Insights From Avila Help McCann As He Takes On Role Of Starting Catcher
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
DETROIT (CBSDetroit) -- With Detroit Tigers veteran catcher Alex Avila on the disabled list with a knee injury that will probably require surgery, 24-year-old James McCann is suddenly the starter, and one reason he feels prepared for the job is the tutelage he has received from Avila.
"You never want to see anybody get hurt, especially a guy like Alex, who's been around for as long as he's been around, the rock behind the plate that he's been for the last several years, but I'm looking forward to stepping into the role," McCann said Saturday. "It started last night, but he's one heck of a leader, and he comes around and helps me out, and it's definitely a blessing to have a guy like that that has the experience and the knowledge to share it with me as I'm [in] my first time like this."
Avila, who was diagnosed with a loose body in his left knee, has caught 638 games for the Tigers over parts of seven seasons. McCann has caught 25 games for Detroit. Accordingly, Avila's familiarity with the pitchers is much stronger, and he has shared his observations with McCann.
"The knowledge that he's acquired from catching guys multiple, multiple times, whereas that's only my second time catching [Anibal] Sanchez in a game, [David] Price was only the second time last night, so he's got a lot more experience as far as working with those pitchers, and he's really good about helping with those nuances and kind of making that learning curve not as big of a learning curve," McCann said.
McCann appreciates the tips from Avila because he recognizes that getting a feel for a pitcher is a process, one that cannot be rushed.
"Catching bullpens, it doesn't really help," McCann said. "The only thing that helps is being in the fire, in a game, and going through it with them - having runners on second and third and two outs and 'What are we going to do here?' That's how you form a relationship with a pitcher, the trust between the two of you, and that only comes from being out there. I couldn't really put a timetable as far as when that comfort comes around, but the sooner the better."
Avila has been able to help McCann with the process by giving him tips on tendencies of different pitchers.
"Just little things like, 'Hey, make sure you're reminding him to control the running game, make sure that we're putting in slide steps, we're putting in pickoffs, we're mixing it up a little bit,'" McCann said, then continued listing more tidbits from Avila. "'He may fall in love with this pitch, and you see something else ... just because you're a young guy don't let him overpower you if you see something. Call time and go talk to him. If then he wants to go with that, then go with it.'
"It's just about getting that comfortableness between a pitcher and catcher," McCann added.
Avila originally stepped into a starting role, back in 2009, at just about the age McCann is now. He evidently recognizes it can be a bit intimidating for a young catcher to call the game for a venerable pitcher. The Tigers have several of those - Justin Verlander, David Price and Anibal Sanchez.
"ERA leader, Cy Young Award winners, so they're all kind of -- they know what they're doing, so it's hard to tell a guy, 'Hey, you need to throw this here,' when they've had that type of success," McCann said, "but just working with them, you form that bond and begin to trust each other, and that's kind of how it works.
"At catcher, you're the general," McCann added. "You've got to be a leader regardless of age. It doesn't matter who's on the mound; I've got to be the leader. Pitchers know that, and they respect that, but at the end of the day, it's the pitcher's call. He's got a feel for what he's throwing, and if he wants to throw something, then you've kind of got to give way."
Sanchez, whom McCann caught Saturday, had nothing but praise for McCann after the game.
"I don't have any complaint about him," Sanchez said. "I don't feel any kind of difference ... the communication we had today was amazing.
"He's working like veteran guys out there," Sanchez added. "He understands. He's got enough preparation for doing a really good job."
While McCann does not have the experience of Avila, he would be a major offensive upgrade if he continues to hit the way he has through 16 games. Avila's batting average through 22 games this season is .200. McCann's average is .313.