"Everyone talks about 'Chris Sale's nasty, he must be hard to catch'" - Catcher James McCann reveals why he has less trouble with vets than rookies
Baltimore Orioles catch James McCann is currently in his 11th year in the big leagues. He got his start with the Detroit Tigers during the 2014 season and has not looked back.
Being a catcher in the big leagues for 11 seasons has allowed him to catch some of the best arms in the sport. From rookies to veterans, McCann has nearly seen it all behind the plate.
When catching all those pitchers, McCann must have a preference. So, he joined Lauren Shahadi during a recent airing of MLB Central to discuss the toughest pitchers he has had to catch.
"I can't just say one person's name, I'm going to throw a category out there, the young pitchers," - said McCann.
He explains that most young arms do not have the control that some veterans do. It can be harder to predict where the ball is going coming from a younger pitcher than one who has been in the league for years.
"Everyone talks about 'Chris Sale's nasty, he must be hard to catch.' Usually, those guys are easier to catch because they know where it's going, they don't miss their spots by a lot" - said McCann.
While pitchers like Chris Sale have incredible stuff, he is somebody who will hit the zone more than somebody who only has a few innings under their belt.
James Mccann and the Baltimore Orioles are keeping the pressure on the New York Yankees
James McCann and the Baltimore Orioles have been stellar this season. They are coming off a miraculous come-from-behind win against the Houston Astros on Friday thanks to an Anthony Santander go-ahead grand slam.
Baltimore is right on the New York Yankees' tails. They sit one game behind them in the American League East, and this race could come down to the final regular season game.
They have a favorable schedule to close out the season. They have a series against the Chicago White Sox, and Colorado Rockies, and two against the Detroit Tigers.
These are teams the O's should have no problems against. They must be at their best here and not overlook these teams thinking about the next series.
The American League East is going to be a division that fans will want to keep their eyes on. Both Baltimore and New York will be relentless in their pursuit of a division championship.