At around 10 am Tuesday morning, the New York Mets’ new starting catcher, James McCann, addressed the media via Zoom conference for the first time at spring training.
Some of the bigger questions McCann received during his presser were how he prepared during the offseason to get ready for his new staff, and if the former All-Star has been able to get to know them this offseason despite COVID-19.
As far as his own preparation, McCann spoke about “being in communication with our coaching staff throughout the offseason in order to learn our staff so I could come into spring training already prepared.”
One coach he’s particularly excited to work with is former Mets backstop, Brian Schneider. McCann added to his excitement about working with Schneider, saying this will be the first time he will have a former catcher on the big league staff to work with every day.
McCann did acknowledge the challenges COVID-19 will create in spending time with his new teammates in Port St. Lucie. “Our time is limited together — but we have Facetime, Zoom, etc. — so hopefully that will make up for not being together as much as usual.”
When speaking about his new pitching staff, McCann was asked if he feels any added pressure having to catch the best pitcher in the sport, Jacob deGrom.
“Jake is a phenomenal pitcher and will rank up there as one of the best I’ve ever caught,” McCann said. “It’s my job to come in and make him happy and make his job easier.”
McCann went on to say that he spoke with deGrom earlier on Tuesday and will begin getting on the same page as his ace. He even joked about how he will be asking a lot of questions in order to do that, to the point where it will “probably annoy him [deGrom].”
When asked about going from playing in the American League Central his entire career to the now-daunting National League East, McCann had a simple but promising response. “It’s a really tough division, but I really like our team that we have and I look forward to what’s ahead for us.”
When asked what he felt the Mets’ strengths were, McCann responded by saying that, “I really like our rotation and the depth in our lineup, but I don’t want to pick one particular strength because I believe we do so much well. The pieces have been put in place here with a lot of guys who do the little things well.”
McCann also touched on the importance of having depth on a roster. “Depth is really important; the teams that have the most success in baseball often have good depth, and World Series caliber teams always seem to have a ‘next man up’ mentality.”
Of course, he was also asked to speak on his new teammates and former AL Central foes in Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. “I have tremendous respect for them as players and people; only heard great things about them when we played against each other.”
McCann went on to say he’s very happy to not face Carrasco anymore and commented further on Lindor. “There are elite players in this game and he’s one of them. I’m just glad that I no longer have to game-plan against him.”
The 30-year-old touched on his career and how it takes some players longer to find their stride than others. “Some players blossom later in their career, you can’t fret over a seasons worth of AB’s because it takes time.”
He went on to mention how things clicked for him. “It was the offseason after I got non-tendered, that’s when I became comfortable with myself and my career took off from there.”
The last points New York’s backstop made were with regard to his defense and the pride he takes in his staff’s success. “Defense is my number one priority — receiving, blocking, throwing, but even more important are pregame/preseries planning.” He also mentioned that “Catchers are the managers on the field. That’s how you have to fill that type of role, and that’s how I see myself.”
One thing is for certain — the Mets got themselves a player who will do whatever it takes to succeed and be a great leader.
