It was hard to tell which was moving faster on Saturday night, the home run Brian McCann hit out of the ballpark at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, or the All-Star’s car as he left the parking lot.
McCann completed a two-game rehab stint in style at AAA Gwinnett and returned to Turner Field Sunday after going on the disabled list for a strained oblique muscle in late July. His solo shot proved to be the winning run in the G-Braves’ 4-2 victory over the Pawtucket Red Sox. McCann left the game after the fifth inning and quickly pronounced himself ready to play in Atlanta on Sunday.
As the G-Braves were wrapping up their 67th win versus 54 losses, the catcher was getting ice and looking forward to helping the Atlanta team in the playoff rac., “I’m good enough to get in there and play, I feel good.” McCann didn’t stop there, saying “I’m definitely going to play tomorrow.”
McCann added that he felt no soreness and was not, “Worried about my swinging [the bat]. Yesterday and today, I felt good.” For the two games McCann was 2-for-6 with the homerun. Two runners stole bases on pitcher Todd Redmond and but that didn’t bother the six-time major league All-Star.
His (temporary) manager, Dave Brundage, thought that McCann threw fine and if anything was holding back psychologically on the throws to second base.
“When you hurt yourself, it’s human nature to sit and think about,” said Brundage. “I think he was anxious and thinking ‘This is how I hurt myself, this is a minor league game.’ and he doesn’t want to get himself hurt after all he’s done to get back.”
McCann also took time to reflect on the off-the-field news buzzing at Turner Field over the weekend. He was disappointed that he was busy rehabbing in Gwinnett and missed the ceremony when the number of his beloved former manager – the skipper who introduced him to the big leagues – Bobby Cox was retired.
“It was tough. If there was one night I wanted to be there [at Turner Field], it was last night. But, things happen, and I gotta get this thing [oblique] right for the stretch run.”
McCann also commented on the passing of legendary Braves announcer and former player Ernie Johnson Sr. “Awesome, awesome human being,” said McCann. “Obviously as a player and an announcer he’s as good as they come and as a person as well.”
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