Boring day, saw this on ESPN.com

[gtcway]

Being home sick and not much happening, I ended up on espn.com checking mlb news. They have a top 10 at each position. Looking at the catcher position, they have McCann ranked 3rd, a jump up from 7th last year.
I guess, being a Braves fan for 20+ years I should be used to espn's Yankee bias, but it got me thinking. What has McCann done over the last year, other than signing with the Yankees, to jump from being the 7th best catcher to the 3rd best?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/page/...chers-mlb-2014

[cajunrevenge]

He is going to go into the hof as a yankee. He is virtually guaranteed to start the next 6 all star games.

[CyYoung31]

He is going to hit 30+ home runs in that park.

[yeezus]

Maybe because he wasn't healthy to start last year.

[AUTiger7222]

Maybe because he wasn't healthy to start last year.

Was he healthy when he completely disappeared the 2nd half of the season? McCann had 2 good months last year (May and June) and did absolutely nothing the rest of the season. McCann hasn't been the McCann we all know and love (or used to love in most people's case) since 2010.

[thewupk]

Look at the list they have and try to take someone over him. Mauer isn't catching anymore.

[thewupk]

He is going to go into the hof as a yankee. He is virtually guaranteed to start the next 6 all star games.

Yeah. Especially with no Posey and molina to contend with

[AUTiger7222]

Looking at the list I would have put Jason Castro on there over Yan Gomes.

[AUTiger7222]

The list for right fielders has Yasiel Puig 3rd. SMDH!

[Carp]

I think that list has more to do with the lack of overall top talent at the catcher position. Mauer is a 1b now. And Molina and Posey are the only definite better catchers than Mac. Let's not forget that Mac still had a very good overall season. Are you really going to say that Wieters, Santana, or Pérez are better than Mac? I certainly don't think so.

[TURBO]

I think that list has more to do with the lack of overall top talent at the catcher position. Mauer is a 1b now. And Molina and Posey are the only definite better catchers than Mac. Let's not forget that Mac still had a very good overall season. Are you really going to say that Wieters, Santana, or Pérez are better than Mac? I certainly don't think so.

The question is why was he 7th last year. No one is saying he isn't one of the best, just why is he just now being put up near the top by ESPN.

[AUTiger7222]

The question is why was he 7th last year. No one is saying he isn't one of the best, just why is he just now being put up near the top by ESPN.

Especially since he had one of the not so better seasons of his career.

[Carp]

The question is why was he 7th last year. No one is saying he isn't one of the best, just why is he just now being put up near the top by ESPN.

He was lower before last season b/c he was coming the worst yr of his career.

[TURBO]

He was lower before last season b/c he was coming the worst yr of his career.

Not like he tore it up last year.

[Carp]

Not like he tore it up last year.

He was very good last yr actually. And besides that what other player below him on the list was better than Mac in 2013? May be Santana, but he's a part time DH/1b with huge injury concerns. And not sure if you should honestly count him as a catcher since he's slotted in at 3b and 1b rather than catcher this yr.

[thewupk]

Not like he tore it up last year.

Still put up a wrc+ of 122 and hit 20 homers. Which is what he's essentially done from 2009-2011. 2012 was the worst year of his career and he was hurt. So there was a reason to rank him lower. 2013 showed he was back to being who he was before which is one of the best catchers in the game.

[thewupk]

Was he healthy when he completely disappeared the 2nd half of the season? McCann had 2 good months last year (May and June) and did absolutely nothing the rest of the season. McCann hasn't been the McCann we all know and love (or used to love in most people's case) since 2010.

He was a plus hitter in May, June, and July. WRC+ of 153, 109, and 181 in those months. Overall his wrc+ was 122. Which is essentially what he's done since 2009.

2009: 119
2010: 123
2011: 122
2012: 87
2013: 122

2012 was an obvious fluke. Power was done and a huge drop in BABIP. Was injured most of the year too. I know a lot of people are under the assumption that Mac is in decline. And maybe so if you still think he is the hitter from 2006 and 2008. But his recent history shows a steady performer who is going to post you a WRC+ of 120. And several people are of the belief that will actually increase due to the benefit of him hitting in Yankee Stadium which is like Coors for lefties.

[AUTiger7222]

He was a plus hitter in May, June, and July. WRC+ of 153, 109, and 181 in those months. Overall his wrc+ was 122. Which is essentially what he's done since 2009.

2009: 119
2010: 123
2011: 122
2012: 87
2013: 122

2012 was an obvious fluke. Power was done and a huge drop in BABIP. Was injured most of the year too. I know a lot of people are under the assumption that Mac is in decline. And maybe so if you still think he is the hitter from 2006 and 2008. But his recent history shows a steady performer who is going to post you a WRC+ of 120. And several people are of the belief that will actually increase due to the benefit of him hitting in Yankee Stadium which is like Coors for lefties.

Ok, so he was great in July too. But did absolutely nothing in August and September and then came his 0-for-13 performance against the Dodgers. When's the last time McCann made it through a full season without a 2nd half drop off? Probably 2008.

[GovClintonTyree]

I think he is on the edge, staring into the abyss. He hasn't taken good care of himself and he's about to enter a precipitous decline. The only things he has going for him are the short porch and the DH. It's a very good thing we didn't resign him. 5 years of injuries forthcoming. Just more stupid Yankee spending.

[Carp]

Ok, so he was great in July too. But did absolutely nothing in August and September and then came his 0-for-13 performance against the Dodgers. When's the last time McCann made it through a full season without a 2nd half drop off? Probably 2008.

It's not all that uncommon to see a catcher's production fall off a in the 2nd half of a season. It's a very physically demanding position.