 Hall of Fame ballot. For a detailed introduction to this year\u2019s ballot, and other candidates in the series, use the tool above; an introduction to JAWS can be found here. For a tentative schedule, and a chance to fill out a Hall of Fame ballot for our crowdsourcing project, see here. All WAR figures refer to the Baseball Reference version unless otherwise indicated.<\/em><\/p>\n

With a foundation that centered upon the Hall of Fame triumvirate of Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz, the Braves dominated the NL West and then the NL East, reaching the postseason every year from 1991\u20132005 save for the \u201994 strike season. Nothing lasts forever, though, and as Glavine and then Maddux departed in free agency, the team inevitably had to retool. Among the centerpieces of the next wave of Braves stars was one practically grown in their own backyard, Brian McCann.<\/p>\n

A lefty-swinging backstop with rich baseball bloodlines, a strong arm, and a powerful bat, McCann was just 21 years old when he debuted with the Braves in June 2005. Over his first eight full seasons, he made seven All-Star teams and helped Atlanta to three postseason appearances, though the team\u2019s success wasn\u2019t nearly on par with the preceding dynasty. While McCann\u2019s footwork and pitch framing wasn\u2019t initially as polished as that of Russell Martin (who debuted with the Dodgers as a 23-year-old in 2006), he too developed into one of the game\u2019s elite framers, that while providing stronger offense than his West Coast counterpart. Along the way, he also developed a somewhat dubious reputation as an enforcer of the unwritten rules, thanks to high-profile incidents involving Jos\u00e9 Fern\u00e1ndez and Carlos G\u00f3mez in September 2013, though both players smoothed things over with McCann. <\/span><\/p>\n

In December 2013, Martin left the Braves to sign the largest free agent contract ever given to a catcher at that point, a five-year, $85 million deal with the Yankees. The move didn\u2019t have quite the impact of Martin\u2019s jumps to Pittsburgh and then Toronto (where he netted a contract just shy of McCann\u2019s), but McCann remained productive and popular. In November 2016, he was traded to the Astros, whose director of research and development, Mike Fast, had published \u201cRemoving the Mask,\u201d the landmark 2011 Baseball Prospectus<\/em> article that built on previous research to quantify the value of pitch framing and in so doing, revolutionized the industry. McCann became the starting backstop on a team that won the World Series in 2017, though that championship was tainted by subsequent revelations regarding the team\u2019s illegal electronic sign stealing. McCann played two more seasons, one in Houston and one in Atlanta, before calling it a career.<\/p>\n

With the exception of Baseball Prospectus\u2019<\/em> WARP (the original basis for JAWS), none of the major value metrics incorporated pitch framing into their calculations until FanGraphs introduced its own methodology in the spring of 2019. That update retroactively added framing to fWAR going back to 2008. While Sports Info Solutions\u2019 Defensive Runs Saved does track what it calls \u201cstrike zone runs\u201d (RszC), Baseball Reference does not include them in its WAR calculations. Since framing has been shown to be so impactful \u2014 with much wider spreads from top to bottom than blocking or throwing out baserunners \u2014 I believe we\u2019re doing 21st-century candidates a disservice if we fail to incorporate this crucial area into our analysis. Thus, for this profile and that of fellow first-year candidate Russell Martin, I\u2019ve used a FanGraphs-based version of WAR, one that incorporates BP<\/em>\u2019s framing metric (BP Fram) for the years before 2008, as the main value metric, and frJAWS as the Hall fitness metric. As with Martin, this makes a significant difference in understanding McCann\u2019s career, and likewise those of his framing peers:<\/p>\n

\n

Brian McCann Values, With and Without Pitch Framing<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Season<\/th>\nDRS<\/th>\nbWAR<\/th>\n<\/th>\nBP FrmR<\/th>\nWARP<\/th>\n<\/th>\nFRM<\/th>\nfWAR<\/th>\n<\/th>\nStatcast<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
2005<\/td>\n-2<\/td>\n0.3<\/td>\n-2.2<\/td>\n0.7<\/td>\n<\/td>\n0.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2006<\/td>\n-1<\/td>\n4.3<\/td>\n-17.4<\/td>\n1.8<\/td>\n<\/td>\n4.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2007<\/td>\n-5<\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\n4.0<\/td>\n3.1<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2008<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n5.5<\/td>\n23.1<\/td>\n7.5<\/td>\n34.5<\/td>\n8.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2009<\/td>\n-5<\/td>\n3.2<\/td>\n29.4<\/td>\n6.3<\/td>\n25.2<\/td>\n6.0<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2010<\/td>\n-1<\/td>\n3.6<\/td>\n22.8<\/td>\n6.0<\/td>\n17.6<\/td>\n6.0<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2011<\/td>\n-4<\/td>\n2.6<\/td>\n31.2<\/td>\n7.2<\/td>\n29.7<\/td>\n6.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2012<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n1.1<\/td>\n26.7<\/td>\n5.0<\/td>\n26.2<\/td>\n3.9<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2.8<\/td>\n12.9<\/td>\n4.2<\/td>\n7.2<\/td>\n3.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2014<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n2.1<\/td>\n7.7<\/td>\n3.0<\/td>\n12.2<\/td>\n3.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2015<\/td>\n1<\/td>\n2.8<\/td>\n-4.2<\/td>\n2.3<\/td>\n-1.2<\/td>\n2.8<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2016<\/td>\n-8<\/td>\n0.8<\/td>\n8.3<\/td>\n2.3<\/td>\n3.9<\/td>\n2.1<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2017<\/td>\n-14<\/td>\n0.8<\/td>\n1.1<\/td>\n1.9<\/td>\n9.7<\/td>\n2.5<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\n-2.9<\/td>\n0.4<\/td>\n-3.0<\/td>\n0.3<\/td>\n-2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2019<\/td>\n-2<\/td>\n0.2<\/td>\n4.6<\/td>\n1.8<\/td>\n3.5<\/td>\n0.9<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Totals<\/td>\n-22<\/td>\n32.1<\/td>\n<\/td>\n145.1<\/td>\n53.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n165.5<\/td>\n52.1<\/td>\n<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

DRS = Defensive Runs Saved (does not include pitch framing). BP FrmR = Baseball Prospectus<\/em> Framing Runs. Statcast = Statcast Framing Runs. Bold = values include pitch framing. Yellow = ranked among top 10 in league.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Heading into the final year of their careers, the contemporary data showed McCann and Martin to be nearly inseparable, value-wise. Subsequent tweaks to WAR in terms of framing, blocking, and throwing have created a bit more daylight between the two, with McCann now behind a whole cluster of recent catchers in frJAWS. While I\u2019m planning to include Martin on my ballot, I\u2019m a bit less certain about McCann, but the reality that both may struggle to attain the 5% necessary to retain eligibility has entered into my thinking as well.<\/p>\n

\n

2025 BBWAA Candidate: Brian McCann<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player<\/th>\nCareer WAR<\/th>\nPeak WAR<\/th>\nJAWS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Brian McCann (via Baseball Reference)<\/td>\n32.0<\/td>\n24.6<\/td>\n28.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brian McCann (via FanGraphs*)<\/td>\n50.6<\/td>\n37.2<\/td>\n43.9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Avg. HOF C<\/td>\n53.6<\/td>\n34.9<\/td>\n44.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
H<\/td>\nHR<\/td>\nAVG\/OBP\/SLG<\/td>\nOPS+<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1,590<\/td>\n282<\/td>\n.262\/.337\/.452<\/td>\n110<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

* includes pitch-framing data from FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Brian Michael McCann was born on February 20, 1984 in Athens, Georgia to parents Howard and Sherry McCann. Sherry was a registered nurse at Athens Regional Hospital, while Howard (b. 1956) was a former Twins eighth-round draft pick (1974) who instead chose to play at Gulf Coast Community College, Mississippi State University (where he was friends with teammate Buck Showalter), and with the Austin Sunbursts of the New York-Penn League (1978).<\/p>\n

At the time Brian was born, Howard was an assistant coach at the University of Georgia. After helping to recruit a team that won the 1990 College World Series, Howard moved the family to West Virginia and took over as the head coach at Marshall University. Upon his firing in 1995, the family moved to Duluth, Georgia, where Howard opened Windward Baseball Academy. Older son Brad McCann (b. 1982) was drafted by the Marlins in the sixth round out of Clemson in 2004 and played four seasons in the minors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were always at the field,\u201d Brian told the New York Times\u2019<\/em> Tyler Kepner in 2011. \u201cMy childhood memories, a big portion of those are watching my dad coach. I just loved to be around the game. I loved everything about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though both of his sons pursued baseball, and though he was tireless when it came to helping them, Howard was not overbearing. \u201cHe never made us do anything. He never made us go out and take batting practice; he never made us go take ground balls. Dad did such a great job with letting us figure it out,\u201d Brian told ESPN\u2019s Chris Smith in 2007. Duluth High School coach Bobby Link told Smith that during Brian\u2019s games, Howard stayed out of the way, sitting on a stump behind the center field fence.<\/p>\n

Before high school, Brian mainly played second base and idolized Tony Gwynn, but he also caught as early as age eight. Via the Newark Star-Ledger<\/em>\u2019s Andy McCullough in 2013:<\/p>\n

Howie had studied his son on the soccer field, and noted the contrast between his minimal foot speed and his prowess as a goalie. \u201cHe just took to catching like a fish to water,\u201d Howie said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Considered one of the top catchers ahead of the 2002 draft, Brian was chosen by the Braves in the second round; another Gwinnett County high schooler, Jeff Francoeur, was the team\u2019s first-round pick. Though McCann had committed to play for the University of Alabama, he bypassed a scholarship to sign for a $750,000 bonus and began his pro career with the Braves\u2019 Gulf Coast League affiliate, hitting .220\/.295\/.330. Though Baseball America<\/em> ranked him as the league\u2019s 20th-best prospect, the publication noted that he \u201creported out of shape and didn\u2019t particularly distinguish himself either at the plate or behind it.\u201d While lauding his offensive potential, BA<\/em> was skeptical of his ability to stick behind the plate.<\/p>\n

McCann improved greatly in 2003, hitting .290\/.329\/.462 with 12 homers for A-level Rome and throwing out 38% of base stealers. While praising his power potential, his arm, and his game-calling ability, BA<\/em> expressed concern about the 6-foot-3, 210-pound McCann\u2019s thick lower half and mobility behind the plate. That same year, the team drafted Jarrod Saltalamacchia as a supplemental first-round pick out of Royal Palm Beach Community College; he would follow McCann up the organizational ladder, a potential challenger for the starting catcher job.<\/p>\n

Following McCann\u2019s strong 2004 season at High-A Myrtle Beach (.278\/.337\/.494, 16 HR), BA<\/em> placed him 44th on its Top 100 Prospects list in the spring of \u201905, praising his sweet left-handed swing, raw power, and disciplined approach. While noting he was named the Carolina League\u2019s best defensive catcher, the publication added that he was still in need of improvements to his footwork and agility.<\/p>\n

McCann began the 2005 season at Double-A Mississippi and played well. When Braves starting catcher Johnny Estrada and backup Brayan Pe\u00f1a both suffered minor injuries, the Braves called up the 21-year-old McCann despite his lack of upper-level experience. He debuted on June 10, 2005 against the A\u2019s, lining an RBI single off Dan Haren (who intentionally walked him with a man on second in his next plate appearance) and adding a single off Huston Street in the ninth in what was nonetheless a 6-4 loss. A day later, he hit his first homer, off Oakland\u2019s Justin Duchscherer.<\/p>\n

McCann made such an impression on Smoltz that he quickly became his personal catcher; by late July, he was the regular and Estrada the backup. McCann hit .278\/.345\/.400 (95 OPS+) with five homers in 59 games; the Braves, who were just 31-28 when he debuted, finished with 90 wins and the final NL East title of the Bobby Cox era. In Game 2 of the Division Series against the Astros, McCann clubbed a three-run homer off Roger Clemens, keying a 7-1 win. He added a solo homer off Wandy Rodriguez in the eighth inning of Game 4, giving the Braves a 6-1 lead, but they squandered it, lost an epic 18-inning game, and were eliminated.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, McCann\u2019s first full season in the majors (2006) turned out to be his best one offensively. He hit a sizzling .333\/.388\/.572 (143 OPS+) with 24 homers, and while he fell 10 plate appearances short of officially qualifying for the batting title, he finished sixth in the NL by the \u201cphantom at-bat\u201d rule (determined in this case by where he would rank by going 0-for-10), and 10th in slugging percentage. This would be the only time he cracked his league\u2019s top 10 in any slash-stat category. Additionally, he made his first of six consecutive All-Star teams. Where McCann was less successful was at pitch framing; by Baseball Prospectus\u2019<\/em> retroactive estimate, he was 17.4 runs below average, the second-worst mark of any catcher and about 40 runs worse than Martin, who debuted with the Dodgers on May 5. Also disappointing was the Braves\u2019 79-83 finish, their first losing season since 1990, and their first of four straight outside the playoff picture.<\/p>\n

McCann received a whole lot of security in 2007. In March, he signed a six-year, $26.8 million extension through 2012, with a club option for \u201913. At the July 31 trade deadline, the team dealt Saltalamacchia \u2014 a two-time Top 100 prospect at that point \u2014 to the Rangers in a seven-player blockbuster that also sent Elvis Andrus, Neftal\u00ed Feliz and Matt Harrison to Texas and brought back Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay. McCann\u2019s framing improved markedly that season (4.0 runs, per BP<\/em>), but he was less selective at the plate and slipped to a .270\/.320\/.452 line (99 OPS+). His work on offense and defense came together in 2008, as he hit a robust .301\/.373\/.523 (135 OPS+), led the majors in framing (34.5 runs, via FanGraphs\u2019 methodology), and ranked second in the NL with 8.3 fWAR. The Braves, however, finished 72-90.<\/p>\n

While McCann didn\u2019t maintain that level, he was remarkably consistent over the next three seasons (2009\u201311), hitting a combined .274\/.358\/.468 (122 OPS+) while averaging 22 homers and 6.2 fWAR, with individual seasons that ranked fifth (6.0), sixth (6.0) and third (6.5) in the NL. The most eventful of those seasons was 2010, Cox\u2019s final season as manager. McCann was chosen as a reserve for the All-Star Game (his lone start was a year away), and came off the bench to pinch-hit for Yadier Molina in the fifth inning. He flew out against Justin Verlander, but when he came up in the eighth with two outs, the bases loaded, and the NL trailing 1-0, he hit a three-run double off Matt Thornton. That was all the scoring the Senior Circuit needed, and McCann was voted the game\u2019s MVP.<\/p>\n

The 2010 Braves won 91 games and claimed the Wild Card spot. In the Division Series against the Giants, McCann went 6-for-14. He doubled off Tim Lincecum in the seventh inning of Game 1, one of just two hits the Braves collected as they were shut out while striking out 14 times. He hit an RBI single off Matt Cain in the sixth inning of Game 2, sparking a comeback from a 4-0 deficit; they won 5-4 in 11 innings. Facing Madison Bumgarner in Game 4, he plated the game\u2019s first run with a third-inning sacrifice fly, then led off the sixth with a solo homer that gave the Braves a 2-1 lead, but they lost 3-2 and were eliminated. As for the 2011 Braves, with Fredi Gonzalez replacing Cox, the team squandered a Wild Card berth by losing their final five games.<\/p>\n

Though he still hit 20 homers and was worth 3.6 fWAR thanks to his framing, McCann slipped to an 87 OPS+ in 2012 while playing through soreness in his right shoulders and tendinitis in his right knee. The Braves won 94 games and secured a Wild Card berth but lost the first-ever Wild Card Game to the Cardinals, 6-3. With McCann having slumped in September amid his physical woes, David Ross started and went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer off Kyle Lohse; McCann walked in a pinch-hitting appearance. In mid-October, he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The Braves soon picked up the going-on-29-year-old McCann\u2019s $12 million option for 2013, and while they initially expected him to be ready for Opening Day, he didn\u2019t debut until May 6. In 102 games \u2014 his lowest full-season total during the 2007\u201316 span \u2014 he rebounded to hit .256\/336\/.461 (112 OPS+), and made his final All-Star team, but with the industry catching on to framing, his work in that area was only 12.9 runs above average.<\/p>\n

September 2013 found McCann involved in two polarizing, high-profile incidents that led to brawls. On September 11, he confronted the 21-year-old Fern\u00e1ndez after the Marlins ace had admired his first major league homer \u2014 tame stuff by today\u2019s standards \u2014 touching off a bench-clearing melee. Two weeks later, McCann blocked home plate as G\u00f3mez finished his home run trot, having admired his home run for for what McCann thought was too long as well; benches emptied and haymakers were thrown before the Brewers center fielder could even cross the plate. Both home run reactions were in response to previous incidents (Fern\u00e1ndez felt that Evan Gattis had shown him up after homering earlier in the game, while G\u00f3mez felt he had been previously hit intentionally by pitcher Paul Maholm).<\/p>\n