As I was watching the Cubs v. Pirates Wild Card game last night, just wishing the Yankees had played with 1/100th of the heart both of those teams played with last night, I posed this question:
Would the #Yankees be better off with Cervelli as a full time catcher and never having signed McCann?
— Andrew (@Yankees_talk) October 8, 2015
It may seem stupid on the surface, especially considering the production the Yankees got out of McCann this season: 26 home runs, 94 RBIs (both career highs). I think that’s why I had a fair share of the replies defending McCann:
@Yankees_talk I’m going to say no i like and respect Cervelli but Mccann a better hitter and better behind the plate .
— Craig Huber (@peanuthuber) October 8, 2015
Its closer than you’d think. Yes, McCann’s numbers pop more. As I said, 26 HRs and 94 RBIs is no joke, and coming from a catcher is serious production. But Cervelli’s OPS was actually 15 points higher than Mac’s. Cervelli also had the edge in offensive WAR, if you care about that kind of thing (3.1 to 2.7). If we’re talking about defense then the numbers this season do back-up McCann; he caught 36% of base stealers and Cervelli only caught 22%. That is a considerable difference. I’m not quite sure how to quantify who “calls a better game,” but the Pirates ERA was lower with Cervelli behind the plate than the Yankees was with McCann catching.
Another thing to think about is McCann’s drastic decline in the second half, when he hit 59 points lower than his first half average. Cervelli hit .296 in the second half for the Pirates, 2 points higher than he did in the first. He did not fade down the stretch, unlike McCann. But what do you expect from a 31 year old catcher with a ton of miles on him? Cervelli is younger, more athletic, and thus less likely to be tired when you need him most — September and October.Â
Others defending McCann: Â
@Yankees_talk Stupid question IMO…absolutely not — Perdomo (@AntP_FS) October 8, 2015
@Yankees_talk that remains to be seen. Cervy has always impressed but couldn’t stay on field. We’ll see…
— David Honeywell (@davelacity) October 8, 2015
Valid point. Games played is the most underrated stat in sports, just ask Mark Teixeira about that. McCann has been durable for the Yanks, while it seemed like every time Cervelli had a chance to play he would get hurt. But this season he was on the field just as much as McCann. Â
@Yankees_talk if he had not suffered one freak injury after another bet they’d have kept him. Did you read his piece for Players Tribune? — mike f (@YanktheMike) October 8, 2015
I think you’re giving Cashman too much credit. I don’t think the Yankees were ever going to give Cervelli the keys to the catcher position. That is not their M.O. Instead, they sign declining veterans to large contracts to fill gaps, even if there wasn’t one (see Jacoby Ellsbury).
@Yankees_talk #Cervelli is what’s needed on this #Yankees team. They have no heart, no passion, no leadership. Cervelli over McCann? Yes!
— ⚾️ Rod Ragazzo ⚾️ (@RocketRod777) October 8, 2015
Cervelli does bring the passion. I can’t even fathom the fact Sean Rodriguez and Francisco Cervelli are on the same team. I’m surprised PNC Park has not blow up with the amount of hot air in that clubhouse. McCann does bring the passion too, however, even if it is in the form of PC Principal. By the way Sean, this is how its done…
Â
Keep Cervelli and don’t sign Ellsbury and McCann and guess whose contract that would equal? Rhymes with “Ya know.” https://t.co/0lw5612zYG — Neil Keefe (@NeilKeefe) October 8, 2015
Now you’re speaking my language. As I highlighted above, the numbers between Cervelli and McCann are close. But that is not where the real difference lies. The Yankees signed Brian McCann for 5 years and $85M. Francisco Cervelli made $987K this season, and won’t hit arbitration until next year. The built-in excuse for giving McCann 5 years was that he could play first base when Teixeira was gone, but most Yankees fans are trying to figure out how Cashman can trade Tex to make room for Greg Bird at first base next year. How exactly does McCann fit into the long term plans of the Yankees? Cervelli would have allowed the team flexibility to bring up young players like Gary Sanchez, who just yesterday Brian Cashman said is shooting up through the organization. You think if Sanchez keeps progressing they will play him over McCann? Keep dreaming.
And as for the Ellsbury and McCann contracts instead of Robinson Cano? Ding-ding-ding! We have a winner! The Yankees “did not want to extend themselves” for Cano, but then turned around and gave Ellsbury 7 years and McCann 5. No, its not 10 years like Cano got but I would argue that both will go down as worse contracts than if they gave Cano 10. Not to mention the team could have signed all three because they are the NEW YORK YANKEES and money does in fact grow on trees.
I’m not saying Brian McCann is a bad player, but I am saying the Yankees organization would be in a better spot on October 8, 2015 with Cervelli behind the plate instead of McCann.
