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Houston Astros: Will The Catching Duo Of Brian McCann And Evan Gattis Work?

By James Zeankowski

Oct 4, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Evan Gattis (24) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of game two of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Evan Gattis (24) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of game two of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis (11) throws out a runner at first base during the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
Jul 31, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann (34) reacts during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Both players have solid gloves to go with their powerful bats.

We already know what these bearded bash brothers can do with their big bats. But what many may not be aware of is that these two know how to carry their own defending when behind the dish as well as in the batter’s box.

Proof of this can be found on Stat Corner’s Catcher Report. Here are some of the advanced stat categories explained:

  1. oStr% – The number of called strikes caught outside the strike zone. (League average = 7.2%)

  2. zBall% – The number of called balls caught within the strike zone. (League Average = 15%)

  3. PerGame (+callls) – The number of calls that go a catcher’s way per average pitch calls/full game. (League Average = 0.0)

  4. RAA – Runs above average, or the amount of runs a player contributes offensively, or prevents defensively, to a team’s win in any given ballpark. (League Average = 0)

And here are how these gents stacked up in those categories just last season:

  1. oStr% – McCann (8.1%), Gattis (8.0%)

  2. ZBall% – McCann (13.1%), Gattis (12.0%)

  3. PerGame (+calls) – McCann (0.51), Gattis (0.75)

  4. RAA – McCann (5.7), Gattis (4.8)

There are also some far less advanced defensive metrics that get taken into consideration when talking about catchers. They include the following:

  1. CERA – Catcher’s ERA, or the average runs a pitcher gives up with a particular catcher behind the plate. (League Average = 3.9)

  2. Caught Stealing Ratio (CS %) – The percentage of times a catcher successfully throws out a base runner. (League Average = 33%)

Here’s where McCann and Gattis both favored in 2016 for both of these stats:

  1. CERA – McCann (4.19), Gattis (3.44)

  2. Caught Stealing Ratio (CS%) – McCann (23%), Gattis (46%)

McCann had a little bit of trouble last season with these two due to injury. However, over his 12 year career thus far, he has had a CERA of 3.82 and Caught Stealing Ratio (CS%) of just slightly below average at 26%.

Still pretty solid numbers from both of these men, in all honesty!

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