McCann appreciates faith in catcher duo
Had the Mets shifted priorities, they might have welcomed Willson Contreras or Francisco Alvarez to the lineup as their newest catcher this week.
Instead, James McCann was activated off the injured list Thursday and caught a major league game for the first time in nearly four weeks.
In endorsing their strong defensive duo of McCann and Tomas Nido, the Mets opted against catchers with higher offensive upsides. Contreras is still with the Cubs, and Mets general manager Billy Eppler signaled Tuesday that the 20year-old Alvarez, who is at Triple-A Syracuse, may not be an option for this season.
The Mets entered Thursday with the fifth-best ERA in baseball, and the club believes the contributions it is receiving from its catchers is a significant factor toward maximizing the staff.
“The faith that [the front office] put in us means a lot,” said McCann before he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the Mets’ 6-4 win over the Braves at Citi Field. “But their expectations for me are never going to be as high as my expectations for me. I know what I can contribute to this team both offensively and defensively.
“There’s a lot that goes into a winning ballclub, and I feel like I can contribute.”
McCann has not gotten going with his bat, posting just a .524 OPS in 31 games during an injury-plagued season. He suffered an oblique strain July 9, his second significant injury this season. McCann missed more than six weeks earlier after surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left wrist.
Manager Buck Showalter said he thought McCann was beginning to find himself at the plate before the oblique injury. Even if he does not bounce back, the Mets are demonstrating that McCann’s and Nido’s defensive acumen — especially with a pitching staff that is difficult to catch — is heavily valued.
➤ Dominic Smith is starting a rehab assignment that does not have a clear ending.
He has not played since spraining his right ankle July 16, and in his time away, Smith has been replaced by lefty sluggers Daniel Vogelbach (at designated hitter) and Tyler Naquin (in left field).
Smith went 0-for-1 with two walks while playing five innings Thursday night for Triple-A Syracuse at Lehigh Valley.
➤ The Mets optioned catcher Patrick Mazeika to Syracuse to make room for McCann.
➤ Before the game, the Mets played a clip of Mookie Wilson hitting the ball through Bill Buckner’s legs in the 1986 World Series, a moment called on TV by Vin Scully. The Mets then observed a moment of silence before their first home game since Scully’s death Tuesday.