Should James McCann Remain The Tigers' Starting Catcher With Avila Coming Back?
By: Mike Sullivan
@mikesullivan
It's a no-brainer, James McCann needs to be the Tigers everyday catcher.
He's proven both offensively and defensively that he's better than Alex Avila in my opinion. However, manager Brad Ausmus said on Saturday that the catcher roles will resume to normal once Avila returns from his injury.
Ausmus said that McCann has done a "nice job," but he went on to explain that everything will probably return to the "way it was" once Alex is back.
Why?
Avila is hitting .200 in 22 games this season, he batted .218 in 2014, and .227 in 2013.
In 50 games this season, McCann is batting .254 and hitting .308 against left handed pitching. Oh, and not to mention he has 2 walk-off home runs and another inside the park home run. He's come up big in clutch situations and is noticeably quicker around the base path than Avila.
But here's where it get's interesting...
McCann's caught stealing percentage (.500) ranks first in not just the AL, but in the entire MLB.
His fielding percentage of 1.000 ranks first in the entire MLB. He also has zero errors, 1 passed ball, and has only allowed 12 stolen bases. All of which, again, rank first in the entire MLB.
After looking at the stats of the 50 game sample size we've seen from him so far, I'd be more than comfortable if the Tigers named James McCann their everyday catcher.
Why it's "a given" that Avila will come back and assume his role of the everyday catcher is beyond me.
James McCann deserves to be starting behind the plate for the Detroit Tigers on an everyday basis.
