By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 7/8/2014 8:36 P.M. ET
CLEVELAND -- Brian McCann's first few months in a Yankees uniform have not lived up to his expectations, but the veteran catcher disagrees with the idea that he might just not be cut out to play in New York.
McCann awoke on Tuesday to a few text messages alerting him to a story in the New York Post, where Braves coach Terry Pendleton was quoted as saying that he thinks McCann "will never be comfortable" with the Yankees.
"I read the article. I disagree," McCann said. "I absolutely love it here. I've got off to a slow start, but I absolutely love it here."
Pendleton told the newspaper that he believed that McCann would wind up with either the Yankees or the Rangers this offseason. McCann jumped at the Yankees' offer early in the winter, inking a five-year, $85 million pact.
"New York is not Brian," said Pendleton, who said he thought McCann would be more comfortable in Texas. "That's my opinion. I knew if he chose New York, there would be more than he expected or knew about. He'll never be comfortable with that."
Despite his Georgia roots, McCann said that adjusting to life with the Yankees has not been difficult.
"I really haven't noticed a big difference," McCann said. "It's still baseball. It's still you put a uniform on, you go out and put your best foot forward. That's what I'm doing.
"It just hasn't gone quite like I wish it would, but at the same time, we've got a whole half of baseball left. We're in a pennant race and those are the things that I'm focused on."
Pendleton said that he believes McCann's contract has been "hanging over his head," with his $17 million average annual salary ranking as the largest issued to a free-agent catcher.
"Not at all," McCann replied. "Not one bit."
Pendleton also said that McCann has become a pull hitter over the last three or so years, but believes that he will be able to relax and get back to what he is capable of doing. McCann recently changed his batting stance, eliminating a toe-tap.
"If I'm sitting here hitting .300, this isn't a story," McCann said. "But I'm not, and at the same time, I feel like I've gotten some mechanical things ironed out. I'm back to attacking the baseball, and the last four or five games I've felt like myself."
McCann said that he last spoke to Pendleton during Spring Training, and that he had not decided if he would call the former big league infielder to talk about the story.
"The only part of the article [that bothered me was] that I'm not a New York guy, that's the only part that I didn't like," McCann said. "I absolutely love it here and it's been great so far."
Beltran's knee improving, but still out of lineup
CLEVELAND -- Carlos Beltran said that the swelling behind his right knee has improved, but the Yankees switch-hitter remained out of the lineup for a second straight game on Tuesday against the Indians.
Beltran said that he could be available to pinch-hit, and that the Yankees were looking at Tuesday as a "safety day" before getting him back on the field. Beltran has been limited to duty as a designated hitter since hyperextending his elbow in April.
"I woke up feeling better," Beltran said. "I'm going to go hit BP and do everything today, just to go through the whole program. But I feel a lot better. Just being able to wake up feeling better, I feel good."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that he hopes to have Beltran in the lineup on Wednesday.
Termine selected as Yankees' All-Star Teacher
CLEVELAND -- William Termine, a lifelong Yankees fan who teaches at PS/IS 87Q in Middle Village, N.Y., has been selected as the team's representative among the 30 winners of the "All-Star Teachers" program. He will be recognized in a ceremony before the July 15 All-Star Game at Target Field.
The selections were announced on Tuesday by Major League Baseball, Target and PEOPLE Magazine. Termine has been a member of the New York City Board of Education for 18 years, working as a paraprofessional, classroom teacher, health teacher, physical-education teacher and part-time dean.
Pursuing his passion for fitness, in 2005, Termine introduced a program called CHAMPS (Cooperative Healthy Motivated Positive Students) where he acted as coach, supervisor and facilitator. He has helped children lose weight, create fitness goals and make healthier choices.
Fans nationwide cast their votes at AllStarTeachers.com to select 30 winners from a pool of 90 finalists.
Bombers bits
• Shane Greene celebrated his first big league victory on Monday, hurling six innings of two-run ball in a 5-3 win over the Indians, and it earned him another start. Greene is scheduled to pitch on Saturday against the Orioles in Baltimore, with Chase Whitley moved to bullpen duty.
"It's a combination of everything. He did a really good job last night," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Giving Whit a little break will help him and maybe re-energize him as well."
• Greene earned his first Major League win on the same night as Dellin Betances recorded his first Major League save. That marked the third time that has happened involving Yankees pitchers, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Al Closter and Fritz Peterson did it in 1971, and Vidal Nuno and Adam Warren did it earlier this season.
• On this date in 2000, the Yankees played the first two-stadium, split-admission doubleheader in nearly 100 years, with the Yankees sweeping both games from the Mets by scores of 4-2. Dwight Gooden defeated his former club in the day game at Shea Stadium, and Roger Clemens hit Mike Piazza in the helmet during the memorable nightcap in the Bronx.
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
McCann believes he's cut out to play in New York
Dengan url
http://nokiaponselpintar.blogspot.com/2014/07/mccann-believes-hes-cut-out-to-play-in.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
McCann believes he's cut out to play in New York
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
McCann believes he's cut out to play in New York
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar