When the Astros put the potential go-ahead run on base in the ninth inning last night, they brought Jake Marisnick off the bench to pinch run. Since the end of June, Marisnick had been successful in six of seven stole base attempts. On the sixth pitch of the ensuing at-bat, he took off.
The pitch was a slider for a strikeout, and McCann’s throw was on the money for a caught stealing to get the Yankees out of trouble.
“It’s good to put the ball on the bag there,” McCann said.
Of the past eight runners who have tried to steal on McCann, six have been thrown out. Of the 55 who have tried to steal on him all season, McCann’s caught 22, a 40-percent caught stealing rate, which would be the highest of his career. Last year McCann threw out 37 percent, which was the first time he’d ever caught more than 30 percent of base stealers.
Granted, throwing out base stealers often has as much to do with the pitcher as the catcher, but McCann’s individual numbers stand out, and he said he knows he’s gotten better at it. McCann credits Yankees’ bullpen coach Gary Tuck, who’s known as something of a catching guru. Tuck works closely with everyone behind the plate beginning in spring training.
“Gary Tuck and me, we work every single day on it,” McCann said. “I’ve gotten better as the season’s gone on. … He’s got me (so that) I’m getting the ball out quick, no wasted movement. He’s changed the way I catch, the way I catch and throw. We work on it every day.”
Associated Press photo
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